The 10 Best Low Profile Soundbar, Tested And Researched

Harlan Ellison By, Harlan Ellison
Updated
Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar | Works
Image credit: Amazon.com

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar | Works

The Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar combines an immersive sound experience with a slim and attractive design, featuring a sophisticated exterior that complements today's modern TVs. Boasting an ultra-slim profile and great sound, this sleek system is the perfect addition to any home theater setup. Read Review

2. Best For The Price: Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound System

Experience big sound in a compact package. Fill your home theater with a commanding sound signature that is surprisingly easy on the ears. Get deep, rumbling bass from the built-in subwoofer; crystal clear dialogue from the Solo 5's acoustic-suspension enclosure and hearing more of what you've been missing from your HDTV. Read Review

3. Best Powerful: BESTISAN 100 Watt 40 Inch TV Sound Bar,

Transform your TV sound with the BESTISAN 100 Watt 40 Inch TV Sound Bar. Whether you're playing games, watching movies or listening to music, you'll enjoy rich, room-filling audio that takes your viewing experience to the next level. Read Review

4. Best Smart Control: Samsung HW-A450/ZA 2.1ch Soundbar

You can get deep bass straight out of the box with the wireless subwoofer included. Enhance audio tracking to your content in real-time, with technology that equalizes background noise and maintains a consistent volume. Read Review

5. Best Connectivity: 80Watt 34Inch Sound bar, Bestisan Soundbar Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless

The Bestisan soundbar is perfect for TVs of 32" or above, and also supports three modes (music, movie, dialog) and has a surround sound effect. It's great for your smart TV and your home sweet home. Read Review

Looking for the best soundbar that won’t take up too much space and is low-profile? The typical soundbar is big, bulky and just not very attractive to have in your living room. They are also usually pretty expensive. However, there are some great soundbars available that don’t take up as much space as a subwoofer and won’t break the bank. A soundbar is generally a long rectangle speaker with the tweeter positioned at one end of the bar and the woofers on either side of it.

There may be variations on this theme but they all share similar characteristics which makes them different from bookshelf speakers, ceiling speakers or wall speakers. Read on to find out more about what to look for  top-product when buying a low profile soundbar

With Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar | Works, you will have no difficulty finding anything to meet your needs! To help you find the best fit for your needs, we've put up a purchasing guide and also show other great options for you to consider.

Before finalizing your selection, our staff advises that you look into these additional important resources. They may help narrow down your selection and clarify things to locate the right fit. Look no further than Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound System since you're seeking the budget-friendly option. Our top models are equipped with features to meet every requirement. 

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar | Works
Our Score:
9.8
Polk Audio
  • EXCELLENT SOUND AND VALUE on par with any mid- to high-range sound bars available in the market. At just over 2" tall, it fits most spaces — easily wall-mount it or place in front of your TV. It won’t block your TV’s bottom edge or IR remote sensor
  • UPGRADE YOUR HOME THEATER EXPERIENCE – Watch your favorite shows on your 4K HD Smart TV with exceptional picture quality & crystal clear sound. With numerous connection possibilities, plug in any audio source via HDMI ARC, optical input & AUX
  • SET UP YOUR SOUND BAR IN MINUTES — With the included subwoofer, HDMI and optical cables quickly connect your TV to the sound bar. Get set up and listening in minutes
  • A PREMIUM ULTRA-SLIM SOUND BAR WITH INCLUDED WIRELESS SUBWOOFER – 5 powerful full-range drivers deliver BEAUTFUL RICH SOUND WITH DEEP BASS. POLK’S EXCLUSIVE VOICE ADJUST TECHNOLOGY & Dolby Digital Decoding maximizes sound clarity & reduces voice delays
  • WIRELESSLY STREAM MUSIC from your favorite streaming apps like Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, and others directly from your smartphone, tablet or other compatible device through the built-in Bluetooth technology
TOP Choice #2 Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound System
Our Score:
9.6
Bose
  • Bluetooth connectivity to wirelessly stream music from any of your devices
  • Speaker:2.6 H x 21.6 W x 3.4 D (3.73 lbs), Remote control:4.1 H x 1.6 W x 0.4 D (5 oz)
  • Dialogue mode to make every word and detail stand out
  • Single sound bar provides better sound quality compared to your TV.The Solo 5 TV sound system is an easy solution, with advanced technologies that deliver the clear audio your TV can’t.
  • Universal remote controls TV, bass, Bluetooth connections and more
  • One connection to your TV. Optical audio input (digital); Coaxial audio input (digital); 3.5 mm aux input (analog)
TOP Choice #3 BESTISAN 100 Watt 40 Inch TV Sound Bar,
Our Score:
9.4
BESTISAN
  • Various sound effect mode, movies/music/dialogue mode, highlighting the sound effects of different occasions.
  • Dual wired and wireless connection, Pair via Bluetooth 5.0 from up to 33 ft/ 10 M or connect with the in-unit 3.5 mm, RCA, and optical inputs.
  • Quality Service, worry-free 18-month after-sales support and friendly customer service, life time technical support.
  • Customized acoustics, extended 40” design is optimized to deliver the same crystal and clear cinematic sound whether wall mounted or placed in front of your TV.
  • 100 watt 40 Inch Deep bass sound bar trasfer 105dB room-filling and and crystal-clear home theater sound.
4 Samsung HW-A450/ZA 2.1ch Soundbar
Our Score:
9.2
SAMSUNG
  • WIRELESS SURROUND SOUND COMPATIBLE - Turn your soundbar into a complete surround sound system with optional rear Samsung speakers in a few simple steps without the mess of wires
  • SUBWOOFER INCLUDED - Wireless subwoofer is included so you can enjoy deep bass right out of the box All-in-one
  • GAME MODE - Boost your gaming experience with perfectly synced directional audio that moves with the action on-screen and crosstalk cancellation that minimizes distractions
  • BASS BOOST - Give your bass an instant boost with the push of a button on the soundbar
  • ADAPTIVE SOUND LITE - Enhanced audio tracking for your content in real time, with technology that equalizes background music and consistent volume control
  • ONE REMOTE - Streamline control of both your Samsung TV and soundbar with just the Samsung TV remote
  • BLUETOOTH TV CONNECTION - Set up is a breeze. Easily connect your soundbar to your TV by connecting wirelessly
  • Advanced 5.0 Bluetooth Technology: Connect over Bluetooth in seconds to your any Bluetooth Audio devices. To play from TVs use the included optical cable. It also supports Aux in, RCA, USB.
  • 3D Surround Sound System: support Movie/Music/Dialogue modes thanks to DSP Technology. bring you a fantastic surrounded sound. Lets you hear every details of your music and movies, with crisp, breathtaking detail and exceptional clarity.
  • Upgraded Version: High-sensitivity remote control displays the different modes by means of different colored LED lights. Deep bass, improved power (Up to 80W). Advanced built-in Subwoofer bring powerful bass for all your movies, music and TV shows. Enjoy expansive audio and crystal-clear sound.(Fit for 32Inch--50Inch Smart TV).
  • Control with Remote or Buttons: No matter if you’re standing by the TV or laying on the couch, the tv soundbar speaker can be operated via the integrated top buttons or included remote control. To make its operation even more intuitive, the LED indicator shines through the grid in different colors matching the selected functions.
6 Bose TV Speaker - Soundbar for TV
Our Score:
8.8
Bose
  • Compact soundbar: This small soundbar is just over 2" tall for easy placement in front of your TV or mounted to a wall (wall brackets sold separately). Overall TV speaker dimensions are 2.21" H x 23.38" W x 4.02" D.
  • Hear your TV better: Designed with simplicity in mind, the Bose TV Speaker is a small soundbar that clarifies speech and is a simple fix for better TV sound.
  • Remote control: Compact TV speaker comes with a remote control that enables a dialogue mode to further enhance speech or add a bass boost for more depth.
  • Simple setup: A single connection from this compact soundbar to the TV via an optical audio cable (included) or an HDMI cable (sold separately) has you up and running in minutes.
  • Wide, natural sound: 2 angled full-range drivers deliver a more realistic, spatial audio experience for overall better TV sound from a small soundbar.
  • Bluetooth TV speaker: Pair your device to this Bluetooth soundbar to wirelessly stream your favorite music and podcasts.
  • Enhanced dialogue: This TV speaker is designed to specifically focus on clarifying and elevating vocals and pronunciation.
  • Build and expand: The Bose TV Speaker is compatible with the Bose Bass Module 500 or 700 and requires the Bose Bass Module Connection Cable or a standard 3.5 millimeter audio cable, sold separately.
  • 400W peak power
  • 40” 2.1 Soundbar with 8” wireless subwoofer
  • Class-leading 8” Subwoofer
  • HDMI-ARC: Single-cable, single-remote control
  • 5.1 decoding for virtualized surround sound
  • Hear sound come from all around you with S-Force Pro Front Surround
  • Easy TV set up with HDMI ARC
  • In the box: Remote Commander (RMT-AH411U), Batteries for remote commander, Cable (Optical Cable, AC Cord), Wall Mount Template, Warranty Card, Quick Setup Guide, Instruction Manual
  • Deep sound with Bass Reflex speaker
  • Voice enhancement feature is great for TV content with hushed dialogue, or to make conference call participants easier to hear
  • High power with a slim design that matches any room and is perfect for small living spaces
  • Straight from the theater to your home: easy set-up, built-in tweeter, 2-ch speaker with simple Bluetooth connection
9 YAMAHA YAS-109 Sound Bar
Our Score:
8.4
YAMAHA
  • Easy setup with HDMI or Optical connections
  • DTS Virtual: x Virtual 3D surround sound. Audio Formats-File Format-WAV (PCM format only) / FLAC: up to 192kHz, ALAC: up to 96kHz, MP3 / WMA / MPEG-4 AAC: up to 48 kHz
  • Clear voice for enhanced dialogue clarity. Output power: 120W
  • Built in subwoofers for deep bass in 1 slim sound bar
  • With Alexa, playing music is as simple as asking for a song, artist, or genre from Amazon music and more
  • Alexa built in for voice control of your sound bar, playing music, listening to news, setting alarms and timers, asking questions, controlling smart home devices, and more
  • Play music and podcasts through Spotify connect, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth
  • 2.0-Channel Sound Experience a powerful room-filling, true stereo experience ideal for movies, music, and gaming.
  • Ultra-Compact 2.0 Design Experience the performance of larger, more complex home theater systems in a simple, ultra-compact solution designed fit anywhere and blend seamlessly into any environment.
  • Bold Performance Experience rich, clear sound with up to 91dB of total SPL output for performance that belies its size.
  • Full-Range Speakers 2 full-range speakers in the sound bar provide rich, clear sound.
  • Essential Connectivity & Control Get setup and listening in seconds with the included cables plus Bluetooth connectivity for wireless streaming of your favorite music and podcasts.
Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to Look For in a best low profile soundbar?

Some of you may be reluctant to select one of the best low profile soundbar, to be honest. The main reason is that you didn’t study that before. There are pretty lots of factors that must be considered when investing in best low profile soundbar. You are expected to count on our expertise in best low profile soundbar to make the right choice. 

So now we move on to the significant factors related to best low profile soundbar you must keep in mind:

Additional Features

You might also want these features in your soundbar:
There are special sound modes for various audio types, such as watching movies, listening to music, or gaming. You can adjust the treble and bass settings depending on what you are watching/listening too.
Compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa for voice-controlled music.
Front-panel displays that display important information, such as volume levels. Make sure to check if this display is able to be switched off when it's not in use so that it does not become distracting.

Wi-Fi And Bluetooth

Bluetooth is an important soundbar feature that allows you stream music from compatible phones, tablets and computers to your soundbar. Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to stream music from your Spotify account or access cloud music libraries.

Wired/wireless Speakers

Some soundbars allow for wired and wireless connection to other speakers. Some soundbars only support a subwoofer. However, a few models offer "surround sound" connectivity, which allows you to connect other speakers to the rear of the room to replicate 5.1. You can purchase these speakers separately or as a bundle at an extra cost.

Subwoofer

In large rooms, a soundbar with an external subwoofer (or dedicated soundbar) can be more effective than one without it. A subwoofer that is well made will enhance low-end sound quality and add a cinematic vibe to your system. A sub that is poorly designed can cause a drop in sound quality. A soundbase is a great option if you need bass, but aren't able to fit an external sub. They include an integrated subwoofer.

Connectivity

Soundbars typically only require one cable to connect with your TV. HDMI is the best choice. Make sure that your soundbar is equipped with all necessary ports for connecting to Blu-ray players and USB storage. You should check if your soundbar has a pass-through function that transmits 4K HDR video from your 4K HDR TV.

Number Of Channels And Speakers

A soundbar with just 2.1 channels may be enough to enhance the audio quality of your TV. A 5.1 and 7.1 models might offer better sound quality when you watch TV/movies or listen to audio. Dolby Atmos is available on 5.1.2 and 7.1.2 models. This technology allows for a richer experience. It involves placing speakers higher than the roof, to create sound from above.

Size

To ensure that the unit will not block the screen, or interfere with the remote control or display of your TV's remote, check its dimensions. You should also check that the design of the unit matches your TV.

Ease Of Set-up And Use

It is easy to hook up the soundbar with your TV or other device and get started using it immediately. This can be gauged by looking at the manual or reading some user reviews.

FAQs

Can You Add Speakers To A Sound Bar?

There are both yes and no. Some sound bars have additional speakers that can be added to the system, which brings you closer to home theatre sound. If the soundbar is multi-room compatible, then wireless rear speakers can be added. This is a good option for those who have or want to install a multi-room sound system in their home.

Can A Sound Bar Be Used As A Center Speaker?

There are some that can and others that can't, but it's not something we recommend. Although a passive soundbar could technically be used to provide center channel speakers, this is not what it was designed for. This is like asking a pitcher to play both catch and second base instead of the only position that he excels at.

Can You Add A Subwoofer To A Sound Bar?

Wireless sound bars often come with a subwoofer. You can also add your own wireless subwoofer to the sound bars that do not have one. If you desire an immersive experience, you'll want it.

Will A Soundbar Improve Sound Quality?

Modern TVs have very tiny speakers which bounce sound off of your TV. As a result, they can be distant and harsh. A soundbar can be added to most TVs to improve their sound quality, particularly when it comes down to reproducing spoken words. It will also allow you to listen to music.

Where Do I Place My Soundbar?

The soundbars can be placed directly in front of your TV using a stand, or any other type of furniture. They are usually less than 2 inches high so they won't interfere with the infrared remote port of your TV or block it. Some soundbars are also wall-mountable and include brackets. There are third-party kits that can be used to mount soundbars on the wall.

Are Soundbars Really Worth It?

They are well worth the investment when compared to how loud your TV sounds. A soundbar costs only $100 and can make your TV viewing experience 10x better. A soundbar can make it easier to understand speech by allowing TV speakers to face down.

Can You Use A Soundbar To Play Music?

A soundbar can make music play through your TV much more enjoyable. Bluetooth is a feature that many soundbars offer, so you won't have to turn on the TV to hear your music. A soundbar that has a wireless subwoofer will work best to reproduce deep bass and dynamics.

Can You Use Any Soundbar With Any TV?

There are very few exceptions to this rule. However, you can still use your soundbar with any TV. It is helpful sometimes to match soundbar and TV brands. New soundbars often use HDMI ARC to transmit the audio from the TV's speakers through the soundbar. If both of your devices have this port, you are good. An optical connection is available on some older soundbars, and almost all TVs have them.

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About Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison is a writer and audio equipment enthusiast. He's particularly interested in home theater HiFi audio, and he has been the editor of The Audio Insights since its inception. Harlan is known for his sharp wit and scathing critiques, but he also has a great love of music and audio gear. When he's not writing or editing, Harlan can be found listening to music or watching movies with his wife.