A subwoofer is a speaker that’s usually included with soundbars. It gives you extra bass so you can hear everything better. It would be best if you had subwoofers for movie night, either in the soundbar or bought separately.
However, the best soundbars without subwoofers can improve your audio experience. They have built-in amplifiers or external ones you connect through the auxiliary jacks on your TV. They also give surround sound to music and home theater systems. These speakers will provide you with immersive background sounds, whether it be movie dialogue or bass, with just a few constraints, as noted earlier about input sources being limited by HDMI connections.
If this sounds like something you’d like, you can check out our recommendations for the best soundbars without subwoofers for 2023, which are listed below!
Here are the 5 best soundbars without subwoofers which are excellent for good acoustic quality and space-saving purposes.
Best Soundbars Without Subwoofers
Sonos Playbar
Quick Review:
- Integrated with nine top-rated built-in speakers.
- Virtual surround sound effects are available.
- Built-in multichannel support.
- Internet music services like Spotify, Amazon, and Apple Music are available.
- Comes with WiFi and Voice Assistant Alexa support.
Benefits:
Sonos Playbar has nine high-quality built-in speakers and its own Class-D digital amplifiers. You can change all three sound parameters-bass, treble, and loudness-separately, which means you can get the perfect sound balance for every room in which you place it. It’s perfect for hanging on the wall. The black body works well with the TV, and the Wi-Fi network can be used for many things.
The soundbar’s dialogue performance is amazing and can produce broad sound with multichannel support. We attest to its gratifying performance, which comes across with excellent clarity. The sound is clear and detailed, and it can produce a sound with excellent depth and breadth.
It has included several built-in functions that make the sound louder and better against a noisy background without adding a second driver for vocal performance. Wireless communication makes it easy to install and use the device. You can access internet music services like Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, etc.
Drawbacks
The Sonos Playbar is a very well-designed and constructed soundbar, but it has some downsides. It lacks AirPlay and Bluetooth, which is sometimes a must-have option for someone.
Also, the Playbar’s sound is too processed. This isn’t what people want to hear who value quality and authenticity in music.
Compare Sonos Playbar With Bose Soundbar
The best soundbars are Sonos Playbar and Bose Soundbar. You can enjoy your gaming and watch with great audio. However, there are some differences in appearance and sound quality.
Bose Soundbar has good battery life. It can be mounted as a wall-mounted speaker in a bass-reflex enclosure.
Sonos Playbar, on the other hand, has an aluminum body and a stylish fabric cover over the speakers.
This single-unit Sonos Playbar also supports remote control, Alexa, mobile app navigation, and other sources, making it an excellent sound bar without the subwoofer.
Bose Soundbar 900
Quick Review:
- Dolby Atmos.
- Built-in Nine speakers.
- You can change the upward-firing speakers in the app.
- Remote and Smart personal assistant.
- Bluetooth and WiFi for wireless music streaming.
Benefits:
Another one of the best soundbars without subwoofers is the Bose Smart Soundbar 900. It is great if you want an all-in-one home theater system with 3D sound. It comes with a remote control, but you can also use it with your phone and personal assistant. It has excellent bass, even without a subwoofer.
This smart soundbar, which comes with all the cutting-edge technologies and regular upgrades to keep your digital experience premium, it is the only one we recommend if you’re searching for a soundbar to place underneath your 50-inch to 65-inch TV. The Bose New 900 soundbar is the first of its kind, offering users a wireless experience and an easy way to stream music and movies.
Bose Solo 900 looks good next to the TV and has a fashionable appearance. It also has two shades that rapidly improve the appearance of any TV placed next to it. It is an update to the 7.1 soundbars by adding nine speakers, including two custom-made up-firing speakers. It is ideal for home cinema systems, featuring numerous built-in speakers and independent tweeters. The center channels isolate lyrics from surrounding noises, and the up-firing speakers make it seem like the sound is coming from everywhere.
Dolby Atmos adds a new dimension to the sound, making it more powerful, sophisticated, and elevating. This makes your entertainment experience more powerful and sophisticated. Therefore, it’s ideal for a variety of uses. With Bluetooth and WiFi for wireless music streaming, you can enjoy your favorite music and videos with freedom of movement. You can also catch up on your preferred podcasts and music. Thanks to AirPlay2 support.
The Bose 900 soundbar has Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, making navigation easy and modern. The voice control technology is very sophisticated. We can say this soundbar is the most responsive yet. All of this is why it’s one of our best soundbars without subwoofers.
Drawbacks:
Bose 900 is overall a great soundbar, but it has some flaws. The lack of DTS:X support is the major downside of this bar.
Also, The sound from the soundbar is noticeably processed, and the limited listening sound modes can be annoying for any music lover.
Compare Bose Soundbar With Sonos Arc
A similar soundbar is the Sonos Arc is 114 cm wide because it’s designed to work with large TVs (50 inches or more). The Arc’s curved shape makes it look slim.
Likewise, the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is for TVs at least 50 inches. It has a metal grille, rounded sides, and a glass top. It looks great and has Smart Soundbar 700’s technology.
Both models have touch-sensitive controls, but only the Bose has a dedicated remote. Alexa and Google Assistant can control both, but the Bose has Voice4Video, which uses voice to activate and manage the TV or satellite box, greatly enhancing Alexa’s functionality.
The Bose 900 can be your best option if you need a compact soundbar without a subwoofer. It is lower and shorter (5.8cm vs. 8.7cm). However, both models come in a black or white color option and look nice.
JBL Bar 5.0
Quick Review:
- Dolby Virtual Atmos.
- Auto calibration function.
- Multi-Room support.
- AirPlay, Chromecast, and Alexa are available.
- Exceptional bass without a subwoofer.
Benefits:
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam soundbar is a great option for best soundbars without subwoofers if you want to experience Dolby Atmos sound without spending a lot of money. The Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is small and easy to use, which makes it great for any setup. It also has auto-calibration, automatically adjusting the driver distances and levels for the best surround sound in your environment.
The Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is loud. JBL packed five drivers (three in the front, two on top for height channels, and four passive radiators). It’s an Atmos system without wireless subwoofers or separate surround speakers.
Its controls are simple and easy to use. Power, volume, and input buttons are on top of the soundbar. When you make a change, the LED display on the front right turns on. The level is displayed when you adjust the volume, and the input is displayed when you alter the input. Soundbar displays that are always on should distract you from the TV, especially in dim lighting.
The soundbar has one HDMI input and one HDMI ARC port on the rear. You can also use optical digital audio to connect to your TV. You can play audio files or update the firmware via the USB port. The soundbar has WiFi built-in, or you may use an Ethernet connection to connect wired. However, you can use AirPlay, Chromecast, or Alexa Multi-Room Music to connect wirelessly over WiFi. Another option is Bluetooth.
This soundbar is small but makes a big sound. At maximum volume, it had a decibel level of about 95. Although the music became excessively loud and harsh at that volume, the sound was still clear.
All of these benefits make it one of the best soundbars without subwoofers.
Drawbacks
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam soundbar is a great inclusion for any home, but the lack of Dolby Vision passthrough is upsetting. JBL’s effort provides great bass without a subwoofer, like many soundbars. However, it lacks some essential functions, like sound modes.
Also, You’ll either love or hate the simplicity of this soundbar.
Compare JBL bar 5.0 with JBL Link Bar
This soundbar can be compared with another JBL product named the JBL Link Bar. But still, the JBL Link Bar needs to be stronger than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. They’re both independent setups, but only the MultiBeam can provide height content. They have different build quality, performance, and room adjustment tools. However, the Link Bar is still a good choice if you listen to dialogue-heavy audio, like music and TV episodes.
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam has several positive aspects. It’s affordable, small, and fits in your current setup. Even without a subwoofer, it sounds great and works with Dolby Atmos, which makes it another one of the best soundbars without subwoofers.
VIZIO SB3820-C6
Quick Review:
- Projecting surround sound.
- Dolby Digital DTS technology.
- Comprehensive drivers.
- 2 Channel.
- Built-in Bluetooth.
Benefits
The VIZIO SB3820-C6 soundbar is a good budget soundbar for people who want better sound on their TV. It has Dolby Digital plus 7.1 surround sound, which works with most TVs. Let’s see why it is one of the best soundbars without subwoofers!
We find strong built-in full-range stereo speakers that play high-definition audio. This is no matter what you watch or play. It has good sound quality and quickly changes the volume and bass levels. The remote is also easy to use, which is excellent for non-techies.
The soundbar’s frequency response and sound pressure level of up to 100dB set high standards for quality. Since Vizio always keeps you up regarding design and build quality. This unit is also sturdy and narrow, so it fits under smart TVs and makes them look better.
Drawbacks
VIZIO SB3820-C6 is a great little compact soundbar, but it’s a shame that it only has Bluetooth and no Wi-Fi option.
Also, it doesn’t support an HDMI connection. It only comes with optical digital connection support, but to continuously watch 4K content, you need HDMI-ARC, which is a major letdown.
Compare VIZIO SB3820-C6 With TaoTronics TT-SK023
A similar 2.0-channel soundbar is the TaoTronics TT-SK023. But this soundbar performs poorly when compared to the 2.0 channel versions available. Other small soundbars perform better overall, but the TaoTronics compact shape will appeal to those searching for something that can fit in a small space.
Finally, the only con we found of this VIZIO SB3820-C6 is its HDMI cable problem; otherwise, this soundbar is great for anyone who wants a cost-effective but sturdy soundbar.
Polk Audio React
Quick Review:
- Built-in with Amazon Alexa.
- Good combination of six drivers available.
- Voice adjust technology.
- The Dolby Digital and DTS Virtual Surround Sound.
- Decent bass quality.
Benefits:
Polk React’s ability to deliver precise, high-definition, and loud sound makes it an outstanding addition to the list of best soundbars without subwoofers, that has the potential to completely change the dynamics and sound quality of at-home digital streaming.
There are six drivers in the small profile, including mid-range drivers, tweeters, and passive radiators. The voice adjusts technology and settings offer customized sound.
Dolby Digital and DTS Virtual Surround Sound technologies provide great audio at any volume. The Next Generation Alexa Voice Engine with Calling & Messaging Built-In makes it easy to control music and voice commands.
The soundbar is suitable for a home theater setup because it can be upgraded to 5.1 with a matching React Subwoofer and SR2 Surround Speakers. It has 3D simulated surround sound, which provides a rich audio experience. This is adaptable and works with many devices, which is a good site.
Drawbacks
Polk React is a great soundbar with a good mix of drivers, but it disappointed us with its narrow sound field. Also, the lack of Dolby Atmos support is a great concern for this bar.
Furthermore, we found some flaws in the remote control while using it. It doesn’t work well at home, which sometimes makes you annoyed when watching TV.
Compare Polk Audio React:
Polk Audio Signa S3 soundbar is a good competitor to Audio React. Signa S3 is a Wi-Fi-capable soundbar that offers two-channel sound, making it a great option on its own.
With this soundbar, you can enjoy your music and movie sounds differently than with a standard home theater system, and the Signa S3 is one of the best options.
The only mistake which is made by this model in the pricing area. Polk S3 forgot that if there’s something better for the same price, it won’t matter how great your features or sound are.
In contrast, Polk Audio React is a great soundbar for a reasonable price. Amazon Alexa makes another reason to consider it a smart speaker and allows you to upgrade from stereo to 5.1 surround sound.
The only problem we found was the remote control. It doesn’t work well, because sometimes can cause issues while watching TV. But it’s useful with Apple’s AirPlay and other features.
Buying Guide: Best Soundbars Without Subwoofers
How to choose and find the best soundbars without subwoofers:
Easy to Use – Soundbars should be easy to set up, use, and navigate.
Connectivity Options – Connectivity is the soundbar’s most crucial site. The soundbar with the most options is better than the one with fewer options.
Size – The subwoofer doesn’t get any smaller because it needs a specific place on the floor and a sweet spot close to the soundbar for reliable functioning. It’s a relief that all the soundbars mentioned are not coming along with a subwoofer.
Buying Intent – If you’re upgrading your TV speakers, you don’t need an external subwoofer, and all of the products we’ve mentioned are perfect options to consider.
We always recommend considering essential factors when buying any electronic item, and this time we’re here to help you choose the best soundbar without a Subwoofer.
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