Vizio V Series V51x-J6
The best soundbar under $200 we’ve tested is the Vizio V Series V51x-J6. This versatile soundbar shines with different audio content, from music to movies to TV shows, for a budget-friendly price. It can retail for a little more than our $200 price point at times, but it’s still worth a mention, especially since it’s one of the few bars at this price with discrete satellite speakers. Adding satellites into your setup makes a huge difference in the sound, especially when watching surround sound content like Dolby Digital. Sound effects stretch into the space around your couch, so you feel like your favorite scenes are taking place all around you.
Since this soundbar has a 5.1 setup, it comes with a discrete center channel designed to improve vocal clarity in the mix. As a result, it’s really easy to follow along with conversations between characters on screen. Plus, the dedicated sub brings out the thump and rumble in more intense scenes. If you want a different sound, you can customize this bar’s output thanks to its bass and treble adjustments. Music and podcasts are easy to stream to the bar over Bluetooth, and if you own a compatible voice assistant device like an Amazon Echo, you can even connect it to the bar for voice control. This bar offers a great price-to-performance ratio, making it a standout pick that can please make different types of listeners.