One of the best developments for home TVs is probably how thin they have become. But that design can compromise the sound quality. Adding a soundbar can be an easy way to improve the sound, and you can get the best soundbar for you.
Which are the Best Soundbars Without Subwoofer?
The best soundbar without a subwoofer should be small enough to fit on the TV stand. It should be good at amplifying middle- and high-range frequencies. Adding an external subwoofer can help with lower frequencies, but it’s not always necessary. Consider a few popular models when shopping.
If you want to enhance the audio on your TV or stereo system, you need a soundbar. But there are so many models available. Keep reading to learn about the best soundbars without a subwoofer.
1. Bose Soundbar 700
The Bose Soundbar 700 features Alexa voice control, and it can pick up your voice with the noise-rejection microphone array. It has a sleek design, and the sound quality is fantastic. You can use the soundbar with WiFi, Bluetooth, or Apple airplay to play music from any device.
Because of the WiFi compatibility, you can stream music from Spotify and other apps, and you can use the Bose music app to set up the soundbar. You also get a context-sensitive remote to control the soundbar, but you can also use your voice or the Bose app.
The soundbar fits your standard TV stand, but you can also get a Wall bracket to attach it to a wall. While it doesn’t include a subwoofer, you can add the Bose Bass Module to add oomph to the lower frequencies. You can also add the Bose Surround Speakers to get surround sound.
This soundbar measures 38.5 inches by 2.25 inches by 4.25 inches, and it has a premium glass top. It features HDMI-ARC connectivity, and it has an optical audio input that allows for more spacious performance. The soundbar is one of the more expensive options, but it’s worth it for the best quality.
2. Bose Solo 5
The Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar is an excellent alternative to the Soundbar 700. It features advanced technology to improve your sound easily. You’ll get a single connection to your TV, and you can choose from digital or analog inputs.
You can use dialogue mode to hear words and details more clearly, and you can connect it to Bluetooth. Then, you can use the connection to stream music or audio from any wireless device. You can use the universal remote to control the TV, Bluetooth, and bass connections.
The soundbar comes with a power cord and an optical digital audio cable, so you can connect it without any external accessories. While it doesn’t have a subwoofer, the remote lets you adjust the bass while watching TV.
This soundbar is 3.4 inches by 21.5 inches by 2.8 inches, and it weighs about 3.7 pounds. You can use batteries to power it, and it’s an affordable option that’s great for any home.
3. Samsung SWA-8500S
Another soundbar to consider that doesn’t have a subwoofer is the Samsung SWA-8500S Speaker System. It features Samsung Sound+ soundbars, and you can mount them to your wall for a surround sound experience.
The system is suitable for movies, sports, and games, and you can plug the system into your current setup. Each speaker in the system has a sleek design, so it can fit in with almost any decor in your home theater.
You can connect the speakers using your WiFi, so you don’t have to use any cords. The wireless rear speaker accessory kit comes with what you need to improve the sound quality. This system offers a large frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz, which encompasses most of the human hearing range.
The unit measures 1.97 inches by 5.2 inches by 7.93 inches, and it weighs 1.54 pounds. It offers 54 watts of power, and the black design looks good in any room.
4. VIZIO SB3820-C6 Sound Bar
The VIZIO SB3820-C6 Sound Bar is compact and can fit on a small or medium-sized HDTV. You can keep it on the TV stand, or you can mount it to the wall, and it will fill the room with clear audio. The Deep Bass Modules allow you to hear lower frequencies, but you don’t need a subwoofer.
You can control the soundbar with the remote, or you can use a Bluetooth connection. Then, you can listen to music from any device, and you don’t have to plug things in. Dolby Digital audio offers a wide frequency range of 60Hz to 19kHz, and there is less than one percent total harmonic distortion.
The soundbar measures 38 inches by 3 inches by 3 inches, and it weighs 5.75 pounds. It comes with two AAA batteries, which you will need to operate the soundbar without wires.
This unit outputs 100 Watts while in use, and it offers fantastic sound quality. It works especially well with VIZIO TVs, but you may need extra cables to connect it to a TV from another manufacturer.
5. Sony S100F Soundbar
The Sony S100F Soundbar is yet another great option if you want a soundbar without a subwoofer. It offers fantastic sound at all frequencies, and the Bass Reflex speaker helps with the lower frequencies. This unit has a slim design, so it fits and looks good in any room.
You can set up the soundbar easily, and it uses a Bluetooth connection for the controls. If you have trouble hearing words in shows or movies, you can use the voice enhancement feature. You can also set up the S-Force Pro Front Surround to hear audio from all directions.
The soundbar also comes with a remote, which is useful for when you don’t have a Bluetooth connection. You get other accessories, including batteries for the remote, an optical cable, and a wall-mount template.
This unit measures 37.8 inches by 14.7 inches by 9.2 inches, and it weighs 6 pounds. The optical input is 1 in, and the unit offers 120 watts of power.
6. Sonos Playbar
The Sonos Playbar is a mountable soundbar that you can use for movies, music, and TV shows. It lets you hear the dialogue and bass frequencies clearly without the need for a subwoofer. You can put it on your TV stand or mount it to the wall, and it will tune itself for the best possible sound.
Oscar-winning sound engineers developed the Playbar to accentuate the human voice. You can connect the soundbar to speakers in different rooms using your WiFi connection. Then, you can have a home sound system to play music and audio in any room.
The black soundbar looks good with your TV, and you can use the Sonos S2 app to control the audio. You can also use Apple Airplay or your voice to control your soundbar. It uses optical input, and there’s also a night mode, which is great for watching TV later in the evening.
This unit is 35.5 inches by 5.6 inches by 3.4 inches, and it weighs 11.9 pounds. If you want a flexible and easy option to improve your sound system, this is the soundbar for you. It’s not too expensive, but it’s also not the cheapest, so you can get good value.
7. Sonos Beam
The Sonos Beam is a smart TV soundbar that uses Amazon Alexa for voice controls. It features high definition audio, and the sound will fill the whole room. This soundbar is also very compact, so you don’t need a ton of space near your TV.
You can control the Sonos Beam with your voice, or you can use the Sonos app or the remote. If you use your voice, you can set an alarm or play music, and you can do almost anything with a voice control device.
To get surround sound, you can add the Sonos One SL, and the Sonos Sub can add more bass frequencies. However, a subwoofer isn’t necessary since the soundbar offers excellent sound quality already.
The soundbar measures 25.6 inches by 2.7 inches by 3.9 inches, and it weighs 6.35 pounds. It offers the same speech enhancement and night mode features as the Playbar, but this model is much more affordable.
8. TaoTronics Soundbar
The TaoTronics Soundbar offers wired and wireless connections so that you can use it with any device. You can use the standard cable that comes with the soundbar, or you can connect it to your phone or tablet using Bluetooth.
It has three different equalizer modes so that you can tune your sound for music, movies, and games. With any setting, the soundbar will fill the room with its powerful speakers, and it will give a high-quality audio output.
You can control the soundbar with Bluetooth, or you can control the unit itself. Clicking the power button multiple times allows you to scroll through the different modes. You can look at the LED screen to see the current mode.
The model measures 31.5 inches by 2.36 inches by 2.36 inches, and it weighs 3.9 pounds. It can go on your wall, or you can set it on your TV stand if you have room. This soundbar will blend in, so you can use it with any TV or living room.
9. MEGACRA Soundbar
Another option to consider is the MEGACRA Soundbar, which features the same three equalizer modes as the TaoTronics mode. You can adjust the sound to optimize it for music, movies, or video games. The soundbar comes with cables so that you can connect it directly to your TV.
However, it also is compatible with Bluetooth, so you can use it with other devices. You can also decide if you want to put the soundbar on your TV stand or if you want to mount it to the wall. No matter where you put it, the unit will provide high-quality audio that fills the room.
It has full-range drivers and dual bass ports that offer a deep, rich bass, so you don’t need an external subwoofer. You won’t have to worry about any distortion in the sound, and you can use the remote to control the sound.
The MEGACRA Soundbar is 28 inches by 4 inches by 4.1 inches, and the black design means it will look good in any space. Once you set it up, you can use the remote to turn the unit on and off, but you can also leave it on standby when you aren’t using it.
10. BYL 100 Watt Sound Bar
The BYL 100 Watt Sound Bar includes four built-in full-range speakers and two tweeters. It offers 100 watts of power, and it operates at 105 decibels to fill your living room. There are also two bass reflex tubes that emphasize the low frequencies without needing a subwoofer.
This soundbar comes with a remote control that you can use to switch between different modes. It works for TVs that are 40 to 65 inches, and the soundbar will improve the audio quality. You can use the remote to adjust the sound for music, movies, and news shows.
If you want to use the speaker with other devices, you can use the Bluetooth connection. It features strong anti-interference, lossless audio transmission, so you won’t lose the original sound. The unit also offers surround, so you can enjoy music and movies throughout the room.
This soundbar measures 40 inches by 4.1 inches by 4.13 inches, and it weighs 8.2 pounds. It comes with USB, RCA and Auxiliary cables, so you can choose the right setup for you and your TV.
11. BYL 80 Watt Sound Bar
If you want something a little smaller but just as versatile, consider the BYL 80 Watt Sound Bar. It features two full-range drivers to help with executing low-recurrence sound. The silky film tweezer drivers help make the sound clear, and the two reflex bass ports give more weight to lower frequencies without a subwoofer.
You can use the soundbar’s voice-adjust technology to make dialogue more clear when watching shows and movies. If you want to use the soundbar with another device, you can connect it via Bluetooth, or you can use the included RCA, USB or optical inputs.
When using Bluetooth, it has a range of up to 33 feet (10 meters), which is pretty standard. If you get this model, you’ll get lifetime technical support in case you have issues with anything.
The soundbar is 28 inches by 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches, and it weighs 5.29 pounds. It is nice and discreet, so it won’t stand out amongst your TV. You can use it in any room, and you can enjoy the high-quality audio.
12. Roku Smart Soundbar
The Roku Smart Soundbar is an excellent choice if you want to use Roku to stream media. You can watch TV, sports and more for free, and you can choose from HD, HDR and 4K pictures. No matter what you watch, the soundbar will provide fantastic audio quality, and it works with TV shows and music.
You can use the Speech Clarity feature to better hear the dialogue, and you can get a consistent volume with the Volume Leveling feature. If you like to watch TV late at night, Night Mode will keep it quiet so that you don’t disturb your family or roommates.
You can use the remote, or you can use voice controls to power the soundbar and adjust the settings. All you need to do to set it up is to plug in the wires to your soundbar and your HDMI port, and you’ll get the cables you need with the soundbar.
The Roku Smart Soundbar is black and sleek, so it will fit in with any living room. It measures 32.2 inches by 3.9 inches by 2.8 inches, and it weighs about 5.5 pounds. You can connect it to your favorite streaming services, from Amazon Prime to Netflix.
13. WOHOME Soundbar
The WOHOME Soundbar offers wired and wireless connections, and it has full-range speakers to give clear audio. You can use Bluetooth 5.0 to connect the soundbar to your mobile device. If you want to hook it to your TV, you can choose from USB, auxiliary and optical connections.
This model comes with a remote that you can use to control the soundbar. You can mount the unit to your wall, or you can put it on your TV stand. It works well with 34-inch TVs and larger, and you can also use it with your PC and gaming consoles.
You can choose from different sound modes to optimize the audio for movies or music, and you get lifetime technical support. The black soundbar will fit in with any living room or home theater, so you don’t have to conceal it.
At 7.94 pounds, the model is 28 inches by 2.75 inches by 3.25 inches. It offers surround sound, and it’s relatively easy to set up. The full range speakers are great on their own, so you won’t need to connect a subwoofer.
Final Thoughts
A soundbar can be an excellent way to improve the sound quality of your TV. But you may think you need a subwoofer to help with the lower end. Luckily, you can choose from the best soundbars without a subwoofer.
We think any of the models on this list would be great, but the Bose Soundbar 700 reigns supreme. It offers fantastic audio, and you can use it to play movies and music without needing a ton of extra gear.
Check out my top recommendations for soundbars (ones with subwoofer included).
Jason is a home theater expert with over 10 years of experience in setting up home cinema rooms and systems. What started out as a hobby soon transformed him into an authority in the audio-visual field. He is passionate about providing readers with accurate and up-to-date information on the latest audiovisual technologies and their applications for home theaters. Read more about Jason.