10 best soundbars under £500 in 2026 (164+ compared)

Yes, soundbars under £500 are usually worth buying if you want a clear step up from TV speakers without paying flagship prices. This part of the market already covers most of the practical everyday hardware, especially 2.0, 2.1, and some 3.x layouts with HDMI ARC.

The main limitation is that the budget still leans heavily toward simpler channel layouts and basic connectivity rather than premium surround specifications. Dolby Atmos, eARC, and larger multi-channel systems do exist below £500, but they are not the norm in the same way basic ARC and stereo/2.1 bars are.

So the value is real, but it depends on buying for the right target. Under £500 is strong for dialogue, basic bass improvement, and general TV use, but it is less reliable if you expect flagship Atmos or large-room cinema performance.

The channels most commonly found on soundbars under £500 are 2.0 and 2.1, with smaller numbers of 3.0, 3.1, and a few more advanced layouts above that. That tells you this price range is still dominated by straightforward front-stage hardware rather than complex surround systems.

A 2.0 or 2.1 soundbar is enough for many buyers in this budget, especially if the goal is better dialogue and cleaner TV sound. Once you want a center channel, stronger bass integration, or more convincing cinema separation, the 3.x layouts become the more relevant step up.

So channel count is one of the clearest dividing lines under £500. It usually matters more than marketing language, because it tells you whether the soundbar is really built as a simple stereo bar or as a more serious multi-channel upgrade.

The connections most commonly found on soundbars under £500 are as follows.

• HDMI ARC: This is the dominant TV connection in this budget and one of the most useful practical specs to prioritize. It makes everyday TV use much easier than relying only on optical or Bluetooth.
• No ARC at all: A noticeable part of this price range still has no ARC, especially among cheaper entry-level bars. That is one of the clearest places where low price can still mean compromised convenience.
• HDMI eARC: eARC exists under £500, but it is much less common than plain ARC. It is usually found on the more advanced models in this budget rather than the basic ones.
• Optical and Bluetooth: These remain common fallback connections in this price class. They are useful, but they do not replace the convenience of a proper HDMI ARC or eARC path.

Under £500, connection quality often matters as much as the speaker hardware. A bar with better ARC or eARC support can be the smarter buy than one that only looks stronger on a marketing card.

No, most soundbars under £500 do not include a subwoofer. In this price range, the category is still dominated by all-in-one bars, with soundbars that include a separate subwoofer clearly in the minority.

That does not mean subwoofers are absent. They do appear below £500, but much less often than simple all-in-one designs, so bass hardware is still one of the things that usually marks a step-up model rather than the baseline.

If deeper bass matters to you, check subwoofer inclusion directly instead of assuming it from the price alone. Under £500 can already buy a subwoofer-based system, but it does not buy one by default.

The main things to check while choosing a soundbar under £500 are as follows.

• Channel layout: This budget is still dominated by 2.0 and 2.1 soundbars, with smaller numbers of 3.0, 3.1, and a few more advanced layouts. That means channel count is one of the clearest ways to separate basic TV-audio upgrades from stronger step-up models.
• HDMI ARC type: ARC is common under £500, while eARC is much less common and usually attached to the more advanced models. If you care about easier TV integration, this is often more important than minor sound claims on the box.
• Subwoofer inclusion: Most soundbars under £500 still do not include a separate subwoofer. If deeper bass matters, check this directly instead of assuming it from the price range alone.
• Dolby Atmos: Atmos does exist under £500, but it is still the minority rather than the norm. A budget bar with Atmos should usually be checked more carefully for the actual channel layout and connection support behind the label.
• Cabinet size: This price range covers compact bars, mid-width bars, and a few full-width cabinets. Size still matters because it affects driver spacing, furniture fit, and how large the front stage can sound.
• Rear-speaker path: Wireless rear-speaker support exists, but it is not standard in this budget. If you think you may want surround expansion later, check that path now rather than treating it as guaranteed.
• Value balance: Under £500 is broad enough to include both very basic entry-level bars and stronger midrange models. The better buys usually balance channel layout, ARC support, and bass hardware instead of spending the whole budget on one headline feature.

A soundbar under £500 is usually worth it when you want a real TV-audio upgrade without moving into premium pricing. The better model is usually the one that gives you the strongest mix of channel hardware, TV connectivity, and bass support for the money rather than the one with the flashiest single feature.