10 Best Soundbars Without Subwoofer 2024
10 Best Soundbars Without Subwoofer 2024
If you live in an apartment where extra bass may be an issue, or if you and your family do not want total immersion in sound
A high-quality freestanding bar may provide a clean, clear, and powerful sound. However, if you want more bass, you can easily add a subwoofer later. A decent soundbar is punchy enough to improve sound quality without spending extra money on a subwoofer.
However, because the market is flooded with goods, we have produced a list of the top ten best soundbars without subwoofers based on extensive study. These soundbars are sold as a single unit with nothing else included.
1- Roku Smart Soundbar
- Brand: Roku
- Model Name: Roku Streambar Pro
- Speaker Type: Soundbar
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth
- Recommended Uses For Product: Volume
- Streaming:Bluetooth, Wi-Fi.
- Dimension: 32.2 x 3.9 x 2.8
- Number of channels: 2.0
The Roku Smart Soundbar is one of the most affordable soundbars available. It combines a streaming box, a soundbar, a wireless headphone adaptor, and a Bluetooth speaker.
The stream bar provides great bass and sound quality in a tiny space. Bass that is heard but does not overpower the other noises, as opposed to bass that causes a wall to tremble, a window to fracture, or a roof to fall. The speech enhancement and sound leveling functions are excellent.
However, for fans of bass-heavy genres such as EDM and hip-hop, the bar’s inability to recreate pounding deep bass on its own is frustrating due to the lack of a subwoofer.
Another selling feature is that if you enable HDMI ARC or Optica, you can have audio from other sources play directly to your Roku remote. Older game systems, such as the original Xbox, Xbox 360, and GameCube, lack newer features, but the Streambar lets you access them via the remote.
A soundbar with excellent sound that is simple to install and configure. You may enhance your voice to hear the spoken conversation with this one. It’s great for sports because it filters out crowd noise, plus it has Roku built in as an extra bonus.
The Roku Smart Soundbar features a simple design that is mostly comprised of plastic and feels really strong. This soundbar’s wireless playback capability is amazing. If you wish to stream from your computer, you may do so over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Boosted loudness and auto-speech clarity in the Roku OS make it easier to hear your TV and give your music greater depth. With a single remote, you can switch on your TV, adjust the volume, and access your streaming sites- no more juggling with remotes.
Our Verdict
Because of its typically neutral audio reproduction, especially in the mid and treble frequencies, the Roku Smart Soundbar can reproduce vocalists and lead instruments effectively. It includes several nice customization features, including as four EQ settings, a conversation enhancement function, and an auto volume setting. Its surround performance is mediocre, and it, like many 2.0 soundbars, lacks compatibility for Atmos.
2-Bose Solo 5
- Brand: Bose
- Model Name: TV Speaker
- Speaker Type: Soundbar, Tweeter
- ConnectivityTechnology: Bluetooth
- Special Feature: Bass Boost
- Streaming:Bluetooth
- Dimension: 21.6 x 2.8 x 3.4″
- Number of channels: 2.0
Last but not least, the Bose Solo 5 soundbar is ideal for tiny rooms. Because of its sound enhancement function, the soundbar is extremely easy to install and has great conversation clarity even at volume level 6.
The Bose Solo 5 has a reasonable stereo frequency response for its size, but the bass is noticeably lacking. Because of its relatively high low-frequency extension, it struggles to create thunderous thumps and rumbles.
Because of its modest size, it may not be the greatest choice in a large room or at a crowded party because it does not get exceptionally loud. The effect will be less immersive, and the objects will appear to attack you from the front rather than the sides or rear.
To play wirelessly with the Bose Solo, only Bluetooth is supported. You can wirelessly stream music from your smartphone or tablet to the soundbar, but you cannot connect to the network or cast from the built-in Chromecast or Apple AirPlay to the soundbar.
The large and multifunctional remote control included with the Bose Solo 5 may also be utilized with another device, according to our tests. The soundbar has no controls, thus you can only use the remote to control it.
Our Verdict
The Bose Solo 5 is adequate for a wide range of applications. Its well-balanced mid-range can correctly recreate content such as podcasts and TV episodes with a lot of conversation. However, for some music enthusiasts, the included subwoofer’s inability to create low bass might be unsatisfactory. It downmixes surround sound into stereo and does not support Dolby Atmos material.
3- Denon Home Sound Bar 550
- Brand: DENON
- Model Name: DENONHOMESB550
- Speaker Type: Soundbar, Tweeter
- Connectivity Technology: Auxiliary, USB, Optical, HDMI
- Special Feature: Dolby Atmos & DTS: X, Simple Setup, HEOS, Alexa
- Streaming:Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2.
- Dimension: 25.95″ x 2.95″ x 4.72″
- Number of channels: 2.0
.When you pair your Denon soundbar with a flat screen, you will be blown away by the amazing sound quality that will fill the whole room with lots of power. Even at maximum level, the bass is crystal clear and distortion-free, whether you’re listening to music or watching a movie.
Each of its six drivers has its own amplifier, with three drivers per channel. Three drivers are advantageous since each handles a specific frequency range, as opposed to one driver having to handle all frequencies. This generates a wonderful sound.
It features a somewhat boxy sound profile that provides a bit extra boom in the bottom area and may appeal to listeners that prefer bass-heavy music genres like ED. Because the rest of the spectrum is quite neutral and balanced, the vocals and lead instruments reproduce effectively.
Because it fails to replicate an extended low-bass, you won’t be able to hear the deep rumble in action-packed movie parts. There are EQ settings, bass and treble adjustments, and more to let you customize the sound.
Touch-sensitive controls, in my view, allow you to play/pause audio and adjust the level on top of the bass. A sensor causes the buttons to light up when your hand is close to them.
This simple-to-install and simple-to-use bar supports Airplay, which is great for iPhone users. You may also stream audio through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Our Verdict
The Denon Home Sound Bar 550 has a slightly boomy but generally balanced sound profile that is appropriate for mixed use. The thud and rumble are not heard in bass-heavy music or action-packed movies. It has difficulty reproducing a deep low-bass. Although it supports surround and Atmos content, it might provide a more immersive listening experience. It also doesn’t get too loud.
4- Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX (Best Dolby Atmos)
- Brand: Sennheiser Consumer Audio
- Model Name: AMBEO Soundbar
- Speaker Type: Soundbar
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth
- Recommended Uses For Product: Built-in microphone
- Streaming: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2. Spotify and Tidal.
- Dimension: 126.5 x 13.5 x 17.1
- Number of channels: 5.1.4
Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX is fantastic, with plenty of loudness, clarity, and no clutter. Ambeo’s 3D audio is adequate, and the inbuilt Upmix Technology supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and MPEG-H.
Atmos is handled quite well. Due to the product’s physical size, you also receive good L/R/C separation. In the absence of a subwoofer, the angled speakers that reflect back sounds are better than nothing, providing deep, 30Hz bass.
The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAXe is extremely loud, making it ideal for large venues or busy environments. When pushed to its limitations, it still functions effectively at full volume, although there are occasional pumping and compression artifacts.
According to my personal experience, the soundbar is compatible with the most advanced audio formats through Full HDMI In. It can connect to most contemporary devices through Bluetooth and to your home network via Wi-Fi, where you may cast content.
Apple AirPlay 2 functionality is available after updating the bar’s firmware to version 1.0.237. If you often stream music from services like as Spotify and Tidal, you can also connect to the bar via Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect.
The remote control for the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX is a reasonable size and can operate most, but not all, of the bar’s capabilities.
With the Sennheiser Smart Control app, you can control all of the bar’s functions from the comfort of your couch. You may, for example, access the graphic EQ, alter the input, and modify the bar settings.
Our Verdict
Sennheiser’s AMBEO Soundbar MAX is ideal for a number of applications. It boasts a one-of-a-kind 3D mode that improves surround performance, making it excellent for viewing movies. Although the overall sound profile is rather realistic, the bass range may be improved.
5- Bose Smart Soundbar (Best Bose soundbar without subwoofer)
- Brand: Bose
- Model Name: Soundbar 900
- Speaker Type: Soundbar
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Optical, HDMI
- Recommended Uses For Product: Bass Boost, Built In Microphone
- Streaming: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect.
- Dimension: 26.6 x 2.2 x 4″
- Number of channels: 5.0.2
The greatest Bose soundbar without a subwoofer is definitely the Bose Smart Soundbar90. The bar gets very loud without distortion and has enough bass on its own without the need for an additional sub-definitely an upgrade from the built-in TV speaker.
Low-profile bar with a clean, basic design that won’t block your TV screen. The glass plate on top of the bar gives it a more expensive appearance.
Even at a low setting, the music sounded great and filled the space nicely. The stereo frequency response of the Bose Soundbar 900 is adequate. The bottom range has a little more oomph, bringing bass-heavy songs to life.
However, unlike other freestanding bars, it lacks prolonged deep bass, so your seat will not vibrate even during an action-packed scene. You may always add a separate subwoofer for more bass.
This bar is compatible with Dolby Atmos content. Although it has a comparable configuration to other Dolby Atmos soundbars, it does not sound as immersive as the discrete localisation provided by home theater installations.
On top of the bar, there are two touch-sensitive buttons. The “Action” button lets you manually activate voice assistants, quiet alarms, and timers. Voice assistants may be turned off by pressing the “Microphone Off” button.
Our Verdict
Overall, sound effects are crisp and realistic, with a little extra rumble from these channels’ bass-heavy sound profile. It’s ideal for listening to audio material, such as your favorite music and crisp speech from TV episodes, movies, and music videos. It raises the pitch of your sound.
6- Sonos Beam Gen 2
- Brand: Sonos
- Model Name: Beam (Gen 2)
- Speaker Type: 3D
- Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi
- Recommended Uses For Product: Music,Games,Movies
- Streaming: Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2
- Dimension: 25.6 x 2.7 x 3.9″
- Number of channels: 5.0
For many reasons, the Sono Beam Gen 2 is the greatest overall soundbar that does not require a separate subwoofer.
The clean sound of Gen 2 makes it easier to hear TV programming and adds airiness to movie watching. Another outstanding feature we discovered with the Sonos is its Speech Enhancement function, which aids in the clarification of dialogue.
Although there is an option to accentuate the voices, don’t anticipate an immersive experience when viewing movies because the sound will be fantastic at times. Even yet, the language is hardly audible until it suddenly grows louder.
Its tiny form allows it to easily fit between 55′′ TVs; it also does not impede your TV screen because it is not too tall. Furthermore, there are touch-sensitive buttons at the top of the bar that allow you to:
Change the volume
Pause and play your audio
Switch the microphone on and off.
In my experience, the bar lets you to stream content wirelessly using Apple Airplay and Wi-Fi. There are more costly solutions available, but the great sound quality it gives makes it a wonderful value for money.
While the sound of the Beam alters when a sub is attached, providing the impression of a quick improvement, the Gen 2 always sounds more like the sub-connected Beam regardless of whether the sub is turned on.
Its overall sound profile is fairly balanced in my opinion, with a little of oomph in the upper bass, which helps to produce a bubble of sound for any home theater system despite speakers being placed within.
7- Samsung HW-S60T (Best Samsung Soundbar Without Subwoofer)
- Brand: SAMSUNG
- Model Name: Soundbar
- SpeakerType: Soundbar
- Connectivity Technology: HMDI ARC, Optical Audio In port, micro-USB port.
- Recommended Uses For Product: Music
- Streaming:Bluetooth, Wi-Fi.
- Dimension: 30.1 x 2.6 x 4.9″
- Number of channels: 4.0
Our Verdict
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a wonderful choice, especially for entertainment with speech, such as podcasts and TV episodes. Because it lacks a subwoofer, it does not produce window-rattling bass, making it ideal for apartment dwellers. Nonetheless, the bass is substantially greater than that of TV speakers.
With superb sound quality and simple setup, the Samsung HW-S60T is the finest Samsung soundbar without a subwoofer. It is a low-profile soundbar that fits perfectly between the legs of 55-inch TVs without obscuring your view.
The Samsung HW-S60T is really well-made. The plastic body of the speakers feels substantial and solid, and the Kvadrat fabric cover seems long-lasting. The material may be prone to tears and dust accumulation, but the soundbar as a whole is well-made and quality.
Although it may be used as an Alexa device, it lacks the Apple Music playback functionality that an Echo has. Apple devices must be Bluetooth-enabled in order to play Apple Music, which is less handy than other Alexa devices.
It offers a reasonably neutral sound profile with a well-balanced treble in my experience; despite it seems bass-heavy, it does not produce a true or immersive sound like tower speakers may.
The Samsung HW-S60T has adequate ARC support. It is compatible with DTS and Dolby Digital material. It cannot, however, support more object-based sound formats like DTS:X or Dolby Atmos, which may be preferable for movie evenings.
This soundbar has superb wireless playback capability. If you want to stream material from your computer, you may use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to connect to it. It also enables Bluetooth connecting with up to two devices at the same time, making switching between your smartphone and PC a breeze.
There are four buttons on the top of the soundbar. You have the ability to modify the microphone, volume, inputs, and mute. Holding down the device’s multi-function primary button will activate Alexa.
Samsung SmartThings is an app that works in tandem with the Samsung HW-S60. With the app, you can do everything with the remote, including changing inputs and controlling playback. The app also makes it easier to access the visual EQ and presets.
Our Verdict
The Samsung HW-S60T has a wide range of applications. Even when used alone, it’s perfectly suited for a wide spectrum of music, and its soundstage is wide and centered enough to allow you have a more immersive movie experience. If you want more bass, Samsung sells a suitable wireless subwoofer separately. It also becomes loud enough for large or busy areas.
8- Sonos Arc Soundbar
- Brand: Sonos
- Model Name: Sonos Arc
- Speaker Type: Soundbar
- Connectivity Technology: HDMI
- Recommended Uses For Product: Hi Res Audio, Bass Boost
- Streaming: Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2
- Dimension: 3.4 x 45 x 4.5 inches
- Weight: 6.25kg
The Sonos Arc Soundbar is the best-rated soundbar without a subwoofer because of its exceptional channel clarity and rich, clear music that seems to emanate from all directions.
Sonos is the ideal home theater system if you don’t need a subwoofer because it has great sound quality, lots of bass, and crystal-clear music and voices on its own.
According to our tests, It has a sophisticated, svelte appearance with an integrated voice assistant feature for control without the need for a hand. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support allow you to access a broad variety of unique content on streaming services and Blu-rays.
You may connect the bar to other Sonos ecosystem devices using the Sonos S2 app so that sound can
You can play/pause, change the level, and muffle the microphone with the touch-sensitive controls on this soundbar. Swiping right or left over the controls will advance to the following or previous track.
Google and Alexa are your choices for voice commands. You can use Google or Alexa to issue voice commands, so I went with Alexa.
If you have an iOS smartphone, you can use the bar’s app to use the Trueplay room correction feature. When this option is used, the sound profile is fairly bright with a stronger treble accent.
Even so, the lead instruments and vocals are reproduced fairly clearly, but the bar does not replicate the low bass. We upgraded the bar to firmware version 14.18, and the bass range had a little more.
Our Verdict
A high-end standalone soundbar that produces clean, rich sound is the Sonos Arc. You can utilize the Trueplay room correction feature of compatible iOS devices to optimize music reproduction based on the unique acoustics of your room. Vocals and lead instruments are still accurately portrayed even though the sound profile is a tad loud.
9- JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam (Best Budget)
- Brand: JBL
- Model Name: JBL BAR5.0
- Speaker Type: Soundbar, Surround Sound
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Recommended Uses For Product: For Gaming, For Televisions, For Smartphones or Tablets
- Streaming: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast built-in, Apple AirPlay
- Dimension: 709 x 58 x 101mm
- Number of channels: 5.0
The JBL Bar is the greatest soundbar you can buy for a fair price. You won’t believe you are listening to a 2.1-channel sound thanks to its superb smart mode, which greatly expands the sound stage and gives you the impression of being in a surround-sound environment.
The bar we tested features a straightforward, elegant design with a strong metal top and a solid plastic bottom. The remote control could have benefited from having some built-in grip and being wider.
Although it was unable to create deep low-bass, the audio gained an extra punch when we activated its Automatic Multibeam capabilities. Hip-hop fans and fans of action movies won’t appreciate this feature. The bar’s bass setting by default is “3.”
The connectivity is fantastic and includes Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and Native Spotify, so no matter what device you use, it can connect. On the top of the bar are the actual buttons. These allow you to change the input source, control the volume, and turn on/off the bar.
This 5.0 setup’s isolated center channel improves the precision and clarity of dialogue reproduction. There isn’t much compression when played at full volume, which is great if you enjoy turning up the music for parties.
It has a respectable stereo frequency response, the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. For a relatively minimal investment, you can receive a lot of capability.
Our Verdict
The JBL 5.1 is the soundbar for you if you want a great soundbar without spending a fortune. The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam offers outstanding support for audio formats via ARC. It is compatible with Dolby Digital, the most popular surround sound format. Its boxy sound profile gives your favorite movies additional oomph. Music erupts in all directions as a result of it.
10- Sonos Ray Soundbar
- Brand: Sonos
- Model Name: Sonos Ray
- Speaker Type: Soundbar
- Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi
- Sound Format Support: Dolby Digitalt, DTS
- Streaming:Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Tida Connect.
- Dimension: 22 x 2.8 x 3.7″
- Number of channels: 2.0
The Sonos Ray soundbar is suitable for consumers who desire superior sound but do not require features such as Dolby Atmos or room-shaking bass. The Ray is even more compact than the already compact
Sonos beam has a plastic finish, giving it a high-end and durable appearance.
The Sonos Ray has a good stereo frequency response. It provides a Trueplay room correction feature on compatible iOS devices, which automatically adjusts the bar’s audio reproduction based on the exact acoustics of your environment, comparable to Sonos’ more costly products.
The loss of bass is obvious, especially in bass-heavy genres such as hip-hop and EDM. However, if you normally listen to dialogue-driven TV episodes with little basses, the voices are outstanding and detailed.
The sound isn’t particularly immersive, coming simply from the speakers directly in front of you. Only some sound effects appear to be originating from certain directions. If you want a crisper and more accurate depiction of surround material, you may always install rear speakers.
The Sonos Ray has various touch-sensitive controls. They allow you to regulate the volume as well as play/pause your music. However, the Sonos S2 app is required to access the bar’s extra functionalities.
Our Verdict
The Sonos Ray is adequate for podcasts and TV shows with a lot of conversation. To balance the loudness when viewing TV at night, there is a night mode option and a conversation enhancement mod. However, because it is a 2.0 layout, a separate center channel is required to assist provide conversation in the soundstage a sharper, more realistic depiction, as seen in more expensive models.
Key Factors To Consider for Best soundbars without subwoofers
Compact versions of speakers called soundbars take up less room. If you currently own a separate subwoofer or don’t want to annoy your neighbor, you might want to get a soundbar without one. However, soundbars must adhere to a number of requirements, some of which are discussed below.
1: Frequency Response
The frequency response of a speaker or soundbar is the most desired characteristic. If the seeker will replicate proper sound is shown. The clear, crisp notes that the soundbars produce in the music they play are well-known. The frequency response has a significant impact on the speaker’s volume as well.
2: Surround Sound Capability
The soundbar can be set up in a variety of channel configurations. For correct surround sound reproduction, speaker count is crucial. With systems like Dolby Atmos, the speakers work together to provide an immersive surround sound.
3: Connectivity
It’s crucial to connect the soundbars to the audio as well. Without this connection, the soundbars won’t be able to process the sound signals. An HDMI input can be used to connect the soundbars to a television. For improved sound transmission, HDMI inputs are also compatible with DVD and Blu-ray players. Bluetooth and WiFi are two crucial components of wireless connectivity. Applications that require Wi-Fi access can be streamed. Computers, DTH connections, and smart TVs are all compatible with it
4: Control
There are typically two ways to use a soundbar. The physical controls built into the soundbar body or the remote control are the two choices. The physical control buttons are typically utilized as a backup. It is recommended to use a remote control to operate a soundbar because it is the most practical method. Volume control and other settings are included on soundbar remote controls. The voice command is an improved variant that is well-liked in smart homes. Voice control technologies like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant can be used to remotely operate the soundbars.
Conclusion
The many soundbar configurations that run subwoofers were the topic of our discussion today. These soundbars, which stand in for the external speaker, are an essential component of the audio system.
Even while it might seem difficult to get a top-notch soundbar without a subwoofer, it’s easy once you know what to look for. So that any lingering questions about soundbars would be cleared up, we provided a shopping guide.
With the greatest soundbars available without a subwoofer, we hope this post was helpful to you.