I named the JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass as my favorite soundbar under $300 and now it's available for under $250. It may offer a big, powerful subwoofer but it's also capable of dynamic and detailed sound for both movies and music.
Pros
- Dynamic and detailed movie sound
- Large subwoofer goes deep
- Two HDMI ports add flexibility
Cons
- Not as good with music
- No surround or Virtual:X processing
- Sparse sound controls
The Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 is already one of the best deals in audio -- it offers audiophile quality for half the price of other brands. The speaker looks great and sounds awesome with music and movies alike. And at $60 off, it's an absolute steal.
Pros
- Excellent sound for the price. Solid build quality and attractive finish. Front bass port allows close placement to walls.
Cons
- Big, boxy design. Not as forgiving or versatile as competitors.
Finding a Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbar for under $500 is almost a Herculean task, but thanks to Prime Day, the excellent HT-G700 now fits the bill. It may cut some corners -- there are no up-firing speakers, for example -- but it offers immersive, Atmos-like sound not often heard from a single bar and subwoofer combo. Note this was previously $200 off, but it's still a decent deal.
Pros
- Excellent sound with movies and music
- Dual HDMI inputs, one with eARC
- Wireless subwoofer
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Can't recreate true Atmos effects
- No expandability
- Lacks Wi-Fi streaming
Sony for Samsung prices. The Sony HT-ST5000 may be a couple of years old, but it still stands out as a soundbar that can create an enveloping Atmos sound field without the need for rear speakers. It looks great and sounds classy, too.
Pros
- The Sony HT-ST5000 is an elegant Dolby Atmos sound bar which sounds great and includes Wi-Fi music and 4K HDR compatibility. The sound-bar-and-subwoofer combination pack more punch than many competitors are capable of. Sony's inclusion of Chromecast built-in makes it a compelling multiroom competitor to Bose or Sonos.
Cons
- There's no DTS:X playback on the Sony sound bar. The competitive Samsung HW-K950 is $300 cheaper, and it offers dedicated surrounds and sounds more immersive as a result.
Not a soundbar as such, more of a "smart soundbar replacement." The Amazon Echo Studio offers excellent sound, Alexa voice assistant and a TV connection. Its Dolby Atmos capability is just the icing on the cake.
Pros
- The Amazon Echo Studio produces a monstrous cloud of sound that works great with action movies and spacious styles of music. It offers a lot of features, including Dolby Atmos, excellent connectivity and Fire TV hookup, for a relatively affordable price. The microphones are quite sensitive.
Cons
- The sound isn't always very distinct, which makes it less suitable to showcasing 3D music or Atmos. Multiroom support lags behind Sonos and Apple AirPlay. Dolby Atmos soundtracks require a Fire TV device.
BLUETOOTH SPEAKER DEALS OF THE WEEK
- $100 (save $50)
- $89 (save $30)
- $130 (save $70)
- $179 (save $120)
Amazon Prime Day may be over for 2020, but there are still a number of great deals to be had, even on audio gear. While Amazon's own Echo Studio smart speaker is sold out, there are Atmos soundbars and some truly excellent passive loudspeakers up for grabs.
The most unexpected is the JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass -- CNET's favorite soundbar under $300 -- which is now discounted by $70. It's a great-sounding speaker, and one of the best TV sound upgrades you can currently make. Sony's Atmos soundbars have also had healthy discounts.
BLUETOOTH SPEAKER DEALS OF THE WEEK
- $100 (save $50)
- $89 (save $30)
- $130 (save $70)
- $179 (save $120)
Note that prices and availability were accurate at the time of publication, but they may fluctuate.
See also
I named the JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass as my favorite soundbar under $300 and now it's available for under $250. It may offer a big, powerful subwoofer but it's also capable of dynamic and detailed sound for both movies and music.
The Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 is already one of the best deals in audio -- it offers audiophile quality for half the price of other brands. The speaker looks great and sounds awesome with music and movies alike. And at $60 off, it's an absolute steal.
CNET's Audiophiliac named the Klipsch RP-600M his 2019 speaker of the year. It offers gutsy sound and head-turning looks. It pairs great with a stereo amp or as the foundation of a great home theater system.
Finding a Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbar for under $500 is almost a Herculean task, but thanks to Prime Day, the excellent HT-G700 now fits the bill. It may cut some corners -- there are no up-firing speakers, for example -- but it offers immersive, Atmos-like sound not often heard from a single bar and subwoofer combo. Note this was previously $200 off, but it's still a decent deal.
Sony for Samsung prices. The Sony HT-ST5000 may be a couple of years old, but it still stands out as a soundbar that can create an enveloping Atmos sound field without the need for rear speakers. It looks great and sounds classy, too.
While we haven't reviewed the Vizio SB3651ns-H6, we have been consistently impressed Vizio's soundbars, and the fact the unit offers surround speakers should help with immersion. At only $20 more than our new favorite, the Vizio V21, it seems like a worthwhile upgrade.
Not a soundbar as such, more of a "smart soundbar replacement." The Amazon Echo Studio offers excellent sound, Alexa voice assistant and a TV connection. Its Dolby Atmos capability is just the icing on the cake.
Amazon says the speakers will be back in stock on Dec. 12 but is still honoring the price for preorders now.
See also
- The Walmart version of Prime Day has arrived: A $98 Roku TV and $49 Instant Pot lead the best deals
- Best Prime Day 2020 Alexa deals: Show 5, Echo Auto and Echo Dot for Kids see big discounts
- Best Prime Day 2020 TV deals available now: Get a 32-inch Fire TV for $120, save $200 on TCL 50-inch Roku TV
- Best early Prime Day 2020 headphone deals: AirPods Pro return to $199, Jabra Elite 45h for $80, Sony WF-1000XM3 for $178 and more
- Prime Day 2020 phone deals you can get now: Motorola Razr 5G for $1,200, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G for $600, TCL 10L for $210
- Early Prime Day laptop 2020 deals: Samsung Galaxy Book Flex for $1,200, Asus ZenBook 14 for $830, Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 for $900 and more
- Best Prime Day 2020 Apple deals so far: Save $30 on latest iPad now, but better sales may be coming
- Best Prime Day streaming deals: Roku devices already down to $22, Fire TV Cube dropping to $80 on Tuesday
- See all our Prime Day 2020 deals
