With no exceptions that we know of, the latest generation of TVs sucks when it comes to sound output quality — no thanks to the flat-panel design that gives no room for robust speakers. So, to get enhanced sound quality from your TV, you need to invest in a soundbar.
While you have the option of going for a soundbar that comes with a standalone subwoofer, you’d be better off with one without a subwoofer if you don’t have a lot of living room space or you prefer a discreet home entertainment setup.
Bear in mind that soundbars without subwoofers have their subwoofers built into them. So, expect from them what you’d get from most models with standalone subwoofers.
In this post, we’d be looking at some of the best soundbars without subwoofers. Choosing the best soundbar without a subwoofer from the tons of options available on the market can be a considerable challenge. But we’ve done all the hard work for you.
Soundbar without Subwoofer: Amazon Best Sellers
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Top 6 Best Soundbars without Subwoofer For November 2023
Here are the top 6 best Soundbars without Subwoofer for November 2023.
1. Sonos Playbar
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Sonos has always been a key player in the multi-room audio business and the Sonos Playbar is another release to establish its dominance. It has no separate subwoofer but it is worth every penny.
This is apparent from the moment you unbox this sound equipment as you will get a great build quality, especially since it’s sculpted in a lozenge shape. A black mesh runs round the soundbar and is supported by aluminum edges that harmonize to create a premium appeal.
And thanks to its small size, you can hide it away from view under a 42-inch TV or larger. If you dislike the idea of having multiple remotes in your entertainment room, the Sonos Playbar might appeal more to you as it doesn’t ship with one.
For controls, you’d have to download the Sonos app which uses IR blaster to transmit signals.
As per the setup, the manufacturer keeps things simple, and you should be able to set up the soundbar in minutes. Most soundbars come with a limited number of connections, and the Sonos Playbar isn’t any different.
On the rear, you’d get two Ethernet ports, power, and an optical audio input. HDMI is missing here, which is disappointing, so confirm that your TV has an optical output.
Coming to the performance of this soundbar, it maintains a healthy balance between movies and music playback. For starters, it has one of the best frequency ranges you can find on any 3.0 system in this price category.
The dialogue resonates well and the rumble during low-end effects is easy to notice. The soundscapes might not be the best you’ve heard, but the detail and depth will make your TV experience an enjoyable one.
Pros
- Amazing sound quality
- Fantastic design
- Integrates well into Sonos system
- Easy streaming from Spotify
Cons
- Very expensive
- Only one input
2. YAMAHA YAS-108 Sound Bar
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The soundbar market might be saturated but Yamaha is a brand you can trust for an audiophile-grade soundbar. The YAS-108 is a natural entertainer, delivering high performance at a crazy-low price.
If you’ve used a Yamaha soundbar before, you’d agree that Yamaha doesn’t make stylish designs a priority which isn’t a bad idea since soundbars are meant to be heard and not seen.
Rocking a sleek and shiny plastic body, the soundbar is enclosed in black mesh with rounded edges. The sound equipment measures roughly 2 inches in height to sit in front of your TV without blocking off a part of the TV.
It doesn’t have a separate subwoofer, but it has two 3-inch subwoofers to deliver additional bass. If you wish, you can wall-mount the YAS-108 without worry as the soundbar has a built-in gyroscope for that orientation to provide full sound.
Thankfully, you can connect this soundbar to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and connect it to your Amazon Echo so Alexa can stream music and podcasts to it.
Much like its predecessors, the YAS-10 maintains a track record of excellence in terms of sound quality. It delivers a rich, powerful bass that defies its physical proportions, proving to be immersive and enveloping.
The sound output is detailed, clear, accurate, and sharp without any sign of shrill. It has a low rate of sound modification and distortion compared to other soundbars in its price range.
It gives a good account of itself during movies by managing the hushed conversations and loud sounds (like gunshots and explosions.)
The performance is also incredible during music playback as its precision unearths the finest details of effects, drawing you deeper into the soundstage. Similarly, it does well too when you play games or watch the news segment on it.
Pros
- Full sound from a compact form
- Sharp treble and good bass
- HDMI and 4K pass-through
- Fair price point
- Can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously
Cons
- No app support yet
- Lackluster setup experience
3. Bose Solo 5
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Bose has always been a top-rated manufacturer of audio systems and the Bose Solo 5 is a new offering on the market with an affordable price tag. Being an entry-level soundbar, the sound quality is pretty good but not the same as what its high-end soundbars produce.
Unboxing the Solo 5, the first impression you will get is that of a high-quality soundbar with a simple design that’s all-black. Although the cabinet is made of plastic, it feels pretty solid while the sides are built with aluminum to harmonize the aesthetics.
There are status indicators on the front and they light up in different colors to depict the mode that’s currently in use.
On top of the soundbar are six preset buttons while the connection on the back is limited, consisting of two digital audio inputs (optical and coaxial), a stereo analog input plus built-in Bluetooth connectivity so you can stream music.
A drawback here is the lack of HDMI port to feed HD audio to the soundbar and the usual 3.5mm audio jack. There are other things features to consider such as the auto-wake feature which enables the Solo 5 to power on when it picks a signal.
The soundbar will remain awake until 60 minutes of inactivity which eliminates the need of turning it off every time. Amazingly, you can save up to eight devices on the sound equipment so you can stream music from any of them simultaneously using Bluetooth.
The Solo5 might be smaller than most pedestal-type soundbars but it delivers an impressive sound for its category. The bass levels are decent but it sometimes gets muffled during movie playback while the midrange and treble are clear enough to make out distinct sounds.
Watch your favorite blockbusters or your choice tracks and you will get a sound quality that’s marked by details and clarity.
Pros
- Small and compact design
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Universal remote
Cons
- Chunky remote
- No wall-mount kit
- No sound adjustment features
4. Sonos Beam – Smart TV Soundbar without woofer
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Sonos as a company has built a reputation for quality and longevity, and Sonos Beam is the latest product to join the company’s line of soundbars.
Its major selling point is that it can fill the entry-level home theatre studio gap. Measuring 650 x 100 x 68.5mm, the Beam is smaller than its sibling, the Sonos Playbar.
There are no buttons for control; what you’d rather get are touch-sensitive controls for volume, play/pause, and speaker mic/off.
Unlike some soundbars on the market, the depth the Beam produces when you wall-mount it is similar to what you’d get when you place it under the TV due to its “100mm depth” specification.
A fabric drapes over the soundbar with ports on the back for connection such as Ethernet, HDMI slot (which the Sonos Playbar lack), power, and a Wi-Fi button.
To control the Beam, head over to the play store to download the company’s app which offers over 60 audio services that are compatible with the Sonos Beam.
It also comes with Alexa voice control integration so you can tell the soundbar what to do. There are plans to integrate Siri too to provide versatility. The sound output is powerful but not overwhelming.
You will get a fantastic delivery that consists of rich and deep audio, and it gets better when you pair it up with the Sonos:1 as rear speakers.
The Vocal Enhancement feature helps optimize sound output to make dialogue clear while managing the warped sound effects. Overall, the Beam performs above acceptable standards and this is impressive.
Pros
- Great compact design
- HDMI ARC compatible
- Incredible sound
Cons
- No Dolby Atmos
- No remote
- The setup gets tricky if you don’t have HDMI ARC
5. ZVOX SB500 Aluminum Best TV soundbar without subwoofer
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If the name Zvox doesn’t ring a bell, don’t let it bother you as you’re not alone. The company focuses exclusively on making soundbars but for some reason, they’ve not become a household name like Bose or Yamaha.
The Zvox SB500 is one of the models from the company and it offers real value for money. The SB500 adopts a minimalist and streamlined design, featuring an all-aluminum cabinet with solid metal speaker grille, while the edges are covered with rubberized plastic.
It measures 43.9 x 3.3 x 5.7 which is ideal for TVs larger than 50 inches for proper blending. Like its predecessors, the SB500 is a 3-channel system and comes with a pair of 4-inch bass woofers to provide enough soundstage to fill any room.
For connections, there are no HDMI inputs but you will get a single digital connection (coaxial or optical), analog input for stereo, and Bluetooth input for connectivity.
A chunky remote comes with the package but you can use your TV remote for basic controls if you wish as the SB500 can learn the volume, mute, and power toggle codes that your favorite remote uses.
There are tons of features that will thrill budget buyers and one of them is output leveling which keeps the volume of commercials from getting louder or overpowering when they come on.
Another is the Intellivoice function which helps process dialogue for the hearing impaired so the voices, in particular, sounded naturally balanced and articulate.
To complement the features, the SB500 performs well as the dialogue and the rumbles have a bite. Check the soundbar’s performance with music and you will get a delineated sound delivery that distinguishes the finest details.
The performance during movie playback is also engaging as the background noise is decent enough to create the right effects without drowning the dialogue.
Pros
- Powerful, dynamic bass
- Impressive soundstage spread
- Rock-solid build quality
Cons
- No HDMI in or out
- Larger than most soundbars
6. Taotronics TT-SK023
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TaoTronics is a manufacturer that specializes in making affordable soundbars that don’t look cheap, and the TT-SK023 is ideal for those who want to dip their toes into the world of soundbars without breaking the bank.
The TT-SK023 rocks a design that doesn’t look premium, and yet doesn’t look cheap either. Like most models on the market, it comes in black and is extremely light for its size, weighing just 3.9 pounds.
It has a plastic body that is easy on the eyes and a grille that covers the front side with no inscription other than the initials of the brand. The body dimensions are equally slim to save valuable space.
A small display on the front of the grille is apparent to indicate the command you give to it via the remote such as volume and Bluetooth while the back of the soundbar has an optical, coaxial, and RCA but HDMI is missing in action here.
The TT-SK023 comes with a remote control in the package. There’s a dearth of notable features here but the sound equipment has 3 different equalizer modes to fine-tune your soundbar namely: games, music, and movie modes.
With this feature, you can get customized sound delivery to enhance your listening experience. It also has Bluetooth support so that you can use the soundbar in wireless mode.
Performance-wise, the TT-SK023 delivers all-encompassing sound, proving to live up to the hype. Its forte is its bass capabilities which are strong enough to fill the room, especially for movies and music playback.
You will only notice the imperfection when you crank up the volume as the output becomes harsh and fatiguing to listen to. Overall, the performance is decent but with a few imperfections.
Pros
- The price is a steal
- Powerful bass
Cons
- No HDMI
- Sound harsh at high volume levels
Soundbar without subwoofer: Today’s Best Deal!
- ALL-IN-ONE: Everything you need in a single soundbar with two woofers and tweeters built in, so you can enjoy rich sound that will fill your room
- DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 / DTS VIRTUAL:X: Dolby Digital 5.1 capable creates realistic surround sound by projecting it from all around you, while DTS Virtual: X expands your listening experience without...
- Q-SYMPHONY: Perfectly synchronized, fully immersive audio floods your room all at once, using every speaker in compatible Samsung TV and soundbars*
- Room-Filling Sound: The all-in-one soundbar offers louder sound. Powerful speakers deliver round, high-end audio experience for bedrooms and apartments. It maximizes sound clarity and reduces voice...
- Compact, Low Profile Design: The compact sound bar with built-in subwoofer easily fits in any room. No worries about blocking your TV or taking up space for a big sub and still enjoy the enhanced...
- Deep Bass Without Separate Subwoofer: Dual built-in down-firing subwoofers deliver deep and powerful bass. Experience deep, rich bass to make movies and music truly come to life, allowing you to enjoy...
- Fully immersive 5.1.4 channel 3D high-quality sound experience with deep 30Hz bass without the need for an additional subwoofer, thanks to Sennheiser’s bespoke AMBEO audio technology.
- Delivers 3D surround sound adjusted to the characteristics of your living room via advanced room calibration and the latest virtualization sound bar technology developed with Fraunhofer.
- Customize your home listening experience with a built-in equalizer and three bespoke AMBEO 3D technology modes for your home audio sound bars.
- Hear your TV better: Designed with simplicity in mind, the Bose TV Speaker is a small soundbar that clarifies speech and is a simple fix for better TV sound.
- Wide, natural sound: 2 angled full-range drivers deliver a more realistic, spatial audio experience for overall better TV sound from a small soundbar.
- Enhanced dialogue: This TV speaker is designed to specifically focus on clarifying and elevating vocals and pronunciation.
- Straight from the theater to your home: easy set-up, built-in tweeter, 2-ch speaker with simple Bluetooth connection
- Deep sound with Bass Reflex speaker
- High power with a slim design that matches any room and is perfect for small living spaces
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Last Updated on October 24, 2021 by Emmanuel Pery
Hi! I’m Emmanuel, a passionate fellow who helps you choose the best products!