Budget Atmos soundbars offer cheaper TV audio upgrades than home cinema systems
Affordable soundbars can add a Dolby Atmos option to a TV without the cost of a full home theatre system. This matters because slim TVs often have small, poorly positioned speakers that struggle to deliver clear dialogue, strong bass and a convincing sense of space.
Some budget Atmos soundbars cost under $200, but many use virtual processing to imitate overhead sound rather than physical upward-firing speakers, so the effect is less immersive. Buyers should check that their TV supports Dolby Atmos passthrough; if it does not, a compatible 4K streaming device such as a Roku Express 4K+ or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K may provide it.
- Some Atmos soundbars cost less than $200.
- Many budget models simulate overhead sound.
- Check for TV passthrough or use a compatible streamer.
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Most modern televisions have inadequate built-in speakers that fail to produce clear dialogue, proper bass response or convincing spatial sound. Viewers seeking better audio have traditionally faced an expensive choice between high-end home theatre installations or accepting poor quality from their television.
Dolby Atmos is a sound technology that creates the impression audio is coming from above and around the viewer, providing a more immersive experience than conventional stereo or surround sound. Soundbars are single units that sit below the television and can deliver many of the benefits of Dolby Atmos without the space, cost and complexity of traditional home theatre systems.
There are different approaches to implementing Atmos on soundbars, with some using physical upward-firing speakers whilst others simulate the overhead effect through digital processing. To use an Atmos soundbar, your television should be able to handle Dolby Atmos signals from streaming services, though a compatible 4K streaming device can provide this capability if yours cannot.
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Originally published by Engadget as “This is one of the cheapest ways to add Dolby Atmos to your TV”.