Using an external TV speaker enhances your viewing experience. It elevates the sound quality to a level that’s way above what a built-in TV speaker can provide.
This is one of the reasons why people invest in an external TV speaker system for their home theater. Sound quality increases and the viewing experience becomes a lot better. No one wants to watch a great movie with muffled audio, right?
With so many options available on the market, it can be quite challenging to decide which speaker to get especially when you have a tight budget.
In this article, I’ll be sharing some of the best budget external TV speakers that you can find on the market nowadays.
Best Budget External TV Speakers
Understandably, not everyone can afford to spend $1000 or more for a TV speaker.
This is why this list only includes external TV speakers under $200 – the perfect balance between features and budget. That said, let’s jumpstart our list with our Editor’s Pick.
Vizio V-Series V51x-J6 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar
This home theater sound bar is an excellent option for affordable 5.1 external tv speakers without compromising features.
The Download
The Vizio V-Series V51x-J6 5.1 Home Theater soundbar takes the editor’s pick this time.
There aren’t many 5.1 soundbars with a subwoofer and excellent sound quality at this price point so this one takes the cake.
Performance-wise, it’s great. It’s not mind-blowing but you know that you’re getting more than your money’s worth.
The V51x features a low-profile modern design and support for high-quality audio with Dolby Atmos. The surround sound experience is provided by the main soundbar up-front with two satellite speakers and a wireless subwoofer on the rear.
The 4.5-inch subwoofer is not much but it provides the needed bass boost that a built-in TV speaker can’t provide. This setup also has Bluetooth connectivity and voice assistant support.
Now for the cons, recent reports have mentioned that the new model doesn’t have HMDI input. This can be a dealbreaker for some people as the auxiliary or optical input meant extra wires to set up.
Lastly, the satellite speakers are not wireless, which is a good thing if you want a stable connection. But this means you need to find cable routes to reduce cable clutter in your living room.
The Specs
- Number of speakers: 6
- Audio output channels: 5.1
- Number of Speakers: 1 soundbar, 2 satellite speakers, 1 subwoofer
- Frequency response: 50Hz – 20kHz
- Remote: Yes
- Listening Modes: Movie, Music, Game, Direct
- Connectivity: Wireless and Wired (3.5mm stereo mini jack)
- Bluetooth: 4.1
What’s in the Box?
- 2 x satellite speakers
- 1 x subwoofer
- 1 x soundbar
- Remote
- Power cable
- User manual
- Connectivity cables
Stuff I like
- Great sound quality
- 5.1 surround sound
- Minimalist design
- Includes the necessary cables
- Wireless connectivity
- Price
Stuff I like less
- Bluetooth connection bugs
- Lack of HDMI input
Where to get it
Micca PB42X Powered Bookshelf Speakers
The Micca PB42X Powered Bookshelf Speakers is a great alternative if you want excellent for your TV audio but you want a soundbar setup.
The Download
Micca did a great job designing the PB42X. These bookshelf speakers look great, and they have a minimalist design that will blend well with any audio setup.
The PB42X provides a respectable sound quality. It’s not stunning per se but it can provide a balanced tone.
Watching movies and streaming shows would be delightful since the vocals are clear. It produces nice and crips mids to highs with bright vocals. Bass is acceptable but it’s not its strongest suit.
The Micca PB42X is a simple speaker system that connects via RCA or 3.5mm input jacks. There’s a volume control at the back but you can just go ahead and control the volume through your input device.
So what makes the PB42X a great external TV speaker? The price.
It’s available for around $140 and you’re getting a starter setup that you can build with. You can purchase a subwoofer or a center speaker later to complete your surround system.
The downside to the PB42X is its size. It’s a great option for a small living room, office, or even a bedroom but like other budget speakers, it’s not capable of filling a large room.
The Specs
- Woofer: 4-inch carbon fiber | rubber surround
- Tweeter: 0.75-inch Silk Dome
- Crossover: 12dB/Octave
- Enclosure: Ported
- Frequency Response: 60Hz – 20kHz
- Inputs: 3.5mm Stereo min jack and Stereo RCA
- Power: 15W
What’s in the Box?
- Micca PB42X Speaker Set
- Power cable
- User Manual
Stuff I like
- Reasonable price
- Sleek design
- Great sound quality
- Decent bass
Stuff I like less
- Wireless connectivity (hoping to see this in future versions)
- Feels flat compared to other speakers
Where to get it
Ultimea Tapio I Pro
Superb performance for less than $100. The Tapio I Pro gives clear sound quality without an overpowering bass. It’s the perfect budget external TV speaker for small rooms.
The Download
The Ultimea Tapio I Pro is a feature-packed TV soundbar for those who are on a budget. Priced at $70, this soundbar is good-looking and easy to set up.
It’s a compact unit yet it’s powerful enough to produce great audio for your TV. Thanks to the 4+2 speaker arrangement, it produces clear vocals and decent mids to highs.
However, the bass is lacking since it doesn’t have a dedicated subwoofer. You can hear the lows but you have to set it to the maximum bass boost for it to be more recognizable.
The Tapio I Pro is perfect for those who are looking for budget-friendly external TV speakers without breaking the bank. It doesn’t provide a mind-blowing experience but it can be worth buying given how affordable it is.
Do take note though that if you have a fairly large living room, this soundbar might not be enough due to its size.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, feel free to read our Ultimea Tapio I Pro review here.
The Specs
- Type: Soundbar
- Speaker Channel: 2.0
- Total System Peak Power: 130W
- Power Output: Main Unit: 2x 15W
- Bluetooth: Yes | Bluetooth 5.0
- Frequency Response: 50Hz – 15kHz
- Equalizer: Voice/General/Treble
- Inputs: HDMI ARC | Aux | USB | Optical
- Remote: Yes
- Subwoofer: No
- Dimensions: 17.52 x 5.20 x 4.72 inches
- Weight: 3.96 lbs
What’s in the Box?
- Tapio I Pro Soundbar
- Remote
- Power cable
- Optical Cable
- User Manual
- Mounting Kit
Stuff I like
- Attractive compact design
- LED mode display
- Great sound quality
- Lots of connectivity options
- Easy controls
- Very affordable price
Stuff I like less
- HDMI cable not included
- Not enough bass
Where to get it
TCL Alto 6 Wireless 2.0 Channel Sound Bar
A budget-friendly soundbar that’s designed to enhance your TV audio. It provides clear vocals and rich bass for under $100. The TCL Alto 6 is an exciting soundbar that doesn’t burn a hole through your wallet.
The Download
The TCL Alto 6 Wireless 2.0 Channel soundbar features a dual-channel 2.1 channel setup. It has a built-in subwoofer that helps in pumping out the rich bass.
Sound quality is acceptable given its price. Again, it’s not mind-blowing but you get what you paid for – clear vocals and decent bass. It definitely does a better job than built-in TV speakers.
The design is sleek and compact. It’s not too bulky and will sit right under your TV seamlessly.
The Alto 6 supports multiple connectivity options, so you can use HDMI, USB, Aux, Optical, or Bluetooth connection for audio playback.
Ultimately, the TCL Alto 6 does its job. It provides better audio than your TV speakers and that’s what’s important at this price point.
Sound quality is subjective but it can surely take over the other options within the price range. If you want a subwoofer, TCL also offers the Alto 6+.
The Specs
- Type: Soundbar
- Speaker Channel: 2.0
- LED Indicator: Yes
- IR pass-through: No
- Keypad: 5 touch keys | On/Off, Bluetooth, Inputs, Volume
- Driver Dimensions: 1.75 x 3.94 inches
- Connection: HDMI Arc, Bluetooth, Optical, USB Playback, 3.5mm Stereo jack
- Width: 31.5 inches
What’s in the Box?
- TCL Alto 6 Soundbar
- User Manual
- Wall Mount Kit
- Remote with battery
- Optical Cable
- Power Cable
Stuff I like
- Sound quality
- Connectivity features
- Simple and minimalist design
- Enough volume for a small living room
- Support for Roku
- Affordable price
Stuff I like less
- Optical cable and HDMI cable not included
- No IR pass-through cable
Where to get it
The Bottomline
Investing in an external TV speaker is a great way to enhance your TV viewing experience.
There are numerous options on the market, and these four picks are just here to guide you and give you an idea of what’s available out there with a limited budget.
This means you can still get great audio quality without breaking the bank and spending thousands of dollars on a TV speaker.
Feel free to explore other models before making a purchase and make sure to check customer reviews and ratings.
It’s also worth noting that the speaker market is constantly changing and there might be newcomers ready to provide a better experience. Stay tuned and we’ll be updating this article whenever there are new budget external TV speakers worth considering.
Aim is a tech and gaming content writer who loves playing Apex Legends, Valorant, and Dota 2. He also plays casual games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Pokemon titles on his Nintendo Switch too. He also builds gaming computers and does tech troubleshooting on the side.
This post was last updated on 2024-12-09 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.