Now that I regularly test soundbars for a living, I'm realizing just how inadequate TV speakers are. Even a simple, affordable soundbar can be a tremendous upgrade to your setup, making movies and TV shows more impactful and mesmerizing.
I use the Fire TV Soundbar Plus at home, and it's everything my small space needs. Bass booms, details are clear, and even at this budget price point, you get a sense of the direction each sound comes from.
And for a limited time, the Fire TV Soundbar Plus is discounted by $75, and it's one of the best soundbars we've tested that doesn't have an eyewatering price tag.
Why I Love the Fire TV Soundbar Plus as a Budget-Friendly, Small-Space Savior
My space isn't large enough for a big TV with fancy speakers, and to be honest, I'd prefer not to spend the $100s it costs for a TV with a decent sound system. But my home entertainment was lacking, so I got myself the Fire TV Soundbar Plus – and I couldn't be happier.
Often, all your movie room is missing is good-quality sound; the TV works perfectly well, but voices are muffled and action scenes become distorted. That's because modern, slimline TVs aren't equipped with the speakers required to really pull you into a movie.
And while premium soundbars like the Sonos Arc Ultra can really elevate the experience, providing awe-inspiring detail and surround sound, there are still certain budget models that can massively upgrade your setup.
That's what makes the Fire TV Soundbar Plus so exceptional. It stands tall above the similarly priced competition, being one of the only budget soundbars that actually has subwoofers for deep bass, and the ability to play Dolby Atmos titles and produce surround sound.
And with such a great discount, buying a soundbar before Black Friday might actually be a smart move, to beat the sales rush and the fast-depleting stock.
I tested this model across a vast list of scenes and songs, and it made everything sound punchier, deeper, fuller, and more impactful. I could hear subtle details that I previously couldn't, I could hear which direction sounds were coming from, and I could feel the bass rumble beneath my feet during loud scenes.
It's also compact, so you won't need a 50-inch TV stand to house your new soundbar. At 37 inches wide, it'll fit on most stands and TV units.
Plus, the setup is as simple as plugging in the power cord, then connecting the soundbar to the TV with the included HDMI cable. It takes zero tech know-how and fewer than two minutes to get everything connected, and as there is no smartphone app to pair with, all the features are ready to go straight away.
Having only the two cables means you won't need to do much concealing, and you can even hide the soundbar if you know how to do so without compromising the quality.
And if you're a music lover, the Fire TV Soundbar Plus is larger than the speakers you're likely to have at home, and its eight built-in speakers make an excellent upgrade if you like stronger bass and more pronounced highs. I now use it instead of my bookshelf speakers while I work from home.
The Fire TV Soundbar Plus is discounted to $174.99 at Amazon.
More to Shop
Shopping around? With soundbars, spending a little extra can go a long way, and many of our top tested picks happen to be on offer right now, too.
All prices correct at time of publication.
If you like roars, rumbles, and tremors while watching movies, adding an external subwoofer deepens the bass, as it's dedicated to delivering strong low-end frequencies.
Or, if you're minimizing how much you want to spend, the entry-level Fire TV Soundbar is also on offer for under $100. With no subwoofers, its bass is going to be weaker, but it'll still be a decent upgrade from your TV speakers.
On test, the True X Bar 40A outperformed the Fire TV Soundbar Plus in every way, and this $100 discount helps bridge the gap between their price tags.
Read more in my full Yamaha True X Bar 40A review.
Discounted by $200 right now, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 also wowed us on test, producing the most realistic surround sound I've experienced at home.
Read more in my full Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 review.
As it has a separate subwoofer and two surround speakers, the Samsung HW-QS750F gives enhanced customization over the sound settings, and you can position the multiple speakers around your room to make it more immersive. And once it's all set up, it sounds incredible.
Read more in my full Samsung HW-QS750F review.
If price isn't an issue, you won't find better audio than with the Sonos Arc Ultra. It performed near-flawlessly on test, with realistic surround sound, masterful sound balance, and richness in every detail.
Read more in my five-star Sonos Arc Ultra review.
Next, see how the best robot vacuums and the best video doorbells can continue adding to your smart home setup.
