The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.During a productdemonstration I recently attended, I was told one of the most commonreasons TVs are returned isbecause of blown-out speakers.This makes sense; we want TVs to get thinner, while continuing to produce loud, clear sound. Unfortunately that doesn't work well with the laws of physics, so a lot of people crank up these less powerful speakers and blow them out.Stereo systems have been around for decades, but until recently they've been pretty inconvenient. Their bulk and abundance of wires ultimately made them more of an enthusiast's purchase rather than a standard one.Sound bars are leveling the playing field. Even a surround sound setup is possible to achieve without having to turn your living room, basement, or bedroom into a Best Buy. The recommendations below are forpeople who have different goals and budgets, and come from either personal experience, or that have been reviewed positively. This guide will continue to be updated as newer options become available, and while all the products on this list are solid, I've surfaced any recurring complaints that owners of them seem to have.Check out the rest of our Black Friday coverage from the Insider Picks team. We're covering the best tech deals around the web, deals over at Amazon, and deals at Target, Walmart, and Macy's.This article was originally posted on 06/20/16DON'T MISS:Amazon's store brand makes a lot of great tech, but these are the 10 gadgets actually worth buyingSEE ALSO:3 TVs under $500 that stand above the restThe budget solution: VIZIO SB2920-C6Sure this is last year's model, but if you don't care about having Google Castsupport, this entry level sound bar from Vizio should suit you just fine. It's a 2.0 sound bar, so if you're looking for a true surround-sound solution, this won't be for you. That said, it's also the smallest (physically) sound bar on this list, so if you're looking to up your home theater game without taking up too much space, this would be ideal. Like I mentioned earlier,this sound bar doesn'thave Google Castbuilt-in, but it can be used wirelessly as a Bluetooth speaker. If your TV is located in a central part of your house or apartment, you can certainly use this soundbar as a wireless stereo system.In terms of connectivity this oneis pretty sparse; you can connect it to your TV or receiver through an optical audio cable, and any other device through two auxiliary ports. The big recurring complaint with itis that it doesn't turn on and off automatically when turning your TV on or off.Yes, it's bare bones, but that's why it's our budget pick. For under $100 you get a good-looking soundbar that can deliver better sound than your TV, without taking up too much room. If you're looking for a little more oomph without breaking the bank. itdoes come in a slightly larger size, both are listed below.VIZIO 29-Inch 2.0 Channel Sound Bar, $78, available at Amazon.VIZIO 38-Inch 2.0 Channel Sound Bar, $97.88, available at Amazon.The budget pick with ample bass: VIZIO SB3821-C6A step-up from my base recommendation, a 2.1 sound bar system would be ideal for those who still want to save space, but want some more bass. It has the same inputs, looks the same,and won't take up too much more space. The "wireless" subwoofer does need to be connected to power, so do keep that in mind. The only recurring fault people have with this soundbar is that the bass can get a little too bassy, even when turned down. Producing a lot of bass is the subwoofer's job, but if you live above neighbors and have thin walls, it's definitely something to consider.VIZIO 38-Inch 2.1 Channel Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer, $139.99, available at AmazonThe surround-sound soundbar: VIZIO SB3851-C0If you've got the space and desire to get a surround-sound sound bar system, once again Vizio has you covered. The sound bar itself looks identical to its 2.0 and 2.1 siblings, but it's fleshedout with a subwoofer and two satellite speakers. Like the other Vizio sound bars on this list, this one can also be used as a Bluetooth speakerin this case a pretty powerful one.If you're worried about a mess of wires across your floor when setting up the rear speakers, Vizio made a very clever design choice; the rear speakers can be plugged directly into the wireless subwoofer.This gives you a lot more freedom when considering how you want to set up your room, and is way more convenient than having to plug everything into the soundbar directly. The connections on this sound bar are identical to those on the other Vizio soundbar I recommended: an optical audio output, two sets of auxiliary inputs (one of which can be used for the rear speakers), and analog out.If you're looking to get a 5.1 surround sound system in a smaller form factor, this set from Vizio is a safe bet. Again, the only recurring complaint I could find is that it's bass heavy whether the subwoofer cranked up or turned down low. I'm going to be reviewing Vizio's 2016 surround-sound soundbar system soon, and this post will be updated accordingly.VIZIO 38-Inch 5.1 Channel Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer and Satellite Speakers,$219.95, available at AmazonSee the rest of the story at Business Insider
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