Best Soundbars for Older TVs That Still Sound Great Today (2026)

An older TV can still show a good picture while its speakers sound thin, and a soundbar is the simplest fix when the set has no HDMI ARC port. This guide rounds up eight best soundbars for older tvs that connect through optical, analog or Bluetooth, so you can get clearer dialogue and fuller sound without replacing a television that works.

Quick verdict: the best soundbars for older TVs at a glance

If you want one answer, start with the Sony HT-S100F for the simplest setup, or the Samsung HW-B750F when you want a full 5.1 package with a wireless subwoofer. The other six picks cover a tighter budget, a smaller room, a streaming upgrade and a TV with only analog outputs, so check the table first and then read the section that matches your set.

Our pick for most older TVs is the Sony HT-S100F, because it is a single bar that works over optical and needs no extra boxes. If you want deeper bass and surround sound, the Samsung HW-B750F is the stronger package, while the Saiyin bar is the fallback when the TV has no HDMI ARC port at all.

How we selected the soundbars in this guide

Every model in this guide is a real product sold in the United States, with published specifications from its manufacturer or a retailer listing. We compared connection options first, because an older TV decides the purchase: every pick works over optical, analog or Bluetooth, and none of them needs HDMI eARC to produce sound.

This guide is based on published manufacturer specifications and retailer listings. It does not claim testing of its own, and it does not rank products by review scores, because scores use different methods and change with each update. Instead, each pick earns its place for a clear reason: the simplest setup, the most complete package, the best value with a subwoofer, the clearest voices, the widest set of legacy inputs, the lowest-cost movie package, a streaming upgrade, or a bar for a TV with no ARC port.

The best soundbars for older tvs: eight simple picks

Eight bars cover very different older TVs, so the order below follows the decision most buyers face first: a single simple bar, a complete package with a subwoofer, or a focused fix for a TV with limited outputs. Each section states what is in the box and what it gives up.

Sony HT-S100F: the simplest bar for an older TV

The Sony HT-S100F is the simplest pick in this guide, and that is why it leads the list for an older TV. It is a 2.0-channel bar with 120 watts of total power, a bass-reflex speaker design and an integrated tweeter, in a bar 35.5 inches wide that fits most TV stands.

For an older set, the connection list is the point: the HT-S100F connects through HDMI ARC, optical or USB, with Bluetooth 4.2 for music from a phone. Sony lists Dolby Digital, Dolby Dual Mono and LPCM decoding, with S-Force Front Surround to widen the stereo image. There is no DTS support and no subwoofer in the box, and no add-on subwoofer path is listed for this model, so the bass comes from the bar alone.

Buy it if you want one bar, one cable and clearer sound from a TV that has an optical output. Skip it if you want deep bass for action movies without adding anything else, or if you need DTS decoding for a disc collection.

Samsung HW-B750F: a complete 5.1 package for the living room

The Samsung HW-B750F is the most complete package in this guide, and it earns that place by including the two things that matter most at its tier: a dedicated centre channel and a real wireless subwoofer. Samsung lists a 5.1-channel system with six speakers and a 6-inch wireless subwoofer.

For an older TV, the HW-B750F connects through HDMI ARC or optical, with Bluetooth for music, so it works even when the set has no ARC port at all. The centre channel keeps dialogue clear, the subwoofer adds the low end that a bar alone cannot produce, and optional SWA-9250S rear speakers can be added later for true surround. There is no Dolby Atmos and no HDMI eARC port, so this is a 5.1 system that plays surround sound well rather than a height-effects system. The bar is 40.6 inches wide.

Buy it if you want a complete bar-and-subwoofer package and you can live without Dolby Atmos. Skip it if your TV is small enough that a 40-inch bar will overhang the stand, or if you want a single bar with no extra box.

Samsung HW-B550F: the best value bar and subwoofer pair

The Samsung HW-B550F is the value pick in this guide, pairing a slim bar with a wireless subwoofer at a lower tier than the HW-B750F. Samsung lists a 2.1-channel system with up to 410 watts of total power, Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X, in a bar 33.9 inches wide.

For an older TV, the connection list covers the common cases: HDMI ARC, optical and Bluetooth, so the bar works whether the set has an ARC port or only an optical output. Adaptive Sound Lite adjusts the sound to what is playing, Bass Boost adds weight for movies, and a Game mode is included for console play. Optional Samsung wireless rear speakers can be added later. There is no Dolby Atmos and no eARC listed, which fits a TV that cannot carry those formats anyway.

Buy it if you want a bar and a real subwoofer without paying for a full 5.1 package. Skip it if you need a dedicated centre channel for dialogue, or if you want Dolby Atmos from a newer source.

LG S40T: clear voices with a real subwoofer

The LG S40T is the pick for viewers who keep turning the volume up for dialogue and down for action scenes, a common complaint with older TV speakers. LG lists a 2.1-channel system with 300 watts of total power: a 100-watt bar and a 200-watt wireless subwoofer with a 6-inch driver.

For an older TV, the S40T connects through HDMI ARC or optical, with Bluetooth 5.3 for music, so an optical cable is all it needs when the set has no ARC port. Clear Voice Plus is built to lift dialogue, AI Sound Pro adjusts the sound to the content, and the system decodes Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround. The WOW Interface works with compatible LG TVs, although that feature needs a newer LG set and is not the reason to buy this bar for an older television.

Buy it if dialogue clarity and a real subwoofer matter equally, and your TV has an optical output. Skip it if you want surround sound from rear speakers, or if you need Dolby Atmos, which this model does not list.

Hisense HS2100: the widest set of legacy inputs

The Hisense HS2100 is the pick for an older TV with an unusual set of outputs, because it accepts more kinds of connection than most bars at its tier. Hisense lists a 2.1-channel system with a marketed 240 watts of total power and a wireless subwoofer with a 5.25-inch driver, in a bar 31.5 inches wide.

For a legacy set, the HS2100 connects through HDMI ARC, optical, AUX and USB, with Bluetooth 5.3 for music, so a 3.5 mm analog output on an old TV is enough to get sound. It decodes Dolby Digital Plus and DTS Virtual:X, which covers the surround formats an older TV is likely to send over optical. The trade-off is size: the bar is compact, so it suits a smaller TV and a smaller room better than a large open living room.

Buy it if your TV has an analog output, an optical output or both, and you want a bar with a subwoofer that covers all of them. Skip it if you want a wide bar for a large TV, or if you need Dolby Atmos.

Insignia NS-SB21: the budget movie package

The Insignia NS-SB21 is the budget movie pick in this guide, and it earns that place by including a wireless subwoofer at the lowest tier here. Insignia lists a 2.1-channel system with a wireless subwoofer, DTS Virtual:X, DTS TruVolume and Bluetooth 5.3, with four sound modes for different content.

For an older TV, the NS-SB21 connects through HDMI ARC, optical, AUX and USB, so it works with an optical output, an analog output or an ARC port. The bar is 31.5 inches wide, which suits a smaller TV, and the subwoofer is about 7.68 inches wide and 12.6 inches tall, so it needs a small patch of floor space. DTS TruVolume is built to even out loud and quiet passages, which helps late-night viewing on a set with uneven volume.

Buy it if you want a bar and a subwoofer at the lowest tier in this guide and your TV has optical or analog outputs. Skip it if you want Dolby Digital decoding or a dedicated centre channel, or if you need a wide bar for a large TV.

Roku Streambar SE: sound and streaming in one box

The Roku Streambar SE, model 9104R, is the pick for an older TV that also needs a streaming upgrade, because it combines a soundbar with a 4K HDR Roku streaming player. Roku lists two 1.9-inch full-range drivers in a bar only 9.6 inches wide, 3.5 inches deep and 2.4 inches tall, weighing about 2 pounds.

For an older set, the Streambar SE connects through HDMI ARC or optical, with Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi, so it works over optical when the TV has no ARC port. It streams in 4K HDR10 and HDR10+, with Enhanced Speech Clarity and volume levelling modes for clearer dialogue. There is no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X decoding and no subwoofer in the box, although optional Roku Wireless Bass and Wireless Speakers are sold separately. The small size is a real advantage on a crowded TV stand.

Buy it if your older TV needs both better sound and a modern streaming interface in one purchase. Skip it if you want deep bass without buying the optional bass speaker, or if you already have a streaming device you like.

Saiyin DS6301M Plus: for TVs with no ARC at all

The Saiyin DS6301M Plus is the fallback pick in this guide, for a TV so old that it has no HDMI ARC port and may have only optical or analog outputs. Saiyin lists an 11.7-inch bar with 48 watts of peak power, Bluetooth 5.3, optical and 3.5 mm AUX inputs, and a subwoofer output, in a bar 11.7 inches wide, 3.5 inches deep and 2.5 inches tall.

For a legacy set, the connection list is the whole point: optical is the recommended TV connection, and the 3.5 mm AUX input covers a TV with only a headphone-style analog output. There is no TV ARC support at all, which is fine for a set that has no ARC port to use. The bar is small enough for a bedroom TV or a second set, and the trade-off is scale: a compact bar cannot move as much air as the larger bars with a separate subwoofer.

Buy it if your TV has only optical or analog outputs and you want the smallest, simplest bar that covers both. Skip it if you want a subwoofer in the box, surround sound or a wide bar for a large TV.

What to check before you buy a soundbar for an older TV

An older TV decides the purchase before the soundbar does, so the checks below matter more than the channel count on the box. Look at the back of the TV first, find the audio outputs, and think about where a subwoofer will sit and whether the bar fits the stand.

How the best soundbars for older tvs connect without HDMI ARC

The connection on the back of the TV decides which soundbar will work, so check it before you buy. An optical output, often labelled TOSLINK or Digital Audio Out, carries Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, and it is the most common digital output on TVs made before HDMI ARC became standard.

A 3.5 mm headphone jack or a pair of red and white RCA outputs carries analog stereo, which every bar in this guide with an AUX input can accept. Bluetooth is a third option when the TV supports it, although it is usually better for music from a phone than as the main TV connection, because some older sets add a delay. HDMI ARC, where the TV has it, is the most convenient option, since one cable carries sound and the TV remote can often control the volume.

Optical, analog and Bluetooth: what actually matters

Optical, analog and Bluetooth each carry different sound, so match the connection to what the household actually watches. Optical is the best choice for most older TVs, because it carries Dolby Digital 5.1 from broadcast, cable and streaming apps built into the set.

Analog stereo is simpler and works with almost any TV, but it carries only two channels, so surround sound is lost even when the bar can decode it. Bluetooth avoids cables entirely, yet it depends on the TV supporting Bluetooth audio, and not every older set does. If the TV has both optical and analog outputs, use optical first and keep analog as the fallback.

Size, subwoofers and the costs buyers often miss

The size of the bar and the space for a subwoofer decide whether a system fits the room, so measure the stand and the floor space before you decide. A bar between 31 and 36 inches wide suits most older TVs, while a 40-inch bar needs a wider stand and can overhang a small one.

A wireless subwoofer still needs a power outlet and a patch of floor space, even though no audio cable runs to it. Optional rear speakers, bass modules and mounts are sold separately for several picks here, so a bar can cost more once the system is complete. If the household moves often, a single bar such as the Sony HT-S100F or the Saiyin DS6301M Plus is easier to pack and set up again than a system with a subwoofer.

Frequently asked questions about soundbars for older TVs

The questions below cover the doubts that come up most often before a purchase, from whether a soundbar works at all on an old set to which output to use first. Each answer follows the same rule as the rest of this guide: it states what the specifications support, and it names the case where the answer changes.

Can the best soundbars for older tvs work with a TV that has no optical port?

Yes, if the TV has another output the bar accepts. A 3.5 mm headphone jack or red and white RCA outputs can feed the AUX input on the Hisense HS2100, the Insignia NS-SB21 or the Saiyin DS6301M Plus, and Bluetooth works when the TV supports Bluetooth audio.

Do I need HDMI ARC to use a soundbar?

No. HDMI ARC is convenient, because one cable carries sound and the TV remote can often control the volume, but it is not required. Every pick in this guide works over optical, and several also accept an analog connection, so a TV without any HDMI ARC port can still use a soundbar.

Will a soundbar improve dialogue on an old TV?

Yes, in almost every case, because TV speakers face backward or downward from a thin cabinet and have little room for a centre channel. A soundbar adds forward-facing drivers, and models such as the Samsung HW-B750F add a dedicated centre channel, while the LG S40T and the Roku Streambar SE add dialogue modes.

Conclusion

Start with the Sony HT-S100F for the simplest setup, or the Samsung HW-B750F when you want a full 5.1 package with a wireless subwoofer. If your set has only analog outputs, the Saiyin DS6301M Plus covers them, and the Roku Streambar SE adds streaming too. Check the outputs on the back of your TV first, then choose the bar that matches them.