MostPCgamers are stuck with terrible audio and don’t even realize it. Those speakers built into your monitor? They’re basically decorative. Every dramatic moment in your favorite games gets flattened into weak, tinny noise that makes you wonder why developers even bother with sound design. Only it’s not their fault.
It happens because monitor companies treat audio like a checkbox item, and the result is sound that works fine for YouTube videos but completely fails when games throw complex audio at it. Mini soundbars bridge that gap perfectly. Thesecompact speakersare designed to work with your existing setup - sliding neatly under your monitorwithout cluttering your deskor requiring major changes to your space. Let’s take a look at some of our options.
7Razer Leviathan V2 X
The Leviathan V2 X is one of the most versatile and compact soundbars out there. The whole setup runs off USB-C bus power, which means you’re literally just plugging one cable into your laptop and calling it done.
The RGB lighting is where things get interesting if you’ve already fallen into the Razer trap with other gear. Fourteen different zones sync up with your keyboard, mouse, whatever else is blinking on your desk, and when everything pulses together during games it looks way cooler than it probably should. The sound itself comes from two drivers with passive radiators that can hit 90 dB, which is plenty loud for most setups without getting you in trouble with neighbors.
However, the bass response cuts off pretty sharply around 90 Hz, so while you get much cleaner mids and highs compared to built-in speakers, don’t expect any real thump or rumble. There’s no HDMI or optical connectivity either, keeping things simple but limiting your connection options to just USB-C and wireless. This really makes the most sense if you’re already building out a Razer ecosystem and want your audio to match the aesthetic.
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6Creative Stage SE
Creativeknowsaudio. They’ve been at this longer than most companies making soundbars today, and this tiny bar shows that experience clearly. The custom drivers with passive radiators produce sound that’s surprisingly full for the price. Not just louder than laptop speakers, but actually better balanced.
Clear Dialog mode works better than expected. Netflix shows and YouTube videos suddenly have dialogue you can actually understand without cranking the volume. The virtual surround processing does a decent job too, and switching between the three EQ presets with the remote is simple enough.
The setup requires USB-C for audio plus a wall adapter for power. Bluetooth 5.3 connects smoothly to music. The bass fades at around 100 Hz, which is normal for this size. Some music can sound medium-heavy depending on the genre. You get three EQ presets and that’s it. Unfortunately, we don’t get the option of custom tuning our sound profile. Good choice for PC users wanting better audio without spending much.
5Panasonic SoundSlayer SC-HTB01
Honestly, the whole “co-developed with Final Fantasy XIV audio team” marketing had me a little skeptical for a moment there but the soundbar has a lot of juice. The dedicated RPG and FPS presets add positional audio cues that help with spatial awareness during gameplay. You can pinpoint footsteps, gunfire, and environmental sounds with better directional clarity than standard processing.
Having real Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding packed into a 17-inch bar is pretty cool. Not to mention that the object rendering creates convincing height effects that catch you off guard. The built-in 3.1-inch woofer gives you a real bass presence, and at 80W RMS total output distributed across the drivers, it has enough power to fill smaller rooms without strain.
You also get optical and USB inputs for flexibility with different sources. My only gripe with this product is that the Bluetooth is stuck at ancient 2.1 spec without modern codecs like AAC or aptX. Quite disappointing for a 2022 product. But otherwise, it’s as good as they come.
4Yamaha Audio SR-C20A
Yamaha managed to squeeze a lot of functionality into this 23.6-inch bar designed specifically for bedrooms and gaming desks. Having HDMI ARC support in something this compact is relatively uncommon. The built-in 3-inch subwoofer with dual passive radiators has a massive impact on sound. Our bass comes down to around 70 Hz, which isn’t great, but it still beats a lot of mini-soundbars on this budget.
The Virtual Surround processing creates a noticeably wider soundstage, and the Clear Voice mode helps with dialogue without making everything sound overly processed. Keeping in line with most of our other picks, the Yamaha also comes with a Game mode that adds directional emphasis for competitive gaming scenarios. The Yamaha app also lets you adjust settings from your phone instead of fumbling with tiny remote control buttons.
We also get two optical inputs so there’s some decent legroom for hooking up different sources. Also, Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC codec support works smoothly for music streaming without throwing in compression artifacts. That, and a 100W output, means that we have plenty of volume to work with.
3Sonos Ray
This little bop here brings Sonos' signature sound quality down to a more accessible price point without completely sacrificing what makes their speakers special. We’ve got two tweeters and two mid-woofers, each getting its own dedicated amplifier, to deliver the clean, detailed sound Sonos is known for. Front-firing bass ports help with low-end response as much as physics will allow in this form factor.
Sonos has their own optimization software called Trueplay room correction (through iOS devices) to tune the sound for your specific room. And if you’ve already got other Sonos gear around the house, everything integrates seamlessly. The upgrade path is pretty clear too - you’re able to add a Sub Mini and some rear speakers later if you want to build out proper surround sound.
Going optical-only for connections keeps manufacturing costs down but means you miss out on HDMI ARC convenience. No Bluetooth either, which locks you into the Sonos ecosystem for wireless streaming.. The sound quality justifies the higher price compared to the more basic options, but again, the connection limitations might drive you crazy if you need more flexibility.
2Roku Streambar SE
This pick makes more sense for a TV if you’re looking to utilise the interface side of things, but that doesn’t mean that it is equally great for a monitor!
The USP for this device is fixing two annoying problems with one reasonably priced device. Crappy smart TV interfacesandterrible built-in audio both get solved, thanks to the Roku Streambar. The OS experience is light-years better than the UI that you get with 80% of the TVs out there, and the dual drivers provide a real audio upgrade that you’ll immediately appreciate.
Speech Clarity modes actually improve dialogue intelligibility across different types of content without being heavy-handed about it. Movie, Music, and Night modes adjust the sound appropriately. AirPlay 2, Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit support coverspretty much any smart home setupyou might have.
One HDMI ARC connection handles both dramatically better streaming and much cleaner audio through a single cable. Now, the audio limitations are pretty obvious given the compact design - you get narrow stereo imaging and basically no bass below 100 Hz from just two small drivers. No Dolby Atmos passthrough either. The Roku Wireless Bass costs extra if you decide you need more low-end later. Still, this is a great way to fix two different issues for the price of one kick-ass soundbar.
1Sony S100F
Sometimes you just want something straightforward that works without any fuss or features you’ll never use, and boy do I have the perfect throwback for you. This 2018 Sony gives you that perfect audio improvement without trying to be more than it is. The S-Force processing widens the stereo image reasonably well, while the auto-EQ helps balance things out without being obvious about it.
HDMI ARC with dependable volume control makes daily use actually convenient for most TV setups. Optical and analog inputs handle whatever older sources you might still have lying around, while USB playback supports MP3 and WAV files if you want to play music directly from a thumb drive. The 36-inch length fits most TV sizes without looking weird or oversized.
Dialogue focus is noticeably better compared to typical TV/monitor speakers, making streaming content way more enjoyable. Bluetooth works fine for casual music streaming, but you’re stuck with basic codec support. Build quality feels solid for the price range without any obvious corner-cutting that’ll bite you later. The processing works best when you’re sitting roughly centered, but it’s not super picky about positioning.
FAQ
Q: Do soundbars work with consoles too?
Yes, most of them will,butcheck the inputs. If your console connects via HDMI and your soundbar only takes USB-C or optical, you’ll need a workaround. Some of the picks (like the Yamaha and Panasonic) handle console audio better out of the box. Others are more PC-friendly. Don’t assume. Always check the ports before you lock in to an option!
Q: Is there a real difference between 2.0 and 2.1 channel soundbars at this size?
Kind of. In theory, 2.1 gives you better bass because of the subwoofer. In practice, the built-in “subwoofers” on these tiny bars are doing their best with limited room. The diffeerence won’t be massive, but you can definitely expect a bit more low-end weight with 2.1s like the Yamaha or Panasonic compared to the pure 2.0 setups.
Q: How loud can these actually get without distorting?
Most of our pcks can easily fill a bedroom or small gaming den without breaking a sweat. You’ll start hitting their limits if you attempt to blast a movie night for five people. That said, the good ones keep distortion low at 70–80% volume. Just don’t expect them to double as your party speakers.
