Head-to-head · Best Soundbars Under $300

Polk Audio Signa S2 vs Samsung HW-B750D

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Samsung HW-B750D comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about TV-room upgrades where a true 5.1 setup and a wireless subwoofer matter more than authentic Dolby Atmos — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best Soundbars Under $300

Polk Audio Signa S2

4.3

$200

The Signa S2 is the budget tier of this round-up. Polk's VoiceAdjust delivers dialog clarity comparable to the Signa S4 at a third the price, and the wireless 5.25" sub gives it real low-end despite the 2.1 layout. The compromises are predictable: no Atmos, older HDMI ARC, Bluetooth-only streaming. For a first soundbar upgrading from TV speakers, this is the entry point.

Strengths

— Cheapest pick in this round-up — frequently under $200
— Wireless 5.25" subwoofer included
— Polk's VoiceAdjust technology for dialog clarity

Watch-outs

— No Dolby Atmos support (virtual or real) — 2.1 only
— Older HDMI ARC (not eARC) — limits high-bitrate audio passthrough
— Bluetooth only — no Wi-Fi or streaming app integration

$200 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Soundbars Under $300

Samsung HW-B750D

4.6

$280

The HW-B750D is RTINGS' top pick for under-$300 in 2026, and it earns it by being the only legit 5.1 system at this price tier. The wireless subwoofer and side-firing channels create a wider soundstage than 2.1 competitors can virtualize, and the Bass Boost and Adaptive Sound modes adapt the EQ to whatever you're playing. Trade-off: no native Dolby Atmos — but at $280 with a subwoofer included, that's a fair trade.

Strengths

— 5.1 channel system with wireless subwoofer included — only true 5.1 setup in this round-up
— Side-firing speakers widen the soundstage beyond what 2.1 competitors deliver
— DTS Virtual:X processing creates pseudo-height channels without upfiring drivers

Watch-outs

— No true Dolby Atmos decoding — relies on DTS Virtual:X virtualization
— Wireless subwoofer occasionally drops connection in larger rooms
— Build feels less premium than the Polk Audio Signa S4

$280 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Polk Audio Signa S2

Cheapest pick by a wide margin. No Atmos (real or virtual) — Samsung HW-B750D simulates with DTS Virtual:X, Vizio M-Series 5.1 and Yamaha SR-B40A virtualize Atmos, and Polk Audio Signa S4 has real upfiring. Same VoiceAdjust dialog tech as the Signa S4 at a third the price.

Samsung HW-B750D

Only true 5.1 system in this lineup. Beats the Polk Audio Signa S4, Yamaha SR-B40A, Polk Audio Signa S2, and Vizio M-Series 5.1 on side-channel width but loses to the Signa S4 on real Dolby Atmos support. Closest competitor on price-per-channel-count is the Vizio M-Series 5.1.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Polk Audio Signa S2	Samsung HW-B750D
Channels	2.1	5.1
Subwoofer	Wireless 5.25" included	Wireless included
Audio Formats	Dolby Digital 5.1 (downmixed)	Dolby Digital, DTS Virtual:X
Connectivity	HDMI ARC, Optical, Bluetooth	HDMI ARC, Optical, Bluetooth
Dialog Tech	VoiceAdjust	—
Side-Firing Speakers	—	Yes

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