When you’re shopping for a soundbar under $100, you’re not looking for cinema-shaking bass or complex setups. You just want clearer dialogue and richer sound than your TV’s built-in speakers can provide.

In the budget soundbar category, two strong contenders stand out: the VIZIO V-Series 2.0 V20x-J8 (released in 2021) and the long-established Sony HT-S100F 2.0ch (from 2018).

As of December 16, 2025, both are priced similarly, but digging into customer reviews from sites like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, along with the technical specs, reveals one as the clearer choice for most people.

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Table of Contents

• Best Use Cases
• Connectivity and Installation
  • VIZIO V20x-J8 Edges Ahead on Flexibility
  • Sony HT-S100F Notes on Setup
• Sound Experience and Content Performance
  • Vizio V20x-J8 for Versatile Listening
  • Sony HT-S100F for Simple Viewing
• A Note on Budget Bar Reliability
• Final Verdict: Which One to Pick?
• The Audio Tech Simplified: Demystifying the Terms

Best Use Cases

Both are solid picks for casual users who want a simple audio upgrade without extras like a subwoofer or multi-speaker systems:

1. Small rooms or secondary TVs: Perfect for bedrooms, offices, dorms, or backup setups where big volume would just annoy the neighbors.
2. Desk/PC setups or gaming: The VIZIO’s smaller size and DTS Virtual:X processing shine here, helping with positional audio and clear voices.
3. Gifts: Reliable, no-fuss options for students or casual streamers who game or binge shows.

Connectivity and Installation

Ports matter a lot in this price range, especially if you’re juggling devices and don’t want to swap cables constantly.

VIZIO V20x-J8 Edges Ahead on Flexibility

Customers frequently praise the VIZIO for its multiple connections:

• Extra AUX ports: Two 3.5mm inputs (standard AUX and a dedicated Voice Assistant port) – none on the Sony. Great for hooking up a PC, tablet, or older devices directly.
• Voice assistant integration: Plug in an Echo Dot or Google Nest via the AUX VA port, and the soundbar routes the assistant’s responses through its speakers without overriding your TV audio. A handy perk many reviewers love.
• Included HDMI cable: Ready for the best ARC connection right out of the box.

Sony HT-S100F Notes on Setup

The Sony has its own strengths:

• Easier wall mounting: Comes with a template and built-in keyhole mounts (the VIZIO V20x-J8 model lacks official wall-mount support).
• No HDMI cable included: You’ll need to buy one separately for ARC.
• Physical fit: At about 35.5 inches wide, it suits larger TVs (40 inches+); the Vizio’s compact 24 inches works better on desks or smaller stands.

Sound Experience and Content Performance

The core difference is in customization and virtual immersion.

Vizio V20x-J8 for Versatile Listening

The Vizio is better for versatility and specific content needs:

• Adjustable bass and treble: Controls via remote let you tweak for music, loud movies, or quiet dialogue – a feature many say the Sony misses.
• More immersive processing: DTS Virtual:X adds simulated height effects, making movies and games feel a bit more enveloping.
• Dialogue clarity: It includes a dedicated “Dialogue” EQ mode to boost voices above background music and effects.

Sony HT-S100F for Simple Viewing

The Sony keeps things straightforward:

• No customization: No manual EQ adjustments, so you’re stuck with the factory sound profile which some find too thin or bass-light.
• Basic performance: While it offers clear voice enhancement and a louder volume than TV speakers, its S-Force technology provides a less immersive experience compared to the Vizio’s virtual height effects.
• Limited Blu-ray support: It is primarily focused on Dolby Digital and LPCM; the Vizio’s support for DTS Digital Surround gives it better compatibility with a wider range of high-quality Blu-ray audio tracks.

Blu-ray Setup Tip: Set your Blu-ray player’s audio output to Dolby Digital or LPCM 2ch for compatibility. The soundbar will downmix 5.1 tracks to stereo.

A Note on Budget Bar Reliability

At this price, neither is bulletproof – reviews for both mention similar gripes:

• Sony: Occasional sound dropouts requiring a power cycle (unplug and replug).
• VIZIO: Users often complain about an unreliable remote and the lack of a numerical display, making precise volume adjustment difficult.
• Durability: Some units from both brands develop issues after months, a reminder that rock-bottom pricing often means compromises in longevity.

Final Verdict: Which One to Pick?

Both deliver a noticeable step up from TV audio for under $100, but based on aggregated customer feedback and features, the VIZIO V20x-J8 offers better overall value for most buyers.

Its adjustable EQ, DTS Virtual:X immersion, extra ports, and voice assistant compatibility make it more versatile – especially for gaming, music, PC use, or mixed content.

Go for the Sony HT-S100F only if wall mounting is essential or you prefer its wider design for a bigger TV. Otherwise, the Vizio V20x-J8 stands out as the stronger budget pick.

The Audio Tech Simplified: Demystifying the Terms

Budget soundbars lean on processing tricks to mimic bigger systems with just two channels:

• Dolby Digital / DTS Digital Surround: These are the standard digital audio formats used on most streaming platforms and Blu-ray discs. They compress multi-channel audio (like surround sound) into a file that a simple soundbar can decode.
• LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation): This is a high-quality, uncompressed audio format. It essentially guarantees you are getting the purest digital audio signal possible from your connected source, such as a modern gaming console.
• Dolby Atmos / DTS:X: These are premium formats that create a true 3D sound field, adding overhead effects. Neither the Vizio nor the Sony supports True Atmos or DTS:X – those need height channels. The Vizio and Sony soundbars both rely on virtualization.
• DTS Virtual:X: This is Vizio’s key feature. It uses advanced processing to simulate both the horizontal and vertical (height) dimensions of sound. It attempts to make you feel like sound is coming from above you.
• S-Force Pro Front Surround: This is Sony’s proprietary technology. It focuses only on widening the horizontal soundstage, making the sound feel much wider than the bar itself.

Related: Samsung HW-C43C/ZA: Best Budget 2.1 Soundbar with Optical Input