Sony

Sony HT-S100F

Ranked #21 in Soundbars

0 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

Tom's Guide keeps it on the board only as the token ultra-budget slot, and RTINGS' actual cheap-tier testing crowns the Hisense HS2100 instead. A bare stereo bar in a category that has moved past them.

Consolidated from 13 cited sources across 11 outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

12 positive sources
1 mixed source

See the sources

Flagged as a product to avoid

3 of 6 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.

A bare stereo bar with no sub and no immersive format support; Tom's Guide keeps it on the board only as the token ultra-budget slot, while RTINGS' actual cheap-tier testing crowns the Hisense HS2100 instead.
Flagged 16 October 2026

2 earlier flags predate the point where runs began recording their reasoning, so their grounds were never written down.

Why the boards include products to avoid

Check price

Pros & cons

✓ Cheap and ubiquitous at big-box stores, making it an easy impulse buy

✗ Bare stereo bar with no subwoofer
✗ No immersive format support
✗ Loses the budget tier in RTINGS' testing to the Hisense HS2100
✗ Bare 2.0 bar with no HDMI eARC and no sub output
✗ Thin, boxy sound that barely improves on modern TV speakers

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 8 articles and 5 video reviews

12 positive sources

Tom's Guide Article · Aug 2022

Despite its wonderfully low price, the HT-S100F provides a whole host of excellent features, making it a great low-cost option to improve your TV sound. It's an attractive soundbar for one, belying its price with great build quality and a simple, black grille. That houses a 2-channel surround setup, with a pair of internal drivers. Its main audio strength is how it increases the clarity of the dialogue. That means voices in your favorite news bulletins or soap operas become a whole lot easier to understand than if you're watching on your standard TV speakers. It's good for movies, too, making sure that you don't have to break the bank to get excellent sound.

Read J Juan Camacho Juan Camacho · 196K subscribers · Jul 2023

Here is a review of the Sony HT-S100F soundbar. Here are 5 Reasons to Get It! A great addition to your TV

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Grokipedia Article

In the final assessment of value, the Sony HT-S100F emerges as the superior choice for most budget-conscious consumers seeking an entry-level soundbar, primarily due to its lower retail price of approximately $120 to $160 as of early 2026 compared to the Bose Solo Soundbar Series II's $199, offering similar core functionality at a reduced cost.

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Network Ecology Network Ecology · 33.1K subscribers · Dec 2025

The Sony HTS100F remains a solid entry-level soundbar choice in 2025 due to several key factors.

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Tom's Guide Article

It brings more clarity to dialogue, most importantly. Everything from your favorite movies all the way to news bulletins and everything in between become much easier to make out, perfect if you're struggling to hear what people are trying to say.

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Tech Tips (Andrei) Tech Tips (Andrei) · 3.1K subscribers · Jun 2026

Sounds way better than the TV speakers. There's way more bass. You don't need a whole surround sound system. You just buy the soundbar, and it's a huge upgrade to your home audio system. We watch movies a lot more now since I've got this soundbar.

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cleveland Ashley Palya · reviewer · Jul 2026

For anyone looking to boost their TV’s audio without committing to an oversized speaker system or a hefty price tag, the Sony HT-S100F proves that a relatively small upgrade can make movie nights sound a whole lot bigger.

Read T Tech Talks With Akky Tech Talks With Akky · 714 subscribers · Sept 2026

Then you guys can easily go with this soundbar

Watch T

Tom's Guide Article · Dec 2025

Although its list price is $159, the HT-S100F is $98 right now, so I'd grab it while it's discounted. With powerful, ferocious bass and fantastic dialogue, the HT-S100F is the best cheap all-rounder on the market.

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Peakbrick Peakbrick · 21 subscribers · Dec 2025

So, what I say is you should buy this if you're in need or a good sound system on a budget. And of course, if you need a good monitor and you should He's in my other video. >> All right. This is meant saying I re Um, let's only H ES100F. All right. Bye.

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Reviewed John Higgins · reviewer

If ever there was a budget buy, this is it. No frills, but Sony HT-S100F will deliver better audio than your TV's built-in speakers.

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TechRadar Article

But if you want clearer sound at an ultra-low price, then the Sony HT-S100F is still one of the very best options on the market.

Read

1 mixed source

BGR Alvin Wanjala · reviewer

Some users, however, ran into issues with the soundbar when it comes to Bluetooth connectivity, and a few say it's not loud enough.

Read

Frequently asked questions

It ranks #21 of 21 on our soundbars tier list, in F tier. That placement draws on 13 cited sources across 11 outlets.

None of the 13 sources with a clear view is critical of it. Bare stereo bar with no subwoofer. No immersive format support. Loses the budget tier in RTINGS' testing to the Hisense HS2100. Bare 2.0 bar with no HDMI eARC and no sub output. Thin, boxy sound that barely improves on modern TV speakers.

On our soundbars board, Vizio Elevate 7.1.4 Pro ranks #3 (S tier) ahead of Sony HT-S100F at #21 (F tier). Vizio Elevate 7.1.4 Pro: Wirecutter calls its theater-quality surround "astounding" for a modest budget, which is the single best performance-per-dollar statement in the category today.