Best budget soundbars with optical input

Start with the TCL S45H. It's the sweet spot for a budget TV upgrade: a 2.0 bar that's easy to set up, well rated by owners, and widely sold, so you can grab it wherever is convenient. It's the one I'd buy for a bedroom or small living room.

Who the others suit:

• Yamaha SR-B20A — if you want a known audio brand and clean dialogue; it has two optical inputs, handy for a TV plus a console.
• Sonos Ray — if you'll later add more Sonos speakers; it's the priciest of the sensible picks and needs Wi-Fi.
• GCZ 2.1 with subwoofer — if you want more bass for movies on a tight budget.
• Philips B4208 — a plain, tidy 2.0 bar for a secondary TV.

One caution: many cheap bars list Bluetooth and HDMI only, so confirm an optical port on the box before buying — the JBL 2.0 is the only one here I could confirm has one, and it costs more than a budget bar should.