Sony HT-S2000 ₹24,999

Sony's budget Dolby Atmos soundbar is exceptional value for money

- 

The HT-S2000 is an affordable soundbar that concentrates on simply improving the sound that comes from your TV. There are few frills here, with Sony instead opting for a straightforward bar at an affordable price.

The exterior shell is the first hint at the no-frills approach Sony has taken. The design is functional, but hardly eye-catching. It is, however, pleasantly petite, at just 6.4 x 80 x 12cm (hwd). It sits neatly below the TV we have paired it with for testing without blocking the screen and it doesn't dominate our media rack.

Its plasticky construction doesn't try to emulate its premium counterparts, and the only notable build feature is a small LED indicator display on the right-hand side of the unit that shows minimal information about volume, sound modes and input.

At the back are sockets for power, HDMI eARC, optical audio and USB. The remote is also as straightforward as they come. There's a total of 10 buttons on this remote for power, input, volume, mute, Night mode, Sound Field mode, Voice mode and bass adjustment. You can also use the power, input, Bluetooth and volume buttons on the top panel of the soundbar.

The angled ports that Sony opts for on all of its bars can be a nuisance if you have a particularly stiff HDMI cable. We find that the flat, rear-facing ports on the Sonos Beam Gen 2 are easier to access and don't butt heads with stubborn HDMI cables.

We unwrap the S2000 from its claimed 95 per cent recycled materials packaging (we approve of the eco-conscious touch from Sony), plug the power and HDMI cables in, and we're all set. While Sony does offer an app, it doesn't add much to the experience other than replicating controls already on the remote. There is no lengthy sign-in process, or automated calibration system to sit through - it's just good old-fashioned plug-and-play.