Manufacturer: Insignia
Release Date: 01/10/2017
MSRP: $39.99

I never knew that mini soundbars existed, and I only came across this as my current PC setup required me to have a low-profile speaker as my monitors take up my entire desk space. I searched around and found this little gem, but knew it was a risky purchase as for one it’s from Insignia which are known for sub-par products, and the price was surprisingly low. I already knew that without a dedicated subwoofer this probably wouldn’t sound the best.

I was actually quite surprised when I plugged everything in. This little guy has both analog and digital output as well as BlueTooth and even a remote. For starters, stick with digital optical out if you have the ability as it sounds much better. Second, the DSP installed is awful. Standard is the best, but Theater and News make the soundbar sound like a tinny $5 pair of headphones, it’s just garbage. The soundbar is quite loud and has surprisingly decent bass. I can feel the bass as I type on my keyboard which is cool.

While the pre-built DSP is awful, any software DSP you use will make this thing sound the same. It’s just not meant to be for anything but standard. The quality overall is decent for $40, but still sounds slightly tinny, and no way to adjust the bass or treble. It does its job well and the games sound fine as well as music, but if you aren’t short on space get a full-size PC speaker setup. This would also make a great soundbar for a kid’s room or just for music.

Overall, and for $40, this isn’t that bad of a soundbar. Yes, the DSP sucks, and any form of equalization makes this thing hurt your ears, but it has a remote, does BlueTooth, and has decent bass. I can’t really complain.