Amazon Basics 2.1 Channel Review

The Amazon Basics 2.1 Channel isn't a stellar performer, but at least adequately fixes most of the problems with the tinniness and lack of depth that comes with the speakers that get crammed into most flatscreen TVs.

Performance Comparison

While the Amazon Basics 2.1 Channel earned the lowest overall score in our testing, we still think it offers value to the right person. If you're looking for the best quality sound possible, you might as well stop here and jump back over to our main review. But if you're looking for a cheap way to make your TV sound a bit better, read on.

Compare Products

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	Score	Product	Price
	84	Sonos Playbar	$700
	79	Bose SoundTouch 300	$700
	77	Sonos Beam Best for Small Spaces	$449
	76	Yamaha YAS-108	$220
	76	Samsung Sound+ Premium	$500
	63	VIZIO SB2821-D6	$130
	62	Bose Solo 5	$250
	46	Amazon Basics 2.1 Channel	$105

Sound Quality

The Amazon Basics 2.1 Channel picked up the lowest score in our sound quality testing, earning just a 2 out of 10.

Some context would be helpful here. 2 out of 10 sounds like (and is) a terrible score. But that low score is in comparison to other soundbars. When compared to the sound quality of the built-in speakers of all the TVs we listened to, the Amazon Basics 2.1 Channel is head and shoulders better. Comparatively, it makes dialogue sound less tinny and more crisp, it adds depth and nuance to cinematic scores, and even adds some punch to loud sound effects. Yes, every other soundbar we tested does this better, but they also all cost a lot more. The Amazon Basics 2.1 Channel doesn't cost much and doesn't feel like a huge investment to make your TV sound a lot better.

Ease of Use

The Amazon Basics 2.1 Channel keeps true to its name and keeps things simple. That simplicity earned it an above-average score in our ease of use testing.

We had it up and running in less than 5 minutes, and its interface was straightforward enough that we didn't need the manual to get things started. The remote control is simple and streamlined, and the soundbar itself has some simple controls in case you lose the remote. We also had no issues pairing Bluetooth devices with the soundbar, and the connection always stayed solid.

Sound Customization

While the Amazon Basics 2.1 Channel doesn't provide any EQ adjustments, it does provide a few preset sound modes. These include standard, new (similar to the enhanced dialogue modes of many other models) and movie. We did notice that the movie mode provided some better bass, and that the news mode made speech a bit crisper.

Design/Style

The Amazon Basics 2.1 Channel was the worst performer in our design/style metric, earning only a 4 out of 10. This was for one reason: the construction just looks and feels cheap. The all plastic body and cloth cover give a sense of low quality manufacturing. Luckily the all black body is fairly inconspicuous, so it won't create a huge eyesore in your living room. However, it doesn't look nearly as nice as most of the other models we tested.

Value

For what it is, that feels like a fair price. If you've already sunk a bunch of money into a TV that pleases your eyes but not your ears, this is an effective and cheap way to bring the sound up to snuff. Yes, you can get better sound by paying more on the Yamaha YAS-108, but if you're just looking to ditch some of the tinniness and lack of depth that comes with modern built-in TV speakers, this is a better deal.

Conclusion