Let’s be honest for a moment. You’ve just invested in a beautiful, slim, 4K smart TV with a stunning picture, or perhaps you’ve curated the perfect PC gaming setup. You fire up the latest blockbuster movie or a dialogue-heavy drama, and the experience falls flat. The whispers are inaudible, forcing you to crank the volume, only to be blasted out of your seat when an action sequence kicks in. The built-in speakers, designed to fit into an impossibly thin frame, sound tinny, lifeless, and utterly underwhelming. This constant battle with the volume remote, straining to hear conversations, and missing the rich audio details the creators intended is a frustratingly common problem. It pulls you out of the immersion and turns a relaxing escape into an active chore. This is the audio compromise we’ve been forced to accept, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
- 【Immersive Audio Experience】 Elevate your sound experience with our powerful sound bar featuring dual full-range speakers that deliver rich, spatial sound. This sound bar for tv delivers 40W...
- 【Versatile Connectivity】 Enjoy seamless pairing with Bluetooth 5.3, Auxiliary and Optical inputs, making this soundbar compatible with smart TVs, 4K TVs, computers, and more(Press the M button to...
- 【Slim Space-Saving Design】Enjoy cinematic audio with our ultra-thin 17-inch tv sound bar(just 3.5" wide and 2.5" tall) that tucks neatly under monitors or mounts on walls (wall-mounted kit...
What to Consider Before Buying a Compact Sound Bar
A sound bar is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for reclaiming your audio experience. In its simplest form, it’s an elegant, all-in-one speaker system designed to deliver a massive sonic upgrade over your device’s native speakers without the clutter and complexity of a traditional multi-speaker home theater setup. The main benefits are immediately apparent: dramatically improved dialogue clarity, a wider and more dynamic soundstage, and deeper bass response that adds weight and impact to everything from movies to music. It simplifies your entertainment setup, providing powerful sound from a single, discreet unit.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing audio challenges in a small to medium-sized space. This includes apartment dwellers, students in dorm rooms, or anyone looking to enhance a bedroom TV, a desktop computer setup, or even a projector. They value simplicity, affordability, and a significant improvement in sound quality without rearranging their entire room. Conversely, a compact sound bar might not be suitable for those who have a very large, open-concept living room or are dedicated audiophiles seeking the pinpoint accuracy and earth-shaking bass of a high-end, multi-component surround sound system. For them, a more powerful, feature-rich system with dedicated rear speakers and a larger subwoofer would be a better investment.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Measure the space where you plan to place the sound bar. A compact 17-inch model like this one is specifically designed to fit neatly under smaller TVs (around 32-43 inches) or computer monitors without blocking the screen or IR sensor. Consider whether you want to place it on a stand or use an included wall-mounting kit to save surface space.
- Capacity/Performance: Power, measured in watts (W), gives a general idea of the sound bar’s output potential. For a small or medium room, 40W is more than sufficient to provide a full, room-filling sound. Also, look at the channel configuration. A 2.0 channel system, like this one, has two main channels (left and right), which is a huge step up from typical TV speakers and great for stereo sound and clarity.
- Connectivity & Compatibility: This is paramount. Ensure the sound bar has the inputs you need. Optical is a common high-quality digital connection for TVs. An Auxiliary (AUX) input is great for older devices. Modern Bluetooth, like version 5.3, ensures a stable, high-quality wireless connection for streaming from phones and laptops. A crucial feature to look for is a SUB OUT port, which gives you the option to add a powered subwoofer later for a massive bass upgrade.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: A good sound bar should be simple to set up and operate. Look for included cables, a clear user manual, and an intuitive remote control. Some models, including this one, allow for control via popular streaming device remotes, which significantly reduces coffee table clutter. For maintenance, a simple dusting is usually all that’s required for the exterior casing.
Keeping these factors in mind, the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar stands out in several areas, particularly for its balance of compact size and versatile features. You can explore its detailed specifications and see if it fits your setup here.
While the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- 【𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭】: Elevate faint sounds to vibrant with automatic loudness boost. Experience immersive sound through 4 versatile...
- Hear your TV better: Designed with simplicity in mind, the Bose TV Speaker is a small soundbar that clarifies speech and is a simple fix for better TV sound
- All-new acoustic architecture with Sound Motion technology fills every inch of the room and precisely place sounds all around you
First Impressions: Big Sound in a Small Box
Unboxing the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar was a surprisingly pleasant experience. As one user noted, it arrives in a “very presentable container,” and we have to agree. The packaging is sturdy and well-organized, giving an immediate impression of a product that the manufacturer cares about. Inside, everything was securely nestled in foam, including the sound bar itself, a remote control (batteries not included), the power adapter, an optical cable, a 3.5mm auxiliary cable, wall mounting hardware, and a clear, concise quick start guide.
The sound bar itself is impressively compact and lightweight, weighing just two pounds. Its 17-inch width is perfect for the secondary spaces it’s designed for. The build is a sleek, matte black plastic that resists fingerprints and blends in seamlessly with most entertainment setups. While it doesn’t feel like a premium, metal-clad device, the construction is solid and clean, with no creaks or flimsy parts. The physical buttons on the side are tactile and responsive, and the front metal grille gives it a professional look. It feels perfectly aligned with its value proposition: a functional, attractive, and affordable audio upgrade.
What We Like
- Ultra-compact 17-inch design fits perfectly in tight spaces like desktops or under small TVs.
- Dedicated “News Mode” significantly enhances voice and dialogue clarity.
- Versatile connectivity options including modern Bluetooth 5.3, Optical, and Aux.
- SUB OUT port provides an excellent and uncommon upgrade path for adding a powered subwoofer.
- Outstanding overall value for the performance offered.
What We Didn’t Like
- Lacks HDMI ARC connectivity, which means you’ll need the dedicated remote for volume.
- Not powerful enough to fill very large, open-plan living rooms effectively.
A Deep Dive into the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar’s Performance
A sound bar can have all the features in the world, but it all comes down to performance. Does it actually sound good? Is it easy to live with day-to-day? We put the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar through its paces in various environments—hooked up to a bedroom TV, connected to a gaming PC, and used as a standalone Bluetooth speaker—to see how it truly performs. The results were consistently impressive for a device in this size and price category.
Setup and Connectivity: Deceptively Simple
Getting the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar up and running is about as straightforward as it gets. For our primary test, we connected it to a 32-inch smart TV in a bedroom using the included optical cable. After plugging in the power adapter and the optical cable to both the TV and the sound bar, we powered it on. Here, we encountered the one critical step that is essential for proper function: you must go into your TV and streaming app’s audio settings and change the digital audio output format to “PCM” or “Stereo.” The sound bar does not have internal decoders for advanced formats like Dolby Digital or DTS, so sending those signals will result in silence. The user manual makes this clear, and once we made the change, which took about 30 seconds, the sound came through perfectly.
One user mentioned it was “a little weird” that they had to manually press the ‘OPT’ button on the remote to select the input, and we observed the same behavior. The device doesn’t auto-detect the active signal. However, this is a minor quirk and becomes second nature within minutes. We then tested the Bluetooth 5.3 connection by pairing it with a smartphone. The sound bar appeared instantly in the Bluetooth menu as “DS6301,” and pairing was immediate and stable. We walked around the room and even into an adjacent hallway without any signal drop, confirming the reliability of the wireless connection for streaming music or podcasts. The auxiliary input worked just as expected with a laptop, providing a simple, wired backup. The inclusion of all necessary cables (except for an RCA-to-3.5mm adapter, if you need one) is a thoughtful touch that removes any extra hassle from the setup process.
Audio Performance: The David to Your TV’s Goliath Speakers
This is where the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar truly shines, punching far above its weight class. We started by watching a popular streaming series known for its mumbling actors and dynamic sound mix. With the TV’s built-in speakers, we were constantly adjusting the volume. With the sound bar, the difference was night and day. The 40W of power from the dual full-range speakers immediately provided a richer, fuller soundscape.
The standout feature for us was the dedicated “News Mode.” Activating it with a single button press on the remote noticeably boosts the mid-range frequencies where human voices reside. This isn’t just a simple EQ tweak; it actively isolates dialogue and brings it forward in the mix. Suddenly, whispered conversations were crystal clear without having to increase the overall volume. This feature alone makes it an invaluable tool for anyone who struggles to hear dialogue in modern movies and TV shows.
For music, we streamed a variety of genres via Bluetooth. The sound signature is balanced, with clear highs and a present midrange. As another user confirmed, the bass is “surprisingly good” for a unit without a separate subwoofer. It won’t shake the walls, but it adds a satisfying warmth and punch to kick drums and basslines that is completely absent from TV speakers. For those who crave more low-end rumble, the inclusion of a SUB OUT port is a game-changer. The ability to add any powered subwoofer you choose offers a fantastic upgrade path, allowing the system to grow with your needs.
We also followed a user’s lead and hooked it up to a PC for a gaming session. In games like first-person shooters, the stereo separation was excellent, providing clearer directional cues for footsteps and gunfire. The added impact made explosions and engine roars feel much more immersive. It’s a massive improvement over any built-in monitor speakers and a worthy addition to any budget-conscious gaming rig. If your primary goal is a significant and affordable audio boost, this compact sound bar delivers exceptional performance for the price.
Design and Everyday Usability
Living with the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar is effortless. Its greatest design strength is its diminutive size. At just 17 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall, it fits into spaces where larger sound bars simply can’t go. We slid it under a 27-inch gaming monitor with inches to spare on either side, and it looked perfectly proportioned. Placed in front of a 32-inch TV on a stand, it sat well below the bottom edge of the screen, never obstructing the view or the TV’s remote sensor.
The remote control is simple and effective. It’s small, lightweight, and has clearly labeled buttons for power, volume, mute, and input selection (Bluetooth, Optical, Aux). Most importantly, it includes dedicated buttons for the three EQ modes: Music, Movie, and News. This makes it incredibly easy to switch profiles on the fly to match what you’re watching. The sound bar also features an LED indicator light on the front that changes color depending on the selected input (e.g., blue for Bluetooth, white for Optical), providing clear visual feedback. The ability to program a universal or streaming device remote, like a Fire TV Stick remote, to control the sound bar’s basic functions is another point for convenience, helping to minimize the number of remotes you need to juggle.
What Other Users Are Saying
After our own extensive testing, we dug into feedback from other users to see how their experiences compared. The sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, largely mirroring our own findings. One user highlighted it as a “good value” with “decent sound for any sort of small to medium sized room,” which we found to be a perfect summary. They used it in their garage for music and videos via Bluetooth and found it worked “perfectly.”
Another reviewer confirmed its prowess as a desktop audio solution, calling it “Perfect for my PC.” They praised its “clear audio and surprisingly good bass,” noting that it fits well into their setup. They also pointed out an important practical detail: it is AC-powered and requires a wall outlet, which is a key differentiator from smaller, USB-powered computer speakers that often lack power.
The theme of exceeding expectations continued with a user who called it “Small but mighty!” and a “definite improvement over the TV audio alone.” Their feedback also validated our minor critique about usability, stating it was “a little weird” to have to manually select the input via the remote. However, they rightly concluded this wasn’t significant enough to be a major flaw. Across the board, users see the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar as an affordable, effective, and straightforward solution to a common problem.
How Does the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar Compare to Alternatives?
The Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar excels in its niche, but it’s important to understand the landscape. Depending on your budget, space, and feature priorities, one of these alternatives might be a better fit.
1. Saiyin 24 Inch Soundbar with Subwoofer
- 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐬: This sound bar with subwoofer is built with two full range speakers,...
- 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐕 𝐔𝐬𝐞: The 24 inch soundbar is designed to be detachable so that you...
- 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐬: The sound bars for TV has wired inputs, like ARC, optical and AUX input, and it’s also compatible with Bluetooth enabled devices with a...
If you like the value proposition of Saiyin but need more power and immediate bass, this is the logical next step. This model is larger at 24 inches and boasts 100W of power. The biggest advantage is the included 5.25-inch dedicated subwoofer, which will provide a much deeper and more impactful low-end response right out of the box, making it better for action movies and bass-heavy music. It also includes HDMI ARC connectivity, which allows you to control the sound bar’s volume with your TV remote for a more integrated experience. This is the better choice for a primary living room TV where a more cinematic feel is desired.
2. Hisense HS2100 2.1 Ch Sound Bar Wireless Subwoofer
- 240W Output: 2 powerful speakers and a wireless subwoofer, erupting impressive 240W max audio power to upgrade your TV sound instantly.
- DTS Virtual: X: Whether you’re gaming, watching your favorite movie or show, or listening to that new track on repeat, DTS Virtual X enhances the entertainment you love across all of your devices....
- Wireless Subwoofer: A wireless subwoofer delivers the robust low-end frequencies that punctuate your favorite movies, music, and games, without any messy wires. You’ll feel the “boom” while the...
For those willing to invest a bit more for a recognized brand name and more advanced audio processing, the Hisense HS2100 is a formidable competitor. It packs a powerful 240W system with a wireless subwoofer, offering significant flexibility in placement. Its key feature is DTS Virtual:X, which creates a virtualized 3D sound experience, simulating height and surround channels for greater immersion. With six distinct EQ modes and HDMI ARC, it’s a feature-rich package designed for movie lovers who want a taste of surround sound without the complexity of extra speakers.
3. ZVOX AV157 Sound Bar AccuVoice TV Speakers
- CRYSTAL CLEAR DIALOGUE: Experience superior sound with AccuVoice hearing aid technology in our TV speaker, featuring 12 levels of voice boost to make every word stand out. Perfect for enhancing...
- DISTRACTION-FREE LISTENING: Enjoy focused sound with our new SuperVoice technology, which minimizes distracting background noise, letting dialogue take center stage. Perfect for clear conversations,...
- POWERFUL, ROOM-FILLING SOUND: Equipped with three 2"x3" high-output full-range speakers, this TV speaker delivers rich, immersive audio that fills the room. Perfect for clear, full-bodied sound that...
The ZVOX AV157 is a specialist. While the Saiyin has a great “News Mode,” the ZVOX is built from the ground up for one primary purpose: ultimate dialogue clarity. It features patented AccuVoice hearing aid technology with 12 levels of voice boost, allowing users to fine-tune vocal enhancement to an incredible degree. It’s a fantastic solution for individuals with hearing impairments or anyone who is supremely frustrated with muffled dialogue. If your main audio complaint is that you simply can’t understand what people are saying on screen, the ZVOX AV157 is likely the best possible choice, even if it might not have the same overall musicality as the other options.
The Final Verdict: An Unbeatable Upgrade for Small Spaces
After extensive hands-on testing, we can confidently say that the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar is a phenomenal product for its intended audience. It is not trying to be a full-blown home theater system, and it shouldn’t be judged as one. Instead, it is a targeted, elegant, and highly effective solution for the millions of people suffering from lackluster audio from their TVs and PCs in smaller rooms.
Its strengths are numerous and compelling: an incredibly compact form factor that fits anywhere, surprisingly rich and clear audio performance, a dedicated dialogue-enhancing mode that truly works, and a forward-thinking SUB OUT port that provides a valuable upgrade path. It represents an almost perfect balance of price, performance, and features. For anyone in a dorm, apartment, bedroom, or office looking for a simple, affordable, and dramatic audio upgrade, we give it our wholehearted recommendation.
If you’ve decided the Saiyin 17 inch Bluetooth Sound Bar is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API