TL;DR
Looking to boost your TV's sound without breaking the bank or cluttering your room? Sharp's HT-SB700 soundbar is a super compact, budget-friendly option that excels at making dialogue crystal clear – perfect for late-night viewing or binge-watching your favorite shows. It's a breeze to set up and looks sleek with most TVs. While it won't blow you away with booming bass or immersive cinematic sound, it's a noticeable upgrade from built-in TV speakers. If clear vocals are your priority and space is tight, this little soundbar punches above its weight. Want to know if its dialogue focus is enough for you? Dive into the full review!
The soundbar market has grown rapidly in recent years, and Sharp is a clear example of how manufacturers are trying to squeeze as much functionality as possible into a compact format. We have previously tested the larger and more advanced HT‑SBW53121 model with its accompanying rear speakers, but this time we are looking at its smaller sibling: HT‑SB700. Despite its smaller size, it delivers more than one might first expect.
This soundbar is aimed at users who want to improve their TV sound without filling the room with large speakers or investing in unnecessarily expensive systems. A truly budget-friendly alternative, in other words.
First Impressions
The first thing you notice is how small and light the soundbar is. Despite its compact format, it feels surprisingly robust, and the design is discrete enough to blend in front of virtually any TV. However, if you have a very large TV—like an 85-inch model in my case—it looks quite dainty by comparison. For a 50-inch TV, the proportions would likely have been more balanced.
The installation was very smooth. I just connected HDMI ARC, turned on the TV, and everything worked immediately without any issues. I could also connect the soundbar via Bluetooth directly from the TV, which eliminates the need to run an HDMI cable all the way up to the screen. A very practical solution when you want to keep the installation clean and free of unnecessary cords. However, the sound quality is noticeably worse via Bluetooth, especially if you want the full effect and support for Dolby Atmos. In my test, I therefore chose to have the HDMI cable connected.
The remote control is simple but clear, and easy to understand even for those who are not particularly tech-savvy. Overall, it feels like a product that wants to make life easy for the user, and it succeeds in doing just that.
When you start switching between sound modes, however, you quickly notice that the soundbar has a distinct character. It prioritizes voices and the mid-range (the frequency range where voices sound natural and clear), and already upon the first listen, it is clear that it is built to improve dialogue rather than deliver a cinematic experience. This is not unusual in this price range, but it sets the tone for the rest of the experience.
Sound and Details
The soundstage is clean and clear in the upper register, and dialogue is the soundbar’s strongest suit. Voices come through clearly even at low volumes, making it perfect for late-night viewing or for those who frequently watch series and news. The mid-range is balanced and provides a solid foundation, but this is also where the soundbar reaches its limit.
The bass is the soundbar’s weakest point. Without a subwoofer, depth and weight are missing, and even though it tries to compensate by boosting the mid-bass, the result is never truly rich. Explosions, music, and action sequences lack the punch required to feel engaging. At higher volumes, it’s also noticeable that the soundbar doesn’t have much dynamic range; the sound can become flat and strained, especially in scenes with many elements occurring simultaneously.
The EQ modes vary in quality. Some provide a slight improvement depending on the content, while others tend to degrade the sound by exaggerating the treble or suppressing the mid-range. The standard mode is the most natural and the one you most often return to.
Cons
Sharp HT‑SB700 has several clear limitations that quickly become apparent in practice. The bass is too weak to provide any real weight to movies or music. The sound modes are uneven, and some sound downright unnatural. For music listening, the soundbar is simply too thin and lacks both warmth and detail.
Pros
Despite its weaknesses, the soundbar has several strengths that make it attractive to the right target audience. It is extremely easy to install and use, and its compact format makes it perfect for small rooms or for those who do not want a large sound system. Dialogue is clear and clean, making it ideal for series, news, and everyday TV viewing. The Bluetooth connection is stable and works well for casual music listening. For its price, it delivers a noticeable improvement over the TV’s built-in speakers.
Summary
Sharp HT‑SB700 is a soundbar that does a lot right within its limitations. It is easy to use, takes up minimal space, and delivers a clear improvement in dialogue and general TV sound. However, it lacks power, depth, and dynamics, and anyone hoping for a truly immersive cinematic experience will be disappointed. The Atmos support is limited, and the bass is too weak to provide any real presence.
For smaller rooms, bedrooms, or for users who primarily want better dialogue, it is a budget-friendly and convenient option. But for those who want more punch and a more cinematic feel, there are other models that do the job significantly better.
Sharp sent a review unit for this test. The provider of the material has no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently with our readers and consumers in focus.
