I run a small woodworking shop in my garage and I wanted one device that handles podcasts from my phone, FM news at lunch, and TV audio when the game is on. A soundbar with built-in radio sounded like the unicorn product I needed. Turns out they exist, just not from the brands you would expect. I compared five and these are the ones worth your money.
Products I Tested
| Product | Best For | Search |
|---|---|---|
| Pyle Bluetooth Soundbar With FM Radio | Best overall | View on Amazon |
| LG Multifunction Soundbar With Radio | TV connection | View on Amazon |
| Philips Sound Tower With FM Tuner | Party use | View on Amazon |
| Bestisan Soundbar With AM FM | Dual band radio | View on Amazon |
| Saiyin Wall Mountable Soundbar Radio | Wall mount | View on Amazon |
What Matters Most
A soundbar with radio needs a real telescoping antenna or a long wire antenna, not a stubby plastic stub. It also needs separate volume memory per input so your radio is not blasting when you switch back from TV. Half the units I compared fail on input memory.
My Setup
The soundbar sits on a shelf above my workbench, six feet off the floor and twelve feet from the garage door. I ran a thirty foot wire antenna up to the rafters for the units that supported it, and used the stock telescoping antenna for the others. Test stations were a strong local AM and a weak FM ninety miles out.
FM Reception Comparison
The Pyle pulled both stations cleanly with its included long antenna. The Bestisan locked onto the local FM but hissed on the distant one. The LG only had a stubby antenna and missed the weak station entirely until I rigged a wire to the antenna jack.
Sound Quality on Music
The Philips Sound Tower is the loudest of the group and has actual bass response for music. The Pyle is balanced and works for both spoken word and music. The Saiyin is thin sounding because the wall mount design limits driver size.
TV Audio Use
The LG soundbar has a real HDMI ARC input and works as a normal TV soundbar when you are not listening to radio. The others are Bluetooth and optical only, which is fine for most TVs but limiting if you need volume control through your TV remote.
Common Mistakes
People mount a soundbar with radio behind a metal cabinet door or in a closed entertainment center and then complain about static. The antenna needs line of sight or a wire run to a window. Also, FM presets need to be saved manually on most units, not just tuned to and left.
Final Recommendation
The Pyle is my pick because the antenna included with it actually works and the sound is good enough for my shop. If you want a real TV soundbar that happens to have radio, get the LG. The Philips is overkill unless you throw parties in your garage like I do.
Frequently asked questions
Do most soundbars include an FM radio tuner?+
No. Soundbars from Sonos, Bose, and Samsung skip radio entirely. You need a multifunction unit, usually from Pyle, LG, or Philips, to get a built-in tuner.
Can I use a soundbar with FM radio without a TV?+
Yes. Most of these soundbars have radio mode that runs independently of the HDMI or optical input, so you can just power it on and tune in.