Lights on, Sound up: Stealth Light-Up Gaming Soundbar

Searching for the best soundbar means scrolling through countless designs, but the Stealth Light-Up Gaming Soundbar might just be the one that's right for you. It's a quality, budget-friendly soundbar designed for gaming, movie-watching, and just about any TV use. And naturally, it works with music as well.

Pair this speaker with your TV to create an immersive audio experience. It's not all about the sound, however, as this soundbar has various lighting modes to add a bit of extra flair to your setup. After all, nothing completes a gaming zone quite like RGB lighting.

There's still another feature that makes this Stealth Soundbar stand out from its peers, and that's its portability. That's right, this soundbar has a battery life and Bluetooth connection designed to take with you on the go.

One of our resident tech experts, Kyle Purves, has been testing the Stealth Light-Up Gaming Soundbar. They've tested plenty of speakers before and know what to look out for in a soundbar. By adding it to their own gaming setup and using it with general TV use, they've become familiar with the ins and outs of the Stealth Soundbar and are now ready to share their findings.

The Performance

Superb sound on a budget

Looking at the specs alone might make you think that the Stealth Soundbar lacks power, but after my time with it, I can say that it certainly doesn't lack audio clarity. It's not super bassy, but music, sound effects, and even dialogue all come through very distinct and crisp.

This is even more surprising when you consider the price. Sure, there are plenty of great-sounding speakers you can get for less than £40, but that's not usually the case for soundbars. It's definitely a pleasant surprise.

More expensive soundbars might manage to fit four speakers and a subwoofer into their design, but I can't complain about two speakers totalling a 10W output in a portable design. While it's not spectacular for bass, it's not bad either.

The volume is very solid. From testing it with my phone via Bluetooth, it seems the soundbar is affected by both controls individually. As such, you get the loudest volume by pushing it to the max both on the soundbar and on the device. It's a bit inelegant, but I actually quite like it. I was able to fine-tune my preferred volume much more accurately than with standard volume control methods.

While the Stealth Soundbar is designed for gaming, it can still be used for other tasks. I often use it to listen to music, so it will be suitable if you want a general Bluetooth speaker. It also does a good job with audio for videos and movies.

Turn the lights on

The lights are a fun feature that distinguishes the Stealth Soundbar from its peers while helping it blend in with other gaming accessories. You can choose to use the soundbar without the lights or switch between one of four modes. The first is a soft colour-changing glow, the second is a series of coloured bars moving in succession, and the third is a single bar at a time. The fourth is the most interesting, being volume-sensitive. It will lighten up in response to the noise of the output, adding a bit of extra immersion. Personally, I recommend trying it out with a horror game so now you can hear and see every sound effect.

Four modes are plenty for this kind of feature, but it would have been nice to be able to adjust the brightness. As it is, it hits a nice balance between being bright and not being distracting, but I would prefer to have a bit of added control.

Lots of gaming accessories adhere to an RGB aesthetic, so the Stealth Soundbar will comfortably complement any existing setup. While I don't own many of these, I do have a mouse that glows, and they look great together on my desk. I can imagine that an entire setup committed to this type of lighting would look excellent.

Time to game

Since the Stealth Soundbar is primarily advertised for gamers, I decided to put that to a varied test. To cover a range of gaming, I tried it out with my laptop, a Nintendo Switch, and a PS5.

Setting it up with a laptop was very simple, as I could use either Bluetooth or an audio jack. I chose the former so I could minimise my cables, but I didn't notice any drop in sound quality when using it wirelessly. Compared to my laptop's built-in speakers, the soundbar was a noticeable step up in quality. Once again, the clarity of the sound impressed me and it was more than capable of keeping up with games such as Elden Ring or Final Fantasy XIV.

The Nintendo Switch was perhaps the easiest of them, connecting via Bluetooth very quickly. I revised Fire Emblem Engage for sound effects and dialogue and Sayonara Wild Hearts for music, and once again, the soundbar was an improvement over the built-in speakers. Considering that the Stealth Soundbar boasts about its portability, I believe the Switch is its best partner and is absolutely asking to be brought along to a gathering to threaten friendships with Mario Party.

The PlayStation 5 was an interesting case. The console cannot connect to Bluetooth audio devices, meaning you have to use the audio jack connection. As such, the soundbar was plugged into my controller. As you can imagine, that wasn't the most ideal way to play, but it was alleviated a bit by the fact that I sat at my desk for it. This time, the soundbar was up against the built-in speakers of a TV and monitor, and yet again, it came out on top. Despite the awkwardness with the controller, I can see myself playing this way again, as it made Demon's Souls and Star Ocean: The Second Story R both sound brilliant.

Bluetooth and Battery

When using a Bluetooth speaker, you need to consider the range at which it will remain connected with its paired device. While it couldn't manage the full distance of my house, it was fine for a few rooms away, and since it never had any blips in all my testing, I feel confident in describing its connection as reliable.

Much of the same can be said for the battery life. A playtime of eight hours may be a bit below average for a Bluetooth speaker, but it's great for a soundbar with light effects. Besides, in practice it won't be far from a charging spot for long, even if you do travel with it. If you use it with a TV or console, it will be near sockets anyway, so keeping it topped up is simple. In fact, the USB-C connection and swift charging time meant that I had to actively try to drain the battery.

It should also be noted that the soundbar has a clock, alarm, and timer. While these are cute features, they're not especially worthwhile, and I would suggest keeping track of the time with your phone or any other device. That said, it doesn't hurt to have these features included, and the timer could be useful for sticking to shorter sessions.

The Build

Size and shape

The Stealth Light-Up Gaming Soundbar's physical shape is unusual, but not in a bad way. It's a lot less wide than most other soundbars, and I found it easy to add it to preexisting setups, whereas another design would require moving everything else around it. On the flip side, it's a bit taller than most, with the depth matching its height. The result is a cuboid that might not fit under certain low displays that a flat soundbar could. This shape and size are likely to account for all the aspects that we'll discuss next.

Buttons and controls

There is a set of six buttons on top of the soundbar used to control every aspect of the device. From left to right, you have the power button, menu, volume down, volume up, select, and lights. It takes a bit of time to get used to the placements, and I wish they were a bit bigger, as there is still a lot of empty space at the top of the soundbar. The actual buttons themselves are responsive and have an audible click when pressed, so you never need to second guess if your input went through or not.

Two connection ports, one for the audio jack and the other for USB-C, sit high up around the back. They're easy to access and spaced the right distance apart so that the connection heads will unlikely obstruct each other.

Screen display

The display screen is in the centre of the Stealth Soundbar. When powered on, this always shows the clock by default. It will show what connection type is currently being used and has icons along the side to help you navigate the menus. When adjusting the volume or lights, the display will change to show the relevant information.

The digital clock is always readable but never bright enough to diminish the soundbar's light effects, which I much appreciated.

A soundbar for on-the-go?

There are numerous portable Bluetooth speakers out there, but a soundbar usually stays in one place. Initially, I was unsure about what use the portability of the Stealth Soundbar would be. Sure, a lightweight design is always nice, but I wasn't convinced it would serve a practical function. Now that I've tested it, however, I understand. This is a party speaker.

Whatever kind of social gathering you're heading to, whether it's a flat party with music or a simple hangout with friends, this is a fantastic speaker to take with you. The lights help create a fun atmosphere, it should fit fine in a decently-sized backpack, and it's reasonably affordable. If you've got the room to bring it along, you might as well.

Any downsides?

If I have any specific complaints, it would be that navigating through the settings can be a bit clunky. The screen helps to show what connection type you're currently on, but swapping between them feels somewhat slow. Trying to change the clock or alarm is even more cumbersome, and I'm not sure it is worth the hassle. There are a lot of repeated button presses, and I would compare it to trying to text on an old flip phone. That all said, this is just an issue with some small extras, so it's not a massive drawback for the soundbar.

On the other hand, it is worth comparing the Stealth Soundbar to other designs. While it is a great addition to a gaming setup and a very respectable budget-friendly speaker, if you are looking for a soundbar for movies I think you can do better. There are options out there with more power, more bass, and more speakers, so if you're searching for the best audio experience possible, you're likely worth spending a bit extra on another soundbar.

It's also worth noting that this soundbar cannot wirelessly connect to a PS4, PS5, Xbox One or Series X/S. These consoles don't support Bluetooth audio devices, so you will need to use a wired connection. This is an issue with the consoles, not the soundbar, but I believe it is important to be aware of this. The Nintendo Switch can connect via Bluetooth to the Stealth Soundbar.

Who is it for?

At first glance, the Stealth Light-Up Gaming Soundbar may look like a standard item with an RGB gimmick, but in practice, it is very reliable with surprisingly distinct audio clarity. For a reasonable £39.99, you get a solid soundbar with some fun and unique quirks. The lighting effects can liven up an otherwise basic setup, and it doesn't take up as much room as many other designs do. I may be unsure of how much use I will get out of its portability, but it is nevertheless a distinct trait for a soundbar. All in all, it's simple, sounds good, and I see myself getting a lot of use out of it going forward.

While the Stealth Soundbar's audio clarity makes it suitable for most people, I think its main audience is gamers. It does a good job with movies and music, but it was designed for gaming, and you're better off with another soundbar for anything else. The portability also makes it well-suited for anyone looking for a soundbar to take with them on travels.

Because of this soundbar's good value price tag, it's also a great gift option, especially for a teenager.

Do we recommend it?

We do recommend the Stealth Soundbar, but with the caveat that you can do better for a dedicated soundbar. But if the portability, budget-friendly price, or even just the fun light effects sound appealing to you, then it's absolutely worth considering.

Other items to consider

Not convinced that the Stealth Soundbar is the right one for you? Worry not, whether you're looking for a more general option or something with a bit of extra oomph in its output power, you can check out these soundbars that we've also reviewed:

Why should you trust us?

At What's The Best, our mission is to provide accurate and reliable reviews, ensuring our readers receive honest and transparent information about the best technology products available. Anything less would undermine our commitment to being a trusted source of unbiased product information.

Our dedicated in-house writing team comprises experts with extensive experience and a genuine passion for technology. Collectively, we have spent decades testing and writing about tech, leveraging our expertise in all our articles, advice pieces and reviews.

We maintain complete editorial independence and do not accept payment for product reviews. Our writers have full control over their content, ensuring that products are selected based solely on the needs of our readers. While we may earn commissions or other compensation from links on our website, this never affects our product choices. These links enable us to continue offering valuable consumer advice, without compromising the integrity of our reviews.

Read more about why you should trust us.

How we test products at What's The Best

Struggling to navigate the audio world? We provide unbiased reviews for real listeners.

At What's The Best, we ditch the technical jargon and deliver sound reviews for sound people. Our team of audio enthusiasts puts everyday speakers, headphones, and more through their paces in real-world listening scenarios. We don't waste your time with staged tests – we focus on how these products actually perform for everyday music lovers.

The result? Unbiased buying advice you can trust. We only review the most relevant and impactful audio products on the market, so you know you're getting the latest insights. Can't find a review for your specific gear? We're constantly expanding our review database, so stay tuned!

Want to dive deeper into how we test audio products? Visit our dedicated page detailing how we go about performing our audio reviews.

Kyle Purves is a Tech Writer and Reviewer for What's The Best, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech.

They're well-versed in reviewing a variety of tech products, with a soft spot for speakers and earphones. They're also no stranger to hunting down the best savings, always wanting to get the best deal possible. Outside of work, they can often be found playing through an RPG, listening to Japanese noise rock, or trying to catch up with their ever-expanding list of shows and anime to watch. If possible, they try to play Dungeons and Dragons a couple of times a week, but getting six adults to be free at the same time is easier said than done.

Subscribe to the What's The Best Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from the rest of the What's The Best team.