I needed (well, wanted) surround sound in our family room, but the physical setup would not allow for a true rig with receiver, individually wired center & L/R speakers, etc. My tv is on the Mantel Mount (another product I highly recommend), which extends down to eye level from above the (unused) fireplace. I previously had Vizio's 38" 3.1 soundbar attached, but immediately wanted to upgrade to the Atmos bar once I heard about it over a year ago; I can't do a proper wired center channel and front speakers with such a configuration, so having the soundbar coupled with rear speakers wired into the wireless subwoofer was the ideal solution for me (I did have to buy the soundbar extenders for the mount, as it is so much wider than the bar before).
Even though I knew I wanted the 5.1.4, I waited and read the few reviews that were out there, which solidified my decision; I waited for Cyber Monday (missing the Black Friday price) and pulled the trigger. It has been one of the best "big" purchases I've made in electronics. Most people do not have surround sound in their homes, so don't know what they're missing; or, if they do, may not have things connected properly, hence aren't getting the most out of their system. For someone looking for a solid and impressive system, without breaking the bank or going full "home theater" this is an excellent option.
Obviously the selling point is the fact that this supports Atmos, so you'll need to know how to actually achieve that, because too many people assume they will get the full effect via ARC (they won't). The biggest complaint I've seen about the bar is there's only 1 HDMI input, which is a fair point, but there are workarounds. My setup is a little complicated, but I like having the option of not having to use the system, so split my signals. I have cable going straight into the TV and use the ARC connection for surround (cable doesn't support any high-end audio, so I don't need anything beyond ARC support there). I also have a Roku Ultra and Panasonic 4k Blu Ray player, which I obviously want to get the best audio from. The Panasonic player comes with a separate "audio out", which helped tremendously; Roku made things a bit more complicated. After searching and searching and searching, I finally arrived at the HDFury AVR Key 18Gbps | HDMI Audio Extractor | 4K HDR Splitter; it splits the audio and video signal from my Roku the way the Panasonic does and has been a life safer. Next, the audio signal from the Panasonic and Roku go to an HDMI selector, which runs to the soundbar, and their video signals go to a separate selector that runs to the TV--a bit robust, I know, but it works and has not given me any headaches (both selectors are from ROOFull, which looks like many other brands, but has been the most solid in terms of performance for me and fully supports 4k and Atmos). The only problem is my wife has no clue how to select anything (but I see that as a "plus"!).
Once you make sure audio is set to "auto" on any player/streaming device, you're good to go--watching the little light go green for "Atmos" or red for "DTS" is awesome...and boy, do you truly hear it all around you. Even basic 5.1 Dolby surround from the cable box sounds more encompassing when the EQ is set to "movie". The bar being 46" really does help with L, center, R channel separation--the "movement" across channels becomes more apparent. In terms of Atmos, when it's kicked in, it shines. Fair warning, even though some movies have Atmos tracks, it does not always mean you're going to be looking up, thinking something is above you; it's not ALWAYS an "up and down" movement, but most definitely creates a "fuller" soundscape that is tough to beat. Additionally, the subwoofer has really solid bass that keeps everything tight.
Pros:
-Awesome sound quality (regardless of price)
-Straight forward use (after going through remote once)
-Simplifies a surround setup for the average family room
-Solid construction
Cons:
-Bluetooth connection can be spotty (not a huge deal--not really why I have the system)
-Sometimes you need to cycle through the inputs for the signal to kick in
-Only 1 HDMI input (issue if you have more than one high-end audio source that ARC won't support, but can be dealt with as mentioned above)
-Won't work with vaulted ceilings (this is true of any up-firing speakers, and is not exclusive to this system)
I would highly recommend this system to anyone--you won't be disappointed.
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Reviews with images
Sounds amazing, lots of minor glitches, but ok after all
Changing my review to 5 stars:How it sounds to you, to me, it's all relative. In my small 15x15 room these speakers and sub-woofer sounds absolutely incredible, far better for movies and music than the expensive bookshelf speakers that replaces. Atmos movies are amazing, I didn't knew what I was missing. Currently there is no soundbar in the market with a better subwoofer than this one Vizio includes. I haven't experienced any subwoofer or rear speakers disconnecting issues.The remote is absolutely horrible, but I knew that. I was thinking, well they have a good app, but the app is also terrible. So many steps in order to get to the soundbar controls. The app is more oriented to empty your packets with paid content. When I try to change some sound parameters, either don't allow me to change it or the little bars jump all over the place like possessed, so the app is not very helpful in order to tweak the sound for different movies etc. Communication between the app and the soundbar is very slow and faulty. Very frustrating.The soundbar keeps "updating" itself, but hey there is no new updates available. Many people having this issue at this time. Not a big deal, it happens quickly and you can continue listening.Sometimes I can't shut the soundbar off, neither with the remote or soundbar buttons. Same applies when trying to turn it on. It gets fixed with a power cycle.A real shame than Vizio can't offer a decent full feature remote.Update few days later after purchase:I was giving a 1 star rate. Changing to 5 because finally I was able to find a way to watch high quality 4K MKV files with Dolby Atmos, or DTS HD sound. I was new to the soundbar world, and to make the soundbar work properly with Windows 10 was a real challenge.This is what it worked for me:Make sure you have the "Dolby Access app" installed. Open the app and set it up with your soundbar.Under "speaker set up" select "Dolby Atmos for Home Theater".The are many audio codecs for Windows; I use which I believe to be the best, "K-Lite Codec Pack", the "Mega" version.Install "K-Lite Codec Pack" and then go to "Codec Tweak Tool", and click into "Audio Output". Then under "Audio Decoder Output" select "same as input". Then under "Audio Bitstreaming To External Device" select "Enabled (= receiver decodes audio)". Once you selected that, more options will open and then select "HDMI connection", and under "Bitstreaming Formats" click and select everything. Make sure that you also install Windows Media Player Classic and you're done.Windows Media Player Classic is included with K-Lite Codec Pack, and it is very necessary because it will be the only way you have to play each and every single 4K file with Dolby Atmos and DTS HD without a single problem. Prior this configuration I was having video and audio issues while playing these large 4K video files, but now everything is perfect. And of course don't expect Vizio to help you with this, that's not their job, neither they know.You can easily know if you getting Atmos by seeing a green light blinking in the soundbar. Whenever you get DTS HD the light will be red. Those lights will stay on for only few seconds.I can Imagine that you would not have any issues if you're just playing your content with a streaming device or bluray player.Another thing I want to mention. Bigger doesn't mean better. If you want to watch movies or videos, choose a soundbar or home theater system. Do not make the same mistake I did by listening to audiophile people; those people will always give you the worst piece of advice, because all they care is about the size and "quality" of the speakers (it's like a creepy cult)... Is like they don't understand than the source of audio is way more important. I bought a very expensive pair of speakers under their recommendation, and they didn't sounded bad, but all I was getting was stereo sound, and not the best source of audio from the optical cable from the TV. Having switched to this system was the best decision ever. The speakers can be small, but they must be of high quality because they sound really really good, and of course now I can hear all these high quality surround sound formats.This soundbar sounds great with music too. You can use it at low volume without changing any setting, and still sounds very good.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2018
Even though I knew I wanted the 5.1.4, I waited and read the few reviews that were out there, which solidified my decision; I waited for Cyber Monday (missing the Black Friday price) and pulled the trigger. It has been one of the best "big" purchases I've made in electronics. Most people do not have surround sound in their homes, so don't know what they're missing; or, if they do, may not have things connected properly, hence aren't getting the most out of their system. For someone looking for a solid and impressive system, without breaking the bank or going full "home theater" this is an excellent option.
Obviously the selling point is the fact that this supports Atmos, so you'll need to know how to actually achieve that, because too many people assume they will get the full effect via ARC (they won't). The biggest complaint I've seen about the bar is there's only 1 HDMI input, which is a fair point, but there are workarounds. My setup is a little complicated, but I like having the option of not having to use the system, so split my signals. I have cable going straight into the TV and use the ARC connection for surround (cable doesn't support any high-end audio, so I don't need anything beyond ARC support there). I also have a Roku Ultra and Panasonic 4k Blu Ray player, which I obviously want to get the best audio from. The Panasonic player comes with a separate "audio out", which helped tremendously; Roku made things a bit more complicated. After searching and searching and searching, I finally arrived at the HDFury AVR Key 18Gbps | HDMI Audio Extractor | 4K HDR Splitter; it splits the audio and video signal from my Roku the way the Panasonic does and has been a life safer. Next, the audio signal from the Panasonic and Roku go to an HDMI selector, which runs to the soundbar, and their video signals go to a separate selector that runs to the TV--a bit robust, I know, but it works and has not given me any headaches (both selectors are from ROOFull, which looks like many other brands, but has been the most solid in terms of performance for me and fully supports 4k and Atmos). The only problem is my wife has no clue how to select anything (but I see that as a "plus"!).
Once you make sure audio is set to "auto" on any player/streaming device, you're good to go--watching the little light go green for "Atmos" or red for "DTS" is awesome...and boy, do you truly hear it all around you. Even basic 5.1 Dolby surround from the cable box sounds more encompassing when the EQ is set to "movie". The bar being 46" really does help with L, center, R channel separation--the "movement" across channels becomes more apparent. In terms of Atmos, when it's kicked in, it shines. Fair warning, even though some movies have Atmos tracks, it does not always mean you're going to be looking up, thinking something is above you; it's not ALWAYS an "up and down" movement, but most definitely creates a "fuller" soundscape that is tough to beat. Additionally, the subwoofer has really solid bass that keeps everything tight.
Pros:
-Awesome sound quality (regardless of price)
-Straight forward use (after going through remote once)
-Simplifies a surround setup for the average family room
-Solid construction
Cons:
-Bluetooth connection can be spotty (not a huge deal--not really why I have the system)
-Sometimes you need to cycle through the inputs for the signal to kick in
-Only 1 HDMI input (issue if you have more than one high-end audio source that ARC won't support, but can be dealt with as mentioned above)
-Won't work with vaulted ceilings (this is true of any up-firing speakers, and is not exclusive to this system)
I would highly recommend this system to anyone--you won't be disappointed.
Perfect "Goldilocks" Solution with a little know-how.
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2018
I needed (well, wanted) surround sound in our family room, but the physical setup would not allow for a true rig with receiver, individually wired center & L/R speakers, etc. My tv is on the Mantel Mount (another product I highly recommend), which extends down to eye level from above the (unused) fireplace. I previously had Vizio's 38" 3.1 soundbar attached, but immediately wanted to upgrade to the Atmos bar once I heard about it over a year ago; I can't do a proper wired center channel and front speakers with such a configuration, so having the soundbar coupled with rear speakers wired into the wireless subwoofer was the ideal solution for me (I did have to buy the soundbar extenders for the mount, as it is so much wider than the bar before).Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2018
Even though I knew I wanted the 5.1.4, I waited and read the few reviews that were out there, which solidified my decision; I waited for Cyber Monday (missing the Black Friday price) and pulled the trigger. It has been one of the best "big" purchases I've made in electronics. Most people do not have surround sound in their homes, so don't know what they're missing; or, if they do, may not have things connected properly, hence aren't getting the most out of their system. For someone looking for a solid and impressive system, without breaking the bank or going full "home theater" this is an excellent option.
Obviously the selling point is the fact that this supports Atmos, so you'll need to know how to actually achieve that, because too many people assume they will get the full effect via ARC (they won't). The biggest complaint I've seen about the bar is there's only 1 HDMI input, which is a fair point, but there are workarounds. My setup is a little complicated, but I like having the option of not having to use the system, so split my signals. I have cable going straight into the TV and use the ARC connection for surround (cable doesn't support any high-end audio, so I don't need anything beyond ARC support there). I also have a Roku Ultra and Panasonic 4k Blu Ray player, which I obviously want to get the best audio from. The Panasonic player comes with a separate "audio out", which helped tremendously; Roku made things a bit more complicated. After searching and searching and searching, I finally arrived at the HDFury AVR Key 18Gbps | HDMI Audio Extractor | 4K HDR Splitter; it splits the audio and video signal from my Roku the way the Panasonic does and has been a life safer. Next, the audio signal from the Panasonic and Roku go to an HDMI selector, which runs to the soundbar, and their video signals go to a separate selector that runs to the TV--a bit robust, I know, but it works and has not given me any headaches (both selectors are from ROOFull, which looks like many other brands, but has been the most solid in terms of performance for me and fully supports 4k and Atmos). The only problem is my wife has no clue how to select anything (but I see that as a "plus"!).
Once you make sure audio is set to "auto" on any player/streaming device, you're good to go--watching the little light go green for "Atmos" or red for "DTS" is awesome...and boy, do you truly hear it all around you. Even basic 5.1 Dolby surround from the cable box sounds more encompassing when the EQ is set to "movie". The bar being 46" really does help with L, center, R channel separation--the "movement" across channels becomes more apparent. In terms of Atmos, when it's kicked in, it shines. Fair warning, even though some movies have Atmos tracks, it does not always mean you're going to be looking up, thinking something is above you; it's not ALWAYS an "up and down" movement, but most definitely creates a "fuller" soundscape that is tough to beat. Additionally, the subwoofer has really solid bass that keeps everything tight.
Pros:
-Awesome sound quality (regardless of price)
-Straight forward use (after going through remote once)
-Simplifies a surround setup for the average family room
-Solid construction
Cons:
-Bluetooth connection can be spotty (not a huge deal--not really why I have the system)
-Sometimes you need to cycle through the inputs for the signal to kick in
-Only 1 HDMI input (issue if you have more than one high-end audio source that ARC won't support, but can be dealt with as mentioned above)
-Won't work with vaulted ceilings (this is true of any up-firing speakers, and is not exclusive to this system)
I would highly recommend this system to anyone--you won't be disappointed.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2018
I just opened and installed this system about 2 hours ago. First impression: WOAH. That’s exactly what I wanted when spending this much money on a sound system! The design is very sleek and modern. The satellites have some decent weight to them and look good. The subwoofer is the biggest and heaviest that I have ever seen with a sound bar. The sub looks like it would fit in well with any hardwired true 5.1 or 5.2 system. Set up was easy as expected. Overall sound quality was very impressive from the start. The audio was well balanced with lows mids and highs. The sub was very strong but controllable with the smart cast app/remote. Seriously this system was impressive at first play. Much more impressive than the NAKAMICHI 7.2 DTS-X system. The nakamichi lacked a lot in the mid range and the subs were buzzy with certain content. This is not the case with the vizio so far.
The Dolby ATMOS works with my Xbox one without any issues so far. It’s hard to describe atmos with words so I’d suggest doing your own research on that. The height speakers in this system are VERY noticeable and ad a very cool touch. I love them.
The cons: This system isn’t very user friendly. The remote is kind of hard to navigate. The app makes it easier but the only display that the sound bar has is a series of LED dots that are hard to interpret without the user guide. There isn’t a solid way to see what format you are currently in ie: atmos dts, or DD. Those features aren’t a deal breaker in my opinion. Maybe it can be updated to give an on screen menu with vizio TVs later on.
DTS-X: this isn’t supported by this sound bar. Support isn’t noted anywhere in the user guide, box, or website. However, on Facebook, the vizio account responded to a comment on one of the pictures of this system and said that the sound bar DOES support DTSX, idk who to believe. Surly DTSX support can be added via firmware update later on, fingers crossed.
I will update this review as I go along. So far it’s a 5 star!!
Edit: 12/2/2018, I have looked back and reviewed my correspondance with the vizio people on facebook They actually didn't confirm the use of actual DTS-X. They said real DTS and DTS virtual X. I have also confirmed that on the system, it would not play in DTS X.
Otherwise, The system has continued to impress in terms of sound quality. I have had a few instances where the system would shut off unexpectedly. This would require me to turn it back on manually. Once the system is on again all of the previous settings are restored and things are back to normal. I have not contacted vizio support yet, I am waiting for either a firmware update or the system to become more frequent with its power downs, whichever comes first.
1/10/19 UPDATE: The system continues to play very well with my xbox one as my audio source. The previously mentioned technical issues have continued to happen to me. They have not become more or less frequent. I would guess 1 out of every 15-20 times the system is powered on through the TVs CEC control, I will experience the issue. The screen may go black, the sound will cut, then the picture will suddenly re appear and the sound will be back to where it was. I think about 2 times i have lost CEC connectivity between the tv and the system and ive had to un plug the bar and re plug it back in for it to re connect.
These issues are too infrequent for me to stop enjoying the system. The sound continues to satisfy me with all types of content. Overall, with a couple of hiccups, the system continues to play clear and strong. It is the most convenient, affordable and impressive surround soundbar that I have yet come across.
The Dolby ATMOS works with my Xbox one without any issues so far. It’s hard to describe atmos with words so I’d suggest doing your own research on that. The height speakers in this system are VERY noticeable and ad a very cool touch. I love them.
The cons: This system isn’t very user friendly. The remote is kind of hard to navigate. The app makes it easier but the only display that the sound bar has is a series of LED dots that are hard to interpret without the user guide. There isn’t a solid way to see what format you are currently in ie: atmos dts, or DD. Those features aren’t a deal breaker in my opinion. Maybe it can be updated to give an on screen menu with vizio TVs later on.
DTS-X: this isn’t supported by this sound bar. Support isn’t noted anywhere in the user guide, box, or website. However, on Facebook, the vizio account responded to a comment on one of the pictures of this system and said that the sound bar DOES support DTSX, idk who to believe. Surly DTSX support can be added via firmware update later on, fingers crossed.
I will update this review as I go along. So far it’s a 5 star!!
Edit: 12/2/2018, I have looked back and reviewed my correspondance with the vizio people on facebook They actually didn't confirm the use of actual DTS-X. They said real DTS and DTS virtual X. I have also confirmed that on the system, it would not play in DTS X.
Otherwise, The system has continued to impress in terms of sound quality. I have had a few instances where the system would shut off unexpectedly. This would require me to turn it back on manually. Once the system is on again all of the previous settings are restored and things are back to normal. I have not contacted vizio support yet, I am waiting for either a firmware update or the system to become more frequent with its power downs, whichever comes first.
1/10/19 UPDATE: The system continues to play very well with my xbox one as my audio source. The previously mentioned technical issues have continued to happen to me. They have not become more or less frequent. I would guess 1 out of every 15-20 times the system is powered on through the TVs CEC control, I will experience the issue. The screen may go black, the sound will cut, then the picture will suddenly re appear and the sound will be back to where it was. I think about 2 times i have lost CEC connectivity between the tv and the system and ive had to un plug the bar and re plug it back in for it to re connect.
These issues are too infrequent for me to stop enjoying the system. The sound continues to satisfy me with all types of content. Overall, with a couple of hiccups, the system continues to play clear and strong. It is the most convenient, affordable and impressive surround soundbar that I have yet come across.
Images in this review
