Customer Ratings & Reviews

The service was horrible. If your internet isn’t working this soundbar won’t either.

My previous Atmos sound bar sounded awesome with room filling bass. However, the Atmos experience it provided was undermined by its lack of rear/ satellite speakers. Hence, my reason for getting this vizio soundbar. For the price, this system performed well beyond my expectation. Out of the box, the speakers were well balanced and in tune with the treble / bass from the sub-woofer. I tested with Dolby access Everest movie storm clip on my LG OLED. My cat was a little uneasy, constantly looking around, probably thinking the storm from the clip is way too real and close for comfort. Yes, the sound bar does produce life like, 360 and room filling sound. I will suggest sticking to the layout recommended by Vizio. I had mine this way, except, I moved the sub-woofer behind -instead of to the side of - my couch . Because of how close it was, I had to tune it down sometimes on some clips with heavy bass. I would have given it a 4.5, if not for the fact that, unlike the damson s-series, the surround speakers are wired to the sub-woofer. This requires that sub-woofer has to be behind, close to the rear speakers. I had no issues with this, but it will be disappointing for those who like their sub-woofer at the front, close to their TV. In addition, there is the little effort needed to manage the cables connecting the surround speakers to the sub-woofer. A 5ft floor plastic cover from a hardware store did the job for me. I had issues initially with no sound coming from the system whenever i switch inputs to my apple 4k tv. This got resolved after I connected the system to WI-FI, and updated to the latest firmware. I did hear some diffused overhead plane / helicopter sound from behind me on some Jack Ryan scenes. However, if you are expecting an amazing Atmos height experience, you may be disappointed. There may be some out there, but I have yet to see any Atmos setup that delivers on height like ones with dedicated ceiling speakers. In conclusion, if you need a budget living room soundbar that gives an above par Atmos experience, go for this.

I’ve had this for 2+ years now and I couldn’t imagine a home theatre system without my setup. Excellent sound, loud sound, and incredibly easy to configure.

First time purchasing a Vizio product and I'm sold. Easy set up and easy to use! I have my soundbar connected to my TV using the HDMI ARC connection and have had no issues. The sound is absolutely amazing!!! Watching movies and sports have never been the same. I feel like I'm in a movie theater or actually at the game. The bass on this system will 'wow' you! If you live in an apartment be prepared to get knocks from your neighbor...lol.... Just put some carpet padding under the woofer and that should limit the bump significantly. So far, I've had no complaints on the noise. The sound bar gets plenty loud if you need it too. I am thoroughly enjoying my Vizio 5.1.2 soundbar and highly recommend! For the price, I don't know a better soundbar that will produce quality sound at the same level of a Bose or other high-end name brand company. Buy it, you won't regret it!

I am well accustomed to full-fledged home theater equipment, but I needed something for the bedroom setup. Since I'm only making use of it for a few hours a week I didn't want to spend another multiple thousands on a setup. This package has definitely fit the bill, albeit a few quirks which Vizio is addressing (and others have noted) GOOD: -Great sound for such a small package! -Easy to set up and tweak -Atmos content is awesome, albeit with a single con (see below) -Nothing in this price range even comes close! (Especially for $350 open box!) NOT SO GOOD: -As others reported, HDMI ARC is wonky but a firmware update is in the pipeline to fix it. Every 1 out of 5 times the TV is turned on, the sound bar has no sound. Unplugging/replugging the HDMI and BOOM - sound. Not a big deal since a fix is coming. -While the ATMOS effect is there and really cool, an option to adjust the height channel levels would be greatly appreciated. If it was just a hair louder, it would make all the difference, and this level is the only one for now that can't be changed. REALLY hoping for a firmware update for this!! Overall this setup went beyond my expectation and sounds great!

I have had this sound bar for just over a week. In my opinion it was well worth the price. The sound quality over the ARC connection is great. Could use a little more mids to it or the ability to tweek it slightly but it isn't a deal breaker. The surround sound works great when watching movies or tv shows. The voices are clear and still hear everything else. My son loves to watch music videos on you tube and the sound quality is great. My only issues are it will turn off through the ARC connection but will not turn back on. Not a big deal but would be nice if it worked both ways. Also I have had multiple times where i turn it back on and i get no sound. I tried changing to different inputs and back but usually the only way to get it to work again is to unplug the sound bar and plug it back in. It seems like this could be fixed with a software update. If i could get those small issues fixed i would give it 5 stars.

Pros: Marketed as Dolby Atmos and certainly sounds better than TV built in speakers. It has 1 extra HDMI input along with 1 HDMI ARC input. The extra long wires for the two surround speakers are really helpful. Cons: It is typical Vizio quality, which is just cheaply made when compared to other sound bars. The remote, for example, won’t keep the back battery cover in place...this is very, very annoying. The bass module is tiny, not heavy and sounds boomy. I have a Sony UBP-X700 4K player attached via the extra HDMI input. I used that because Dolby Atmos will travel through a Dolby TrueHD signal, which doesn’t work via HDMI ARC (HDMI ARC works just fine with streaming services like Netflix because Dolby Atmos travels through a Dolby Digital Plus signal). When I turn the UBP-X700 on, the standard Sony home screen appears showing all the typical apps like Netflix, You Tube, etc. The player or the sound bar at this point crackles and pops like crazy until I start the disc. Once the disc starts, everything sounds perfect but as soon as the disc stops playing and I return to the home screen, the crackling sounds immediately begin; therefore, my assessment is it’s likely the new sound bar so perhaps a future firmware update will fix this issue.

This was a new brand for me, took the chance and don’t regret it. Really nice sound. Not like a top of the line, but definitely good sound. Easy to install and easy to use. 4 years and still strong.

Straight out of the box this system knocked it out of the park. I love how it comes with everything we need without having to buy so much as a cable tie to put it together. It synced without any issues for us and even someone who is not tech savvy can set it up with little issue. I've set up several VIZIO products before and had this thing kicking out sound within minutes of pulling it out of the box. While my husband was playing Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, I kept hearing a cat behind my couch and thought one of our neighbor's cats had gotten in our house. Turns out it was his game and I had just never heard the effect before because our previous system had never picked the detail up in the sound. The crystal clear speakers fill the room with the details of the sound from the explosions to the thrill of the lightsabers turning on and it really adds to the movie experience. I'm surprised how much sound we were really missing from our movie watching before and looking forward to hearing some of our movies for the first time coming up.

This system replaced a Yamaha 7.1 surround sound bar and dedicated sub in the living room. So far, it has been all positive, with one small exception. That exception was the set-up. The cast app was buggy. While setting up, it would give error messages about wifi connection and renaming. I ultimately had to go through Google Home to get everything sorted. Being that you only have to do this once, not a big deal. The sound produced is stunning for a unit this size. The bar itself is smaller than my last, but produces much stronger/precise audio. I tried it on video games and a few Atmos encoded movies...new dimension of sound. The major kudos comes with the aesthetics. Very minimal. I'm estatic that wireless audio has come so far. One thing my wife hated about surround sound systems was the wiring. With this system, it's all just about hidden. The rears connect to the sub and there is no latency. Excellent. The Google integration is a great bonus, and it works just as well as an actual Google device. Now, I can move my other Home speaker to replace a mini. I will add that the multi-led notification panel has a bit of a learning curve. But like anything, with more usage, I'm sure it will come with time. While I continue to push for the ULTIMATE SUPER DUPER SOUND SYSTEM a ways down the path, this will do more than fine in the meantime. Definitely recommend.

Review Statement: VIZIO provided this soundbar for free in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own though. The sound bar really shines when you are watching or playing Atmos enabled content. Using the Xbox One S I watched bits of Avengers: Infinity War through Vudu to test Atmos with a movie, and I was more than pleased. I watched the early battle in New York and I could feel the sound pouring over my body, but more importantly, I could also hear the action taking place above my head, which provided a feeling of being in the battle with Iron Man, Strange, Spidey, and Bruce Banner. I also fired up Gears of War 5, which is Atmos enabled, and it too knocked my socks off in terms of the 3D audio experience. Vizio has once again proven to me that it can deliver high-end digital entertainment technology without high-end prices. I was skeptical that a sound bar could produce a competent 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos setup, but that skepticism faded as soon as I fired the SB36512-F6 up. It’s beyond simple to setup. It hardly takes up any space, and for its price ($499.99) and size the audio it can put out is truly impressive. If you’re on a budget, or don’t have a ton of space to install eight individual speakers to create a Dolby Atmos setup, then you should invest in this unit. You will not be disappointed. In fact, you’ll have your mind blown that a sound bar of this size and price can produce the high-quality audio experience that it does.

1st... Do not do the update to the Firmware Version: 1.2.0.1, as other people here that turn off my speakers (SB worked but no sound) that can be Fixed. Hold "Power, +, -" . For 5 seconds le will blink, then wait for the led lights to go full bar and blink (will take 15 min), unplug the Sound bar, reconnect and go. After that mine do not take the CEC signal so I can use BT but not any port (HDMI, ARC, AUX or optical) ... Now it will be replaced by Vizio for a new one... This is the reason why 4 stars no 5. That been said, I'm replacing my Sony HT-5000 Atmos soundbar 7.1.2 for this one. Why? Rear speakers. the Sony HT5000 is good and is Powerful, but is 100% virtual surround sound and $1500 is a lot vs $500). Out of the Box connection is an easy plug and play process with the arc connection to my Vizio M65-D0 with Audio quest Sky HDMI cable. We try the Sound Bar with the Movie Sing, in 4k with Atmos sound (Before the update that Killed the system) . I have a 2yr old son, so my wife an I, already watched this movie over 100 times. Sound cover the whole room and the music sound great, I feel that was a better balance around the room and over head, voices were clear and you can feel the direction of the sound better. Also the Sub woofer (low levels) was good not overwhelming. My wife, noticed the difference right away, as soon as she walked in to the living room. I got stands for the rear speakers so the speakers are at the same level of our heads. Sadly I was not able to watch another movie after I pair the Sound bar with my Vizio Smart Cast app and update the firmware. After that I make 3 calls to Vizio Customer service; 1st Atmos sound Bars has an specific department and that department was close after 6 CST. 2nd Quick and great, she explain to me how to force the firmware update again (1st paragraph in my review) . 3rd 30 min to do a steps by step scripted process, to confirm that was not working to be able to order a replacement. Do I recommend the sound bar? YES, you will not get a Atmos sound bar (Not Virtual sound) for less that 1500.00. Also this sound bar can do Atmos and DTS:X. Even with the firmware problem is a great system. I have a full Atmos system in my Game Room 5.1.4 with in ceiling speakers but can't do that in my living room. I have a Marantz 6012 receiver and came defective so after I replace it everything was cool. This is a great option to have a similar experience in both rooms.

I have been wanting to make the move to Dolby Atmos for a while now but I was hesitant to spend nearly $1000 when my old 5.1 system still does a good job with most movies and shows. My wife was able to get this system on sale as a Christmas gift and the performance it delivers is awesome for the price she paid. Setup was incredibly easy and I was able to test it out watching Ready Player One on my UHD blu ray player. Sound quality was amazing! Everything was coming in crisp and clear and I could hear a ton of detail in the audio that I didn't notice before. The overhead sound can be subtle in some scenes but it really comes out with rain and sounds like planes overhead. Overall, it made everything feel more lifelike. I've been buying UHD blu-ray for a while now so I can get HDR content on disc and the great thing is that most of those titles are already mixed in atmos so they work great with my new setup. Same goes for most of my streaming titles as long as I got them in HDR to begin with. Bottom line, at less than $500 I don't think you can go wrong with this sound bar setup.

A generally good soundbar with impressive functionality for the price. Unfortunately, my experience has been significantly diminished due to constant, persistent handshake issues between the bar and my 65" Sony X900H TV. For whatever reason, my last two Vizio soundbars have not been able to correctly carry uncompressed LPCM audio. If an LPCM source is silent for as little as 1-2 seconds, the signal cuts out and the bar is delayed in picking the signal back up after the audio resumes. This leads to noticeable drops, cuts and pauses in audio from LPCM sources, which I've noticed most acutely in HDMI-enabled Nintendo game consoles (neither the Wii U nor Switch supports bitstream audio). I also have to hard reset this bar literally every day to properly communicate with my TV over its ARC channel. Overall, while it features impressive support for a variety of sound formats particularly through its full HDMI-In port, it's too much of a hassle to get working correctly with my TV. Each hope I have had for solutions via firmware updates have been dashed away.

So far so good, mixed reviews have me worried, hopefully don’t have to change rating. Lol. Took more time to unwrap then set up. So easy!! Plugged HDMI out from sound bar into Arch on tv and power cord into wall and that was pretty much it. Subwoofer and surround speakers paired automatically as did 65” TCL 8 series. Sound is awesome! Had been running a 2008 Sony 1000 watt receiver 5.1 3D surround (still works great, by the way) but wanted to wall mount tv with nothing underneath, so when this went on sale $200 off, I jumped. The Sony set up served its purpose over the years, but this Visio sound-bar set up blows it away and was $500 dollars cheaper than what I paid for the Sony system in 2008. Love that you can adjust all speakers volumes individually and indicator lights green when Atmos is detected. Happy camper at the moment.

This is a decently priced sound bar with really good sound. I recently upgraded from a Samsung 3.1 sound bar with rear speakers to this but I have had a couple glaring issues. 1. The ARC audio dosent work at all with my samsung ks8000 so I had to hook everything up to a hdmi switch and connect it to the soundbars hdmi in which has worked perfect. 2. The subwoofer needs to be a little larger. It just dosent fill the room quite as much as I would like. Overall the experience has definitely been worth the price! I dont think you could get a better soundbar for the price! If the hdmi ARC would have worked it would be 5 stars for sure for me.

I’ve been very impressed with this sound system, my only gripe is the input selection. Sometimes the audio goes out and you have to switch between inputs to get it back. Other than that it’s very seamless, way better than my TV’s speakers, and a good deal. Not the best in the world, but it’s great for the price point.

I had been looking at this sound bar for a while and the other day it went down to $299.99 so was a definite buy. I knew going into it that I was not buying a $1,000.00+ Dolby Atmos soundbar and I was ok with it. I like the design of the bar and speakers, the set up was pretty easy. HDMI ARC to sound bar to start with. The problem came when I connected my XBOX X using the HDMI IN like I was told to. I downloaded the Dolby Atmos app for Xbox X that guides you through the set up. There are two settings on the Xbox that you change. I couldn't get the first step to work saying the receiver did not support Dolby Atmos until I went to the settings on my Samsung 4K and changed the audio to bitstream. Once I did that I could get passed the first step and was now able to select the Dolby Atmos option but then I got the same error saying it was not supported. I tried everything with all combinations of inputs and settings and couldn't get it to work. I read today that there is a new firmware which I thought I downloaded yesterday(had a pain of a time setting up the phone app) . I will see if the new firmware will fix the problem. I watched some Netflix and it sounded fine, I played Red Dead 2 and it seemed like the distant thunder was only coming from the sound bar and not the surround speakers like my old set up did. You can play around with the sound settings and levels but it pretty limited. I did play the Assassins Creed Origins demo from the Dolby Atmos app and the sound was awesome. I had to turn it down actually. I streamed some music and it didn't sound to bad. The main reason why I bought this was so I could get Dolby Atmos with my Xbox X and I can't get that to work. This would be updating my almost 10 year old Sony 5.1 that was great and still works fine so I'm a little up in the air if I should return it since I can't get the main feature to work. Hopefully I can come back and do an update in the next day or so if I decide to return I can with no hassle. P.S. I chatted with Vizio over the computer this morning briefly and I told them what was happening and they said that this is something they have never heard of but a quick search and you find a lot of people having the same problem and were told it's not the soundbar so.

Before we even start, to give perspective, I returned the LG Dolby Atmos bar last week. Realizing that it would have taken another set of pricey rear speakers to even come close to what I desired, I decided I was spending way too much to bring the Atmos sound into my bedroom. I have a dedicated Atmos sound system in the living room. 7 speakers and 1500 dollars have created a stunning 360 experience. When I go into my bedroom at night and watch a movie there, it can be a tad depressing. I wanted a simple, low cost solution that gave me a similar experience and couldn’t find one. Everything was either ridiculously over priced or in the case of LG, didn’t create Atmos. So I decided to give the 500 dollar one from Vizio a go. Got it open box at Best Buy and payed about 350. What the heck is the black magic? The sound is absurdly impressive for that cost. Does it match the experience of my living room? No, of course not. But man, does it come pretty close. The overhead is where we lose a bit of the Atmos shock. When a ship flies over, or spidey fires a web above you, it’s not the same magic from a dedicated system. But, it IS still there. The fact that I’m getting any effect at all from two drivers in front is astonishing. What’s really there, is the atmospheric effect. Go ahead, turn on Our Earth on Netflix and you’ll see what I’m talking about. The distant bird calls, above and to the left. The delicate subtleties in the crashing waves that go far beyond what surround sound is built to deliver. Set up was incredibly easy with my LG OLED. Took me about 20 minutes. Wires hide nicely behind my bed. It’s a fantastic second room solution. Should this be your dedicated atmos solution? Eh. Maybe not. If you’re a audiophile, do your research and set up an actual system. If you don’t care and want an experience that comes pretty close, this is the safest bet. And, it’s the cheapest.

I ordered LOTR in 4K and thought, ya know, I really should have better sound for this experience. Despite the dicey reviews re: the very thing I wanted, I still ordered this setup knowing I kind of love a complicated setup process. I was almost disappointed that it was actually really easy and I had zero issues. Here’s the deal, I think it really comes down to your TV. I have a newer Samsung The Frame QLED TV, and it was pretty simple setting this up with a 4K blu ray player. Watching Game of Thrones now and it looks and sounds awesome. LOTR is arriving in a few days, can’t wait!