Customer Ratings & Reviews

So, i just bought this today and was very skeptical do to kind of alot of iffy reviews. But in my experience just for the hour I've played with it tonight after hooking it up i can truly say they are wrong !! It sounds really good even tho it was 430 dollars I'm not upset because I'm very satisfied with how it looks and how it sounds. I just bought and returned a samsung q65c fron Sam's for 320 dollars that was supposed to connect to my samsung qn85c tv for the symphony sound but it sounded like crap when it actually worked . Subs and rears kept going off and on and th tv couldn't even recognize its own brand soundbar smh. But it recognized instantly the vizio elevate and named it that as well and my samsung tv remote works for the volume automatically. As far as the app you have to use for settings i actually like it because its clear what and how your settings are ,also there is alot of settings and led light control for the atmos speakers. So far it sounds better than most I've heard before at least in the sub 500 range . It gets loud, good sub bass and it sounds like it has tweeters in it when i believe its all full range speakers. I think you'd be happy with it no problem

Great working speakers. Grest sound and bass. Really recommend

Sounds amazing, Dolby atmos and surround would definitely recommend as an overall sound system

Just to start off, I am coming from the M51a-h6. I thought there is no way this can be that much better even with the height speakers. I did tons of research on this and many other units before buying this. I finally pulled the trigger. Let me tell you, what a massive difference. I haven’t even had a chance to experience true Dolby Atmos yet. The clarity and soundstage of this system is incredible. My wife has multiple times come out and been like “what’s that sound outside?”, and it was something in a video game. She never did that with the M51a. Also, the bass is very good (not sure what happened for other folks). Apart from this, the only thing better I think would be one of those crazy Samsung Atmos soundbar setups for double the price (which I would love, its just out if my budget).

I had a Vizio 5.1 system several years ago and was very satisfied with. I thought about upgrading my system and I tried many big brands system but for the same price I was always unsatisfied with them. Regarding this SE 5.1.1 Soundbar, I am very satisfied again for what I paid for. Sound is amazing to my ears, very wide and heavy bass available. App is easy to use and super easy to set up. Just plug in you will get sound. Then you connect to the App to personalize it, such as adjusting bass, treble, surround sound, every channel sound level, EQ, etc. I think you can only get the same experience for double the price if you go with other big brands names.

First off, some of these low end reviews I can not get behind and do not understand their issues with this system. Second, at this price point it's a great value buy for what it its. Set up is quick and painless and it took longer to unpackage everything than to get it set up. For connections it only does have eARC and USB inputs, no optical or regular HDMI which is kind of a bummer to some. For me personally, it's ok since this system is in a living room with not other inputs so the utilization of the eARC is fine and makes the system even easier since it turns on as soon as I turn the tv on. the HDMI cable that comes with the system, don't expect much length from it if you do a hidden wire setup with wall mount. It does not include a seperate remote to control any features or adjusting the soundbar, all controls are within a Vizio app. Easy to navigate and adjust controls and connects to the bar quickly. For me that's totally fine, just may not work the best if this system is being used by other than a primary user. The elevate feature is neat but I have yet to have it move on its own during atmos content. I'd have to go into the app and adjust the setting in order to do so. Same for the side lighting feature. I'd have to go into the app each time the soundbar is turned on to turn the lights back on. Sound quality does pack a punch. Is it "put you in your seat, heart shaking sound" like systems double and triple the price, no... but this thing holds it own with immersive sound. Once you dial in everything to you liking in the EQ setting via the app, it'll get down. Again, this is a system for less than $500 but still great sound quality. Other than the few minor things mentioned (the reasoning for not a 5-star review) this is a quality system for the price and I'd recommend this to others.

A very good sounding sound bar surround sound system some of my dislikes when I would use the remote to change the value it would not display on my TV. I don’t know what is that fault there either my TV or the surround sound system my older one would show a display of the volume. This one does not And it is a bit pricey

VIZIO Elevate SE 5.1.2 Soundbar – A Family Gaming & Movie Night Upgrade Reviewer: Casual user, family of four with young kids, paired with a new Vizio TV and Govee smart lights. Use Case: Nintendo Switch gaming and family-friendly movie nights in a colorful living room setup. Unboxing, Setup & Integration with TV The VIZIO Elevate SE 5.1.2 includes a 36-inch soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and two rear speakers for true surround sound . We were able to set everything up in no time – honestly, unboxing all the pieces took longer than plugging them in! The system uses a simple one-cable HDMI eARC connection to the TV, which makes the setup incredibly easy . As a parent juggling kids’ attention, I appreciated that there weren’t a ton of confusing wires or steps. The rear speakers do connect to the sub via wires, but we tucked those along the baseboards; it was quick and painless to get it all running . Since our TV is also Vizio, integration was seamless. The TV detected the soundbar right away and even named it correctly on-screen, and my TV remote started controlling the volume automatically . This means no extra remote control cluttering the coffee table (in fact, Vizio doesn’t include a separate remote for this soundbar). At first I was surprised there was no remote in the box, but controlling the volume and power with the TV’s remote (thanks to HDMI CEC) felt natural . For sound tweaks and advanced settings, I installed the Vizio mobile app, which connected to the soundbar instantly. The app’s interface is straightforward – I could easily adjust EQ, turn on/off the LED accents, and even trigger the special “Elevate” rotating speakers feature on demand . Overall, setup and integration get high marks from this busy parent – I had everything working in minutes, and it all plays nicely with the TV without any headaches. Sound Quality for Gaming (Nintendo Switch) As a family of gamers, we immediately tested the Elevate SE with our Nintendo Switch. The difference coming from the TV’s built-in speakers to this soundbar system was night and day. Playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, we could actually hear the whoosh of other karts zipping behind us and the rumble of shells exploding with satisfying bass. The kids were grinning ear to ear because the races suddenly felt so real and immersive – they commented that it was like being “inside” the game. Even though most Switch games aren’t recorded in fancy surround sound formats, the Vizio soundbar does a great job expanding the stereo audio into a full 5.1.2 experience. It uses DTS Virtual:X processing to spread the sound around , so games fill the room with dynamic sound effects. For example, in Super Mario Odyssey, the bustling sounds of New Donk City came from all around us, and in Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the subtle ambient noises (like wind and wildlife) felt much more atmospheric than before. I was particularly impressed with directional cues while gaming. In a round of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, I actually heard an opponent’s attack coming from the rear speaker before I saw it on screen – a neat advantage and definitely more exciting for the kids. The bass from the wireless subwoofer adds depth to game audio without overwhelming it; explosions and thunder in games have a satisfying thump that you can feel, but dialogue and higher-pitched sounds remain clear. We did fine-tune the bass level via the app to our liking (turning it down slightly during late-night sessions so we don’t wake the kids). Overall, the Elevate SE makes casual gaming way more engaging, and even our kids noticed details in their games that they’d never heard before on the old TV speakers. Sound Quality for Movies & Family-Friendly Content When it comes to movie night, this soundbar really shines. We watched Toy Story 4 as a family to test the Elevate SE, and it felt like a mini theater in our living room. The surround sound brought out little details – we could hear Woody and Forky chatting clearly even when there was chaos in the background, thanks to the soundbar’s balanced mid-range and clear dialogue reproduction . In scenes with rain and thunder, the sound came from above and around us, making my youngest ask if it was raining outside. That’s the magic of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content: the Elevate SE’s signature auto-rotating speakers actually swivel upward when Atmos is detected, bouncing sound off the ceiling for a dome of sound over our heads . When those speakers rotated up for the first time, my kids’ eyes lit up in amazement – it’s a very cool feature you can both hear and see in action. Family-friendly movies and shows sound great on this system. We streamed a Disney movie through the TV’s built-in apps, and the soundbar automatically handled the Dolby Atmos track. The voices were clear, the music was rich, and action scenes had a real impact. I did notice in a couple of shows that some dialogue could sound a tiny bit flat compared to the music (perhaps due to the soundbar using full-range drivers without dedicated tweeters), but it was rare and nothing that adjusting the treble a notch in the app couldn’t fix. Generally, voices come through crisp and intelligible, which is important when kids are chattering during a movie – we didn’t have to constantly rewind to catch missed lines. The surround speakers also pull their weight during movies: during a nature documentary, the rear speakers chimed in with bird calls and rustling leaves behind us, really pulling us into the scene. The soundstage feels expansive for a single-bar system, and it maintains good balance – from quiet dialogue to big musical numbers, everything is enjoyable at normal volumes . Another big plus for families: the Elevate SE can get plenty loud without distortion. For our movie night, we amped up the volume for a climactic scene, and the sound remained clear and immersive (we actually felt like we were in a cinema). If the kids are asleep, there’s also a Night Mode in the app that tamps down heavy bass and loud peaks, which we’ve used to watch our shows quietly. In day-to-day use for cartoons and streaming kids’ shows, the soundbar makes even simple stereo audio feel more engaging, so Bluey or Paw Patrol fill the room nicely while we do chores. Simply put, everything from Netflix to Nintendo has been a step up in audio quality – it’s like our TV got a serious audio upgrade, which keeps both parents and kids happy. Immersive Experience with Smart Lighting We didn’t just stop at better sound – we love our vibrant lighting, so we paired the soundbar with Govee smart lights around the TV for a full immersive experience. Our living room setup is now an explosion of color and sound that truly feels next-level. While the Elevate SE doesn’t directly control the lights, the combination still works beautifully. We set the Govee LED light strips and light bars to a “music mode” that listens to the game or movie audio, and the lights react to the sound – for example, flashing and changing color with every sword clash or boomerang throw in a game . During movies, the Govee Immersion kit’s camera syncs the lights to the screen content, so when we watched an underwater scene in Finding Dory, the entire room glowed blue, and when there were fireworks on screen, our walls lit up in warm oranges and reds. The kids absolutely love this – it turns a normal family movie night into a full sensory experience. Our living room setup: the soundbar mounted under the TV (notice the purple LED accents on its sides) and Govee backlights creating a colorful glow. The soundbar itself has customizable LED accent lights on its side-firing speakers . I set them to a cool electric blue to match our gaming decor, but sometimes switch to a soft purple at night (it’s fun to play around with in the app). These LEDs aren’t just for looks – they add to the ambiance, especially when the lights are dimmed for a movie. One small quirk: by default the soundbar’s accent lights turn off when the unit powers down, so I do have to toggle them back on in the app each time I start up the system . It’s a minor inconvenience, but now it’s part of my routine when I open the app to check settings. Once everything is on, the synced-up vibe of glowing lights and surround sound makes our living room feel like an arcade or a private theater. Whether we’re racing in Mario Kart with rainbow lights dancing around the room, or snuggling in for a Disney movie with the walls subtly matching each scene, the combined audio-visual immersion is awesome. This setup definitely scores major cool-parent points – even neighbors’ kids were wowed when they came over for a game night! Standout Features and Perks One standout feature of the VIZIO Elevate SE is its auto-rotating “Elevate” speakers. This soundbar actually has end speakers that swivel upward for overhead sound when it detects Dolby Atmos or DTS:X content . It’s like having mini robotic speakers – a fun party trick that also serves a real purpose by directing sound to the ceiling for that 3D audio effect. When we’re not watching Atmos content (like just regular TV or Switch games), the speakers face forward to broaden the soundstage. You can even manually trigger or disable the movement via the app if you want. It’s a very unique design (usually found on more expensive models) and really sets the Elevate apart – visitors often do a double-take when they see the speakers literally moving for a movie demo. Another big perk is that this system is a complete 5.1.2 package in the box. Unlike many soundbars at this price, Vizio includes two separate rear surround speakers and a wireless subwoofer for bass . This means you get true surround sound, not just virtual effects. We definitely felt the difference having real speakers behind us for surround effects. The wireless subwoofer, which we placed near the back of the room, delivers plenty of low-end thump for movie explosions and music. We’ve been impressed

Excellent and powerful sound look very nice in my living room it is really like a cinema in the house!

I was surprised when picking up this product how well it sounds! I was looking for Dolby Atmos support for a room with high ceilings and angled. Generally atmos has trouble working effectively in an environment like that, but the Elevate SE has performed beyond what I thought it would!

This little soundbar bar is pretty awesome for its price point. While it doesn't produce the greatest Atmos experience when compared to more expensive counterparts, it also doesn't fall completely flat either. We absolutely loved the Vizio Elevate. The only problem we had was the rear speakers have to be connected to the subwoofer instead of being wireless themselves which created a dilemma in our living space as we had no where to put the subwoofer by our couch. If you have somewhere for the subwoofer close to where you'll be sitting with the ability to put the rear speaker behind you this little soundbar system doesn't disappoint for the bargain price. Unfortunately we had to return as we didn't have a space for the subwoofer by our couch.

The VIZIO Elevate SE 5.1.2 Soundbar exceeded my expectations in every way. The Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support creates an immersive surround sound experience. The rotating speakers add a nice touch, directing sound where it needs to be for maximum impact. The subwoofer delivers deep, punchy bass without any distortion. The setup was easy, and the build quality felt solid. For the price, this system is a steal compared to other high-end soundbars. If you're looking for powerful, crystal-clear audio with immersive surround sound without breaking the bank, this is an excellent choice. Highly recommend!

I expected much more from Vizio on this. The rear speakers weren’t up to par. Soundbar itself was ok, lights are nice but I didn’t care for the system overall.One highlight was the sub. I hate the fact that there is no remote. Using the app was a hassle; main reason why I took it back.

I love this system. The sound is so perfect. My wife got it for me for christmas. Im always watching it almost high all the time. The dobly atmos is the best thing ever.

Sound quality was good, but every couple days, would have to unplug and re plug the e-arc cable

Its pretty decent. Middle of the road. Better than other sound bars at this price point

I wanted to upgrade from my basic 2.1 setup. I was overwhelmed by all the choices so I asked around. I am very happy with my purchase. The sound is phenomenal and the design is great! I can now hear dialogue and feel like I'm at the theater.

I love the unit only thing I dislike is the app connectivity. It never stays connected and always need to go to the app to set the color when its alrwady set in the app.

Good quality and powerful enough for regular use daily

Love how the system automatically adjusts when atoms is detected. Small issue in that my Hisense TV doesn’t display an up/down level indicator on screen when adjusting volume.