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Vizio SB36514-G6 Soundbar Review: Shockingly Affordable Dolby Atmos

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Vizio SB36514-G6 Soundbar Review: Shockingly Affordable Dolby Atmos

Vizio SB36514-G6 5.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar

"The Vizio SB36514-G6 is your one-way trip to delight Dolby Atmos on a budget."

Sleek design

Impressive performance from Dolby Atmos

Solid detail for the price

Chromecast Wi-Fi streaming

Several ways to customize the sound

Bass can be limp

Setup and calibration require patience

It will be hard to hide from Dolby Atmos. From 4K Blu-rays to Netflix, Amazon and Disney's new streamer, Disney +, Atmos sneaks into every format. The only real barrier is the expensive hardware that makes Atmos sing.

This is where Vizio's growing fleet of Dolby Atmos soundbars like the SB36514-G6 come in.

After Vizio thrilled the crowd with the $ 1,000 SB46514-F6, which offers 5.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos performance for hundreds less than most of its competitors, Vizio has released several follow-ups in different sizes at lower prices . The SB36514-G6 shrinks the length of the flagship bar by a full 10 inches, but retains all 5.1.4 channels, Chromecast streaming, and more for just $ 700.

Is there atmos in it?

The SB36514-G6 comes in a relatively compact L-shaped box that is reminiscent of most two- or three-channel budget bars and is much smaller than the sarcophagus boxes that I get from other all-in-one Dolby Atmos I'm used to setups.

Inside, you'll find a sleek, five-part system that features Vizio's signature silver and black (a greeting to your Raiders fans). The 36-inch soundbar (which adds to the intricate name) contains three oval drivers on the front, two passive radiators, and oval drivers towards the center.

The two satellite speakers are each equipped with two drivers, including their own high-powered drivers, to complete the ".4" height channels, which bounce the sound off the ceiling for a hemispherical immersion. The last piece of the puzzle, the aluminum-coated subwoofer, has a small but powerful 6-inch driver inside that highlights the bass.

While the satellite speakers need to be connected to the subwoofer with old-fashioned cables and mounted behind you, the system is easily one of the most inconspicuous Atmos setups I've encountered, causing guests to be amazed at how much sound can be extracted from them a compact setup. The aesthetics are more useful than sexy, but the silver-plated subwoofer is really stylistic.

The most inconspicuous Atmos setups that I've come across.

There are numerous connections on the back of the bar, including a digital optical connection, an analog 3.5 mm connection, Ethernet for the Wi-Fi connection, HDMI ARC for connecting to your TV and an HDMI input for the Connect a streaming box or other device directly. Of course there is also Bluetooth streaming, although the "casting" from Spotify or other apps using Chromecast technology from Google offers the best sound quality.

Loaded package

The SB36514-G6 offers numerous play options as well as numerous functions – especially for the price – many of which can be traced back to Vizio's Google partnership. The brand's SmartCast system uses Google Casting for Wi-Fi streaming, which also uses multi-room streaming with other Google Home speakers, as well as basic Google Assistant commands for the bar over those speakers. In other words, it pays to dive deeper into the Google ecosystem to get more for your money.

When it comes to decoding surround sound, the SB36514-G6 essentially has the entire Dolby Suite, including Dolby Atmos (of course) as well as Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD. DTS Digital Surround and high-resolution DTS-HD Master Audio are also supported, but DTS: X, the brand's Atmos rival, is not. As with the SB46514-F6, this means that all DTS: X 3D surround tracks must be rendered virtually. On the other hand, we've seen so few DTS: X mixes outside of some 4K Blu-rays that this shouldn't be the case. For most listeners, this is not that important.

On the video side, the SB36514-G6's HDMI 2.0a input provides 4K HDR pass-through, including HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

Old School Interface (with a twist)

Those who are used to one of Vizio's sound bars – including mid-level and even entry-level bars – are very familiar with the remote-based interface used here. Essentially, the remote control's Casio-like digital screen is the interface you need to scroll through the small window from EQ and sound modes to inputs and speaker settings. There is only one column of white LEDs on the front of the bar with an on-board display.

It is a system that I have never loved, that I have got used to over the years. In addition, compared to bars like Samsung's expensive Q90R, it's easier to forgive the elementary setup when you consider Vizio's desire to deliver the best Atmos punch for your money.

You can use the remote control to change almost anything, including adjustments for height speakers – something that Vizio's previous SB46514-F6 didn't include – and center, surround, and subwoofer levels so you can effectively adapt the system to your room. Still, it's a bit more expensive than automatic calibration systems like Sennheiser's highly Falutian Ambeo bar, and due to some bass balance issues (more on that below), I had to play around a lot to include things.

An interesting aspect of Vizio's setup is how the Music, Film and Direct EQ modes work. The latter is the only way to get an unrestricted audio signal, including stereo playback for music. In addition, all subwoofer, speaker, or bass / treble settings are exclusive to the mode you are in. In the end I just used the film mode (with my own adjustments) for film and TV playback and the direct mode for music playback.

It is important that the Vizio SmartCast app offers an additional option for customizing sound and functions, with a multitude of settings in the virtual remote area. It's a great addition to the real remote and offers a modern upgrade to the outdated user interface. With the app you can also set up the SB36514-G6 in your Wi-Fi network.

configuration

Getting the SB36514-G6 up and running is easy enough, if a bit tedious, when it comes to laying these long cables for the satellite speakers. They are connected to the wireless sub, which theoretically limits the placement options in larger rooms. However, there are a lot of cables to work with and I simply placed the sub in my room in the usual layout. Just make sure you've matched the color-coded left and right inputs with the appropriate speakers. Otherwise you have to start over.

Otherwise, connecting to the TV is very easy. The supplied HDMI cable leads from the HDMI ARC connection of the bar to the corresponding ARC input on your TV. This is important if you want to get Dolby Atmos directly from your TV. You can also use the TV remote control to control the volume and power of the SB36514-G6 (although you may need to turn on CEC in your TV settings). Otherwise, the optical input is the best backup option.

The system is an absolute ace with Atmos content.

The last piece of the puzzle connected via Wi-Fi via the SmartCast app caused me (predictably) some problems. It's always difficult to connect third-party Google Home products to Wi-Fi (or is it just me?), And I had to restart the app a couple of times to make everything work. Finally, however, things clicked and I was able to use the app and stream via Spotify Connect without any problems.

performance

There's nothing like a sweet Dolby Atmos demo to knock someone off your feet, and a weekend full of house guests gave me the opportunity to do just that. When I turned on the library with specially tailored demos from two of Dolby's latest demo discs, my guests were absolutely amazed when they first learned what Atmos can do. Like drug addicts who were looking for their solution, they repeatedly asked me to load the next scene so that I could get lost again in the lush Atmos sound.

When it comes to Atmos content, the SB36514-G6 is an ace.

In the Leaf demo, the bar pulls you blindly through the trees and later turns the brochure, which breaks off the branch around you with impressive precision, while the subwoofer pulsates the heartbeat of the scene with booming pressure through the room. The Amaze demo is similarly spectacular, as the insects initially shimmer in a whisper around you, while the Rainstorm clip offers cascading showers from above and lifelike thunder that shakes your chest with crackling power. And so on.

It is this powerful subwoofer that occasionally stands in the way of an otherwise brilliant experience outside of the Atmos clips. While the submarine has the muscle, it doesn't always have the rhythm to control it. Sometimes it sounds limp and bloated when it should be tight and stiff. While this unbridled blow generally does the trick in potent action scenes like the introductory monster fight in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. 2, it gets a little hot sometimes, like an uninvited party guest who started partying too early.

This is most evident in the content of television programs, especially during musical interludes. In the thematic intros for shows like Parks and Recreation and The Office, the submarine blows up the room without warning and forces you to scurry for the remote control. In the Jessica Jones intro, the sub simply got out of sync and transforms the wonderful stand-up bass from tight and lively into a blurry, over-coated porridge. Overall, it takes a certain balance between genre and genre to keep the action hot and the more subtle scenes cool.

These problems do not occur with Samsung's high-end Atmos bars, such as the HW-K950 or the updated Q90R, which offer more details, performance and, above all, more control over the low frequencies. But these bars are also more than twice as expensive as the SB36514-G6.

Otherwise, the SB36514-G6 is very impressive and offers a solid level of detail of the front unit. The bar only occasionally sounds as bright as it looks in the upper midrange – usually when lighter blends are used. It's also relatively solid for music playback, as you can choose the right settings for most genres in direct mode, and you can just let the stereo sound spout respectable details and big volume for larger rooms.

Honestly, it's amazing that you can get this kind of swirling movie sound from a bar of this price and stature. Vizio's piecemeal system, which swaps the 36-inch bar into multiple Atmos iterations, seems to be paying off – both for Vizio and for anyone who wants to bring the sweet pulse of Atmos into their room while making it clear stay below $ 1,000.

Warranty information

Vizio grants a warranty on its soundbars one year after the date of purchase.

Our opinion

The latest 5.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar from Vizio offers an impressive wealth of Atmos riches for your dollars in a slim design and extends this exciting surround technology to almost every setup and budget.

Is there a better alternative?

Not at this price. Bass reproduction is poor, and you can get more details and balance from sound bars with similar prices that use virtual surround effects, but nothing I've encountered offers more atmospheric thrills for less money.

If you want a bit more quality, performance, and stiffness across the spectrum and have some money to play with, Vizio's $ 1,000 SB46514-F6 offers a higher quality experience, including bigger, tighter basses. Outside of Vizio, the Samsung HW-N950, still my favorite Atmos bar, is available at a bargain price compared to the original price.

Do you need further help with the purchase of a soundbar? Check out our favorite sound bars from 2019.

How long it will take?

The SB36514-G6 appears to be solidly built and is as future-proof as you would expect from a soundbar of this price and caliber. The only thing we want that isn't here is eARC, something we see in the latest top-class A / V equipment.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you're looking for exciting Dolby Atmos sound on a budget, the Vizio SB36514-G6 offers the best $ 700 you can spend.

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