Vizio 5.1 channel M-series sound bars are a way to get low-cost Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos on a $330 surround sound soundbar? This is what makes this M series soundbar stand out-to be precise, the M51ax-J6. Vizio offers a soundbar with two wired rear speakers and a wireless subwoofer at a cheap price. The first time I heard it, it sounded great. So, what are the gains? There are two main considerations. The first is that the speaker configuration requires a wire to connect each rear speaker. The second is whether the quality of the sound is high enough, including the bass of the subwoofer, which is worth buying for several hundred dollars.

Is this a sound upgrade your TV needs, or should you look elsewhere?

Wired surround sound speakers

On this system, the subwoofer is wireless, but the rear speakers are connected to it by wires. This is a hybrid solution. Connecting surround speakers with wires is not an unfamiliar concept-it has been the norm since the advent of 5.1 speaker setups. But wireless options are quickly becoming more accessible and cheaper.

The convenience of making all speakers wireless is very good, even if you have to plug two rear speakers into the system’s subwoofer, it feels a bit unfortunate. The bundle of wires left at the end may be easily hidden behind the sofa, or it may be a large debris without a cover. In my room, anyone who enters the area is exposed to the mess.

In terms of actual performance, the rear is eye-catching and provides all the volume they need.When I turned on the power, instantly, the lion was roaring and the animals scurrying in all directions The color of the earth at night Documentary series apple TV + streaming service.

In general, the sound here is a bit mediocre. Sometimes, the dialogue may be sub-par, and the entire front soundbar is hollow and lacking. However, as a whole, it mostly passed the test in daily use and provided a sufficiently satisfactory experience.

The weakest link in the sound system may be the 5-inch subwoofer. It can make a slight rumble when needed and fill a scene of bass suspense, but it never made me think I should reject it. Its voice has never been swallowed. You can adjust the bass level of the subwoofer, but turning it up still doesn’t have much effect. Part of its limitations can almost certainly come from its physical size. This is a small cube. Its size, in terms of sound and size, is very suitable for a bedroom or small living room, but in a huge room, its volume is largely submerged.

This is the core of this system. It glows in a small area, but becomes less impressive outside of that use. The cost of $329.99 makes the system worthwhile. Based on my actual operating experience, I think it provides enough features and sound quality to easily justify its price, but if you want to fill the main room and connect it to a large TV, then this may not be a specific soundbar The system serves you. Vizio has many other options within a fixed price point interval.

For the value of speakers, the remote control and its controls are a low point. The settings are displayed on a small LCD screen and usually do not fit perfectly in portrait orientation. I’m sure that if you use the remote control frequently, certain settings will become second nature to you. But even after a week, I found that the organization tree set by the nest is always difficult to navigate. In addition, since all the buttons are on the upper part of the remote control, there is no such a small screen. More visual space can alleviate some pain points.

Dolby Atmos

This M series soundbar does not have upward emitting speakers, which is not necessary for Atmos, but it still supports a wider and more spatial audio profile sound format.There are many movies that support this feature, but I turned to What high fidelity?List 10 best Dolby Atmos movie scenes, designed to provide the best shots for speakers.

Pixar soul There is a good example of spatial audio when the protagonist Joe goes to Great Before. Not only left and right, front and rear, in this part of the movie, there is also a real sense of audio space and atmosphere. The sound fills in between the two appropriately, making you feel like you are in the middle. The soft and ethereal tone perfectly matches the visual atmosphere of the screen. If you want to give it a try, try starting at 26 minutes.And the beginning of the movie Baby driver, It has a rotating sound, which is a good example.

The potential question is, are Vizio M series sound bars suitable for Dolby Atmos spatial audio? It does a great job. Is this feature alone worth buying this soundbar? Probably not. More appropriately, it is good to have this budget-friendly sound system.

I compared this soundbar to the more expensive Sonos Arc with Dolby Atmos, which does have upward emitting speakers. As expected, Sonos Arc is more detailed and provides a better experience.

Should you buy Vizio M series sound bars?

The full retail price of the M series (M51ax-J6) soundbar is $330, which is a good value for money and overall sturdy sound system. It’s not exactly entry-level, but it’s close enough for a system with dedicated rear speakers. In a large room, it may not surprise you or impress the audience, but it is definitely an upgrade of the speakers in the TV, and will bring you into the movie better than without the front and rear speakers.

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