Checking Out Vizio 5.1.4 Channels Surround-Sound Bar: A Comprehensive Review

Today, we're checking out the Vizio 5.1.4 channels surround-sound bar, which offers Dolby Atmos surround sound, including discreet satellite speakers and a massive subwoofer, all for hundreds of dollars less than many Dolby Atmos competitors. The question is, at $1000, is this worthy of your Atmos investment to get all that sound from a single system?

The Vizio 5.1.4 channels surround-sound bar is loaded with drivers, including eight in just the bar itself. There are two drivers for each of the three front channels, including an oblong driver matched by a 3/4 inch tweeter. Additionally, there are also dual passive radiators at the left and right sides to scoop out some lower mid-range sound, and the center channel is also ported to do the same. The bar is matched by these micro-sized surround sound satellites, which include a front-facing driver each for left and right surround as well as an up firing driver for the final two high channels that make up the 5.1.4 system.

Unlike some competitors, like Samsung, who offer wireless surround speakers, the Vizio 5.1.4 channels surround-sound bar's surround speakers are connected via lengthy wires to the subwoofer. This is a signature of Vizio design, and while it's not as clean as wireless speakers, those powered speakers also need to be plugged into wall outlets anyway, so you're not really missing out on much by connecting them with speaker wire. Connecting the speakers with speaker wire helps Vizio cut some production costs here.

The subwoofer is wireless, however, offering some freedom of placement and boasting a massive 10-inch cone inside, which is among the biggest we've ever seen in an all-in-one system like this. Let us assure you, it pumps out some serious bass. There are multiple ways to connect this system, and it comes with all the accessories you'll need to do so. However, you'll get the best sound by connecting directly with the Arc HDMI connection. Other connections include digital coaxial and optical inputs, as well as a 3.5 millimeter analog Ethernet and a single HDMI input for your Blu-ray player or gaming console.

This bar can decode uncompressed audio, which is a nice feature. However, we would have liked to see one more HDMI port, but Samsung's $1,700 at most bar only has two, so we'll give Vizio a bit of a pass on that. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming / Vizio smart cast system are also included, making it easy for those familiar with other Vizio bars to get up and running quickly.

The Vizio 5.1.4 channels surround-sound bar's At-Home system interface puts the full menu individual signature Oh complete with an old-school digital screen at the top that corresponds with LEDs at the side of the bar, letting you know where your levels are. The system isn't our favorite, but it works fairly well.

One item to keep in mind is while most of the levels are adjustable, the height channels are not. We never had an issue ourselves, but those with high ceilings may want to consider this, as it could affect the Atmos immersion. The system also doesn't use Dolby's DTS X code, instead using Tuco's DTS surround and uses Dolby processing for the high channels.

Despite some quirks in the features and interface, the Vizio 5.1.4 channels surround-sound bar puts out some incredible 5.1.4 surround sound, especially for an all-in-one system at this price, matching up with systems costing hundreds more. It surrounds you in clear powerful and immersive sound, revving up everything from Dolby's At-Home demos to movies like Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, where the smooth bass and powerful speakers make for a fun and engaging ride.

The system also does pretty well in quieter moments, offering plenty of detail. However, it falls short of the kind of rich and textured sounds of some of our favorite sound bars at this price that don't offer discreet surround sound. Nevertheless, we enjoy the Vizio 5.1.4 channels surround-sound bar with pretty much everything we put on, including music where Jean was like hip-hop and electronic are especially fun thanks to the booming musical subwoofer.

If you're looking for powerful immersive Atmos sound and are on a tight budget, we highly recommend checking out the Vizio 5.1.4 channels surround-sound bar, which offers a scaled-down version of this system, offering 5.1.2 sound for about half the price. Thanks so much for watching this video if you like what you see, please comment in the comment section, maybe give us a thumbs up. You can check out more videos here, and we'd love it if you could subscribe to our channel as well and check out in-depth reviews of this sound bar and plenty of other gear at Digital Trends calm.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: entoday we're checking out videos five point one point four channels surround-sound bar which offers Dolby Atmos around including discreet satellite speakers and a massive subwoofer all for hundreds of dollars less than many Dolby Atmos competitors the question is at a thousand dollars is this worthy of your Atmos investment to get all that sound from a single system vizio is loaded in plenty of drivers here including eight in just a bar itself there are two drivers for each of the three front channels including an oblong driver matched by a 3/4 inch tweeter as well as two up firing height speakers in addition there are also dual passive radiators at the left and right sides to scoop out some lower mid-range sound and the center channel is also ported to do the same the bar is matched by these micro sized surround sound satellites which include a front-facing driver each for left and right surround as well as an up firing driver for the final two high channels that make up that point for in the 5.1 point four system as you can see unlike some competitors like Samsung and others the surround speakers aren't Wireless instead connecting with these lengthy wires to the subwoofer now this is a signature of vizio design and well it's not quite as clean as wireless speakers those powered speakers also need to be plugged into wall outlets anyway so you're not really missing the wires completely connecting them with speaker wire also helps vizio cut some production costs here the subwoofer is wireless however offered some freedom of placement and it also boasts a massive 10-inch cone inside which is among the biggest we've ever seen in an all-in-one system like this and let us assure you it pumps out some serious bass there are multiple ways to connect this system and it comes with all the accessories you'll need to do so though you'll get the best sound by connecting directly with the Arc HDMI connection other connections includes digital coaxial and optical inputs 3.5 milimeter analog Ethernet and a single HDMI input for your blu-ray player or gaming console which allows the bar to decode uncompressed audio we would have liked to seen one more there but Samsung's $1,700 at most bar only has two so we'll give vizio a bit of a pass bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming / vizio smart cast system are also included those familiar with vizio other bars will be right at home with the atmo system interface which puts the full menu individual signature Oh complete with old-school digital screen at the top that corresponds with LEDs at the side of the bar to let you know where your levels are now the system isn't our favorite but it works fairly well one item of caution here though while most of the levels are adjustable the height channels are not we never had an issue there ourselves but those with high ceilings may want to give this consideration as it could affect the Atmos immersion the system also doesn't the code DTS X but instead Tuco's DTS surround and uses Dolby processing for the high channels then again it's getting harder and harder to find DTS X in the wild anyway we don't mind a few quirks with the features in an interface though because videos 5 point 1.4 system puts out some incredible at most surround sound especially for an all-in-one system at this price matching up with systems costing hundreds more throw on on at most mix and wash this system saying as it surrounds you in clear powerful and immersive sound revving up everything from Dolby's at most demos to movies like guardians of the galaxy volume 2 where the smooth bass and powerful speakers make for a fun and engaging ride the system also does pretty well in the quieter moments offering plenty of detail though it does fall short of the kind of rich and textured sounds of some of our favorite sound bars at this price that don't offer discreet surround sound that being said we enjoy Bisio system with pretty much everything we put on including music where Jean was like hip-hop and electronic are especially fun thanks to that booming musical subwoofer well vizio does have a scaled-down Atmos bar which offers five point one point two sound for about half the price if you're looking for powerful immersive Atmos sound and you're on a tight budget we highly recommend checking this out thanks so much for watching this video if you like what you see please comment in the comment section maybe give us a thumbs up you can check out more videos here we'd love it you can subscribe to our channel as well and you can check out in-depth reviews of this sound bar and plenty of other gear at digital trends calmtoday we're checking out videos five point one point four channels surround-sound bar which offers Dolby Atmos around including discreet satellite speakers and a massive subwoofer all for hundreds of dollars less than many Dolby Atmos competitors the question is at a thousand dollars is this worthy of your Atmos investment to get all that sound from a single system vizio is loaded in plenty of drivers here including eight in just a bar itself there are two drivers for each of the three front channels including an oblong driver matched by a 3/4 inch tweeter as well as two up firing height speakers in addition there are also dual passive radiators at the left and right sides to scoop out some lower mid-range sound and the center channel is also ported to do the same the bar is matched by these micro sized surround sound satellites which include a front-facing driver each for left and right surround as well as an up firing driver for the final two high channels that make up that point for in the 5.1 point four system as you can see unlike some competitors like Samsung and others the surround speakers aren't Wireless instead connecting with these lengthy wires to the subwoofer now this is a signature of vizio design and well it's not quite as clean as wireless speakers those powered speakers also need to be plugged into wall outlets anyway so you're not really missing the wires completely connecting them with speaker wire also helps vizio cut some production costs here the subwoofer is wireless however offered some freedom of placement and it also boasts a massive 10-inch cone inside which is among the biggest we've ever seen in an all-in-one system like this and let us assure you it pumps out some serious bass there are multiple ways to connect this system and it comes with all the accessories you'll need to do so though you'll get the best sound by connecting directly with the Arc HDMI connection other connections includes digital coaxial and optical inputs 3.5 milimeter analog Ethernet and a single HDMI input for your blu-ray player or gaming console which allows the bar to decode uncompressed audio we would have liked to seen one more there but Samsung's $1,700 at most bar only has two so we'll give vizio a bit of a pass bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming / vizio smart cast system are also included those familiar with vizio other bars will be right at home with the atmo system interface which puts the full menu individual signature Oh complete with old-school digital screen at the top that corresponds with LEDs at the side of the bar to let you know where your levels are now the system isn't our favorite but it works fairly well one item of caution here though while most of the levels are adjustable the height channels are not we never had an issue there ourselves but those with high ceilings may want to give this consideration as it could affect the Atmos immersion the system also doesn't the code DTS X but instead Tuco's DTS surround and uses Dolby processing for the high channels then again it's getting harder and harder to find DTS X in the wild anyway we don't mind a few quirks with the features in an interface though because videos 5 point 1.4 system puts out some incredible at most surround sound especially for an all-in-one system at this price matching up with systems costing hundreds more throw on on at most mix and wash this system saying as it surrounds you in clear powerful and immersive sound revving up everything from Dolby's at most demos to movies like guardians of the galaxy volume 2 where the smooth bass and powerful speakers make for a fun and engaging ride the system also does pretty well in the quieter moments offering plenty of detail though it does fall short of the kind of rich and textured sounds of some of our favorite sound bars at this price that don't offer discreet surround sound that being said we enjoy Bisio system with pretty much everything we put on including music where Jean was like hip-hop and electronic are especially fun thanks to that booming musical subwoofer well vizio does have a scaled-down Atmos bar which offers five point one point two sound for about half the price if you're looking for powerful immersive Atmos sound and you're on a tight budget we highly recommend checking this out thanks so much for watching this video if you like what you see please comment in the comment section maybe give us a thumbs up you can check out more videos here we'd love it you can subscribe to our channel as well and you can check out in-depth reviews of this sound bar and plenty of other gear at digital trends calm\n"