64 T3 MAY 2020Te s te d
Vizio 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos Soundbar£599
vizio.comWE’RE IMPRESSED Powerful
performance; great 3D Atmos
effect; easy to set up.
WE’D IMPROVE No DTS:X
support; confusing LED display;
wired-only rear speakers.
THE LAST WORD Delivers
an engagingly powerful
performance that’s genuinely
immersive. A lack of DTS:X
support disappoints, but that
can’t sour just how good a
soundbar this is for the cash.VERDICT
See the latest soundbar deals
at: bit.ly/T3soundbarsf you’ve already got a great 4K TV,
the next big living room upgrade is
audio, and Dolby Atmos is at the
forefront of this. Dolby Atmos
soundbars bounce sound off the ceiling, and
create great 3D surround effects, but they tend
to cost in the region of a grand. Not this one.
The Vizio SB36512-F6 is an excellent Dolby
Atmos soundbar that delivers a genuinely
immersive soundstage from a compact and
well-engineered package, consisting of a
soundbar with upfiring speakers, a subwoofer
and two rear satellite speakers. The looks might
be boring, but the sound is anything but, with
an entertaining delivery that creates an
engaging three-dimensional experience.
Whether it’s a TV show, movie or music, this
multi-channel combo is sure to please. The
height effects are often a delight, with thunder
rolling overhead or aircraft roaring above you.
These effects tend to be more focused at the
front of the room because there are no rear
height channels, but it remains an engaging
experience with the rear speakers helping to fillA real Dolby Atmos setup for way less than the
competition – with (almost) no catch
Vizio 5.1.2 Dolby
Atmos Soundbar
SOUNDLAND
the space behind you – it’s skilled at placing
effects in three-dimensional space, creating
a sphere of sound that extends to the sides,
behind and above you. And it’s no slouch with
music, either.
The rear speakers are wired, which may
annoy some – more expensive soundbars often
have wireless rear units – but it does mean a
reliable connection.
The features will also put a smile on your
face, with extensive connections (including
HDMI, optical and 3.5mm, plus Bluetooth and
Wi-Fi for music streaming). There’s a really well
designed controller for its settings, plus an
intuitive remote app, and everything you need
to quickly and easily set up the system is
included in the box. That said, settings are only
displayed on the unit in a series of complex LEDs
that we never could memorise.
Another issue is the lack of DTS:X, a rival to
Dolby Atmos. It’s a disappointing omission,
though not a deal-breaker, but combined with
the lack of wireless rear option and strange LED
display, it just knocks a star off the soundbar’s
score. But beyond those small issues, we’re huge
fans of this package, and thoroughly
recommend it – a competitive price and plenty
of features ensures it delivers maximum bang
for your home cinema buck.I