★ *REVIEWING: **amzn.to/3ra5fhp** ADDITIONAL INFO/LINKS IN THE DESCRIPTION⬆︎* ★ *QOTD: Who do YOU think makes the best soundbar right now?* ★ *Love our conversation/outtakes? Be sure to watch to the end* ★ *COMMENT RULES: Please be respectful. No outside links, URLs, email addresses, etc. Violations are automatically deleted.*
Awesome video. I just got the Elevate Friday! I do enjoy getting into the settings and tweaking things for each movie or game I play so that works for me. I didn't have any issues connecting it to the Smartcast App yet but hey it happens.
I’ve been waiting on your review because I have the older Vizio atmos soundbar. I don’t have proper room for surrounds and wanted to experiment so I just ordered Klipsch the fives! Do you think the Klipsch speakers are a better option for a smaller room? I want a great soundstage but I want clarity. I also bought a jamo s808 subwoofer
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks for the quick response. I’m excited!!! Love your channel and I think your making me an audiophile because I’m already looking for alternative set ups for other rooms! You should really do a 2 channel set up vs soundbar video. Thanks and keep up the great work, hope all is well in Texas from your neighbor in Louisiana
Dude you look like a young Kevin Spacey. And your presentation is nearly flawless. One of the best You tubers by far. I was only mildly interested in the content but watched nearly the whole episode because I found you enjoyable to see and hear. I'll subscribe. Thanks
That was, without question, the best review on this product I have heard or have seen. The way that you made me feel as if I were in the driver's seat and had me understanding the benefits and downfalls, was brilliant. The conversation that the both of you had about your frustrations and wow moments gave me a very detailed image of the graph of pleasure vs. pain I would experience in every day use. I am helping to consult my cousin in purchasing something that sounds great and will please his wife, who does not want a bulky speaker setup in her living room. I would also like to thank you for your review on the Klipsch RP-8000F tower speakers. I was conflicted on which towers to buy, the SVS Pinnacle Prime and Ultra towers were the big contenders against Klipsch. I was leaning towards SVS due to the v-shaped curve and 2 way limitations of the Klipsch towers. But, you helped me to close my eyes and actually listen to the speakers and actually feel which ones sounded better and to ignore the specs. After about 2 hours of listening to the SVS and Klipsch towers at a local retailer, I decided that Klipsch was just more fun. I went all in with the RP-8000F's, the 504 center channel, the RP-500SA atmos speakers, the 600M bookshelves at the rear, an SVS PB-3000 sub, a Denon X3700h and an Emotiva BasX 300 to help drive the towers. I am very pleased with the performance and have zero remorse with going Klipsch for the whole of my surround.
Best in depth review on this sound bar. Been waiting for it since it debuted last year at CES. But I've seen enough now to make me gun shy, so will invest in a different one.
I LOVE the Vizio Elevate and can't recommend it enough. I first bought the JBL 9.1 and then the Bose 700+subwoofer, but quickly returned them. They sounded incredible in the store, but utterly mediocre back at home with regular TV, movies, and especially music. Worse still, the options for customizing/equalizing the sound were so limited. In contrast, the Vizio was 95% the sound I wanted right out of the box. The other 5% I could customize exactly to my liking using Vizio's extensive customization options. The Vizio doesn't look as aesthetically nice as the Bose system, but it sounds 5x better for a much cheaper price. I'm surprised by how tepid Andrew is about the Elevate. To my ears, the Vizio sound was MILES better than the JBL 9.1 or Bose 700. It wasn't even close. Best money I've spent in a long time. It's incredibly well balanced sound, with a booming subwoofer if you want to crank it up.
The "proprietary cable" for the rear speakers are just RCA cables - its two RCA cables fused together, which didnt fit in the hole in my speaker stands, so I bought RCA cables and female-to-female couplers and ran the RCA cables one at a time through the speaker stands, and then connected one end to the speakers, and the other ends to the couplers which where then connected to the proprietary cable which came with the unit Works great
I really appreciate the conversation between yourself and Kristi, really like hearing the opinion of someone who is exposed to the different products but isn't as immersed in the AV/Tech world... oh BTW great review! I have an older vizio 5.1 surround sound and I differently agree with your take on the user experience
This video is three years old has Vizio done a firmware update to make it seamlessly plug and play ? It is currently on sale for 699 dollars on best buy .
I got this sound system yesterday, it sounds AMAZING but I had the problem of connecting with the app as well. Honestly ditch the app, the remote can do it all it's no deal breaker for me personally.
I actually really enjoyed hearing Kristy bounce her ideas and thoughts with you. It actually reminded me to stop and like the video because I consume a lot of your content and I am guilty of not hitting that like button as often as I should. I think what I like about her jumping in is seeing your real time response to go a little deeper into a particular topic and she brought up quite a few good ones.
Haha love the end cuts! You should keep all of that footage and at the end of the year release a frustration montage! As always the rest of the video was great too!
Seems like the logical thing for Vizio to have done would've been to simply put an extra speaker on both ends of the soundbar and have the up-firing speakers permanently facing up. I'm sure the company would've saved money by not implementing those motors.
Vizio makes solid soundbars and are getting better each year. I didnt go with the elevate but went with the M512A-H6. It was $350 during black friday and for my first ever soundbar its pretty solid and dolby atmos content sounds surprisingly well with the two upfiring speakers bouncing the sound off the roof
@@gadchampanda2951 No issues! When you first turn the tv on theres a delay for the sound but its not long before its starts playing sound. Other than that minor thing, this soundbar has been holding up well and has real full sound for shows and movies!
This soundbar is on sale for $549 today only. Grab one now while you can. (And FWIW if you want a proper Atmos experience you need a 5.1.4 setup *minimum*, and they don't come cheap.)
I had exactly the same frustrations with a 3 years old SB3621. Seems Vizio spent more cash on marketing and paying fake reviews than updating their software. Thanks for the thorough and honest review Andrew!
Ouch. Don't know about fake reviews. Lord knows we get accused of that kind of stuff on the reg any time we like a product too much. I feel that people throw that accusation around all too freely when something doesn't quite align with their own way of thinking or experience. At any rate, sorry to hear you've had your own frustrations. I feel your pain.
@@KristiWright Hmm I don't know who you are but I guess you're Andrew's GF? The fake review commented was targeted at you (read my entire comment) but at Vizio themselves. My point was that Andrew's review, compared to others are (seem) more genuine. thx for the reply tho!
@antwake - I'm posting this on Kristi's behalf since for some reason, her response to you keeps disappearing. - Andrew Here is her reply: Hi, I'm Andrew's wife and also the producer of this channel. I did read your entire comment and understood your comment was mostly directed at VIZIO themselves. We've worked directly with VIZIO before and from our experience they require sponsored material to be disclosed. This is something we and I think most people (not everyone but most) take pretty seriously or at least they should. FTC rules require such disclosures. Violations can result in heavy fines, demonetization or a channel being removed from the platform. I'm very glad to hear you feel the reviews here are genuine. My greater point was that accusations like yours (pointed at VIZIO) get thrown around a lot and frankly, are dangerous. Like I mentioned, they can seriously affect a brand (or channel) and their integrity while they may not always be deserved. Thanks so much for watching. - Kristi
I bought the JBL 9.1 last year. I was really sold with the battery rear satellite speakers. Fits my room style perfectly. I think they would be a better use of the $1k.
I bought the JBL 9.1 and hated it as soon as I got it home. It sounded INCREDIBLE in the store display with their demo clip. For actual TV and movies, I thought it sounded incredibly mediocre, unbalanced, and far too distant. I spent hours tinkering around with the settings, trying to get the sound I wanted, and I simply couldn't. Then I bought the Vizio Elevate. It was 95% exactly what I wanted right out of the box, and the tons of customization options Vizio has let me adjust the other 5% to my liking.
Just got mine 2 days ago on sale, and I love it. I didn't find it difficult to properly set up with app. I use my TV, PQX, as the switch, as using the bar direct inputs combined with using the TV eARC led to voice sync issues, for me. Center channel was muffled in direct mode, non adjustable, but can be adjusted in movie mode, which I also use for music. The Atmos effect is the best I've heard on a soundbar, tuned to max height. The sub I placed behind the couch, to reduce localization. For me, that brings in the feeling, that couch rumbling transducer feeling, I get at an Atmos theater and still remains punchy.
As someone who has purchased this, I have to say this review almost 100% reflects my experience. I am a very happy owner with the exception of the POS app experience. The Elevate's upward speakers are definitely not a gimmick and this is the best in home theatre experience I've ever had.
I owned an Elevate from October to December, this review is right on. I got the audio to sound incredible (with lots of tweaking), but geez, the software issues were endless. Things would randomly not work all the time: didn't detect atmos, dropped LPCM channels, no audio, wont turn on/off. Unplugging/replugging would solve these issues temporarily, but I needed to do this multiple times a week. The most frustrating consumer electronic device I ever owned. A real shame.
The same happened to me. I've managed to get it at $699 and at that price point It was hard to find something that sounded as good as the Elevate, but it had many anoying issues and I had to return it.
Great review! I actually just bought mine this past week. I didn't have any issues connecting it to the app, but there is noticeable lag between the app and soundbar. Yes, you have to play around with the settings, but that is what I love about it. I'm a music snob and my ears are very picky, so although dialing it in can be tedious, you can really tune that sound into perfection. One or two more firmware updates and app updates (fixing the UI on the app, and allowing for decreasing the sub even more) would allow this soundbar to destroy the competition.
The dialogue between Kristi and yourself is a very valuable part of the recent reviews. It adds a lot of context and info. I'm wondering however, why is she never on screen? IMO, it looks more natural to switch video between the people talking in a conversation. Just an observation... Keep up the great work!
Appreciate you watching, Cory. It's been my decision to stay off camera. I don't think people realize how many personally directed comments come through on the regular. So for the sake of my own mental health, I'm staying where I am at for now.
@@KristiWright Thanks for the response, and for all that you two do! Especially your help for those in Texas recently. 😁 I totally understand and respect not wanting to be on camera (for any reason). In fact, if I produced UA-cam videos, I wouldn't appear on them at all ;-) The dynamic of your content is a welcome change, new and different from all of the other reviews out there. Any expansion on this style would be awesome! 😎
@@KristiWright I'm with you Kristi! Not sure of why you choose to stay off camera but as for me, I am camera shy and would not like to be seen by the public.
Nice video as always Andrew. Got mine before Christmas and it’s just been outstanding for movies which is what I am using it for. Once I set levels on a Visio app for my iPhone; it worked great. For $699 it’s disgustingly good. Amazing product.
I owned one. If you are trying to connect the soundbar to your phone to access the app via bluetooth, make sure that the BT of your other devices are turned off. I really like the sound of this soundbar. I got it for a big discount last BF. Great and thorough review!
Fantastic review of maybe a less than fantastic sound bar. I listened all the way, just because of the great job you both did. Vizio gives you a lot for the money. I’ve had 3 vizio TVs and I can’t kill any of them. Just solid for the money. I think I’ll pass on this sound bar. I love that you tell us the bad with the good. We don’t like finding out the bad after we purchase. I also like when you review things the average person can afford, or that I can at least save up for :-) great job as always!
Paid $699 for this bar at Best Buy for my living room where I’m not putting a full system into. I’m fairly into audio and home theater so I’m into tweaking/etc. It needed setup for sure but once I got the bass turned down and and tuned it sounds pretty darn good
I just did the same, but with Amazon, for around $600. Took a few days to get it tuned, but I am really enjoying it. For the $999.99 I don't know, I'd have to second guess it. but love it.
Your job doing reviews is hard, not that I thought it is easy by any means, I bought an Emotiva TA100 and until the T-zero+ arrive I hooked up two old pairs of speakers. Pioneer CS-G204 which are 3-way floor sitting speakers and Sony 2-way bookshelf SS-MB150H. I moved them around a bit in my limited space with and without a Kanto sub8. Trying to do my own review for my fun I realized two things. The Kanto YU6's are better in every way than my old speakers on the TA100 and I don't want to be an audiophile. Thank you for all that you and Kristi go through to do a product review like this one !
Great review, extremely helpful! I'm hoping to set up my first home theater this year. I have no idea what I'm doing so I've been watching all your videos to learn what I should be looking for. What I'm still unsure of is how a sound bar system compares to a similar priced traditional speaker setup. Maybe you could do a video that compares the Jamo S 807 HCS system and/or the Klipsch Reference system to some of the atmos sound bars in a similar price range.
I can go either way, it really depends on the day. I appreciate a full home theater with great speakers, but honestly, I LOVE the simplicity and minimal quality of a soundbar too!
This is old so it doesn't matter until a new Vizio soundbar comes out I suppose, but the app issue is due to it not being able to connect to the wifi correctly after the router/modem was restarted. Every single time (which I like to do once a month) I restart my router/modem, the app no longer works as it doesn't detect the soundbar, so I need to go into the app settings and clear the storage for the app. After that, it will detect the soundbar, I select it and then I wait to hear the voice saying "found", press the volume up once, then it connects and it's all good. It's annoying, but at least it's a fix.
Im hoping you have solved my issue... .i have been fuzzing with support and even on vizio sub red to no avail. You make it sound so simple i hope it works!
Having been an owner of 2 Vizio Soundbars, I can confirm they are the most infuriating pieces of technology ever created by human kind. I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews SB36312-G6, a budget 3.1.2 atmos system for a bedroom, and the SB46514-F6, a 5.1.2 system. Both options sounded fine for what they were, as you stated in your review, Vizio loves da Bass... but they both ran into the same issues of handshake agreements with the TV's they were paired with. The arc/software built into the soundbars would just randomly completely disconnect with the TV's in question, a Hisense 55 inch h8g... and a Vizio M-Series from 2019... lol, the Hisense I might understand, the Vizio though?!?!? The only fix was completely removing the power from the Soundbar and having to fully reconnect them/set them up again.... the bane of my existance these were. The fact the soundbars can't even work properly with their own TV's made me want to use them as my own personal sledgehammer for pounding nails into the wall. Now I just own a Sony HT-ST5000... no issues, nothing, it works. Is it the best in the world sound wise? No, but for a one bedroom it's just fine.
@@Galandwood32 Our Vizio soundbar CONSTANTLY drops out on using a TCL 5 series roku TV. Doesn't matter what we're watching or listening to, OTA broadcast, UA-cam, Netflix, Pandora app just *boop* turned off.
@@OHMAudioChannel Yikes! Thankfully drop outs were not our issue once a connection was made, but we got stuck in the power on/off cycle madness once or twice (or more).
i have nakamichi 7.1.4 but i'm not sure if the SSE works like i expected. When playing atmos content from dolby's windows program(and sound bar display confirms atmos) it sounds like it just plays all sound at height, it does provide a dome feeling of sound immersion but almost as if it's all or nothing. Wondering if there's some sort of demo to play that would test all speakers including the .4 channels of "height speakers"
I have to disagree with your own review conclusion Andrew.... It's unforgivable for a $1000 device to not have a decent app support. Certainly not a usable app. That is simply a design flaw and should be either recalled or discounted.
I just bought the new 2022 elevate but I’m considering returning and getting the 2020 elevate due to the fact that the 2020 version has a 8’ subwoofer and the 2022 one only has a 6’ Also the 2020 version has has up firing speakers in the 2 rear surround speakers where as the 2022 version only has forward firing in the 2 rears. I like the look of the new version better but I may return cause it seems the 2020 version is still a better pick
@Andrew, not related to this video while this was one of sound bars I was looking at. But I decided to got AV. You recommend the Yamaha RX-V6A as a nest budget. What would you recommend as a mid-range AVR?
It's crazy that I none of the issues they discussed except calibrating the presets but after that... Perfect. I had no issues with app and changing settings. I have lg c9, no sync issues except it doesn't turn off when I turn the TV off automatically
Was and always will be a Reciever person when being a home theater pro. But the Vizio 5.1 is well worth it and the Polk Audio Alexa Bar is also a great option. Again, to each is own way more punch and features with a reciever now if we can only go back to the good old days and find a way to set up a nice Graphic Equalizer since there is no tape 2 monitor anymore. Have a 700 dollar Graphic Equalizer and I miss not being able to use it. Great Review! 👌
I did not pay $1000.00 for my Elevate. I paid $699 at Best Buy over the holidays so I believe I am getting value, especially with Dolby Atmos capability. I do not personally care about controlling my soundbar via an app. Time will only tell.
It's not just the app. When I had it, I had various issues when the content did not use dolby audio. Things like UA-cam, Spotify, HBO and some game consoles had like 3 to 5 seconds audio drop outs whenever the content hits a silence. The built-in chromecast sometimes did not worked or played some songs at extremely loud volumes and depending on the tv you have they may not talk to each other at all. I agree, It can sound awesome but the many issues make it not worth it for me.
Current favorite sound bar is the one I now have: Klipsch Cinema 600 (waiting on rear surrounds). The sound/tone of it across multiple media formats is to my taste, and man does the subwoofer slap.
Great video! I also have the P Quantum X and was wondering exactly what setting you were talking about in regards to the HDMI handshake and forcing it to recognize the device. Thank you, sir.
Thanks for all of your reviews! I had this one, for a short wile, got a great deal however the bugs let me down. The final straw was random gunshot loud pops in the rear speakers when I switched from UA-cam to Netflix or any other app. I did see the potential, yet it ultimately let me down. If Vizio added room correction to tame the tones and solved its connectivity, it could be a great product. Ultimately, I went to a 2 channel system and haven’t looked back!
New subscriber here, love all your review videos. Anything in the works on the Sony HT-ST5000 7.1.2 sound system? Curious as to what you and Kristi think of its design and performance!
I really liked the video. I was not so sure about this soundbar but your video really helped out. I know the Sennheiser is 2.5 times more expensive, but I am curious about your take on Sennheiser wanting out of the consumer market. Does it make the Ambeo a pass now that future updates are in doubt?
The AMBEO is fantastic but the recent news about the company seeking a buyer for their consumer products makes us pause in continuing to recommend it. This could mean no future updates. I'd wait.
@@KristiWright @Eric Gurley, I agree with Kristi. I love our AMBEO and have no plans on ditching it, but I am a bit saddened by the possibility that it may not get a version 2, or updates that may make it better as time passes. Totally torn.
In my experience I think Nakamichi 7.2 or 9.2 is the best bang for buck. It just doesn't have hdmi 2.1 yet. Other than that it has everything. Other than that I would say Samsung Q950T.
That's interesting with regards to the center channel having to do more of the work when the bar's end speakers are elevated to Atmos. Not just a Vizio issue, I also don't understand why there aren't full wireless solutions for surround speakers on most sound system. For both my rooms electric plug outlets on the side for power source are a lot easier than laying cable over floor or though the walls. The only full wireless surround speakers I've come across are those receivers/speakers in Yamaha MusicCast ecosystem. Is this because there are technical issues to overcome or a lack of consumer interest?
Check out the Platin Monaco or the Enclave CineHome II or CineHome Pro to name just 3 fully wireless at or under $1,100. If you have more $$$ then there are other completely wireless solutions too.
Another wonderful review. You really helped me confirm my decision to go with the cinema 600 by Klipsch. I've heard it in a store and thought it sounded like a nice pair of bookshelf speakers with a great sub. I will be using it mostly for music. I may just go with the 400 as I won't really be in it for the center channel and save the $200. Love your videos!!!! And Kristi's comments at the end are always fantastic! I too agree it would be great to see her in FRONT of the camera or beside you during the review, with her contributions through the duration of the video. Keep up the amazing vids!
This review is great. And I just got one for 400 bucks. Which I think is a pretty good deal. I am expecting to make some adjustments to the soundbar's settings to make it sound better than the default.
Just got one for $500 brand new, and cheaper than the newer M-series version - although I did spend a bit extra for extended insurance (3 years) due to some of the comments I've seen in various places about occasional issues. I'm hoping that some of the firmware & app issues have been resolved by now, but we'll see. I'll be connecting it to a Vizio P75QX-H1 that I got a couple of years ago, so I hope they pair well.
Vizio Elevate by a mile. I tried three soundbar systems in the last week: the JBL 9.1, the Bose 700 with subwoofer, and finally the Vizio Elevate. JBL and Bose sounded spectacular in the store demos but sounded utterly mediocre in my living room. Both sounded bad when it came to regular TV dialogue and music. I spent hours trying to tinker with the settings, but their possible adjustments are so limited that it was impossible to get the sound I wanted and I returned them both within 2 days. FINALLY I found the Vizio Elevate. The Elevate soundbar has a kinda unattractive design IMO, but the sound was 95% what I wanted right out of the box and the remaining 5% I could customize precisely to my liking with their comprehensive equalizer options. I can’t recommend it enough. I thought I’d LOVE a the JBL 9.1 based on the store demo. I quickly started to hate it as soon as I got it home.
Great video.. as a current owner of their 5.1.2 i was planning to upgrade but will hold off for now. Maybe lean more towards sony or lg for a chromecast built in bar
I had the Elevate and man that soundbar was powerful. But it had so many issues that I had to return it. So in the mean time I would recommend to stick with one you have or follow Andrew recommendations. He truly was very honest about the Elevate.
Sonos is way too expensive for what you get, and you are forced into using streaming services that Sonos supports. I almost bought the Sonos Arc, but decided not to when I began learning the differences between different surround settings. The Sonos Arc does not even have dts support, and only has one HDMI port.
@@thehairyyam3077 yeah i do agree with you there. You can buy the arcana fury which would let you use a blu-ray player and what not but its $200. The DTS issue - its a hit and miss. The miss is that its $800 and cant support all audio codecs, nor a streaming/player device. The hit is, well, dolby audio is literally everywhere. my previous comment was solely on the idea that out of majority of soundbars, if not all, sonos at least has upgradability regarding speakers so future proofing is more ideal with sonos. Support will always exist with sonos users as well. Sonos is literally apple but for “home theater” and sound.
@@garretts431 all very fair points. Gotta admit that I'm biased. Like you stated: "Sonos is rhe Apple of home sound and theater." I avoid Apple products for the same reason I avoid Sonos and Bose. Their products are great, but they'll rake you over the coals for every miserly penny.
Hey Guys, I feel that the donations you’re passing along to the people in need is an Outstanding gesture. I’ll be remiss to not thank you for your amazing visual images of components and equipment that you have given me. I am one of your blind subs, and after listening to the vivid and impressionist descriptions that you provide I feel that I have all of the info Period Point Blank required. Other than to thank you for your lovely pictures in my mind that the videos leave me to ponder. I felt I can enlighten you guys about why the soundbar defaults to speech, Imagine trying to find the speech button with no sound to aid you. It has taken a long time to get anything for the blind and visually impaired community. So just wanted to give you a little view from outside of the box. Thanks again for your Outstanding videos and all that you guys do for everyone. CD
I really appreciate your comment and thank you for sharing your personal experience with us. Kristi was instrumental in helping keep things in perspective with respect to the audible commands. I really thank you for letting us know how we can include other information in our reviews that will help people beyond just “more specs”. Be well! -Andrew
I know we all have differences in sound appreciation. You would think by now with all the technologic evolution, engineers would be able to come up with a sound bar system that meets the needs of the majority of discriminating listeners without major weaknesses. Of course, we will all need to tweak the settings. I know, wishful thinking. However, when I listen to all these reviews and comparison videos, I still can't make a decision without trying the system in my home. But I hope to narrow it down before bring one home.
Thank you for this review -- I'm trying to decide on a great sound bar to go with my new LG CX TV and was comparing this to the AMBEO. FYI that your note on turning the ELEVATE sub all the way down is common to other reviews for it as well!
I have a sl8yg spundbar with the rare speakers. The sub is the one that stands out the most. The centre part is crisp. The upward speakers tend to be the down fall. But I always want to try out the best experience I can with the sound. What are the best/better settings for the sl8yg?
We don't have that exact soundbar so I cannot say what settings or adjustments will work best for you. Don't be afraid to play around. You can always reset the bar back to its factory default if you "mess" up, so have fun with it!
Hi, I've been getting mix answer with regards to placing rear speakers for this vizio speaker. What is your recommendation for placement of the surround speakers? Also, I plan to mount it. What is the recommendation for height placement?
So can you recommend a soundbar for me? Im in a wheelchair so remote or app connection is a must, budget priced. Not complicated and analog input as well as hdmi input a must. And not Huge. I live in an apartment so no super bassy heavy sub. However id like a medium floor sub or built in bass? Under 200? Thanks! Glad you made this video👍
I had considered this soundbar for the family room in the house I'm building, but I decided to go with Klipsch The Fives instead for $200 less. I get that they're different solutions, but I'm curious on your thoughts of the value proposition of the two, comparatively.
I did the same! My Klipsch are coming in Friday. I really do wish Andrew would do a movie specific review of the Klipsch speakers. I don’t care about surround sound but I do want great left and right separation with great detail!
@@_cmoll hey bud, loving the Klipsch speakers. I placed the vizio Atmos in a bedroom and trust me they can’t compete. The true stereo left/ right ( and phantom center) separation is way more engaging. Everything now has weight, detail and dimension. The vizio had a semi faux convincing Atmos effect in certain films and music but the fact is that most of the time the sound sound like it was coming from a (albeit) box. Now Audi sounds like it’s in front of me from different directions with the clarity that when I close my eyes it sound like it’s in the room. Imagine having your favorite open back headphones on that’s the sound! I have the speakers paired with jamo s808 and I’m thrilled
@@onepurpose315 Nice! I'm thinking of pairing them with one of the new SVS 1000s that were just announced when I get mine. They're just starting construction on my house so I'm 4-6 months from purchasing still but I'm planning everything out. Thanks so much for sharing your experience!
This soundbar seems like it would be perfect for the audio geek who likes to tweak, who is looking for a decent tertiary system for a bedroom. I'd probably go for the Klipsch out of all of those you reviewed, for the low price and since it's straight vanilla 5.1 and less dependant on reflections for its soundfield.
Thank you both for a great review on a difficult but somewhat hopeful entry from Vizio needs to be aligned with what consumers want and this is half way there.
As another LG owner I spent a long time looking at soundbars recently. About 6 months. While Andrew hasn't reviewed it I eventually found my way to the sonos arc. I went with the full 7.1.2 system which was about 1700 only because the sub is so expensive. It is a modular system that you can build as you decide to commit to it. If you're in the 1500 market and can stretch up to 18 I would consider looking at this. The soundbar alone is about 800.
I have this bar and have none of the problems they had with the app. You do have to calibrate the bar but once I got my presets right, I was good to go. I would recommend using direct for music vs the music setting
I just got one and I feel the sub is way too powerful at it’s lowest setting at -9. The app’s meters go to -12, but it shuts off at -10. And if you go lower, it jumps back on to -9. Everything about it is awesome except for the fact it’s too bassy at -9 before it mutes. It’s making me miss my $200 5.1 system I replaced it with.
Dunkirk does not have an Atmos track, just standard 5.1. I understand it doesn't really matter but when you were talking about height channels specifically you were showcasing Dunkirk in the background.
Apologies. I am aware that the footage I was showing for visual sake was not an Atmos track. Sometimes I have to go with what is going to look good or translate well on camera.
Never been a fan of apps for the most part. It's not necessary when you have control over everything with the remote. On my older Vizio, I stopped using Movie mode and just listen straight. I wonder if I'll do the same with this (I just ordered, will be in tomorrow). I'm a musician, playing electric guitar with effects and recording, I don't think tuning a sound bar is so hard at all. You use your ear to guide you and if your ear is remotely trained, you're good to go. We'll see how it goes.
I've got the previous Vizio Atmos and yes, I can relate to what you are saying. Due to all it's bugs however, I'm going to return it to Costco. I was thinking of getting this BUT I'm so concerned that the Elevate will end up being a bad decision. I'm thinking of the Klipsche 1200 if the reviews are positive
This is a great and very informative review. I was looking forward to purchasing one of these Vizio Elevates...right up to the mention of the constant tweaking of settings and the "maddening" of this gear. (that was funny!) So I guess I will agree with Nathan Bell in that the Klipsch seems to be the better choice...specifically, the Klipsch Cinema 600.
I came up with a seemingly crazy idea that only someone like you can experiment with at a moment's notice. Watching a video on the $329,000 Chronosonic speakers by Wilson, I realized that, in the simplest terms (very simplistically), the huge Chronosonics are very good speakers stacked on top of good speakers on top of great woofers on top of subwoofers. So, can one approach (approach) a super great sound where the singer does not seem to be 3 feet tall but seems like a regular sized human singing in your living room (no offense to little singers) by stacking a small Klipsch on top of a medium sized Klipsch on top of..., etc? Wilson is very picky about the downward and upwards angles of the mid-range and tweeters on their big speakers as well as the direction and placement of the entire towers and the drivers within the towers, so that has to be taken into consideration. Overall, it seems like a great experiment for someone with extra speakers and amps to power a stacked couple of towers. Edit: After Researching this, I've found that most experts hate the idea. The claim is of massive interference everywhere but a tiny sweet spot. Doesn't stop tinkerers from doing it and seating in that one, precisely located chair. By the way, thanks for your drive to help those affected by the weather disaster in Texas.
Unfortunately a) the bar is no longer setup in our room (prepping for another review) and b) my settings wouldn't necessarily translate to you and your space, so it really wouldn't do you any good.
I connected my Apple TV with HDMI to the soundbar and soundbar via HDMI to TV (eARC). This made it recognize the Atmos content. However, this gives me a slight audio delay by a few milliseconds. It does not happen when the Apple TV is plugged directly to the TV and the sound bar is plugged directly to the TV. Any ideas how to sort this out. I would like to enjoy the Atmos feature.
Hi Andrew. I can surely tell that your review videos are the best! Especially this on the Visio Elevate P-series soundbar... hands down. I'm investing a ton of time and energy searching for the best Double Atmos Surround soundbar (soundbar + subwoofer + surround speakers) under $1k. I almost went to the Samsung Q990B after they released Q990C, but the multiple bad reviews on the Q990B audio disconnects made me take that out of the list. Then I learned about this Visio Elevate bar and was almost going for it... until when I saw your video. From your perspective, please, which Dolby Atmos surround soundbar system would you recommend under $1k other than this Visio one? Thanks a ton for all you do. It's amazing!
Well I just got the Vizio elevate and it’s amazing sound is really great but it’s true have to mess with the settings for me was just a little not that much
★ *REVIEWING: **amzn.to/3ra5fhp** ADDITIONAL INFO/LINKS IN THE DESCRIPTION⬆︎*
★ *QOTD: Who do YOU think makes the best soundbar right now?*
★ *Love our conversation/outtakes? Be sure to watch to the end*
★ *COMMENT RULES: Please be respectful. No outside links, URLs, email addresses, etc. Violations are automatically deleted.*
Awesome video. I just got the Elevate Friday! I do enjoy getting into the settings and tweaking things for each movie or game I play so that works for me. I didn't have any issues connecting it to the Smartcast App yet but hey it happens.
@@technon8 🙌. so glad to hear that.
I’ve been waiting on your review because I have the older Vizio atmos soundbar. I don’t have proper room for surrounds and wanted to experiment so I just ordered Klipsch the fives! Do you think the Klipsch speakers are a better option for a smaller room? I want a great soundstage but I want clarity. I also bought a jamo s808 subwoofer
@@onepurpose315 I would stick with what you bought in the Fives and Jamo sub. As a 2.1 setup in a small room, your gear is going to ROCK!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks for the quick response. I’m excited!!! Love your channel and I think your making me an audiophile because I’m already looking for alternative set ups for other rooms! You should really do a 2 channel set up vs soundbar video. Thanks and keep up the great work, hope all is well in Texas from your neighbor in Louisiana
Dude you look like a young Kevin Spacey. And your presentation is nearly flawless. One of the best You tubers by far. I was only mildly interested in the content but watched nearly the whole episode because I found you enjoyable to see and hear. I'll subscribe. Thanks
I also mentioned that, he looks and sounds like him too.
I love the inclusion of dialogue with your wife. It's nice to hear the back and forth
Thank you, Nicholas! We really appreciate you watching.
Disagree Kristi feels repetitive and not needed.
@@danycardenas1614 Thank you!
I agree, she adds a lot. I appreciate it.
It's the real review.
That was, without question, the best review on this product I have heard or have seen. The way that you made me feel as if I were in the driver's seat and had me understanding the benefits and downfalls, was brilliant. The conversation that the both of you had about your frustrations and wow moments gave me a very detailed image of the graph of pleasure vs. pain I would experience in every day use. I am helping to consult my cousin in purchasing something that sounds great and will please his wife, who does not want a bulky speaker setup in her living room.
I would also like to thank you for your review on the Klipsch RP-8000F tower speakers. I was conflicted on which towers to buy, the SVS Pinnacle Prime and Ultra towers were the big contenders against Klipsch. I was leaning towards SVS due to the v-shaped curve and 2 way limitations of the Klipsch towers. But, you helped me to close my eyes and actually listen to the speakers and actually feel which ones sounded better and to ignore the specs. After about 2 hours of listening to the SVS and Klipsch towers at a local retailer, I decided that Klipsch was just more fun. I went all in with the RP-8000F's, the 504 center channel, the RP-500SA atmos speakers, the 600M bookshelves at the rear, an SVS PB-3000 sub, a Denon X3700h and an Emotiva BasX 300 to help drive the towers. I am very pleased with the performance and have zero remorse with going Klipsch for the whole of my surround.
So glad you found the review helpful and that you're enjoying your 8000Fs!
Best in depth review on this sound bar. Been waiting for it since it debuted last year at CES. But I've seen enough now to make me gun shy, so will invest in a different one.
I LOVE the Vizio Elevate and can't recommend it enough. I first bought the JBL 9.1 and then the Bose 700+subwoofer, but quickly returned them. They sounded incredible in the store, but utterly mediocre back at home with regular TV, movies, and especially music. Worse still, the options for customizing/equalizing the sound were so limited. In contrast, the Vizio was 95% the sound I wanted right out of the box. The other 5% I could customize exactly to my liking using Vizio's extensive customization options. The Vizio doesn't look as aesthetically nice as the Bose system, but it sounds 5x better for a much cheaper price. I'm surprised by how tepid Andrew is about the Elevate. To my ears, the Vizio sound was MILES better than the JBL 9.1 or Bose 700. It wasn't even close. Best money I've spent in a long time. It's incredibly well balanced sound, with a booming subwoofer if you want to crank it up.
Good advice
Now I know which Sound Bar to not get my mom.
Mom: "My House is haunted."
Me: "No it's not."
VIZIO Elevate: "Found"
😂
The "proprietary cable" for the rear speakers are just RCA cables - its two RCA cables fused together, which didnt fit in the hole in my speaker stands, so I bought RCA cables and female-to-female couplers and ran the RCA cables one at a time through the speaker stands, and then connected one end to the speakers, and the other ends to the couplers which where then connected to the proprietary cable which came with the unit
Works great
I really appreciate the conversation between yourself and Kristi, really like hearing the opinion of someone who is exposed to the different products but isn't as immersed in the AV/Tech world... oh BTW great review! I have an older vizio 5.1 surround sound and I differently agree with your take on the user experience
Thanks for tuning in Marvin, appreciate it and thanks for watching through to the end!
This video is three years old has Vizio done a firmware update to make it seamlessly plug and play ? It is currently on sale for 699 dollars on best buy .
I got this sound system yesterday, it sounds AMAZING but I had the problem of connecting with the app as well. Honestly ditch the app, the remote can do it all it's no deal breaker for me personally.
Andrew thanks for the honest review. Noted UI difficulty. Side note. It does sound amazing when dialed in. Thanks for the great work.
You own the Elevate? Thanks for tuning in!
I actually really enjoyed hearing Kristy bounce her ideas and thoughts with you. It actually reminded me to stop and like the video because I consume a lot of your content and I am guilty of not hitting that like button as often as I should. I think what I like about her jumping in is seeing your real time response to go a little deeper into a particular topic and she brought up quite a few good ones.
Haha love the end cuts! You should keep all of that footage and at the end of the year release a frustration montage! As always the rest of the video was great too!
Thank you for watching it to the end! So glad you enjoy the outtakes.
Very satisfying and detailed review, one of the best reviews out there in general, I'd save all your videos in a playlist and listen to them✨👍✨
Wow, thanks!
Seems like the logical thing for Vizio to have done would've been to simply put an extra speaker on both ends of the soundbar and have the up-firing speakers permanently facing up. I'm sure the company would've saved money by not implementing those motors.
great video as always! Keep up the great work Andrew!👍🏼
Thanks! Appreciate you tuning in!
Thank you, Hermanni!
Vizio makes solid soundbars and are getting better each year. I didnt go with the elevate but went with the M512A-H6. It was $350 during black friday and for my first ever soundbar its pretty solid and dolby atmos content sounds surprisingly well with the two upfiring speakers bouncing the sound off the roof
After a year how is it holding up, any issues ?🙄
@@gadchampanda2951 No issues! When you first turn the tv on theres a delay for the sound but its not long before its starts playing sound. Other than that minor thing, this soundbar has been holding up well and has real full sound for shows and movies!
The convo at the end really sets this review apart. Another perspective that was also informative. Great vid! 👍🏽
Thank you for tuning and and sticking around!
I appreciate the thoroughness of your reviews, but when the only ones you recommend are over $1000 that’s tough for a lot of people
This soundbar is on sale for $549 today only. Grab one now while you can.
(And FWIW if you want a proper Atmos experience you need a 5.1.4 setup *minimum*, and they don't come cheap.)
I had exactly the same frustrations with a 3 years old SB3621. Seems Vizio spent more cash on marketing and paying fake reviews than updating their software.
Thanks for the thorough and honest review Andrew!
Ouch. Don't know about fake reviews. Lord knows we get accused of that kind of stuff on the reg any time we like a product too much. I feel that people throw that accusation around all too freely when something doesn't quite align with their own way of thinking or experience. At any rate, sorry to hear you've had your own frustrations. I feel your pain.
@@KristiWright Hmm I don't know who you are but I guess you're Andrew's GF? The fake review commented was targeted at you (read my entire comment) but at Vizio themselves. My point was that Andrew's review, compared to others are (seem) more genuine.
thx for the reply tho!
@antwake - I'm posting this on Kristi's behalf since for some reason, her response to you keeps disappearing.
- Andrew
Here is her reply:
Hi, I'm Andrew's wife and also the producer of this channel. I did read your entire comment and understood your comment was mostly directed at VIZIO themselves. We've worked directly with VIZIO before and from our experience they require sponsored material to be disclosed. This is something we and I think most people (not everyone but most) take pretty seriously or at least they should. FTC rules require such disclosures. Violations can result in heavy fines, demonetization or a channel being removed from the platform.
I'm very glad to hear you feel the reviews here are genuine. My greater point was that accusations like yours (pointed at VIZIO) get thrown around a lot and frankly, are dangerous. Like I mentioned, they can seriously affect a brand (or channel) and their integrity while they may not always be deserved.
Thanks so much for watching.
- Kristi
I bought the JBL 9.1 last year. I was really sold with the battery rear satellite speakers. Fits my room style perfectly. I think they would be a better use of the $1k.
I bought the JBL 9.1 and hated it as soon as I got it home. It sounded INCREDIBLE in the store display with their demo clip. For actual TV and movies, I thought it sounded incredibly mediocre, unbalanced, and far too distant. I spent hours tinkering around with the settings, trying to get the sound I wanted, and I simply couldn't. Then I bought the Vizio Elevate. It was 95% exactly what I wanted right out of the box, and the tons of customization options Vizio has let me adjust the other 5% to my liking.
Just got mine 2 days ago on sale, and I love it. I didn't find it difficult to properly set up with app. I use my TV, PQX, as the switch, as using the bar direct inputs combined with using the TV eARC led to voice sync issues, for me. Center channel was muffled in direct mode, non adjustable, but can be adjusted in movie mode, which I also use for music. The Atmos effect is the best I've heard on a soundbar, tuned to max height. The sub I placed behind the couch, to reduce localization. For me, that brings in the feeling, that couch rumbling transducer feeling, I get at an Atmos theater and still remains punchy.
As someone who has purchased this, I have to say this review almost 100% reflects my experience. I am a very happy owner with the exception of the POS app experience. The Elevate's upward speakers are definitely not a gimmick and this is the best in home theatre experience I've ever had.
If the bar fails u within the next couple weeks please lmk. I am looking to get this but vizio has a horrible track record.
I owned an Elevate from October to December, this review is right on. I got the audio to sound incredible (with lots of tweaking), but geez, the software issues were endless. Things would randomly not work all the time: didn't detect atmos, dropped LPCM channels, no audio, wont turn on/off. Unplugging/replugging would solve these issues temporarily, but I needed to do this multiple times a week. The most frustrating consumer electronic device I ever owned. A real shame.
The same happened to me. I've managed to get it at $699 and at that price point It was hard to find something that sounded as good as the Elevate, but it had many anoying issues and I had to return it.
Great review! I actually just bought mine this past week. I didn't have any issues connecting it to the app, but there is noticeable lag between the app and soundbar.
Yes, you have to play around with the settings, but that is what I love about it. I'm a music snob and my ears are very picky, so although dialing it in can be tedious, you can really tune that sound into perfection.
One or two more firmware updates and app updates (fixing the UI on the app, and allowing for decreasing the sub even more) would allow this soundbar to destroy the competition.
The dialogue between Kristi and yourself is a very valuable part of the recent reviews. It adds a lot of context and info.
I'm wondering however, why is she never on screen? IMO, it looks more natural to switch video between the people talking in a conversation.
Just an observation... Keep up the great work!
Appreciate you watching, Cory. It's been my decision to stay off camera. I don't think people realize how many personally directed comments come through on the regular. So for the sake of my own mental health, I'm staying where I am at for now.
@@KristiWright
Thanks for the response, and for all that you two do! Especially your help for those in Texas recently. 😁
I totally understand and respect not wanting to be on camera (for any reason). In fact, if I produced UA-cam videos, I wouldn't appear on them at all ;-)
The dynamic of your content is a welcome change, new and different from all of the other reviews out there. Any expansion on this style would be awesome! 😎
@@FireTriode Thank you! We appreciate your support and I thank you for understanding.
@@KristiWright I'm with you Kristi! Not sure of why you choose to stay off camera but as for me, I am camera shy and would not like to be seen by the public.
Nice video as always Andrew.
Got mine before Christmas and it’s just been outstanding for movies which is what I am using it for. Once I set levels on a Visio app for my iPhone; it worked great. For $699 it’s disgustingly good. Amazing product.
I owned one. If you are trying to connect the soundbar to your phone to access the app via bluetooth, make sure that the BT of your other devices are turned off. I really like the sound of this soundbar. I got it for a big discount last BF. Great and thorough review!
I bought it and love it. I have an odd shaped room, and this things is the first to sound so good. Replacing a very good (old) Bose system.
Fantastic review of maybe a less than fantastic sound bar. I listened all the way, just because of the great job you both did. Vizio gives you a lot for the money. I’ve had 3 vizio TVs and I can’t kill any of them. Just solid for the money. I think I’ll pass on this sound bar. I love that you tell us the bad with the good. We don’t like finding out the bad after we purchase. I also like when you review things the average person can afford, or that I can at least save up for :-) great job as always!
I agree with you about VIZIO. They're a value giant IMO. Thanks so much for watching to the end.
Paid $699 for this bar at Best Buy for my living room where I’m not putting a full system into. I’m fairly into audio and home theater so I’m into tweaking/etc. It needed setup for sure but once I got the bass turned down and and tuned it sounds pretty darn good
I just did the same, but with Amazon, for around $600. Took a few days to get it tuned, but I am really enjoying it. For the $999.99 I don't know, I'd have to second guess it. but love it.
Your job doing reviews is hard, not that I thought it is easy by any means, I bought an Emotiva TA100 and until the T-zero+ arrive I hooked up two old pairs of speakers. Pioneer CS-G204 which are 3-way floor sitting speakers and Sony 2-way bookshelf SS-MB150H. I moved them around a bit in my limited space with and without a Kanto sub8. Trying to do my own review for my fun I realized two things. The Kanto YU6's are better in every way than my old speakers on the TA100 and I don't want to be an audiophile. Thank you for all that you and Kristi go through to do a product review like this one !
You made me subscribe when you told me to grab a drink. Plus, I’ve been eyeballing this bar for months (currently have the Vizio 46-5.1.4 atmos)
Great review again 👍🏻, Quick question what rear surround speaker stands did you use the slim metal rod looking ones please.
I used these: amzn.to/3uuyeir But I don't necessarily recommend them with this soundbar setup.
Loved the bonus conversation at the end!
Kristi adds a certain something to the channel for sure!
Great review, extremely helpful! I'm hoping to set up my first home theater this year. I have no idea what I'm doing so I've been watching all your videos to learn what I should be looking for. What I'm still unsure of is how a sound bar system compares to a similar priced traditional speaker setup. Maybe you could do a video that compares the Jamo S 807 HCS system and/or the Klipsch Reference system to some of the atmos sound bars in a similar price range.
Not a bad idea, thanks for watching!
Do you prefer traditional home theater set up for your tv or sound bar system
I can go either way, it really depends on the day. I appreciate a full home theater with great speakers, but honestly, I LOVE the simplicity and minimal quality of a soundbar too!
This is old so it doesn't matter until a new Vizio soundbar comes out I suppose, but the app issue is due to it not being able to connect to the wifi correctly after the router/modem was restarted. Every single time (which I like to do once a month) I restart my router/modem, the app no longer works as it doesn't detect the soundbar, so I need to go into the app settings and clear the storage for the app. After that, it will detect the soundbar, I select it and then I wait to hear the voice saying "found", press the volume up once, then it connects and it's all good. It's annoying, but at least it's a fix.
Im hoping you have solved my issue... .i have been fuzzing with support and even on vizio sub red to no avail. You make it sound so simple i hope it works!
Having been an owner of 2 Vizio Soundbars, I can confirm they are the most infuriating pieces of technology ever created by human kind. I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy.
Yikes! What bars did you have?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews SB36312-G6, a budget 3.1.2 atmos system for a bedroom, and the SB46514-F6, a 5.1.2 system. Both options sounded fine for what they were, as you stated in your review, Vizio loves da Bass... but they both ran into the same issues of handshake agreements with the TV's they were paired with.
The arc/software built into the soundbars would just randomly completely disconnect with the TV's in question, a Hisense 55 inch h8g... and a Vizio M-Series from 2019... lol, the Hisense I might understand, the Vizio though?!?!? The only fix was completely removing the power from the Soundbar and having to fully reconnect them/set them up again.... the bane of my existance these were.
The fact the soundbars can't even work properly with their own TV's made me want to use them as my own personal sledgehammer for pounding nails into the wall.
Now I just own a Sony HT-ST5000... no issues, nothing, it works. Is it the best in the world sound wise? No, but for a one bedroom it's just fine.
@@Galandwood32 Our Vizio soundbar CONSTANTLY drops out on using a TCL 5 series roku TV. Doesn't matter what we're watching or listening to, OTA broadcast, UA-cam, Netflix, Pandora app just *boop* turned off.
@@OHMAudioChannel Yikes! Thankfully drop outs were not our issue once a connection was made, but we got stuck in the power on/off cycle madness once or twice (or more).
@@andrewrobinsonreviews "Found" ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)
I laughed out loud along with Andrew just waiting for Kristi's "BUT...". We should all pitch in together and get her a t-shirt that says BUT... 😀
I was thinking about buying the Elevate 5.1.4 . Has Vizio fixed all of the problems.
i have nakamichi 7.1.4 but i'm not sure if the SSE works like i expected. When playing atmos content from dolby's windows program(and sound bar display confirms atmos) it sounds like it just plays all sound at height, it does provide a dome feeling of sound immersion but almost as if it's all or nothing. Wondering if there's some sort of demo to play that would test all speakers including the .4 channels of "height speakers"
I have to disagree with your own review conclusion Andrew.... It's unforgivable for a $1000 device to not have a decent app support.
Certainly not a usable app. That is simply a design flaw and should be either recalled or discounted.
I mean it's not the best look. Hopefully a firmware update will correct those issues.
It's an issue with other models too. Just poor overall.
I just bought the new 2022 elevate but I’m considering returning and getting the 2020 elevate due to the fact that the 2020 version has a 8’ subwoofer and the 2022 one only has a 6’
Also the 2020 version has has up firing speakers in the 2 rear surround speakers where as the 2022 version only has forward firing in the 2 rears. I like the look of the new version better but I may return cause it seems the 2020 version is still a better pick
That one is called m-elevate
If you set it to elevate wide, does Atmos still work with the rear speakers?
@Andrew, not related to this video while this was one of sound bars I was looking at. But I decided to got AV. You recommend the Yamaha RX-V6A as a nest budget. What would you recommend as a mid-range AVR?
It's crazy that I none of the issues they discussed except calibrating the presets but after that... Perfect. I had no issues with app and changing settings. I have lg c9, no sync issues except it doesn't turn off when I turn the TV off automatically
Does it have 4K pass through? And is it truly hdmi 2.1?
So I bought the Vizio Elevate and now my parents are threatening about kicking me out if the walls don’t stop shaking from that monstrous sub.
How does it sound with music
hey jbl 9.1 vs viso what model you like better?
love your reviews
Awesome detailed review. Love the pro's and con's. You've got a new subscriber.
Awesome, thank you!
Was and always will be a Reciever person when being a home theater pro. But the Vizio 5.1 is well worth it and the Polk Audio Alexa Bar is also a great option. Again, to each is own way more punch and features with a reciever now if we can only go back to the good old days and find a way to set up a nice Graphic Equalizer since there is no tape 2 monitor anymore. Have a 700 dollar Graphic Equalizer and I miss not being able to use it. Great Review! 👌
I did not pay $1000.00 for my Elevate. I paid $699 at Best Buy over the holidays so I believe I am getting value, especially with Dolby Atmos capability. I do not personally care about controlling my soundbar via an app. Time will only tell.
It's not just the app. When I had it, I had various issues when the content did not use dolby audio. Things like UA-cam, Spotify, HBO and some game consoles had like 3 to 5 seconds audio drop outs whenever the content hits a silence. The built-in chromecast sometimes did not worked or played some songs at extremely loud volumes and depending on the tv you have they may not talk to each other at all. I agree, It can sound awesome but the many issues make it not worth it for me.
Current favorite sound bar is the one I now have: Klipsch Cinema 600 (waiting on rear surrounds). The sound/tone of it across multiple media formats is to my taste, and man does the subwoofer slap.
Great video! I also have the P Quantum X and was wondering exactly what setting you were talking about in regards to the HDMI handshake and forcing it to recognize the device. Thank you, sir.
Thanks for all of your reviews! I had this one, for a short wile, got a great deal however the bugs let me down. The final straw was random gunshot loud pops in the rear speakers when I switched from UA-cam to Netflix or any other app. I did see the potential, yet it ultimately let me down. If Vizio added room correction to tame the tones and solved its connectivity, it could be a great product. Ultimately, I went to a 2 channel system and haven’t looked back!
New subscriber here, love all your review videos. Anything in the works on the Sony HT-ST5000 7.1.2 sound system? Curious as to what you and Kristi think of its design and performance!
I'm hoping to pick this up during black friday this year.
Great video!! What were your settings? I just purchased my elevate yesterday and I like it alot.
Please review Sonos arc. Thank you 😊
Meeeeeh! I will keep my Klipsch Cinema 600 for now. It’s sound way better than the previous soundbar that I had.
Thank you for such an informative video! It definitely took some playing around/tweeking but I think I've finally got my Elevate sounding great!
I really liked the video. I was not so sure about this soundbar but your video really helped out. I know the Sennheiser is 2.5 times more expensive, but I am curious about your take on Sennheiser wanting out of the consumer market. Does it make the Ambeo a pass now that future updates are in doubt?
The AMBEO is fantastic but the recent news about the company seeking a buyer for their consumer products makes us pause in continuing to recommend it. This could mean no future updates. I'd wait.
@@KristiWright @Eric Gurley, I agree with Kristi. I love our AMBEO and have no plans on ditching it, but I am a bit saddened by the possibility that it may not get a version 2, or updates that may make it better as time passes. Totally torn.
Should be a good round with the Sony HT-ST5000 👀
Oh wow! That is a sweet looking soundbar!
@@bobsimmons1470 definitely worth the shot, right?
In my experience I think Nakamichi 7.2 or 9.2 is the best bang for buck. It just doesn't have hdmi 2.1 yet. Other than that it has everything. Other than that I would say Samsung Q950T.
That's interesting with regards to the center channel having to do more of the work when the bar's end speakers are elevated to Atmos. Not just a Vizio issue, I also don't understand why there aren't full wireless solutions for surround speakers on most sound system. For both my rooms electric plug outlets on the side for power source are a lot easier than laying cable over floor or though the walls. The only full wireless surround speakers I've come across are those receivers/speakers in Yamaha MusicCast ecosystem. Is this because there are technical issues to overcome or a lack of consumer interest?
Check out the Platin Monaco or the Enclave CineHome II or CineHome Pro to name just 3 fully wireless at or under $1,100. If you have more $$$ then there are other completely wireless solutions too.
Also the jbl 9.1 fits this budget and wireless requirement
Another wonderful review. You really helped me confirm my decision to go with the cinema 600 by Klipsch. I've heard it in a store and thought it sounded like a nice pair of bookshelf speakers with a great sub. I will be using it mostly for music. I may just go with the 400 as I won't really be in it for the center channel and save the $200. Love your videos!!!! And Kristi's comments at the end are always fantastic! I too agree it would be great to see her in FRONT of the camera or beside you during the review, with her contributions through the duration of the video. Keep up the amazing vids!
This review is great. And I just got one for 400 bucks. Which I think is a pretty good deal. I am expecting to make some adjustments to the soundbar's settings to make it sound better than the default.
Dang! How did you get that deal?
Just got one for $500 brand new, and cheaper than the newer M-series version - although I did spend a bit extra for extended insurance (3 years) due to some of the comments I've seen in various places about occasional issues. I'm hoping that some of the firmware & app issues have been resolved by now, but we'll see. I'll be connecting it to a Vizio P75QX-H1 that I got a couple of years ago, so I hope they pair well.
Very nice addition after the main review ending with the wife’s thoughts :)
This was a nice touch, like a second opinion review.
Okay. So side by side comparison between the vizio elevate v.s the jbl BAR 9.1. Any thoughts?
That's the comparison I have been waiting for
Vizio Elevate by a mile. I tried three soundbar systems in the last week: the JBL 9.1, the Bose 700 with subwoofer, and finally the Vizio Elevate. JBL and Bose sounded spectacular in the store demos but sounded utterly mediocre in my living room. Both sounded bad when it came to regular TV dialogue and music. I spent hours trying to tinker with the settings, but their possible adjustments are so limited that it was impossible to get the sound I wanted and I returned them both within 2 days. FINALLY I found the Vizio Elevate. The Elevate soundbar has a kinda unattractive design IMO, but the sound was 95% what I wanted right out of the box and the remaining 5% I could customize precisely to my liking with their comprehensive equalizer options. I can’t recommend it enough. I thought I’d LOVE a the JBL 9.1 based on the store demo. I quickly started to hate it as soon as I got it home.
This is what all review vidz should be. Subscribing!
another great review have a awesome day
Thanks for tuning in!
Great video.. as a current owner of their 5.1.2 i was planning to upgrade but will hold off for now. Maybe lean more towards sony or lg for a chromecast built in bar
Check out the Samsung bit.ly/3le1Ri8 which is on sale. It's very good. The review to it is linked in the description if you need more info.
I had the Elevate and man that soundbar was powerful. But it had so many issues that I had to return it. So in the mean time I would recommend to stick with one you have or follow Andrew recommendations. He truly was very honest about the Elevate.
Looking forward to your reviewing the Sonos Arc as I’d like hear your view of how it compares to this or the Samsung
sonos for upgradability, stability, and support. regarding sound its always debatable. for me, i would choose sonos out of the 3.
Sonos is way too expensive for what you get, and you are forced into using streaming services that Sonos supports.
I almost bought the Sonos Arc, but decided not to when I began learning the differences between different surround settings. The Sonos Arc does not even have dts support, and only has one HDMI port.
@@thehairyyam3077 yeah i do agree with you there. You can buy the arcana fury which would let you use a blu-ray player and what not but its $200. The DTS issue - its a hit and miss. The miss is that its $800 and cant support all audio codecs, nor a streaming/player device. The hit is, well, dolby audio is literally everywhere. my previous comment was solely on the idea that out of majority of soundbars, if not all, sonos at least has upgradability regarding speakers so future proofing is more ideal with sonos. Support will always exist with sonos users as well. Sonos is literally apple but for “home theater” and sound.
@@garretts431 all very fair points. Gotta admit that I'm biased. Like you stated: "Sonos is rhe Apple of home sound and theater." I avoid Apple products for the same reason I avoid Sonos and Bose. Their products are great, but they'll rake you over the coals for every miserly penny.
Hey Guys,
I feel that the donations you’re passing along to the people in need is an Outstanding gesture.
I’ll be remiss to not thank you for your amazing visual images of components and equipment that you have given me. I am one of your blind subs, and after listening to the vivid and impressionist descriptions that you provide I feel that I have all of the info Period Point Blank required.
Other than to thank you for your lovely pictures in my mind that the videos leave me to ponder. I felt I can enlighten you guys about why the soundbar defaults to speech, Imagine trying to find the speech button with no sound to aid you. It has taken a long time to get anything for the blind and visually impaired community. So just wanted to give you a little view from outside of the box.
Thanks again for your Outstanding videos and all that you guys do for everyone.
CD
I really appreciate your comment and thank you for sharing your personal experience with us. Kristi was instrumental in helping keep things in perspective with respect to the audible commands. I really thank you for letting us know how we can include other information in our reviews that will help people beyond just “more specs”. Be well! -Andrew
The "proprietary cable" for the rear speakers are just RCA cables
I know we all have differences in sound appreciation. You would think by now with all the technologic evolution, engineers would be able to come up with a sound bar system that meets the needs of the majority of discriminating listeners without major weaknesses. Of course, we will all need to tweak the settings. I know, wishful thinking. However, when I listen to all these reviews and comparison videos, I still can't make a decision without trying the system in my home. But I hope to narrow it down before bring one home.
Nice a real physical remote!
Ironically, that's a luxury nowadays!
It was a lifesaver this time!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews To quickly mute the guy saying "found" all the time? 😜
Thank you for this review -- I'm trying to decide on a great sound bar to go with my new LG CX TV and was comparing this to the AMBEO. FYI that your note on turning the ELEVATE sub all the way down is common to other reviews for it as well!
I have a sl8yg spundbar with the rare speakers. The sub is the one that stands out the most. The centre part is crisp. The upward speakers tend to be the down fall. But I always want to try out the best experience I can with the sound. What are the best/better settings for the sl8yg?
We don't have that exact soundbar so I cannot say what settings or adjustments will work best for you. Don't be afraid to play around. You can always reset the bar back to its factory default if you "mess" up, so have fun with it!
Hi, I've been getting mix answer with regards to placing rear speakers for this vizio speaker. What is your recommendation for placement of the surround speakers? Also, I plan to mount it. What is the recommendation for height placement?
I've found with my phone on 5ghz and the Vizio elevate on 5ghz the app is rock solid.
So can you recommend a soundbar for me? Im in a wheelchair so remote or app connection is a must, budget priced. Not complicated and analog input as well as hdmi input a must. And not Huge. I live in an apartment so no super bassy heavy sub. However id like a medium floor sub or built in bass? Under 200? Thanks! Glad you made this video👍
I know it’s not $200 but it’s close, try the Klipsch Cinema 400.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews i will search thanks!
I had considered this soundbar for the family room in the house I'm building, but I decided to go with Klipsch The Fives instead for $200 less. I get that they're different solutions, but I'm curious on your thoughts of the value proposition of the two, comparatively.
While the Fives will NEVER give you surround sound, they are maybe a bit more versatile if you're a music lover and home theater enthusiast.
I did the same! My Klipsch are coming in Friday. I really do wish Andrew would do a movie specific review of the Klipsch speakers. I don’t care about surround sound but I do want great left and right separation with great detail!
@@onepurpose315 Please report back on your impressions if you don't mind!
@@_cmoll hey bud, loving the Klipsch speakers. I placed the vizio Atmos in a bedroom and trust me they can’t compete. The true stereo left/ right ( and phantom center) separation is way more engaging. Everything now has weight, detail and dimension. The vizio had a semi faux convincing Atmos effect in certain films and music but the fact is that most of the time the sound sound like it was coming from a (albeit) box. Now Audi sounds like it’s in front of me from different directions with the clarity that when I close my eyes it sound like it’s in the room. Imagine having your favorite open back headphones on that’s the sound! I have the speakers paired with jamo s808 and I’m thrilled
@@onepurpose315 Nice! I'm thinking of pairing them with one of the new SVS 1000s that were just announced when I get mine. They're just starting construction on my house so I'm 4-6 months from purchasing still but I'm planning everything out. Thanks so much for sharing your experience!
Vizio has been doing a pretty decent job in terms of audio experiences. Is this the collab with mediatek?
This soundbar seems like it would be perfect for the audio geek who likes to tweak, who is looking for a decent tertiary system for a bedroom.
I'd probably go for the Klipsch out of all of those you reviewed, for the low price and since it's straight vanilla 5.1 and less dependant on reflections for its soundfield.
Thank you both for a great review on a difficult but somewhat hopeful entry from Vizio needs to be aligned with what consumers want and this is half way there.
Glad I went with the Samsung hw-q950t. Got it for $950.00 brand new and it sounds amazing! Shakes my whole room!
It's a solid sound bar. Glad to hear you are enjoying it.
I was actually considering this soundboard and you have just my mind. I'm gonna look further into the LG to match my LG oled cx
As another LG owner I spent a long time looking at soundbars recently. About 6 months. While Andrew hasn't reviewed it I eventually found my way to the sonos arc. I went with the full 7.1.2 system which was about 1700 only because the sub is so expensive. It is a modular system that you can build as you decide to commit to it. If you're in the 1500 market and can stretch up to 18 I would consider looking at this. The soundbar alone is about 800.
I have this bar and have none of the problems they had with the app. You do have to calibrate the bar but once I got my presets right, I was good to go. I would recommend using direct for music vs the music setting
Which do you rate better... the JBL9.1 or Vizio?
The JBL 9.1 is FANTASTIC!
I just got one and I feel the sub is way too powerful at it’s lowest setting at -9. The app’s meters go to -12, but it shuts off at -10. And if you go lower, it jumps back on to -9. Everything about it is awesome except for the fact it’s too bassy at -9 before it mutes. It’s making me miss my $200 5.1 system I replaced it with.
Dunkirk does not have an Atmos track, just standard 5.1. I understand it doesn't really matter but when you were talking about height channels specifically you were showcasing Dunkirk in the background.
Apologies. I am aware that the footage I was showing for visual sake was not an Atmos track. Sometimes I have to go with what is going to look good or translate well on camera.
Never been a fan of apps for the most part. It's not necessary when you have control over everything with the remote. On my older Vizio, I stopped using Movie mode and just listen straight. I wonder if I'll do the same with this (I just ordered, will be in tomorrow). I'm a musician, playing electric guitar with effects and recording, I don't think tuning a sound bar is so hard at all. You use your ear to guide you and if your ear is remotely trained, you're good to go. We'll see how it goes.
I've got the previous Vizio Atmos and yes, I can relate to what you are saying. Due to all it's bugs however, I'm going to return it to Costco. I was thinking of getting this BUT I'm so concerned that the Elevate will end up being a bad decision.
I'm thinking of the Klipsche 1200 if the reviews are positive
This is a great and very informative review. I was looking forward to purchasing one of these Vizio Elevates...right up to the mention of the constant tweaking of settings and the "maddening" of this gear. (that was funny!) So I guess I will agree with Nathan Bell in that the Klipsch seems to be the better choice...specifically, the Klipsch Cinema 600.
Hola, sigue prefiriendo altavoces de calidad en vez de barra con parlantes traseros?
I came up with a seemingly crazy idea that only someone like you can experiment with at a moment's notice.
Watching a video on the $329,000 Chronosonic speakers by Wilson, I realized that, in the simplest terms (very simplistically), the huge Chronosonics are very good speakers stacked on top of good speakers on top of great woofers on top of subwoofers. So, can one approach (approach) a super great sound where the singer does not seem to be 3 feet tall but seems like a regular sized human singing in your living room (no offense to little singers) by stacking a small Klipsch on top of a medium sized Klipsch on top of..., etc? Wilson is very picky about the downward and upwards angles of the mid-range and tweeters on their big speakers as well as the direction and placement of the entire towers and the drivers within the towers, so that has to be taken into consideration. Overall, it seems like a great experiment for someone with extra speakers and amps to power a stacked couple of towers.
Edit: After Researching this, I've found that most experts hate the idea. The claim is of massive interference everywhere but a tiny sweet spot. Doesn't stop tinkerers from doing it and seating in that one, precisely located chair.
By the way, thanks for your drive to help those affected by the weather disaster in Texas.
😂😆
Can you tell us what settings for the soundbar seemed to work best for you?
Unfortunately a) the bar is no longer setup in our room (prepping for another review) and b) my settings wouldn't necessarily translate to you and your space, so it really wouldn't do you any good.
I connected my Apple TV with HDMI to the soundbar and soundbar via HDMI to TV (eARC). This made it recognize the Atmos content. However, this gives me a slight audio delay by a few milliseconds. It does not happen when the Apple TV is plugged directly to the TV and the sound bar is plugged directly to the TV. Any ideas how to sort this out. I would like to enjoy the Atmos feature.
Hi Andrew. I can surely tell that your review videos are the best! Especially this on the Visio Elevate P-series soundbar... hands down. I'm investing a ton of time and energy searching for the best Double Atmos Surround soundbar (soundbar + subwoofer + surround speakers) under $1k. I almost went to the Samsung Q990B after they released Q990C, but the multiple bad reviews on the Q990B audio disconnects made me take that out of the list. Then I learned about this Visio Elevate bar and was almost going for it... until when I saw your video. From your perspective, please, which Dolby Atmos surround soundbar system would you recommend under $1k other than this Visio one? Thanks a ton for all you do. It's amazing!
Well I just got the Vizio elevate and it’s amazing sound is really great but it’s true have to mess with the settings for me was just a little not that much
I saw in another review that they just have a proprietary fit to the cable, but there are industry standard versions that you can use.