Vizio SB36512-F6 5.1.2 Soundbar System Review: Impressive Sound With An Impressive Price

Last updated on 2022-09-19
By Yvonne

Vizio SB36512F6 5.1.2 Soundbar Review: A Soundbar Surround System With Impressive Sound and a Great Prices. The Vizio SB35612-F6 Soundbar surround sound system features excellent audio quality and strong features such as Dolby Atmos or Bluetooth. To find out the performance of soundbars, I spent 30 hours testing them.

Vizio SB36512-F6 5.1.2 Soundbar System

We like this

It's affordable
Films require clear, accurate sound.
Complete 5.1.2 channel setup
Active amplifier
Dolby Atmos Support and STD-X

The Things We Hate

Unbalanced music
The subwoofer phase cannot be altered
You could look more elegant

Vizio SB36512F6 5.1.2 Soundbar System is an amazing value for movie enthusiasts looking to enjoy Dolby atmos without paying the Dolby Amos price tag.

This article explains.

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Design
Accessory
Installation
Sound Quality
These are the features
Price
Concurrence
Final Verdict
Specifications

The SB36512F6 5.1.2 Channel Soundbar System With 6" was purchased by us so that our expert reviewer could fully test it and evaluate it. Continue reading to see our complete product review.

Vizio SB36512F6 5.1.2 Soundbar Systems are a sturdy set of speakers which can compete with sets costing twice as much. They have an excellent sound quality that is perfect for films and can also play Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. Although the speakers and soundbar look funny, their small size makes them ideal for smaller apartments, where they can still roar.

Design: They can be placed anywhere

This soundbar system, which has four speakers, is very compact. It's perfect for minimalists and small spaces. It measures 3 feet in length and is about the same height and depth as an Altoids Tin (3.2x2.5 inches). Vizio was able to fit five drivers of 2.75 inches into this tiny space. If it was a bit longer, it would fit seamlessly into the TV's bottom.

They are small enough to fit into my palm. The dimensions of the rear channel speakers are 2.5x2.75x5.75 inches (HWD), making them look large on the Nintendo Switch. The typical rear-channel bookshelf speaker is approximately 7x13x9 inches. Vizio's small speakers are powered by tiny drivers measuring 2.12 inches.

A subwoofer is also included with a 6-inch driver. It weighs in at just a pound, and is about half the size of an ELAC b5.2 book shelf speaker that weighs more than ten pounds. You might find it hard to lift heavy items, so you may be happy that this item is light. However, the speakers are what give the sound its richness.

The soundbar system looks a lot more expensive than the Vizio counterparts. It has a matt silver plastic finish and its sides. The fronts of the speakers are covered in black cloth. There are five LED indicators located on the soundbar's left side and manual controls buttons at the top. The remote control is included with the soundbar if the user doesn't want to get up from their couch each time they need to adjust volume.

Accessories: All you need

The best thing about the soundbar bundle? You don't need to purchase additional cables for it to be set up. You get a cable to connect it with every input, including HDMI, TOSLINK and RCA. Cable ties are included to help you organize your space and make it tidy. Wall brackets are available for mounting your speakers.

It's wonderful that the system can be partially wired to save on running wires across the room. However, wires will need to connect the rear channels and subwoofer. Although the included wires measure over 10 feet in length, they are very thin and fragile.

It is a great remote control for the soundbar. The remote is small and fits comfortably in your hand. You'll find all of the usual media playback buttons, including volume and play/pause. The remote has a panel at the top that displays the current input and your place in the menu.

Installation Process: Simple, but not difficult

The hardest thing about setting up surround systems is the placement of speakers. Although the manual does not give any specific advice, it states that speakers should be placed at eye level. Here's what I have to say. Create an equal triangle between the soundbar’s centre and the rear speakers.

You should place the rear channel speakers directly to your left and right, at eye/ear level. At or just slightly under ear level, the soundbar must be. You should place the subwoofer directly behind your ears, on the ground, leaving a little space between it and the couch.

It is easy to connect the speakers. The wires have been labeled as well as some colored. Simply plug them in according to the diagram. After turning on both the soundbar (and the subwoofer), adjust the volume of the speakers to suit your preferences in the menu. Personally, I find the subwoofer to be too loud. I suggest lowering the volume in relation to the rest. You can also check the panel on your remote to see which output is currently active.

Sound Quality - Great for film

They sound much larger than their actual size. These speakers can fill small- to medium-sized living rooms and are great for home theater. The Vizio SB36512F6 system was louder than a 5-channel system using the ELACDebut 2.0 speakers lineup plus an SVS SB–1000 subwoofer. This is due to the system's pronounced treble. The sound quality is not as deep as a setup with more middles.

They are perfect for viewing TV and movies, as they have crystal-clear dialogue and sound effects. This same tuning is not ideal for music. The mid-trebles, bass and middle-treble are well-defined and strong. Mids are more recessed. This is a sign that voices and booms are stars. However, it may be difficult to pick out instruments in the mid-range like guitars.

They sound much larger than their actual size. These speakers can fill any small or medium-sized living space and are great for home theater.

The entire system is capable of presenting a soundstage that's full and rich, but the soundbar doesn't provide a strong stereo sound stage so it can sound unidirectional.

The subwoofer is having a problem. The speaker system cannot be tuned, so sound must travel. Your subwoofer will be closer than you soundbar in most cases. A properly tuned system can account for this and delay the subwoofer's output. This system doesn't tune well, so the sound quality can be distorted and out-of-phase. This is a problem that can be easily avoided, considering that the microphones are cheap to make.

The subwoofer is quite good, despite the audio delay. The subwoofer only drops to 40Hz so there won't be any atmospheric or nuanced rumbles. However, the bass is clear and easily discernible. It's tuned to a high level for subs, so the bass may cut through too much. However, you can adjust the volume via the menu.

The Vizio SB36512F6 system is perfect for content that uses Dolby Atmos codecs. This codec is most commonly seen in 4K movies. This codec usually provides a more natural soundstage, clearer mastering, and better clarity than non-Atmos tracks. Vizio's soundbar system makes the most of this, offering a richer soundstage, sound effect, and soundtrack.

The system is capable of providing a great experience, despite its quirks. The system is small and compact, yet it sounds great. It also costs less than $500. You'll need to spend upwards $1,000 to get a system that has a significantly improved sound (our ELAC/SVS set is $2,200). This is a good investment, if your system will be used for music-related content. However, you won't see any benefit from Vizio's audio for film. You can spend the additional money to get a fantastic Blu-ray collection.

Basics and some luxuries

The Vizio SB36512F6 5.1.2 Surround System's functionality is quite impressive in comparison to other sound systems. The system supports basic Chromecast and Bluetooth, has little LED lights that can signal different settings, and some default audio tunes. Bluetooth and Chromecast are similar to what you'd expect. You pair two devices and can control music using the Chromecast.

Sidelights on the LED sidelights indicate volume, active input and other settings. It's difficult to determine what the remote is actually communicating with you, as there are over 20 possible signals. Because it can spell out what you are changing, the remote's panel works better. It will also indicate whether the input is active if you are changing it. This is much better than the five white, dimly lit lights.

There are four default settings for the system: cinematic, stereo, surround, and direct. While direct playback audio without modifiers, the other ones shape audio to emphasize certain aspects— surround turns 2.1 audio into a 5.1 experience, for instance. Presets made the audio more distorted than it should be. I prefer a scale to allow for adjustments rather that a binary option. They are great if you like them. However, I prefer to listen directly and then adjust the bass, treble and mids manually using the settings menu.

The system can decode Dolby ATmos and DTS X. This gives the sound an enhanced and nuanced quality. These codecs will be used to enhance the movie experience because of the speaker's clarity.

Price: A great value

Vizio SB36512F6 5.1.2 surround sound system for just $500 is a great deal. The cost is about half that of a Dolby Atmos receiver and it doesn't require you to worry about a complicated setup. This set is Vizio's best, and it packs a punch. It has the same outstanding audio quality as soundbars of higher price.

Vizio SB36512F6 5.1.2 surround sound system is a great value at $500. If you can get it for less, it will be a simple decision.

Vizio SB36512-F6 vs. Q Acoustics M4 Soundbar

This Vizio SB36512F6 5.1.2 surround sound system is comparable in price to the rest. Soundbars below $500 either don't have Dolby Atmos or DTS:X and are not really 5.1 surround. There are excellent options for those under $500 who can fill the gaps that the Vizio system cannot.

A soundbar can be useful if you like to listen to lots of different music. It's an enjoyable soundbar that can handle all kinds of music, the Q Acoustics M4 Soundbar. This soundbar is audio-only and can play music just as well as film. Although it can only produce stereo sound, the $350 price tag includes a subwoofer as well as a decently large soundstage. The Vizio system is more suitable for film than this one, as it doesn't have Atmos or DTS:X support.

The SB36512F6 soundbar set is packed with incredible value. You get the soundbar, rear speakers and subwoofer for $500. This is a great deal compared to other $1,000+ sets. Dolby Atmos compatible, your films and TV shows will sound amazing. If you are more interested in music, Vizio has tuned the sound system so much to favor film, that it can make music sound dull and unnatural.

Specifications

SB36512F6 6.1.2 Soundbar System
Product Brand Vizio
Prices from $499.99
Weighing 5.6 pounds
Dimensions of the product 36x3.2x2.5in
Mix of wireless and wired
Bluetooth and HDMI connectivity options
Outputs 3.5mm Audio, Coaxial Digital Audio, HDMI, Optical digital Audio Active Amplifier System
1-year limited warranty
Bluetooth Spec IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Audio Codecs Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual X
Number of channels 5.1.2
Frequency Response 40Hz - 20 kHz
500mA Power Output AC 120V/DC 5V
Sound Pressure 101 dB
Soundbar Driver Size 3 1.65"x2.76 Full Range Drivers (one for each left and right), Upward-firing:Two 1.55"x2.76 Full Range Drivers (one for each left and one for right)
Satellite Speakers Driver Size Forward Firing-Two 2.12' Full Range Drivers (one for each left and one for right).
Subwoofer Driver Size Wireless with 6" Bass Driver
Bookshelf speakers (2) and Subwoofer (1) are included. Remote (1) is also available. Audio cables, digital audio cables (optical), wall mounting brackets, HDMI cables, power cables, batteries for 2 HDMI cables, speaker cables, 3.5mm to RCAx2 cables, mounting screws, cable ties and mounting template.