VIZIO Elevate Sound Bar for TV, Home Theater Surround Sound System for TV with Subwoofer and Bluetooth, P514a-H6 5.1.4

Had a lower end J6 model of a Vizio Home Theater in my family room and always liked the sound better than my much more expensive Samsung soundbar setup I had in the basement. Recently purchased a higher end Samsung 83 inch television and decided to upgrade the sound system as well. First choice was another Samsung since I felt it would mesh well with my new television and add extra quality to the audio by the use of the so called Q Symphony which allows newer Samsung televisions and soundbars audio outputs to work to together and create a wider and more dynamic soundstage. Also Vizio soundbars had always disappointed me by their clunky software which made firmware updates and Bluetooth connectivity a nightmare to do easily. Went with the newer Samsung HW-Q910D although it was hundreds of dollars more expensive than the Vizio top of the line Elevate soundbar. Wow what a disappointment. Surround speakers audio and Subwoofer bass were very anemic in that I felt that I was mostly listening to an isolated soundbar instead of a 9.1.2 home theater setup. That being said the software and app for the Samsung were top rate and I was easily hooked up to my cell phone in no time and without downloading headaches. Firmware update was also a fast and easy process. Tried hard to convince myself that I had a good system but the lack of any real surround effect and base was a constant source of irritation. After three weeks decided to return it and purchased instead this Vizio model. Wow, what a tremendous difference. Soundstage was wide, surround sound was very impressive and the bass put out by the system was head and shoulders above what I had been getting out of my Samsung Q910. Indeed the Subwoofer inself was so large and powerful that I decided to turn it down below the suggested 'neutral' setting of 0. Didn't need to put my ear next to the upfiring surround sound rear speakers to hear and appreciate the ATMOS effects in movies I had selected to test the system. Amazingly it 'only' took me a half hour to finally get my VizioCast mobile app to pair with my cellphone and make a soundbar firmware update. While Vizio's app can give you lots of headaches due to its connectivity issues the included versatile Vizio remote gives you tons of ways to adjust the different speaker channels, massive subwoofer output and volume levels so that just about anyone would be able to find a combination that sounds great in just about any room. Knew already however that even if I never got their mobile app to work properly that I would keep this system simply based on the vast difference in audio quality. Definately a keeper and couldn't be more pleased with its performance. If you can get beyond Vizio's well known app and connectivity issues you can't go wrong with this impressive home theater.

The Vizio P514A-H6 is my third Vizio soundbar setup, following the SB3612 and the V51-J6. My V51-J6 served me well for nearly six years, having replaced my first system after it unfortunately died playing "Bombs Over Baghdad" by Outkast. What stood out most about the V51 was its exceptional bass performance for such a small, affordable subwoofer, achieving lows around 30Hz—a feat not often prioritized by soundbar manufacturers. However, the system wasn't without flaws. The rear speakers were underwhelming, and dialogue clarity often suffered, leading me to rely on closed captions for certain content. This year, I decided to upgrade and tested several alternatives, including the Hisense AX512H, the LG S80TR 9.1.3, and the Vizio M512A-H6. Here’s why they didn’t make the cut: The Hisense AX512H promised a unique feature to use both TV and soundbar speakers simultaneously with a compatible Hisense TV. Unfortunately, this functionality—though advertised in some regions—was not available in the U.S., with no ETA for implementation. The Vizio M512A-H6, as the successor to my V51-J6, seemed like a safe bet for maintaining the bass I loved. While it performed decently, it didn’t quite meet my expectations. The LG S80TR was the only soundbar I could test in-store, but despite its impressive clarity and height speakers, it lacked the deep bass I couldn’t sacrifice. When I saw the Vizio P514A-H6 on sale for $549, I decided to give it a try—and I’m glad I did. It outperformed my V51-J6 in nearly every way, particularly in bass response. It was a clear winner, and I quickly returned the other systems. Performance and Features The Vizio P514A-H6 delivers amazing bass, thanks to its powerful subwoofer. This was the standout feature for me, offering rumbling lows that bring action scenes to life. The system’s 18 speakers improve overall clarity, and the rear speakers, while still not perfect, show noticeable improvement over previous models. However, there are some drawbacks: Dialogue Clarity and Balance: While improved, dialogue still lacks midrange punch in certain scenes, occasionally sounding flat. Rotating Height Speakers: The rotating height speakers for Dolby Atmos content are innovative, but they’re noisy when they adjust and don’t always activate reliably. I’ve resorted to leaving them in the "up" position permanently. Rear Speaker Performance: During intense action scenes, the sound is immersive and booming, but in quieter dialogue-heavy moments, the rear speakers don’t contribute much, making the sound feel overly centered. The transition from dialogue to action can be jarring. Connectivity and App Issues: Setting up the system requires registering the product online to connect with the app—a detail not mentioned in the instructions but discovered through Andrew Robinson's YouTube review. Once connected, the app works well. Lag and Signal Issues: The system takes an unusually long time (up to a minute) to produce sound after being muted or rewinding a scene. Switching inputs, especially back to HDMI eARC, can result in a frustrating delay before audio resumes. Adding to this, the soundbar uses an outdated and overly robotic voice for status updates. Final Thoughts Despite its quirks, I’m thrilled with the Vizio P514A-H6. Its bass performance is exceptional, delivering the deep, rumbling lows I loved about the V51-J6, but with added power and immersion. Feeling the impact of explosions and action scenes through my couch, even at half volume (with bass and subwoofer settings maxed), makes it well worth the investment for me. While there’s room for improvement in dialogue clarity and rear speaker performance, the overall experience is impressive for its price point. For those prioritizing bass and cinematic immersion over absolute perfection, the Vizio P514A-H6 is a solid choice.

Great sound worth the money

Totally impressed with this one. I initially had the normal vizio sound bar, wanted to try dolby Atmos feature and got this. I must say, it's outstanding. Minimalistic design, punchy bass, great surround, fantastic Atmos effect, lots of customization options in the remote. Easy set up....