The Vizio Elevate SE SL512X-0806 is a stripped-down version of the Vizio Elevate. The 5.1.2-channel soundbar system supports most audio formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, but it doesn't come with an HDMI input port, video passthrough, or even a remote. Instead, you connect to it via a single HDMI eARC port. But it still has height speakers that automatically rotate upward upon detecting compatible content, reflecting sound off the ceiling to add a sense of verticality to your audio.
Our Verdict
The Vizio SL512X 0806 is satisfactory for mixed usage. Its warm sound suits everything from music to TV shows, but EDM fans may miss the lowest octave of low-bass thump. You can customize the bass and treble amounts, which is great for ensuring mixes sound as you like, regardless of your room acoustics. Also, added features like a dialogue enhancement mode make understanding whispered voices easier. The bar gets nice and loud without any compression, and the satellites do a good job of placing you in the middle of the action. While the bar does support Atmos, dedicated fans of spatial audio may want to look elsewhere as the rotating up-firing drivers don't add much of a sense of verticality to your audio.
Well-balanced mid-range suits most audio content.
Can customize bass and treble amounts.
Low bass extension could be deeper.
Height channels don't add much sense of verticality to your audio.
The Vizio SL512X 0806 is a good choice for dialogue-centric content like TV shows, thanks to its dedicated center channel, which keeps centrally panned elements like voices audible even during busy scenes. Out of the box, the soundbar has a well-balanced mid-range that ensures voices sound true-to-life. At the same time, additional features like treble adjustment and a dialogue enhancement mode mean you can adjust the dialogue presence to taste.
Well-balanced mid-range suits most audio content.
Can customize bass and treble amounts.
Dialogue enhancement mode.
Low bass extension could be deeper.
Height channels don't add much sense of verticality to your audio.
The Vizio Elevate SE does a decent job playing back music. It has a generally balanced sound that reproduces mid-range content like vocals and lead guitars accurately. It's a little warm, so basslines can overwhelm the mix at times, but you can tweak the bass and treble amounts to taste via the companion app. EDM fans may wish for a slightly deeper low-bass extension, but since this bar gets loud without any compression, most won't mind. Its soundstage also does a good job of helping you hear the panning of different instruments in your favorite tunes.
Well-balanced mid-range suits most audio content.
Can customize bass and treble amounts.
Low bass extension could be deeper.
Height channels don't add much sense of verticality to your audio.
The Vizio Elevate SE is decent for watching movies. Its generally well-balanced frequency response suits action movies and period dramas alike, while its dedicated center channel and dialogue enhancement tool means you never have to miss a word. And its soundstage has great focus, so picking out where an individual voice is coming from is easy. Since this package comes with dedicated satellites, you'll feel immersed in content that pans around you, but even though its height drivers "elevate" when listening to Atmos content, they don't add much of a sense of vertical immersion to your audio. Still, latency is very low, so you shouldn't need to adjust for lip sync issues.
Well-balanced mid-range suits most audio content.
Can customize bass and treble amounts.
Low bass extension could be deeper.
Height channels don't add much sense of verticality to your audio.
Changelog
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Updated Dec 02, 2025:
We've added a comparison to the Ultimea Skywave X70 in the Video Passthrough to TV box.
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Updated May 16, 2025:
We've updated the review to mention the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus with Sub + Speakers in the Style box.
- Updated Mar 03, 2025: Review published.
- Updated Feb 19, 2025: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Vizio Elevate SE 5.1.2 comes in one color variant: Black. You can see the label for the model we tested.
If you come across another variant, let us know in the comments.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Vizio Elevate SE soundbar is a more affordable entry within Vizio's Elevate lineup. It's cheaper than both the Vizio M Series Elevate M512E-K6 and the top-of-the-line Vizio Elevate. All three soundbars feature height channels that rotate to face the ceiling (they 'elevate') upon detecting compatible content such as Dolby Atmos. Unsurprisingly, as the cheapest of the bunch, the soundbar under review here is the most basic: it doesn't offer video passthrough, optical in, or even a remote. And the up-firing drivers themselves have been changed, replaced with a single full-range driver instead of a woofer and tweeter combo. But its audio reproduction performance is still broadly on par with the other bars in the Elevate lineup. If you can live without the niceties and extra inputs, it might be the best value of all.
You can also check out our picks for the best soundbars under $500, the best soundbars with a subwoofer, and the best budget soundbars.
The Vizio Elevate SE SL512X-0806 is a more affordable entryway into Vizio's Elevate lineup of soundbars than the top-of-the-line Vizio Elevate. The cheaper sibling loses video passthrough to TV, WiFi playback, optical inputs, a full HDMI input port, and a remote. Whether you need those features is a question only you can answer. But if you don't, the cheaper Elevate SE SL512X-0806 is well worth considering as it performs very similarly to the more expensive flagship in terms of audio reproduction.
The Vizio Elevate SE SL512X-0806 is a slightly more affordable soundbar than the Vizio M Series Elevate M512E-K6. But don't let that fool you. These soundbars perform very similarly across the board. They share a design language, and the various speakers are all similar in size. You can expect broadly comparable audio performance from either set. You'll mostly find the upgrade to the M512E-K6 worth it if you absolutely need video passthrough, a full HDMI input port (rather than just an eARC port), or a physical remote.
The Vizio Elevate SE SL512X-0806 and the Hisense AX5125H both target budget-to-mid-range customers and have different strengths. The Hisense has a deeper low-frequency extension, so it reproduces even the thumpiest lows of a kick drum (though you can't adjust the subwoofer level independently like you can with the Vizio). In contrast, the Vizio has a wider stereo soundstage and can get louder with less compression. The main differences come down to input ports: the Hisense offers more, including full HDMI in, Optical in, and up to 4k @ 120 Hz video passthrough. You can only connect to the Vizio via eARC, but its latency performance is better.
The TCL Q85H is a better soundbar for most people than the Vizio Elevate SE SL512X-0806. The TCL has a more balanced frequency response, better Atmos performance, and more inputs, including Optical and full HDMI in. It also offers lower latency performance than the Vizio when connected via eARC. But some people might appreciate the Vizio's stripped back, simplistic approach. Fewer options can mean fewer moments of frustration while hooking up your system.
Test Results
