The Vizio M Series M215aw-K6 is a mid-range setup released in 2022. Overall, it's similar to the 2021 Vizio M Series M215a-J6 in both performance and design, and they're both among the few 2.1 bars on the market that can decode more premium audio formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Dolby Digital. Of course, as a 2.1 bar, it has to downmix these formats into 2.1 stereo to play them. There aren't any built-in smart features, but you can still plug in a third-party voice assistant device if you want to control the bar with your voice.
Our Verdict
The Vizio M Series M215aw-K6 is good for mixed usage. This 2.1 bar is best-suited for listening to stereo content, which includes most music and vocal-heavy TV shows. It reproduces dialogue with clarity, and instruments in your favorite songs are detailed and accurate in the mix. Thanks to its sub, you get some punch in the bass range. There's also support for a lot of different audio formats, including 5.1 surround sound and Dolby Atmos. However, the 2.1 bar has to downmix these formats into stereo, so you don't get the most immersive, all-around feel.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Dolby Atmos support.
- Downmixes surround sound into stereo.
The Vizio M Series M215aw-K6 is great for dialogue-centric TV shows and podcasts. It's a 2.1 setup, so you don't have a discrete center channel to improve vocal reproduction, but it's not a big deal since voices are reproduced with great clarity and detail right out-of-the-box. You can even use its dialogue enhancement tool, as well as its auto-volume mode to balance the volume level between different programs and commercials, which is nice. Podcast fans and audiobook lovers can stream content from their phone to the bar over Bluetooth.
- Bluetooth compatible.
- Dialogue enhancement tool.
- No Wi-Fi, Chromecast, or Apple AirPlay support.
The Vizio M Series M215aw-K6 is good for music. Right out of the box, the bar's balanced sound lets you enjoy clear and detailed voices and instruments in your favorite tracks, with some punch in the bass range to bring music to life. The sub is rather small, so you don't get as much rumble in the low-bass as with more premium models, but it's not too noticeable unless you're listening to lots of EDM, hip-hop, or other bass-centric tracks. If you want a different sound, you can adjust its bass and treble, and there are some different EQ presets. However, you don't get access to a full graphic EQ to change up its sound across the range.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Gets loud.
- No graphic EQ.
The Vizio M Series M215aw-K6 is decent for movies. Although it's a 2.1 bar, it supports lots of different audio formats that you're likely to come across on both streaming platforms and Blu-rays, including Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos. Voices are clearly reproduced, and its sub brings a little punch in the bass range, though not quite as much in action-packed scenes as with more premium models. Also, since it's a 2.1 bar, it has to downmix these formats into stereo to play them, which takes away from the overall immersive feel. It's a fine choice if you want the flexibility to watch different formats at will, but it won't bring the same cinematic feel as more premium models on the market.
- Gets loud.
- Dolby Atmos support.
- No graphic EQ.
- Downmixes surround sound into stereo.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Vizio M Series M215aw-K6 is available in 'Black'. You can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version of this soundbar, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Vizio M Series M215aw-K6 is similar to the Vizio M Series M215a-J6 in sound quality and design. It's a sleek bar with support for many different audio formats, even though it has to downmix them into stereo to play them back. Still, you get a rich and detailed sound that brings music, movies, and TV shows to life right in the comfort of your living room. Of course, it's not quite as impressive as more premium models on the market, but it still offers solid sound quality at a more affordable price.
See also our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Vizio soundbars, and the best soundbars with subwoofers.
The Vizio M Series M215aw-K6 is a better 2.1 Atmos soundbar than the Sony HT-X8500. The Sony's standalone design is nice if you're low on space, but since the Vizio comes with a dedicated subwoofer, it adds more bass to the mix. The Vizio has more sound enhancement features, and its stereo soundstage is better.
The Vizio M Series M215aw-K6 is better than the TCL Alto 8i. They're both 2.1 setups that support many different audio formats, including Dolby Atmos. However, only the Vizio has a dedicated subwoofer to add more bass. The Vizio supports more audio formats, including DTS content, and has more sound enhancement features. The TCL's standalone design is great if you're low on space, but if you have room for a sub, the Vizio is the better pick overall.
The Vizio M Series M215aw-K6 is the next generation of the Vizio M Series M215a-J6. Both bars are similar in both performance and design. Despite being 2.1 setups, they support more advanced formats like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital. However, the next generation M215aw-K6 is the better pick, as it improves on the 2021 model's mediocre latency performance. You don't notice any issues with lip-synching on the newer model, which is great.
The Vizio M Series M215aw-K6 is better than the Vizio M Series M213ad-K8. They're both 2.1 setups that support many different audio formats, including Dolby Atmos. However, the M213ad-K8 is a standalone bar. It's a better choice if you're low on space, but the M215aw-K6's added subwoofer makes a big difference in the sound quality, so you feel more rumble in action-packed movies and bass-heavy music genres. If you can find space for the sub, it's the better choice overall.
Test Results
