The Vizio SB2020n-J6 is a budget-friendly soundbar that's the next generation of the Vizio SB2020n-G6. This 2.0 setup is only 20 inches wide, so you can easily fit its compact design into your space. It only supports PCM audio content, which is a two-channel digital track that you can find on many CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. With its balanced, neutral sound, voices and lead instruments are reproduced clearly and accurately. However, the bar doesn't support multi-channel audio formats like Dolby Digital, DTS, or Dolby Atmos.
Our Verdict
The Vizio SB2020n-J6 is middling for mixed usage. It's a suitable choice for listeners of PCM-formatted content, but unfortunately, there's no support for multi-channel formats like Dolby Digital. It has a pretty neutral and balanced sound out-of-the-box, so vocals and lead instruments are clear and detailed. There's audible compression and distortion present at normal listening volumes, though. This soundbar also doesn't get very loud.
- Small, compact design.
- Dialogue enhancement.
- Audible distortion and compression.
- Doesn't get loud.
- Only supports PCM content.
The Vizio SB2020n-J6 is acceptable for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. With its balanced sound out-of-the-box, dialogue is reproduced clearly and accurately. There's even a dialogue enhancement feature to make voices more clear and crisp in your audio, as well as a night mode feature to balance the volume when you watch at night or in an apartment. However, without a discrete center channel, voices seem to come from a more general area rather than an accurate, pinpoint location.
- Small, compact design.
- Dialogue enhancement.
- Audible distortion and compression.
- Doesn't get loud.
The Vizio SB2020n-J6 is fair for music. It has a balanced, neutral sound out-of-the-box, so vocals and lead instruments are reproduced clearly. There's a little extra boom in the bass, which you can adjust thanks to its bass and treble adjustments. However, it can't reproduce the deep thump and rumble in the low-bass, so it's not ideal for bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. Also, even at normal listening volumes, there's audible distortion and compression that affect the clarity of your audio.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Small, compact design.
- Audible distortion and compression.
- Doesn't get loud.
The Vizio SB2020n-J6 is poor for movies. It's ideal for listeners who prefer the benefits of uncompressed PCM-formatted audio. Dialogue is reproduced pretty clearly, and you can use its DTS Virtual:X mode to widen its soundstage. However, you can't feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes, and it can't get very loud. Also, you can't playback multi-channel formats like Dolby Digital or DTS on this soundbar.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Small, compact design.
- Audible distortion and compression.
- Doesn't get loud.
- Only supports PCM content.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This soundbar is available in 'Black', and 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 SB2020n-J6 is a unique 2.0 model that only supports PCM content. It's the updated version of the Vizio SB2020n-G6, and while its overall performance is quite similar, it comes with an additional dialogue enhancement mode. It's a simple, affordable option best-suited to listening to TV shows and music. That said, fans of multi-channel audio like Dolby Digital and DTS can find compatible budget-friendly models like the Sony HT-S100F and the TCL Alto 6+.
See also our recommendations for the best soundbars under $100, the best small soundbars, and the best soundbars for dialogue.
The Vmai 2.1 Channel Sound Bar and the Vizio SB2020n-J6 are very similar soundbars. They're both budget-friendly options that only support PCM content. However, the Vmai is slightly better overall. It has a better soundstage, and it can get louder with less compression at max volume. That said, some users may prefer the Vizio's smaller, more compact design.
The Sony HT-S100F is better than the Vizio SB2020n-J6. They're both budget-friendly, standalone bars, but the Vizio can only support PCM content. Meanwhile, the Sony offers support for multi-channel formats like Dolby Digital, even though it has to downmix it to stereo to play it. The Sony also gets louder and has HDMI inputs. That said, some users may prefer the Vizio's smaller, more compact design.
The Vizio V Series V21-H8 is better than the Vizio SB2020n-J6. The V21-H8 is a 2.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It gets louder, and it has a better soundstage performance. Also, whereas the SB2020n-J6 can only support PCM content, the V21-H8 supports surround sound like Dolby Digital and DTS content. That said, if you want an affordable, standalone bar, the SB2020n-J6 is a fair choice for dialogue-centric content.
The Sonos Arc and the Vizio SB2020n-J6 are two very different soundbar setups. They're both standalone bars, but the Sonos is a much more premium model. It has a better soundstage, support for surround sound and Dolby Atmos content, and a much more versatile performance. The Vizio, on the other hand, is a budget-friendly model that only supports PCM content. However, the Vizio is still suitable for users on a tight budget who mostly listen to dialogue-focused content like TV shows.
Test Results
