The Vizio SB3820-C6 is an entry-level 2.0 channel soundbar that's good for dialogue and TV shows. As it lacks a subwoofer, it struggles to produce a thumpy and punchy bass which isn't great for action flicks or more bass-heavy genres like EDM. Luckily, it has a sub-in input so you can upgrade the setup down the line if you crave bass. It otherwise has a fairly neutral sound that helps reproduce accurate vocals on your favorite TV shows or podcasts. It can get pretty loud, too. It doesn't offer many connectivity inputs such as HDMI, though, and it can only support Dolby Digital surround content.
Our Verdict
The Vizio SB3820-C6 is acceptable for mixed use. It lacks in the bass range, which impacts sound effects in action movies and music genres like EDM. Aside from the bass, it has a fairly neutral sound profile that's well-suited for vocals and dialogue. This soundbar can get loud and you can stream your audio to it using Bluetooth. It even has three surround sound settings to help immerse you in your favorite movies.
- Three virtual surround sound features.
- Can get loud without too many compression artifacts.
- Lacks bass.
- No HDMI inputs.
- No EQ.
The Vizio SB3820-C6 is good for dialogue and TV shows. While it doesn't have a dedicated dialogue enhancement feature, it has a neutral sound that does a fair job of reproducing voices as well as an auto-volume/night mode feature that can help level out volume differences between different kinds of content. It can also get loud, which is nice if you have a large room.
The Vizio SB3820-C6 is alright for music. It has a slightly dark sound profile that lacks a thumpy and punchy bass. However, it reproduces vocals and lead instruments better. Fans of EDM and hip-hop may find its underemphasized bass disappointing, but this sound should still satisfy most other listeners. This bar can get loud enough for house parties or large rooms.
The Vizio SB3820-C6 is disappointing for movies. It lacks a lot of bass, which can dampen the immersiveness of your favorite action films. On the upside, it has a soundstage that's focused and slightly larger than the bar. You can also adjust for bass and treble to get closer to the best sound for your needs, and there are three different surround sound features available too. However, its surround performance is poor as it downmixes to stereo.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 03, 2023: Thanks to user feedback, we identified the Vizio SB3821-C6 as a variant and added it to the review.
- Updated Apr 09, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Sep 23, 2020: The Dynamics tests have been reconducted due to a value input bug.
- Updated May 27, 2020: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This soundbar is available in Black. It appears that you can also purchase a variant of this soundbar with a subwoofer included, called the Vizio SB3821-C6.
If you come across another version of this bar, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Vizio SB3820-C6 is a 38" 2.0 channel soundbar. Although it looks nearly identical to the Vizio SB3220n-F6, It's slightly longer and has a slightly worse overall performance. However, compared to other 2.0 soundbars in this range, it has a more neutral sound profile and it can get fairly loud. It even offers two additional virtual surround sound features and a sub-in port, if you ever want to expand your setup in the future, which is a nice touch.
If you're shopping around for soundbars, check out our recommendations for the best budget soundbars, the best small soundbars, and the best soundbars under $200.
Although the Vizio SB3820-C6 is a 2.0 channel speaker, it has a better performance than the 2.1 channel AmazonBasics 2.1 Channel Bluetooth. The Vizio has a better-balanced sound profile and has fewer compression artifacts at max volume. It also has a phantom center channel and it can downmix surround content. While it doesn't have EQs, it has bass and treble adjustments as well as three virtual surround sound features. The AmazonBasics, on the other side, offers a dialogue enhancement feature.
The Vizio SB3820-C6 is a better overall 2.0 soundbar than the TaoTronics TT SK-023. The Vizio has a more balanced sound profile, a phantom center, and it can downmix surround content, allowing it to support Dolby Digital content. While it lacks an EQ, it has an auto-volume feature, and you can even adjust the bass and treble. The TaoTronics is much smaller, though, and can easily fit between the legs of most 55 inch TVs.
While the Vizio SB3220n-F6 and the Vizio SB3820-C6 are both 2.0 soundbars with an almost identical look, the SB3220n-F6 slightly outperforms the other. The SB3220n-F6 produces more bass and offers EQs to help customize your sound experience. Still, the SB3820-C6 is longer, it can get slightly louder with fewer compression artifacts, and it doesn't distort as much at max volume. It also has three additional surround sound features available.
The JBL Link Bar is a better overall 2.0 soundbar than the Vizio SB3820-C6. The JBL can deliver a more punchy and warm bass, it has an HDMI-in port, and it can support Dolby Digital content. It also has EQ presets. On the flip side, the Vizio has a slightly better center and surround performance, even though it uses a phantom center channel and downmixes surround content into stereo.
Test Results
