The Vizio SB46514-F6 is a good overall soundbar that can be used for a lot of different content. This soundbar has a 5.1.4 speaker configuration and supports Atmos, which results in an immersive listening experience with Atmos movies. Its stereo audio reproduction is pretty accurate as well and most people will be satisfied with how loud it can get. However, there are some pumping and compression artifacts at max volume. Overall, the bar is very versatile and has a lot of connection options, but the satellite speakers aren't wireless like some other setups and need to be wired to the subwoofer.
Our Verdict
The Vizio SB46514-F6 is good for mixed usage. Its overall performance is good and is suitable for a wide variety of content. Whether you want to listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, or have an immersive experience when watching a movie, this soundbar can do it. It can get loud enough for most people, and its sub packs a good amount of bass too.
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Very-well built design.
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Immersive experience with Atmos content.
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Very good stereo performance.
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Some pumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 is a very good soundbar for TV shows or content with lots of dialogue. Its stereo sound profile is very good, especially around the frequencies responsible for voices. The bar can also get very loud, but it doesn't have a dialogue enhancement feature. On the upside, you can easily stream audiobooks or podcasts to the bar using the Bluetooth connection or even use Wi-Fi.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 is a good soundbar for music. Its sound signature is very good, and its subwoofer packs a lot of bass. It's versatile for a wide variety of music genres and can get pretty loud. You can also easily stream music to the bar using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connections.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 is a good soundbar for movies. It supports Atmos and has four up-firing speakers, which helps to create a height illusion. The bar also supports high-end audio signals.
- 7.8 Mixed Usage
- 7.8 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 7.8 Music
- 7.8 Movies
- Updated Mar 01, 2022: Confirmed HDMI In support with firmware update.
- Updated Dec 10, 2021: Added third-party voice assistant compatibility.
- Updated Sep 24, 2021: Changed RCA In from 'Yes' to 'No'.
- Updated Mar 01, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Sep 22, 2020: The Dynamics tests have been reconducted due to a value input bug.
- Updated Aug 24, 2020: Validated our results.
- Updated Jul 20, 2020: The Height Level Adjustment feature has been updated.
- Updated Jan 30, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jan 21, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Jan 21, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jan 16, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jan 07, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The Vizio SB46514-F6 is a good overall soundbar, but some people might feel like the price jump from the 36-inch 5.1.2 Vizio SB36512-F6 model might not be worth it. While the 46-inch model has two additional up-firing speakers on the surround speakers, its overall Atmos performance isn't that much better. On the upside, the SB46514-F6 has a nice build quality, but might not be worth the price when compared to other high-end products. See our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Atmos soundbars, and if you're looking for something a bit more affordable, check out the best budget soundbars.
The Vizio 46-inch 5.1.4 F6 isn't that much better than the Vizio 36-inch 5.1.2 F6 soundbar. Their performances are quite similar, but the 5.1.4 soundbar setup has two additional up-firing speakers on the surround satellites. We also measured a bit more compression on the 46-inch model, although we don't expect most people to notice this. However, the 46-inch 5.1.4 F6 has a better overall surround performance. For most people, the 36-inch will offer better value.
Depending on your usage, the Vizio M Series M51a-H6 might be better than the Vizio SB46514-F6. The M51a-H6 has more sound enhancement features, including dialogue enhancement. It also has more extended low bass and a better center performance. However, the SB46514-F6 has a better Atmos performance and similar surround sound performance. It's also better built and has more wireless playback options.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 is better for mixed usage than the standalone Sonos Arc. The Vizio is a 5.1.4 setup with a discrete sub and satellites. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and its Full HDMI In port supports high-quality passthrough. It also has a better surround performance and more wireless playback options. That said, the Sonos has a better soundstage and built-in voice assistant capabilities. It also has more sound enhancement features like room correction and dialogue enhancement. You can even upgrade it to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers for a better performance.
The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is better than the Vizio SB46514-F6. The M512a-H6 has a better stereo soundstage and has more sound enhancement features, including dialogue enhancement. That said, the SB46514-F6 is better built with more wireless playback options.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 is a bit better for mixed usage than the Vizio V Series V51-H6. The SB46514-F6 is a better-built 5.1.4 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It has a better surround performance, and it offers more wireless playback options. However, the V Series has more sound enhancement features, including a dialogue enhancement mode.
The Vizio M Series M51ax-J6 is better for mixed usage than the Vizio SB46514-F6. The M Series is a 5.1 setup with a better center channel performance and more sound enhancement features, including dialogue enhancement with greater support for different audio formats. That said, the SB46514-F6 is better built and has a slightly better Atmos performance.
The Samsung HW-Q80R is slightly better than the Vizio SB46514-F6 when it comes to stereo sound, but it lacks dedicated surround speakers, so if you're looking for a soundbar for watching movies with an immersive experience, then the Vizio will be a better option.
The Samsung HW-Q90R is a better soundbar than the Vizio SB46514-F6. The Samsung is a 7.1.4 setup that reproduces a more extended low-bass. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and it can get louder with less compression at max volume. There's even a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound, as well as a dialogue enhancement feature.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 is a better soundbar system than the LG SL10YG. Its stereo soundstage sounds wider, and it has dedicated surround speakers, which helps make a more immersive surround experience. Its Atmos performance is also noticeably more accurate, which might be helped by the extra up-firing speaker on the surround speakers, which the LG lacks entirely.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 is a better overall performing 5.1 channel soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q60T. The Vizio is technically a 5.1.4 setup, and it has a better-balanced sound profile that delivers a thumpy, rumbly bass. It has a remarkable center channel performance, and its surround and height channels support Atmos content. However, the Samsung is similarly well-built and offers more sound enhancement features like a dialogue enhancement feature as well as a graphic EQ and presets.
The LG SN11RG is a bit better for mixed usage than the Vizio SB46514-F6. The LG is a 7.1.4 setup with a better stereo soundstage. It offers more sound enhancement features, including room correction and dialogue enhancement, and has built-in voice assistant support. That said, the 5.1.4 Vizio has a better surrounds performance.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is a better 5.1.4 setup than the Vizio SB46514-F6. While both soundbars are well-built, the JBL is a bit more balanced. It also has a significantly better THD and surround performance. There are also more physical inputs so it supports more audio formats, and you can even stream music to it using Apple AirPlay. Some users may prefer the completely wireless satellite speakers too. However, the Vizio has a better height performance and its companion app can control all of the bar's features, which is nice.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Vizio SB46514-F6 or the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a better soundstage. It can also reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it has some more sound enhancement features, like dialogue enhancement. That said, the 5.1.4 Vizio comes with discrete satellite speakers. It has better surround and Atmos performances.
Test Results
The Vizio 46" 5.1.4 is mostly covered by a metal grille, while its back is made from plastic. It has two metal plates on the side. Its style is fairly similar to the Vizio SB36512-F6, but it looks a bit more high-end thanks to the lack of cheap fabric.
The subwoofer of this soundbar setup is bigger than most others we've reviewed so far. It follows the same design as the bar and the satellites.
The satellite speakers follow the same overall design as the rest of the setup. They have a grille covering the speakers with two metal plates on the sides.
The SB46514-F6 is a rather large bar and won't fit between the legs of most 55" TVs' stands. On the upside, it's not too tall, so it won't block the bottom part of your screen unless your TV sits flush on the table.
The subwoofer of this soundbar is noticeably bigger than the others we've reviewed so far. It's a large cube and is bigger than a standard desktop PC.
The satellites aren't too big, but they need to be wired to the subwoofer, which limits your options when it comes to positioning.
The Vizio SB46514-F6's back has two openings for different inputs and power. You also have universal mounting holes at the back, if you want to wall-mount it.
The back of the subwoofer is just like the 36-inch version. The port is at the back, and you can connect the power cable and the two satellites as well.
The back of the Vizio 46 5.1.4 is rather straightforward. You have a port for the power cables, that need to be routed to the subwoofer, and a universal hole for wall-mounting them.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 build quality is a noticeable improvement over the smaller version. The bar's whole setup is covered by a grille rather than a cheap-feeling fabric. It feels well-built and durable, with two side metal plates on every part of the setup.
- XRS321 Remote
- Stereo RCA to 3.5mm Audio Cable
- 3.5mm to 3.5mm Audio Cable
- HDMI Cable
- Digital Optical Cable
- 2x Satellite Speaker Audio Cables
- 2x Power Cables
- 4x Wall Mount Screws
- Wall Mount Template
- 2x Wall Mount Brackets (Satellite Speakers)
- 2x Wall Mount Brackets (Sound Bar)
- 4 x Cable Ties
- Manuals
The Vizio SB46514-F6's stereo frequency response is very good and is quite similar to the SB36512-F6 as well. It has a well-extended bass, which is great for action movies or bass-heavy music. The rest of the response is very accurate and sounds fairly neutral.
The stereo soundstage of this soundbar setup is decent. The sound seems to be coming from just outside the bar, which is a good width without any DPS tricks to widen it. Also, the focus of the sound is good and the objects in the soundstage come from an accurate pinpoint location rather than a general area, but it doesn't sound as wide as actual home theatre tower speakers. For a soundbar with a more immersive soundstage, check out the Vizio Elevate.
Update 09/22/2020: We've discovered a value input bug that would cause the Dynamics box results to be slightly off. All soundbars tested since January 30th, 2020 have been updated.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 can get very loud and can be used in large rooms or crowded environments. However, there are some pumping and compression artifacts present at max volume.
The SB46514-F6's THD performance is decent. The THD levels are within very good limits at a normal listening volume, but can there's a jump when pushing the bar to its limits, especially in the high-mid range.
With a 5.1.4 speaker configuration, the Vizio SB46514-F6 has an excellent center channel performance thanks to its dedicated center speaker. This helps get more accurate and clearer dialogue, which is great if you watch a lot of TV shows or movies. The frequency response is great across the whole range and you’ll be able to get a decent loudness level.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 has decent surrounds performance thanks to its dedicated speakers. It performs noticeably better than the shorter SB36512-F6 as its sound profile is slightly more accurate, and can get a bit louder as well. However, the sound profile is still fairly bass-heavy. On the upside, the surround objects seem to be coming around you thanks to the localization of the speakers, rather than in-front like a typical stereo system. Note that we had to test this with the Direct EQ so our test files would play on the accurate speakers. If you're looking for a 5.1.4 setup with an even better surround performance, check out the JBL Bar 9.1.
The Atmos performance of this Vizio soundbar is decent. It has a total of four up-firing speakers: two on the bar and one on each surround satellite speaker. This helps to create the illusion of sound coming from over you as they aim the sound to the ceiling, reflecting it back to the listener. This doesn't sound as real as discrete up-firing speakers, but it does a slightly better job than the SB36512-F6 at creating height effects.
Update 07/20/2020: We incorrectly listed this soundbar as not having a Height Level Adjustment. However, this feature is available when using the Vizio SmartCast app. This review has been updated to reflect these changes.
The Vizio 46" 5.1.4 has sub-par sound enhancement features. It lacks a room correction feature that would help customize the audio reproduction to your room, which means it might sound differently depending on your room. Unlike the Samsung HW-Q60T, it also lacks a dialogue enhancement feature to make voices clearer, but at least there's a night-mode that helps to level out all content's volume. It also has EQ presets and individual bass and treble adjustment for you to play around a bit to find your preferred settings. Just like the SB36512-F6, you can turn the height speakers on/off or use the Virtual setting, which creates a virtual height speaker effect using the front-firing speakers, according to the manufacturer. You can also adjust the height level when using this soundbar's companion app.
update 09/24/2021: We previously reported that this soundbar comes with an RCA In port. However, after reviewing the bar, we concluded that its Coaxial port isn't the same as an RCA In port.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 has great sound format support over its ARC port. If you watch a lot of Blu-rays or content coming from streaming platforms, you'll be satisfied to know that it supports Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound formats. It can also play Dolby Atmos, an object-based surround sound format, over this port, which is great if you want a more immersive listening experience.
Update 03/01/2022: There are some reports that updating the bar to firmware version 1.20.13.1 causes issues with HDMI In audio. We didn't have access to this firmware version, but when we tested the bar with current firmware version 1.20.12.1 and the updated version 1.31.06.1, we didn't experience this issue.
Near flawless support through the Full HDMI port. This soundbar supports most advanced sound formats via this port, although it supports support DTS Virtual X and not DTS X. You can play surround sound, object-based and lossless formats.
Like most soundbars, the Vizio 46 5.1.4 supports Dolby Digital and DTS via its optical port.
The Vizio SB46514-F6 has excellent wireless playback capacities. You can easily stream content to the bar by using either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and it even has Chromecast built-in. This is great if you want to listen to music, podcasts, or an audiobook without having to leave your smart device near the soundbar.
This soundbar can passthrough the highest bandwidth signals, which means that text will look clear and crisp if you plug your soundbar between your PC and TV.
The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the bar, but you'll need to wire the surround satellite speakers to the sub.
The satellite speakers need to be wired to the wireless subwoofer.
The interface of this soundbar, just like its smaller variant, consists of small LED lights on its side. They flash and change color depending on which settings you're on or which input you're using.
Like most soundbars, this Vizio has physical controls on the bar to control the input, volume, Bluetooth pairing, and power on/off.
The remote for the SB46514-F6 is fairly small and can control the basic functions of the bar. However, there's no screen backlight, making it very hard to use. This seems to be the same remote as other Vizio soundbar models.
Update 12/10/2021: The Vizio SB46514-F6 doesn't have built-in voice assistant support. However, the manufacturer says that you can use a third-party Google Home device with the bar. You just need to set it up in the Google Home app.
If you don't like using the remote, you can use the Vizio SmartCast app instead, as it completely replaces the remote. Also, we didn't experience any bugs or laggy behavior from the app, as we did with the SB36512-F6.
You can enable an eco-mode, which will turn the soundbar off after being idle for a while. If you don't enable this feature, the soundbar will always be on. Also, thanks to HDMI CEC support, you can control some basic functions of the bar with the TV's remote, like the volume.