The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is a budget-friendly 5.1 setup released in 2020. It has a pretty neutral sound profile that's suitable for listening to many different types of audio content, and there's some extra boom in the bass. Thanks to its dedicated subwoofer, it can accurately reproduce the deep thump and rumble in the bass range, and its two satellite speakers help create a fairly immersive surround performance. However, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content.
Our Verdict
The Vizio V51-H6 is decent for mixed usage. This soundbar has a pretty neutral sound profile with a little extra boom in the bass range that's ideal for lots of different types of audio content. There's a discrete center channel to help with dialogue reproduction and two discrete surround speakers to create a more immersive surround sound. However, there's no support for Dolby Atmos content. It also lacks some more premium sound enhancement features like room correction and a graphic EQ.
- Dialogue enhancement feature.
- Bluetooth-compatible.
- Four EQ presets.
- Doesn't support Atmos content.
The Vizio V51-H6 is great for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. This 5.1 setup has a discrete center channel that helps anchor voices to a pinpoint location in the soundstage. Thanks to its balanced mid-range, voices are reproduced clearly and with detail. There's even a dialogue enhancement feature available, as well as a TruVolume mode for leveling out the volume when you watch TV at night.
- Dialogue enhancement feature.
- Bluetooth-compatible.
- Not compatible with Wi-Fi or Google Chromecast.
The Vizio V51-H6 is good for music. Out-of-the-box, it has a pretty neutral sound profile suitable for many different music genres, with a little extra boom in the bass range. It can get pretty loud without a lot of compression at max volume. There are some bass and treble adjustments available to help you customize its sound, too. However, it lacks some more premium sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ.
- Bluetooth-compatible.
- Four EQ presets.
- No graphic EQ.
The Vizio V51-H6 is alright for movies. Its dedicated subwoofer can accurately reproduce the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes, and dialogue is clear and detailed thanks to its balanced mid-range and discrete center channel. There are also discrete satellite speakers to help create a more immersive surround sound experience. Unfortunately, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content.
- Dedicated surround speakers.
- Doesn't support Atmos content.
Changelog
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Updated Oct 24, 2024:
We've added a comparison between this soundbar and the Vizio SV510X-0806 in Surround 5.1.
- Updated Aug 13, 2024: Updated Stereo Dynamics results with new methodology from TBU 1.3. Added text to Audio Latency: ARC, and Audio Latency: Optical boxes.
- Updated Aug 06, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench Update 1.3. If applicable, we've retested stereo sound based on the manufacturer's recommendations. Additionally, we've expanded our audio latency tests to the following boxes: Audio Latency: ARC, Audio Latency: HDMI In, and Audio Latency: Optical. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Jun 02, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.2. Updated the results for audio format support via ARC/eARC, HDMI In, and Optical. Added Video Passthrough to TV results as well.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Vizio V51 comes in one color: Black. You can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you find another variant of this soundbar, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Vizio V51-H6 soundbar has a neutral, well-balanced sound suitable for lots of different audio content. While it has a similar design to the Vizio V Series V21-H8, this 5.1 setup has two satellite speakers to help create a more immersive surround sound. Unfortunately, it doesn't support Atmos content, and it doesn't have a lot of physical inputs or connectivity options.
If you're looking for more soundbars, see our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best 5.1 soundbars, and the best soundbars with a subwoofer.
The Vizio SB36512-F6 is a better overall soundbar than the Vizio V Series V51-H6. The SB36512-F6 supports Atmos content and has a better surround performance. Also, it has more connectivity options, including a Full HDMI In port that allows for 4k passthrough, and Wi-Fi and Chromecast compatibility. That being said, the V Series has a dialogue enhancement feature, which the SB36512-F6 lacks.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is an older soundbar compared to the 2024 Vizio SV510X-0806. While there's not much to split the two when it comes to performance, the newer model has some bells and whistles that edge it ahead. A major difference is the inclusion of Atmos support in the 2024 model, which is a welcome addition at a low price point. The older model also lacks DTS:X support and has a slightly worse surrounds performance. That said, the V Series has a more balanced frequency response out-of-the-box and a better dynamics performance, as well as optical support.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Arc or the Vizio V Series V51-H6. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup that has satellites and a dedicated subwoofer, so it reproduces a more extended low-bass. However, the 5.0.2 Sonos is better built and supports Dolby Atmos content. Also, it has a better soundstage performance and a room correction feature. You can even upgrade it to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers for a better performance.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) are two very different soundbars. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup with a dedicated sub and satellites included. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass and get louder than the Sonos. However, some users may prefer the Sonos' small, standalone design. The Sonos is better built, and unlike the Vizio, it supports Atmos content. It also has a better soundstage despite its smaller size.
Test Results
