The Vizio P514A-H6 is my third Vizio soundbar setup, following the SB3612 and the V51-J6. My V51-J6 served me well for nearly six years, having replaced my first system after it unfortunately died playing "Bombs Over Baghdad" by Outkast. What stood out most about the V51 was its exceptional bass performance for such a small, affordable subwoofer, achieving lows around 30Hz—a feat not often prioritized by soundbar manufacturers. However, the system wasn't without flaws. The rear speakers were underwhelming, and dialogue clarity often suffered, leading me to rely on closed captions for certain content.
This year, I decided to upgrade and tested several alternatives, including the Hisense AX512H, the LG S80TR 9.1.3, and the Vizio M512A-H6. Here’s why they didn’t make the cut:
The Hisense AX512H promised a unique feature to use both TV and soundbar speakers simultaneously with a compatible Hisense TV. Unfortunately, this functionality—though advertised in some regions—was not available in the U.S., with no ETA for implementation. The Vizio M512A-H6, as the successor to my V51-J6, seemed like a safe bet for maintaining the bass I loved. While it performed decently, it didn’t quite meet my expectations. The LG S80TR was the only soundbar I could test in-store, but despite its impressive clarity and height speakers, it lacked the deep bass I couldn’t sacrifice. When I saw the Vizio P514A-H6 on sale for $549, I decided to give it a try—and I’m glad I did. It outperformed my V51-J6 in nearly every way, particularly in bass response. It was a clear winner, and I quickly returned the other systems.
Performance and Features
The Vizio P514A-H6 delivers amazing bass, thanks to its powerful subwoofer. This was the standout feature for me, offering rumbling lows that bring action scenes to life. The system’s 18 speakers improve overall clarity, and the rear speakers, while still not perfect, show noticeable improvement over previous models.
However, there are some drawbacks:
Dialogue Clarity and Balance: While improved, dialogue still lacks midrange punch in certain scenes, occasionally sounding flat.
Rotating Height Speakers: The rotating height speakers for Dolby Atmos content are innovative, but they’re noisy when they adjust and don’t always activate reliably. I’ve resorted to leaving them in the "up" position permanently.
Rear Speaker Performance: During intense action scenes, the sound is immersive and booming, but in quieter dialogue-heavy moments, the rear speakers don’t contribute much, making the sound feel overly centered. The transition from dialogue to action can be jarring.
Connectivity and App Issues: Setting up the system requires registering the product online to connect with the app—a detail not mentioned in the instructions but discovered through Andrew Robinson's YouTube review. Once connected, the app works well.
Lag and Signal Issues: The system takes an unusually long time (up to a minute) to produce sound after being muted or rewinding a scene. Switching inputs, especially back to HDMI eARC, can result in a frustrating delay before audio resumes. Adding to this, the soundbar uses an outdated and overly robotic voice for status updates.
Final Thoughts
Despite its quirks, I’m thrilled with the Vizio P514A-H6. Its bass performance is exceptional, delivering the deep, rumbling lows I loved about the V51-J6, but with added power and immersion. Feeling the impact of explosions and action scenes through my couch, even at half volume (with bass and subwoofer settings maxed), makes it well worth the investment for me. While there’s room for improvement in dialogue clarity and rear speaker performance, the overall experience is impressive for its price point.
For those prioritizing bass and cinematic immersion over absolute perfection, the Vizio P514A-H6 is a solid choice.
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From the manufacturer
Maximize the moment.
The Adaptive Height Speakers also rotate forward, directing the full force of 18 high-performance speakers to your listening position.
Feel the sound all around.
Multi-directional surround sound you can feel moving all around you with breathtaking power from Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Super sonic boom.
Revel in VIZIO’s most thunderous bass that can shake your space with seismic force down to 30 Hz.
Easy streaming.
With Bluetooth and Chromecast built-in, it’s easy to stream music, podcasts, and more from popular Chromecast-enabled apps.
Breathe life into sound.
With separate tweeters and dual woofers, the Elevate’s 18 high- performance speakers deliver unbelievably powerful, distortion-free sound up to a whopping 107 decibels.
Compare with similar items
This Item  VIZIO Elevate Sound Bar for TV, Home Theater Surround Sound System for TV with Subwoofer and Bluetooth, P514a-H6 5.1.4 | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | $49.88 | $196.90 | -26% $1,399.99 List: $1,899.99 | -30% $629.00 List: $899.00 | -25% $299.00 List: $399.00 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 7 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 7 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 7 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 7 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 8 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | — | Goldwood Sound | Amazon.com | Nakamichi LLC | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| speaker size | 6.5 inches | 36 inches | 5.25 inches | 10 inches | 10 inches | 2.36 inches |
| power source | AC | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric |
| connectivity tech | Bluetooth, HDMI eARC, Auxiliary, Voice Assistant Input | USB | Bluetooth, HDMI, No Optical Output | wireless | (3) 4K HDMI-in, (1) HDMI eARC, (1) Optical in, (1) USB-A (for firmware updates) | Bluetooth, HDMI, Optical, USB, Analog |
| speaker type | Soundbar | Subwoofer, Soundbar, Surround Sound | Soundbar | Subwoofer | Soundbar | Soundbar |
| mounting type | Flush Mount | Bar Mount,Hdmi Cable | Wall Mount, QuickFit (Compatible with select VIZIO TVs.) | Tabletop Mount | Bar Mount | Wall Mount |
| weight | 12 pounds | — | — | 80 pounds | 13 pounds | 19 pounds |
| control method | application | remote | application | remote | voice, remote | remote, voice |
| model name | Elevate | AASB1101 | SV510X-0806 | Shockwafe Series | MagniFi Max AX SR | Signa S4 |
| frequency response | 20000 hertz | — | 50 hertz | 20 hertz | 20 KHz | 20 hertz |
| surround channels | 5.1.4 | 2.1 | 5.1 | 9.2.4 | 7.1.2 | 3.1.2 |
| woofer diameter | — | — | — | 10 inches | 10 inches | 5.9 inches |
Excellent sounding soundbar! Has a learning curve...
If you have experience setting up a soundbar and you have time to fiddle around with and fine-tune one, this is an amazing sounding system, especially if you can get it on sale for $550 or less! If you have limited or no experience with soundbars and want an easy to set up system that fine tunes itself, you will probably want to look elsewhere.I bought this soundbar because I specifically wanted a 5.1.4 system for use when watching 4K UHD and Blu-ray movies with a Dolby Atmos or DTSX soundtrack and it was within my budget. Say what you will about Vizio, but they do make good soundbars that are much more affordable than anything else in their class. Seriously, try finding another 5.1.4 soundbar for $550. That said, I would not pay full retail price for this; if you can't get it on sale I recommend waiting or considering other options.I have two other Vizio soundbars and both can be a little quirky at times necessating a power-cycle reset, however I have experienced no similar issues with this soundbar. I have read that Vizio's app can be frustrating to use but since I have no need of it I've never tried it myself and have no feedback to offer on it, but know that it is entirely optional to use; you do not need to use the app as the remote control offers full functionality.One of my other soundbars is Vizio's M-series 5.1.2 soundbar with Dolby Atmos and DTSX support and, while it is also a solid soundbar, the sound difference between the two couldn't be more different; the Elevate blows the M-series out of the water in almost every conceivable way, not to mention that the Elevate has twice the power and can easily fill my large livingroom with sound whereas the M-series struggled. I have since relocated my M-series to my bedroom and it really shines in that setting.Pros:-amazing sound quality once it is fine-tuned for the room you'll be using it in-ridiculously overpowered 8-inch subwoofer; it will rattle your house quite effectively!-build quality is solid with aluminum grills on sound bar and satellite speakers, quality is equally good on the sub-can barely hear the motors for the rotating speakers on the soundbar-two HDMI inputs on soundbar-info screen on remote is backlit-comes with everything you need to set up the systemCons:-ridiculously overpowered 8-inch subwoofer; seriously, I have it on its lowest setting and it still pounds hard!-corded satellite speakers; in 2024? Really? This will be the last soundbar I ever buy with corded speakers. Additionally, the cords have plugs specifically designed to fit these speakers, so if you need an extension you have to order it directly from Vizio and they are $20 per cord; I ordered extra cords and was pleased to have them in just a few days.
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- EdReviewed in the United Arab Emirates on September 26, 2022
Beats the best sound bars
Size: 5.1.4Verified Purchase
