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.
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Dialogue enhancement feature.
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Bluetooth-compatible.
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Four EQ presets.
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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.
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Dialogue enhancement feature.
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Bluetooth-compatible.
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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.
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Bluetooth-compatible.
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Four EQ presets.
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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.
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Dedicated surround speakers.
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Doesn't support Atmos content.
- 7.4 Mixed Usage
- 8.0 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 7.6 Music
- 6.8 Movies
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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.
- Updated Mar 07, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Mar 06, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information aboutSubwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute.
- Updated Feb 22, 2022: Retested the setup to check the subwoofer for rumbling sound.
- Updated Dec 10, 2021: Added information for third-party voice assistant support.
- Updated Nov 18, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Jul 20, 2021: Confirmed no Dolby Digital+ support via ARC.
- Updated Feb 09, 2021: Fixed mistake in supported voice assistants.
- Updated Feb 09, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Oct 27, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Oct 22, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Aug 10, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 06, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jul 29, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
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.
Compared To Other Soundbars
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 M Series M51a-H6 is a better soundbar than the Vizio V Series V51-H6. The M Series has a more neutral sound profile out of the box and a better surround performance. It also supports Dolby Atmos content, and because it has a Full HDMI In port, it can support 4k passthrough.
The Vizio M Series M51ax-J6 has a better performance than the Vizio V Series V51-H6. The M Series supports Dolby Atmos content and has a better surround performance. Unlike the V Series, it has a Full HDMI In port supporting high-quality passthrough.
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 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.
The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is better than the Vizio V Series V51-H6. The M Series is better built, with a better soundstage and performance. Unlike the V Series, it supports Atmos content and has a Full HDMI In port. That said, the V Series has a better surrounds performance.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Vizio has better soundstage and surround performances, and it gets louder. That said, the JBL is better built and has a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better than the Sonos Beam. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup with a dedicated sub and discrete satellites. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, resulting in more thump and rumble in your audio. It also has a better surround performance. However, the 3.0 Sonos is better built with built-in voice assistant capabilities. It also has a better soundstage.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better than the Samsung HW-A650. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup that reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also gets louder with less compression at max volume, and it has a better surround performance. However, the 3.1 Samsung is better built with a graphic EQ for sound customization.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is a bit better for mixed usage than the Vizio V Series V51x-J6. The V51-H6 gets louder, and it reproduces a more extended low bass, meaning you can feel more thump and rumble in your audio.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is more versatile than the Vizio M Series M213ad-K8. The V Series looks pretty different than the standalone M Series—it adds a dedicated sub and two satellites to the package. It means it can reproduce a more extended low-bass and performs much better with surround sound. That said, the M Series' standalone design is ideal for those without much space. It supports Atmos content, too, unlike the V Series.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Vizio V Series V51-H6 or the Samsung HW-Q600A. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup with discrete satellites that offers a better surround performance. It can get louder and reproduce a more extended low-bass. However, if you want a bar that supports Dolby Atmos content, you should check out the Samsung. This 3.1.2 setup is better built and has a graphic EQ for sound customization.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is a better overall soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q60T. The Vizio has two dedicated satellite speakers that provide a more immersive surround sound. It also has a better-balanced default sound profile. However, the Samsung is better built and has a graphic EQ and a Full HDMI In port, which the Vizio lacks.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better than the Polk Audio Signa S2. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup that has discrete satellites, unlike the 2.1 Polk Audio. It reproduces a more extended low-bass. Also, it has better center and surround performances.
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 a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q65T. The Vizio has a more extended low-bass and neutral sound profile out of the box. However, the Samsung is better built with a graphic EQ and Full HDMI In port.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is marginally better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-Q700A. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup with discrete satellites that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has better surround and soundstage performances, and it can get louder. However, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content like the Samsung. Also, the Samsung is better built.
The 5.1 Vizio V Series V51-H6 is a better soundbar than the 2.1 Vizio V Series V21x-J8. The V51-H6 gets louder, and it has better center and surround performances. Also, some listeners may prefer its more neutral out-of-the-box sound compared to the V21x-J8's more bass-heavy sound profile.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 and the Vizio M Series M215a-J6 have two different setups, and, based on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The V Series is an affordable 5.1 setup with rear satellites included, unlike the M Series, so it's much better for listening to surround sound. That said, unlike the M Series, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content. The M Series' Atmos performance isn't the most impressive, though.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Vizio V Series V51-H6 or the Klipsch Cinema 600. The Vizio is better built with discrete satellite speakers. It has better surround performance and more sound enhancement features like EQ presets and bass and treble adjustments. That said, the 3.1 Klipsch has a better stereo soundstage performance.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is a better soundbar than the Vizio V Series V21-H8. The V51-H6 is a 5.1 setup that has dedicated satellite speakers, unlike the 2.1 V21-H8. It also has a better-balanced, more neutral sound profile.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better than the Samsung HW-B450. They're both budget-friendly setups, but the 5.1 Vizio is more versatile. Unlike the Samsung soundbar, it has discrete satellites and HDMI connectivity. Its surround performance is better, too, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better than the Samsung HW-A550. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup that has discrete satellite speakers. It has better center and surround performances. That said, the 2.1 Samsung is better built. It also has a graphic EQ, which some listeners may prefer for sound customization.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better than the Samsung HW-A450. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup with discrete satellites that's better built. It has better center and surround performances, and it gets louder. Also, unlike the Samsung soundbar, it has an HDMI ARC port.
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.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better for most uses than the Samsung HW-S60A. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup with a dedicated sub and satellites. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass and gets louder with less compression at max volume. However, the Samsung is still a solid choice for users who prefer a standalone soundbar. It's better built, has support for more wireless playback options, and has built-in voice assistant capabilities.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better than the Samsung HW-Q59CT. The Vizio has discrete satellites and offers a better surround performance. It can also reproduce a more extended low-bass and can get louder with less compression at max volume. However, the Samsung is better built with a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough.
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 V Series V51-H6 is a better soundbar than the Vizio M-Series M21d-H8R. The V Series is a 5.1 setup that has a dedicated subwoofer and two surround speakers, and it has better center and surround channel performances. It also has a more neutral sound profile and gets louder with less compression at max volume. That said, the 2.1 M-Series is better built and has a Full HDMI In port that supports 4k passthrough.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better than the Sony HT-S350. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup that has discrete satellites. It isn't as well-built as the 2.1 Sony but offers better center and surround performances. It can also reproduce a more extended low-bass. Some users may also prefer its more neutral, balanced sound out of the box.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is a better overall soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q60R. The Vizio has two satellite speakers, which provide a more immersive surround sound. It also has a better-balanced sound profile out of the box. However, the Samsung is better built, and it has a graphic EQ and a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Vizio.
Test Results
The Vizio V51-H6 is a simple, sleek soundbar. It's mostly made of plastic, with a thin fabric covering the front and the sides of the bar.
The sub is mostly made of plastic. It sits on four plastic pegs with rubber grips. There's a port on the back of the sub, and the speaker is underneath.
The Vizio V51-H6 comes with two satellite speakers, which are mostly made of plastic with fabric covering the front and sides.
The bar isn't too wide, but it might not fit between the legs of a 55 inch TV. However, it isn't very tall, so it shouldn't block your TV screen unless your TV sits flush on the table.
The subwoofer is similar to the subwoofer for the Vizio V Series V21-H8, and it's shorter in height than the average desktop PC.
The satellites aren't very big. They don't need to be wired to a power source, but they need to be connected to the sub to function.
The Vizio V51-H6 has a decent build quality. The components are mostly made of plastic, which feels solid and durable. However, the thin fabric on the front and sides of the bar and the satellite speakers seems like it could get dirty or rip easily.
- Manuals
- Wall-mount template
- Wall-mount brackets with screws
- 4x cable ties
- Optical cable (3.9 ft / 1.2m)
- HDMI cable (6.2 ft / 1.9m)
- 2x surround speaker audio cables (26 ft / 8.0m)
- Power cables for sub (8.5 ft / 2.6m)
- Power cable for bar (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
- 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
- Stereo RCA to 3.5mm cable (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
- Remote with 2x AAA batteries
The Vizio V51-H6 has a good stereo frequency response. It has a pretty neutral sound profile suitable for listening to many different types of audio content, and there's a little extra boom in the bass range. Thanks to its dedicated subwoofer, it can accurately reproduce the deep thump and rumble found in bass-heavy music and action-packed movies. There are also some bass and treble adjustments so you can customize its sound.
There are a few user reports of the subwoofer emitting rumbling sounds when audio is played at lower levels or when no sound is playing at all. Despite extensive retesting with every EQ and over Bluetooth and ARC, we haven't encountered the issue with our unit before or after firmware updates (2.0.3.0).
With calibration, the Vizio V51-H6 has an impressive stereo frequency response. With its bass set to '-2', it has a very neutral, balanced sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. Its bass range is more balanced, so there's less boom in the bass.
The Vizio V51-H6 has a decent stereo soundstage. The soundstage is about as wide as the bar itself, but it doesn't have any tricks to make it sound wider than that. Its focus is good, so objects like voices and instruments seem to come from an accurate, pinpoint location rather than a general area. For a soundbar with a better stereo soundstage, check out the Vizio M Series M512a-H6.
The Vizio V51-H6 has excellent stereo dynamics performance. This bar can get loud without many compression artifacts present, making it suitable for large rooms and crowded environments like parties.
The Vizio V51-H6 has a great center channel performance. This 5.1 setup has a discrete center channel, so voices are anchored to an accurate, pinpoint location in the soundstage. Its frequency response is slightly bass-heavy, but you likely don't notice it since there usually isn't a lot of bass reproduced on the center channel.
The Vizio V Series 5.1 soundbar has a fair surrounds performance. It comes with two discrete satellite speakers, so sound objects like voices are clearly and accurately reproduced in the soundstage. Audio seems like it's coming from all around you rather than just from speakers placed in front of you. Unfortunately, the frequency response is quite bass-heavy, especially compared to the Vizio SV510X-0806 and its smaller surrounds, resulting in a muddy, boomy sound that's overwhelming for some listeners.
If you want a 5.1 soundbar that supports Atmos, check out the Vizio M Series M51a-H6.
The Vizio V51-H6 has a decent selection of sound enhancement features. It offers four EQ presets to help you adjust the bar's sound to your liking: 'Movie', 'Music', 'Direct', and 'Game'. There's a dialogue enhancement feature to help make voices sound clearer and more crisp and a TruVolume feature that provides a consistent volume level across different programs. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a room correction feature, so it may sound different depending on the room you use it in.
The Vizio V51-H6 has several inputs, including a 3.5mm AUX port, which allows you to connect older devices to the bar using a wired connection. Unlike the Samsung HW-B450, it has HDMI connections, too. However, there isn't a Full HDMI In port, so you can't use the bar as a hub between your devices.
Over its HDMI ARC port, this bar supports some of the most common formats for streaming platforms and Blu-ray discs, including Dolby Digital and DTS. However, it doesn't support lossless or object-based formats like Dolby Atmos. The soundbar also doesn't support Dolby Digital+ via Arc.
The Vizio V51-H6 supports Dolby Digital, the most common surround sound format often found on Blu-rays and streaming platforms. It also supports DTS content.
Audio latency is decent over ARC but limited to Dolby Digital. You may notice a bit of lag with different sources, but apps and TVs can compensate for latency differently.
The audio latency over Dolby Digital is high enough that you'll notice a lip-sync delay. Because the soundbar lacks additional tools to adjust latency, you'll have to use your TV's settings to adjust the delay to compensate. However, the latency you experience can vary depending on your setup.
The Vizio V51-H6 doesn't have an HDMI In port, so it doesn't support 4k passthrough.
The Vizio V51-H6 supports Bluetooth connectivity, so you can wirelessly stream audio from your mobile device to the bar.
The Vizio V51-H6 doesn't have a display, but there's a set of vertical lights on the left side of the bar that flashes depending on your settings. There's also audio feedback when you select one of the four preset modes.
There are a few buttons on the top of the bar that let you control its basic functions. You can power the bar on and off, change the input, activate Bluetooth pairing mode, and adjust the volume.
The remote is fairly simple, and it lets you control all of the bar's settings. There's even a display screen, unlike the remote for the Vizio V Series V21-H8.
Update 12/10/2021: The Vizio V Series V51-H6 doesn't have built-in voice assistant support. However, you can connect it with a third-party voice assistant device to control it with your voice. The manufacturer says that it supports both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant-enabled devices.