Vizio M Series M51a-H6 vs TCL Q85H Side-by-Side Soundbar Comparison

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Apr 01, 2025 08:10 PM

See Vizio M Series M51a-H6 Review

Channels5.1

Channels7.1.4

Recommended in 2 articles:
Dolby Atmos
Movies

Variants

M Series M51a-H6 (Black)

Q85H (Black)

Review

See TCL Q85H Review

Our Verdict

Vizio M Series M51a-H6

TCL Q85H

The TCL Q85H is better than the Vizio M Series M51a-H6 for most people. The TCL includes up-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos content, and its side-firing drivers ensure its soundstage is a bit wider. It comes with room correction and a competent app. It's better built than the Vizio as well, but the Vizio sounds more balanced out of the box and supports a similarly expansive audio format suite with video passthrough, like the TCL.

Check Price

Black

M Series M51a-H6

Black

Q85H

Black

M Series M51a-H6

Black

Q85H

B&H

Black

Q85H

BestBuy.com

Black

Q85H

Walmart.com

Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold

0.10

Mixed Usage

8.0

No major differences between these soundbars for mixed usage. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Mixed Usage

8.0

Dialogue/TV Shows

8.3

8.1

Music

7.7

8.0

Movies

7.9

Design

Style - Bar

Style photo - bar

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Style - Subwoofer

Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless

Yes

Enclosure

Ported

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Style - Satellites

Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless

Partial, wired to wireless sub

Yes

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Dimensions - Bar

Dimensions photo - bar

Width

36.0" (91.5 cm)

41.5" (105.4 cm)

Height

2.3" (5.8 cm)

2.6" (6.5 cm)

Depth

3.5" (9.0 cm)

4.9" (12.4 cm)

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Dimensions - Subwoofer

Dimensions photo - sub

Width

8.3" (21.2 cm)

8.6" (21.9 cm)

Height

9.9" (25.2 cm)

14.4" (36.5 cm)

Depth

11.7" (29.7 cm)

10.6" (27.0 cm)

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Dimensions - Satellites

Dimensions photo - satellites

Width

5.7" (14.6 cm)

3.9" (10.0 cm)

Height

2.3" (5.8 cm)

6.5" (16.5 cm)

Depth

3.5" (9.0 cm)

4.8" (12.2 cm)

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Mounting

Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar

Yes

Bar Brackets Included

Yes

Mountable Satellites

Yes

Satellite Brackets Included

Yes

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Build Quality

7.0

8.0

Build quality photo

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In The Box

In The Box photo

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Sound

Stereo Frequency Response

8.0

7.8

Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response

Frequency Response Small

Channels

5.1

7.1.4

Tested Preset

Direct

Standard

Slope

-0.46

-0.95

Standard Error

3.35 dB

3.63 dB

Low-Frequency Extension

31.3 Hz

33.2 Hz

High-Frequency Extension

19.9 kHz

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Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration

8.0

7.9

Frequency Response Calibrated

Suggested Preset

Direct

Standard

Suggested Bass Setting

-5

Suggested Treble Setting

Slope

-0.20

-0.62

Standard Error

3.29 dB

3.25 dB

Low-Frequency Extension

30.8 Hz

33.2 Hz

High-Frequency Extension

19.9 kHz

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Stereo Soundstage

7.0

7.5

Crosstalk

Crosstalk Error

2.47 dB

2.40 dB

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Stereo Dynamics

8.4

8.6

Dynamic Range Compression

SPL @ Max Volume

96.0 dB SPL

96.9 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB

0.23 dB

0.70 dB

DRC @ Max Volume

1.94 dB

0.88 dB

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Center

8.4

7.6

Center Setup

Frequency Response

Localization

Discrete

Slope

-0.17

-1.51

Std. Err.

2.85 dB

4.95 dB

SPL @ Max Volume

93.5 dB SPL

90.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

0.74

0.63

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

1.68

2.02

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Surround 5.1

7.5

7.0

Surround Setup

Frequency Response

Localization

Discrete

Slope

-0.10

-2.60

Std. Err.

4.15 dB

5.83 dB

SPL @ Max Volume

94.7 dB SPL

99.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

0.32

0.73

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

1.06

2.36

7.1 Rears

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Height (Atmos)

5.9

6.5

Height Setup

H Frequency Response

Localization

Phantom (Front Firing, Satellites)

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar & Satellites)

Slope

-0.03

-0.47

Std. Err.

4.06 dB

4.04 dB

SPL @ Max Volume

86.9 dB SPL

84.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

2.29

1.13

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

0.33

0.28

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Sound Enhancement Features

7.1

Room Correction

Yes

Dialogue Enhancement

Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode

Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment

Yes

Bass Adjustment

Yes

Treble Adjustment

Yes

EQ

Presets

Surround Level Adjustment

Yes

Rear Level Adjustment

Height Level Adjustment

Virtual Surround

Yes

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Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In

HDMI Out

eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth

Full HDMI In

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)

RCA In

USB for Files

Ethernet

Subwoofer Output

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Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC

9.9

Dolby Atmos

Supported

Dolby Digital

Supported

Dolby Digital Plus

Supported

Dolby TrueHD

Supported

DTS

Supported

DTS:X

Supported

DTS-HD MA

Supported

PCM Channels

Up To 5.1

Up To 7.1

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Audio Format Support: HDMI In

9.9

Dolby Atmos

Supported

Dolby Digital

Supported

Dolby Digital Plus

Supported

Dolby TrueHD

Supported

DTS

Supported

DTS:X

Supported

DTS-HD MA

Supported

PCM Channels

Up To 5.1

Up To 7.1

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Audio Format Support: Optical

Dolby Digital

Supported

DTS

Supported

PCM Channels

2.0

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Audio Latency: ARC

7.3

8.7

ARC Latency Video

PCM-2.0 ch

98 ms

79 ms

PCM-5.1 ch

105 ms

86 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos

103 ms

63 ms

Dolby Digital

99 ms

83 ms

Dolby Digital Plus

105 ms

89 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos

121 ms

95 ms

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Audio Latency: HDMI In

9.0

8.5

HDMI Latency Video

PCM-2.0 ch

105 ms

108 ms

PCM-5.1 ch

82 ms

87 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos

95 ms

74 ms

Dolby Digital

93 ms

102 ms

Dolby Digital Plus

82 ms

94 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos

90 ms

107 ms

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Audio Latency: Optical

5.6

4.8

Optical Latency Video

PCM-2.0 ch

240 ms

256 ms

Dolby Digital

156 ms

299 ms

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Video Passthrough To TV

8.7

8.6

1080p Max Refresh Rate

120Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate

120Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate

60Hz

120Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate

60Hz

8k Max Refresh Rate

30Hz

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough

Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough

Yes

Dolby Vision Passthrough

Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough

Yes

G-SYNC Passthrough

ALLM Passthrough

Yes

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Wireless Playback

6.0

7.0

Bluetooth

Yes

Wi-Fi Playback

Chromecast built-in

Apple AirPlay

Yes

Spotify Connect

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Additional Features

Interface

Interface photo

Display

Yes

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Bar Controls

Controls photo

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Remote

Remote photo

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Voice Assistants Support

Amazon Alexa

Google Assistant

Apple Siri

Microphone Mute

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Check Price

Black

M Series M51a-H6

Black

Q85H

Black

M Series M51a-H6

Black

Q85H

B&H

Black

Q85H