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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
    10. Back - Bar
    11. Back - Subwoofer
    12. Back - Satellites
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
    10. Connectivity - Subwoofer
    11. Connectivity - Satellites
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
    5. App
    6. Other Features
  8. Comments

Vizio V Series V51-H6 vs Vizio V Series V21x-J8

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Vizio V Series V51-H6
Vizio V Series V21x-J8

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Oct 24, 2024 02:30 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Sep 03, 2024 07:13 PM

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Amazon.com
Vizio V Series V51-H6 Picture
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Picture
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Under $200

Variants

  • V Series V51-H6 (Black)
  • V Series V21x-J8 (Black)

Our Verdict

Vizio V Series V51-H6

Vizio V Series V21x-J8

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.

0 

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Black
V Series V51-H6
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Black
V Series V21x-J8
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.4
6.8

Center 
 

8.1
5.6

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.6
6.8

Surround 5.1 
 

7.0
4.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Style photo - bar
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Style photo - sub
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Style photo - satellites
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

Partial, wired to wireless sub
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Dimensions photo - bar
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

36.0" (91.5 cm)
36.0" (91.5 cm)

Height  

2.2" (5.7 cm)
2.3" (5.8 cm)

Depth  

3.2" (8.2 cm)
3.2" (8.2 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Dimensions photo - sub
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

8.3" (21.2 cm)
7.7" (19.5 cm)

Height  

9.8" (25.0 cm)
8.4" (21.4 cm)

Depth  

8.3" (21.2 cm)
7.7" (19.5 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Dimensions photo - satellites
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

4.8" (12.1 cm)
N/A

Height  

2.2" (5.7 cm)
N/A

Depth  

3.2" (8.2 cm)
N/A
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

Yes

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

Yes

Build Quality 
 

7.0
7.0

Build quality photo  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Build quality photo
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Vizio V Series V51-H6 In The Box photo
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 In The Box photo

HDMI Cable Length 
 

1.5 m (4.9 ft)

Digital Optical Cable Length 
 

1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Show Text 

Back - Bar  

Back photo - bar  

Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Back photo - bar

Bar Mounting 
 

Universal (holes on underside)
Show Text 

Back - Subwoofer  

Back photo - sub  

Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Back photo - sub

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported
Show Text 

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Back photo - satellites

Mounting 
 

No
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.6
7.4

Stereo Setup  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Stereo Setup
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Channels 
 

5.1
2.1

Tested Preset 
 

Direct
Music

Slope 
 

-0.66
-1.11

Standard Error 
 

3.28 dB
5.26 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

40.0 Hz
33.2 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
17.0 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.7
7.9

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Direct
Music

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

-3
-5

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

1
1

Slope 
 

0.07
-0.04

Standard Error 
 

2.76 dB
3.40 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

43.0 Hz
34.1 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
17.2 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
7.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.14 dB
2.74 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.6
6.8

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.3 dB SPL
94.5 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.21 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

0.97 dB
3.81 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.3

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.53

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.76
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.1
5.6

Center Setup  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Center Setup
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Phantom

Slope 
 

-0.81
-1.50

Std. Err. 
 

3.42 dB
6.20 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

91.1 dB SPL
94.4 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.63
0.52

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.68
2.83
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

7.0
4.0

Surround Setup  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Surround Setup
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-1.86
0.62

Std. Err. 
 

4.85 dB
3.39 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.2 dB SPL
88.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.87
0.72

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.61
3.62

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Height Setup
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 H Frequency Response
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 H Frequency Response

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Slope 
 

N/A
N/A

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
N/A

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

7.1
6.6

Room Correction 
 

No
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
No

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
1

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
1

Ethernet 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No

HDMI ARC 
 

1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.3
7.6

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

eARC 
 

No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

No

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
Yes

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

7.3

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

109 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

0.0
8.1

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

45 ms

Optical 
 

69 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

6.9

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

366 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

No
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

6.0
6.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

No
No

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
No

Spotify Connect 
 

No
Show Text 

Connectivity - Subwoofer 
 

Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1  

Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1

Physical controls subwoofer photo 1  

Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Physical controls subwoofer photo 1

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Connectivity - Satellites 
 

Physical inputs satellites photo 1  

Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Physical inputs satellites photo 1

Physical controls satellites photo 1  

Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Physical controls satellites photo 1

Sat Wireless 
 

Partial, wired to wireless sub
No
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Interface photo
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Controls photo
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Vizio V Series V51-H6 Remote photo
Vizio V Series V21x-J8 Remote photo

Universal Remote 
 

No
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
Show Text 

App 
 

App image  

Vizio V Series V21x-J8 App image

App Name  

No App

iOS  

No

Android  

No

Acts As A Remote 
 

No

Controls Soundbar's Settings 
 

No

Casts Device Files 
 

No

Other Features 
 

Power Saving 
 

Auto-off

HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control) 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
V Series V51-H6
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
V Series V21x-J8
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Vizio V Series V51-H6

Vizio V Series V21x-J8

Comments

  1. Comparison

Vizio V Series V51-H6 vs Vizio V Series V21x-J8: Main Discussion

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