Vizio M-Series 5.1 M51a-H6

eARC, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X support Impressive subwoofer Seamless surround effects Comprehensive control Excellent fidelity

One HDMI input Less suitable for larger rooms

People go into budget-friendly soundbars with managed expectations. For most, as long as it sounds better than the TV’s built-in speakers, it’s usually fine. But the Vizio M-Series 5.1 defies those expectations and, as such, I think listeners will be...

Powerful, theater-like sub-bass and solid overall balance ; EQ and dedicated levels for individual channels ; 5.1 surround with Dolby Atmos support ; Generous array of included cabling

Can distort on deep bass at high volumes ; Rear surrounds are wired to subwoofer

The Vizio M-Series 5.1 (M51a-H6) system combines a soundbar with a subwoofer and two rear satellites to deliver powerful home theater audio at an affordable price.

Supports Atmos content. EQ presets. Dialogue enhancement feature. Gets loud.

Only supports Bluetooth wireless. Middling height performance. No graphic EQ.

The Vizio M51a-H6 is impressive for mixed usage. Out-of-the-box, it has a very neutral sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. Its dedicated subwoofer adds a little extra kick in the bass range that's...

True surround sound with Atmos support ; Lots of audio and input options ; Affordable

Bass lacks detail ; Takes work to get the right sound ; No upfiring speakers

But, neither of those come with satellite speakers, or offer Atmos support. If you’re looking for true 5.1 surround sound with Atmos and want to spend less than $400, the M51a-H6 is the one to buy.