It is uncommon that we see soundbars within the sub-$200 vary, specifically 2.1 programs with wi-fi subwoofers. The $129.99 Vizio 2.1 SB2021n-G6 is easily beneath $200, which makes you surprise: Why is it so affordable? For starters, there is no HDMI connectivity. Then there are sonic problems—in track mode, the SB2021n-G6 once in a while suffers from distortion, even on tracks that should not reason it. The device fares higher for observing films, however it delivers an exaggerated bass bonanza, and isn’t for someone searching for a correct listening enjoy. Merely put, there are extra compelling choices to be had.
Design
Measuring 2.2 by means of 20.0 by means of 4.5 inches (HWD) and three.7 kilos, the black-and silver, cloth-covered major unit for the SB2021n-G6 is smaller than maximum soundbars we take a look at. The wi-fi subwoofer may be at the small aspect, at 7.7 by means of 7.7 by means of 8.5 inches and six.3-pounds—those dimensions will be welcome information to someone who does not have a number of more room to commit to a valid device.
For its modest measurement, the SB2021n-G6 can nonetheless generate various quantity. The primary unit homes twin 1.6-by-2.3-inch drivers and the sub packs a 5.25-inch driving force, turning in a blended frequency vary of 50Hz to 16kHz.
The primary unit homes controls on its best panel. There are buttons for energy, enter, Bluetooth, quantity up, and quantity down. At the again panel, there are connections for optical (a cable is incorporated), USB (for WAV and MP3 playback from a pc, no cable incorporated), 3.5mm aux enter (an RCA-to-3.5mm cable is incorporated, in addition to an RCA-to-3.5mm adapter), virtual coaxial output (cable incorporated), and the incorporated energy cable. There is not any HDMI connection, which is an abnormal selection for a soundbar. The again panel of the sub has an influence button, a connection for the incorporated energy cable, and a standing LED. Upon powering the device up in checking out, the audio system connected straight away.
The Bluetooth capability isn’t splendid. A few instances the relationship merely dropped mid-song for no obvious explanation why, as though the soundbar went into sleep mode. However the speaker wasn’t sound asleep or powered down—the Bluetooth LED indicator used to be nonetheless sparkling at the entrance panel—the soundbar merely dropped the relationship.
The far flung keep an eye on runs on two incorporated AAA batteries. It has buttons for energy, enter, Bluetooth, TVol (DTS TruVolume mode regulates the quantity ranges), VRT:X (for DTS Digital X mode), Film EQ mode, Tune EQ mode, mute, person subwoofer, bass, and treble stage controls, and a central playback, observe navigation, and quantity keep an eye on pad.
Annoyingly, there is not any visible marker to inform you what stage you might have boosted or reduce the bass or treble to—just a sound that chimes if you end up on the best, center, or lowest bass stage. Moreover, you regulate the bass and treble by means of urgent Bass or Treble, then urgent the observe navigation buttons. However if you happen to wait a spit-second too lengthy, the observe navigation buttons will carry out their authentic roles and skip to the following observe. Why now not have a easy visible show for this serve as? Why mix the extent adjustment buttons with the observe navigation buttons? It is merely a deficient design.
The device features a promotional three-month Tidal subscription.
Efficiency
In Blade Runner 2049‘s crash scene, which options more than one explosions, the SB2021n-G6 delivers robust bass intensity in Film mode. The explosions pack severe rumble right here, as do different sounds that we normally do not pay attention main bass intensity from—now not simply gunshots and explosions, however random sound results and facets of the rating, specifically in DTS Digital X mode.
When the Dying Superstar explodes in Stars Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, the SB2021n-G6 delivers robust rumble, even at default settings for the sub, treble, and bass. The discussion can sound somewhat tinny and the mids really feel like they have got long gone lacking from time to time—it is a sculpted, scooped sound signature. Listening in DTS Digital X mode provides somewhat size to objects—the stereo box sounds widened a marginally, and the bass sounds somewhat extra thunderous, but additionally extra outlined.
When being attentive to track, issues get problematic. The speaker device suffers from sudden distortion problems on tracks that do not normally reason it. Ryuichi Sakamoto’s rating for The Staggering Woman proved an excessive amount of for the soundbar’s drivers in checking out—they rattled and distorted, significantly on a observe that is most commonly piano notes enjoying softly. One way or the other those frequencies driven the entire flawed buttons for the SB2021n-G6’s modest driving force set.
On tracks with intense sub-bass content material, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the SB2021n-G6 strangely does somewhat higher. At best volumes, its enclosure starts to rattle, however at reasonable volumes, there is no distortion, and the sense of bass intensity is slightly robust. Should you spice up the bass too top, be expecting issues to fall aside temporarily, on the other hand—the enclosures for the sub and the soundbar will rattle.
Invoice Callahan’s “Drover,” a observe with a long way much less deep bass within the combine, provides us a greater sense of the SB2021n-G6’s basic sound signature. With treble, bass, and subwoofer ranges set to the center, the audio sounds vivid, crisp, and anchored by means of some cast bass intensity. Sadly, even at 75 or 80 p.c quantity, intense sounds cause terrible moments from the device’s DSP (virtual sign processing). This observe has delicate bass intensity and a few snappy, every now and then robust drumming and percussion—one intense drumming second happens at 50 seconds in, and at kind of 80 p.c quantity, it led to a valid I have by no means heard in checking out. The drums go back and forth the DSP, they usually sound like gunfire, however as though it have been being delivered by means of a nasty mobile phone connection—squashed, sputtering percussion. At fairly upper ranges, the guitar strumming proves problematic, inflicting some damn and distortion.
Typically, I would proceed comparing track efficiency with extra observe descriptions, but when the drivers distort on a piano, all you want to—the DSP is out of keep an eye on at best ranges, and too can reason issues at reasonable ranges. You both get distortion from puts you would not be expecting it, or audio artifacts that flip drum hits into sonic sludge.
Conclusions
The Vizio 2.1 SB2021n-G6 is affordable, however that is not a loose cross to accomplish poorly. Someone who plans to make use of it basically for track can do higher—the DSP is overwhelming and the distortion is sudden. In case you are most effective going to observe films and you need some rumble at the reasonable, the sub does ship some robust bass intensity, even though it provides bass to moments that normally do not pack a lot of it. For a similar value, on the other hand, you might be purchasing the $130 TCL Alto 7+. And if you’ll be able to spend extra, the $200 Sony HT-S350 and the $300 JBL Bar 3.1 are compelling choices. All of those be offering a extra delicate subwoofer (and consumer) enjoy.
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