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Vizio V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar review: buy or skip?

Buy8.2/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you want surround sound on a small budget. Why: surround sound with a wireless sub and rear speakers for under $200. The catch: no Atmos.

By Buyrskip Editorial Team Updated 1 min read

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Vizio V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar

Our verdict on the Vizio V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar

Buy it if
you want surround sound on a small budget.
Skip it if
you want Atmos or premium build.
Best for
Tight budgets
Key feature
Surround sound with a wireless sub and rear speakers for under $200
Typical price
$149–$199
Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

Channels5.1
ConnectionHDMI ARC
Dolby AtmosNo
SubwooferIncluded

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

  • you want surround sound on a small budget
  • value includes sub and rears
  • can spend around $149–$199

Skip it if you

  • you want Atmos or premium build
  • mind this: no Atmos
  • mind this: basic app control

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Includes sub and rears
  • Great value
  • Easy setup

Cons

  • No Atmos
  • Basic app control

The verdict in one breath

The Vizio V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar is a soundbar we would point many buyers to. What earns it the buy: surround sound with a wireless sub and rear speakers for under $200. In our list it is the pick for: tight budgets.

Reasons to buy

  • Includes sub and rears
  • Great value
  • Easy setup

Reasons to skip

  • No Atmos
  • Basic app control

The specs that matter

  • Channels: 5.1
  • Connection: HDMI ARC
  • Dolby Atmos: No
  • Subwoofer: Included

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you want surround sound on a small budget. Skip it if you want Atmos or premium build; the Vizio M-Series All-in-One 2.1 is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best soundbars.

Alternatives worth considering

Vizio M-Series All-in-One 2.1

Vizio · Soundbars

Vizio M-Series All-in-One 2.1

Buy it if you want fuller sound on a tight budget.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Budget with bass
Typical price
$149–$199

Pros

  • Built-in subwoofers
  • Cheap

Cons

  • Virtual Atmos only
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review
Sonos Ray

Sonos · Soundbars

Sonos Ray

Buy it if you want better TV dialogue in a bedroom or small room.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Small room budget
Typical price
$199–$279

Pros

  • Clear dialogue
  • Compact

Cons

  • No Atmos
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Vizio V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar?

Buy it, if you want surround sound on a small budget. Why: surround sound with a wireless sub and rear speakers for under $200. The catch: no Atmos.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want Atmos or premium build. The Vizio M-Series All-in-One 2.1 is the better buy then.

What does the Vizio V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar cost?

Usually $149–$199 on Amazon.com. It tends to dip during Prime Day and Black Friday.

Buyrskip Editorial Team

Part of the Buyrskip research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Vizio V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Vizio V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar worth buying? Short answer: buy it, if you want surround sound on a small budget. This review explains what this Vizio model gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs in the US and which soundbar to buy instead if it is not the right fit for you.

What the Vizio V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar does well

The headline: surround sound with a wireless sub and rear speakers for under $200. Key specs: Channels: 5.1; Connection: HDMI ARC; Dolby Atmos: No; Subwoofer: Included. In our list it is the pick for: tight budgets. It usually sells for $149–$199.

Who it suits: people who want surround sound on a small budget.

The trade-offs

Good: includes sub and rears, great value, easy setup. Not so good: no Atmos, basic app control. Read the skip-if line before you order: skip it if you want Atmos or premium build.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Vizio M-Series All-in-One 2.1 ($149–$199): built-in subwoofers and Atmos virtual sound for little money. Better if you want fuller sound on a tight budget.

Instead, consider the Sonos Ray ($199–$279): compact Sonos soundbar with clear dialogue for small TVs. Better if you want better TV dialogue in a bedroom or small room.

Instead, consider the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) ($399–$499): compact bar with clear dialogue and virtual Atmos. Better if you want a big upgrade over TV speakers in a small or mid-size room.

Before you buy

Connection: HDMI eARC passes Dolby Atmos and lets your TV remote control the volume. Dialogue first: a dedicated center channel or speech mode helps more than a huge subwoofer. Room size: a compact bar suits apartments; Atmos with rear speakers suits bigger living rooms.

US buyer tip

Soundbars see some of their deepest discounts around the Super Bowl and Black Friday; bundles with a subwoofer are often cheaper than buying separately.

Prices on Amazon.com move in a pattern. The deepest cuts land on Prime Day in July, Prime Big Deal Days in October and the Black Friday to Cyber Monday week, with smaller drops around Presidents Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and back-to-school. Judge a deal against the usual price we show, never against the crossed-out list price.

Order from Amazon itself or the brand's official storefront so the US manufacturer warranty applies, keep your order confirmation and register the product with the brand. Most items can be returned within 30 days, and holiday purchases often get an extended return window into January.