Mike R. – Page 16 – Go Sound Shack

With modern televisions getting increasingly technologically advanced in color gamut, image resolution and brightness, one place that many modern televisions can lack is their ability to produce pleasing audio, which can be so important to get lost in the story-telling of a blockbuster movie or your favorite tv-series. To fix this issue in my personal life, and match a superior audio experience to the impressive visual experience that my TV offered, I opted to purchase the Vizio SS2521-C6 Under TV Sound Stand. This simple addition was a great way to recreate the feeling of going to a cinema without paying the over $10 ticket price many places charge every time I wanted to feel the bass-shaking rumble of explosions and the piercing sounds of an exciting car chase. In this article, I’ll be giving you some details about this sound stand, and comparing it to some top competitors in this section of the market. The Vizio SS2521-C6 [amazon fields="B00SMBFZ0Y" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image="2"] This product from Vizio is a little different from your normal soundbar you’ll see advertised. Here, the product is a 25" in stand which you set your television on top of, which is why the product belongs to the category of a sound stand, rather than a soundbar. The device is a triangular shape, and is relatively wide, which lends to a more even spreading of sounds around the room. The design of the speaker allows for the device to be just one piece. I quite appreciated the compact nature of the speaker stands. The unit easily hides away under your television, without taking up any precious floor space of my apartment. As a bonus, it also elevates the screen a small amount, due to its height being 2 inches tall. Product Specs [amazon fields="B00SMBFZ0Y" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image="3"] The sound stand offers 2.1 channels, meaning 2 channels for high and mid-range audio, and a channel for the subwoofer which is where the “.1” comes from. There are 5 drivers total housed within the unit itself. The first 2 speakers measure at 1.6" in. Vizio measures the next 2 speakers at 3.6" in, and the remaining speaker is the integrated subwoofer, which measures at 4.5" in. Also, the device includes a compact remote and comes with cables for many various inputs. You have the choice of many multiple inputs. For analog input, you have one stereo RCA input and one 3.5mm stereo mini jack. For digital an input, you have 1 RCA (Coaxial) input, and one optical, also known as Toslink, input. The device also features a USB input one can use that for WAV audio file playback, without the use of a television. [amazon fields="B00SMBFZ0Y" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image="4"] You probably won’t be lugging this around much, but it weighs a hefty 11.35 lbs for its dimensions. It would be possible to bring to another person’s house due to the ease of setup being close to just plug and play, but most will elect to leave the speaker nestled under their TV for the foreseeable future. Pricing One of the nice things about this speaker is the affordability when compared to more elaborate audio solutions, when this speaker stand first came out it retailed for $250. You can get it for around $200 on Amazon. How it Compares We picked three similar products available on the market to see how they compare: Samsung HW-M360/ZA 2.1 Soundbar Bose Solo 5 Sound Bar Sony 2.1 Mini Sound Bar (HTMT300/W) [amazon link="B00SMBFZ0Y" title="The Vizio SS2521-C6" /] [amazon box='B00SMBFZ0Y'] Price - $ On a scale of $-$$$, I've rated these speakers as $, because you can find them online with a few retailers for around $180-$220 Ease of Use I would give the ease of use for the Vizio sound stand five out of five stars. The remote is compact and easy to use, with simple controls. Assembly Time The speaker stand only took a few minutes to hook up, requiring only a few simple connections. This ease of assembly definitely deserves 5 stars. Due to all the speakers and subwoofer being integrated into one item, the setup and ease of use is a high point of the product. Design Quality I absolutely loved the design quality of these speakers. At only 25 inches wide by 2" in high by 15.5" in deep, the sound stand easily fit under the tv on our entertainment center. The dark color and design went well with the television we used the sound stand with. Warranty Vizio SS2521-C6 offers a free 1-year limited warranty on the sound stand, so if you run into any issues due to the workmanship of the product, Vizio will repair or replace the device. It’s also worth mentioning that many retailers offer free returns on products in this category, granting a free 30-day trial to see if the product works for you.I would give Vizio SS2521-C6 5 stars for their warranty, which meets or exceeds the industry standard. Pros Compact Design hides easily under TV Integrated design allows for just one piece and easy setup The sound is loud and full Allows for multiple audio inputs for various sources Cons Might not save space for mounted televisions One more remote to lose if you’re like me No Bluetooth connectivity offered, which is becoming more common now [amazon link="B06XNZDYH4" title="Samsung HW-M360/ZA 2.1 Soundbar" /] [amazon box="B06XNZDYH4"] For this Samsung offering, this product is a soundbar setup with a separate wireless subwoofer. The product also offers 2.1 channels of sound and comes with a metal encasement material. Samsung rates the subwoofer at 340 watts, which proves to be powerful and loud. Price - $ On a scale of $-$$$, I have rated these speakers as $$$. This sound bar can be bought for around $160-$190 on many online retailers. This would represent the highest price product in our comparison. Ease of Use I would give the ease of use for the Samsung sound bar four out of five stars. The sound bar was simple to use. Assembly Time This speaker took a little longer than the Vizio to hook up. I would rate this four stars. Due to the speakers and subwoofer being separated into two different items, there is one more piece to sync up with the main unit. Design Quality The design of this sound bar is functional and closer to other options available on the market, but there is an added benefit to having an integrated solution with the Vizio. I rate the design quality at 3 stars. Warranty Samsung offers a free one-year limited warranty on the sound bar. The warranty offers free repairs for issues due to the workmanship. I would give Samsung 5 stars for their warranty, which meets or exceeds the industry standard. Pros HDMI inputs are nice to have The 340W wireless subwoofer is powerful and loud Bluetooth connectivity Cons Might not save space for mounted televisions The soundbar is long at almost 40" in Price is high for the feature set [amazon link="B01AWLPUAG" title="Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System" /] [amazon box='B01AWLPUAG'] This soundbar is most similar to the Vizio solution as it features a one-piece design and is relatively compact for the sound that this speaker brings to the table. This product also comes from a trusted brand in audio and offers a few up-to-date features like Bluetooth. Price - $ On a scale of $-$$$, I have rated these speakers as $$. This Bose soundbar can usually be purchased for around $180-$220 with online retailers. This soundbar offers a good value for the price, even with it being on the higher side of the soundbars compared in this article. Ease of Use I would give the ease of use for the Bose sound bar five out of five stars. The included universal remote makes for an easy time adjusting sound options while being able to control other devices with one remote. Assembly Time This speaker took a little longer than the Vizio to hook up. I would rate this four stars. Due to the speakers and subwoofer being separated into two different items, there is one more piece to sync up with the main unit. Design Quality The design of this soundbar is very nice. I would rate this five out of five stars for its metal case, light build and compact size. Warranty Bose offers a free 1-year limited warranty on the sound bar. The warranty offers free repairs for issues due to the workmanship. I would give Bose 5 stars for their warranty, which meets or exceeds the industry standard. Pros Compact design fits in small spaces Voices on films and TV shows are clear and fill the room Bluetooth connectivity Comes with Universal Remote Cons Some reviewers claim a lack of bass Sound is not as nice as other units reviewed Price is a little high [amazon link="B01MRD7SE0" title="The Sony 2.1 Mini Sound Bar (HTMT300/W)" /] [amazon box='B01MRD7SE0'] This soundbar is the only one on this list to offer a different color option, coming in a white color. The Sony soundbar offers a split design with a separate subwoofer that wirelessly syncs. Sony advertises the subwoofer as being easy to hide under a couch, but with my reclining couch having no space beneath it, it was more of an eye-sore than any other implementation. Price - $ On a scale of $-$$$, I have rated these speakers as $$. This Sony sound bar can usually be purchased for around $130-$160 with online retailers. This soundbar offers an average value for the price, but the Bose most likely represent a better value for the same price. Ease of Use I would give the ease of use for the Sony sound bar five out of five stars. The included universal remote makes for an easy time adjusting sound options while being able to control other devices. Assembly Time The speakers itself took the same time as the Samsung to hook up, and is a similar design with a separate subwoofer that wirelessly pairs to the sound bar. I would rate the assembly time four out of five stars. Design Quality The design of this sound bar will be very polarizing, I don’t enjoy the white color this model comes in, but I could see it fitting well with other people’s decor that has a light color palette. The device has a good build and feels sturdy, but I would rate it three out of five stars in design quality. Warranty Sony offers a free 1-year limited warranty on the sound bar. Just like all the other manufacturers, the warranty offers free repairs for issues due to the workmanship. I would give Sony 5 stars for their warranty, which meets or exceeds the industry standard. Pros Offers a pleasing sound that is loud and clear Virtual surround sound offers a great sound separation from left to right Offers Bluetooth connectivity Cons The subwoofer is very tall White color doesn’t blend well with most decor Price is a little high for features offered The soundbar is heavy and large Conclusion The Samsung sound bar offers a great sound if you have the budget and the space. Being at the top of the price bracket and almost double the cost of the Vizio, I’m content with keeping the unique audio solution offered by the Vizio sound stand. The Bose soundbar is a good design, and compact for a solution that doesn't tuck under your television. It has a few good qualities such as its design and size, but the sound is just lacking for the price. The Sony’s sound does not stand out and is not impressive for its price, and the device’s looks are just not my taste with the tall subwoofer and white color. This sound bar stood out the most of the group, and for my decor, a sleek, black look will not only match your TV better but be less distracting to look at when you’re looking to get immersed in story-telling. Our final verdict of the Vizio SS2521-C6 sound stand is that it is the perfect solution for someone that wants a compact solution, has a modest budget and doesn’t like much setup. I would rate this Vizio SS2521-C6 sound stand at 5 stars for its affordability, good sound quality, ease of use, and slick all-in-one design.