Satisfying Sound at a Sensible Price
Sound bars have been a welcomed addition by many consumers who desire better sound quality from the otherwise mediocre audio output delivered by most flat-panel televisions.
Today’s soundbars are designed to blend seamlessly with practically any HDTV screen size available, whether it be a wall mount or a tabletop setup.
In this product profile, I will take a look at two very popular soundbars; in fact, these two products from Vizio are the #1 and #2 best-selling soundbars currently available on Amazon.com.
Vizio SB2920-C6
Price: $79.99
#1 Best Seller – Check the current price at Amazon.com
Design/Features
The SB2920-C6 is a 29” two-channel system containing 2 x 2.25” full-range drivers which technically cannot produce full-range sound with a rated frequency response of 70 Hz –19 kHz. This means mid and low bass frequencies will be lacking with this soundbar. However, this speaker does contain a subwoofer output which allows for a stand-alone subwoofer to be connected via an RCA output to fill in the lower bass frequencies.
For 2015, Vizio has redesigned its soundbar enclosures which now feature a sleek rectangular shape with silver end caps. There are several LED status indicators along the left-hand side of the speaker. On top of the unit are five control buttons for Bluetooth input, volume up, volume down, source input and power.
The system’s Bluetooth capability allows for wireless audio streaming from your mobile devices. This is a feature I have enjoyed on previous Vizio sound bars I have evaluated.
The supplied remote control is a small yet functional device that contains all the essential buttons to operate the SB2920-C6 from your favorite viewing position. It will even control the volume of a separate subwoofer.
The SB2920-C6 contains several connectivity options for such an inexpensive sound bar. Connections include:
- 1 Analog stereo RCA input
- 1 Analog 3.5mm stereo mini jack
- 1 Coaxial digital audio input
- 1 Optical digital audio input
- 1 RCA subwoofer output
- 1 USB input
Pros:
- Attractive sleek design
- Good sound quality
- Inexpensive
- Bluetooth capability
- Multiple connectivity options
Cons:
- Lacking low bass output
- The Remote is not programmable for control of other devices
- No direct access to inputs from the remote or soundbar
Dimensions:
- 29” W x 3” H x 3” D
Weight:
- 4.5 lbs.
Vizio SB3820-C6
Price: $99.99
Check current at Amazon.com
Design/Features
The SB3820-C6 is essentially a 38” version of the SB2920-C6 except a few key differences:
The SB3820-C6 adds 2 x 2.75” full-range deep bass modules (drivers) for extended bass output when compared to the SB2920-C6’s 2 x 2.25 drivers. The low-frequency response of the SB3820-C6 bottoms out at 60Hz versus the SB2920’s 70Hz.
The SB3820-C6 will also play louder producing sound pressure levels of up to 100 dB, while its counterpart has sound output levels of up to 95 dB.
Features that are common to both soundbars are Bluetooth capability, identical port connectivity and the same remote control.
Pros:
- Sleek contemporary design
- Great value
- Impressive sound quality for a low-cost sound bar
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Deep Bass Technology
Cons:
- The Remote is not programmable for control of other devices
- No direct access to inputs from the remote or soundbar
Dimensions:
- 38” W x 3” H x 3” D
Weight:
- 5.75 lbs.
Wrap Up
Sound bars are becoming as commonplace in consumer households as flat-panel HDTVs; Vizio provides a full range of soundbars that provide good performance with very affordable pricing, and the company’s SB2920-C6 and SB3820-C6 are their least expensive options and are exceptional value.
So if good performance combined with great value is what you’re looking for, then don’t overlook these two soundbar systems from Vizio.
Check out Amazon’s entire line of best-selling home audio sound bars here.