Vizio Elevate 5.1.4 Soundbar – auto-rotate, innovative new speakers

The Vizio Elevate is a latest 5.1.4 high-end model from Vizio’s 2020 lineup. It comes with unique rotating speakers on the left and right sides of the bar, which according to the manufacturer create a larger sound stage for a more immersive listening experience. The Vizio Elevate has a truly unique design. The bar can rotate the left and right sides up when playing Atmos or DTS:X content. You can also set these slices so that they are always up rather than outwards.

The Vizio Elevate soundbar boasts a unique design feature—rotating speakers on the sides—setting it apart in a crowded market. While it maintains an all-black unibody design for the most part, the addition of rotating speakers adds depth. With dimensions of 2.64 x 48 x 6.5 inches (H x W x D), the Elevate can still be wall-mounted, and it complements the Vizio OLED TV it was designed for.

Internally, the Elevate houses a complete set of drivers, approximately 18 according to Vizio, with roughly two drivers per channel. These drivers contribute to the soundbar’s power output, but their close proximity to one another limits the soundstage.

To achieve a wider soundstage, the satellite speakers come into play. The included power/signal cable connects the subwoofer to each of the two satellites, although they are not wireless. Fortunately, Vizio utilizes proprietary power cables that are long enough to accommodate any living room. On the bright side, the subwoofer itself is wireless.

Flipping the soundbar upside down reveals the ports. You will find one HDMI-ARC port for connecting to your TV, as well as two HDMI-In ports that can be used to connect game consoles, Blu-ray players, or streaming sticks. While HDMI ARC is the recommended option for TV connection, as it is the only method to transmit Dolby Digital data, you can also use a 3.5mm auxiliary cable or optical audio. It is impressive that the Elevate offers such versatility to support different connection types.

The Vizio Elevate includes a basic plastic remote. Although its build quality is unremarkable, it features a screen that simplifies menu navigation and adjustment of the soundbar’s settings. While graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are often preferred for such tasks, the remote’s convenience in enabling functions like Night Mode, which reduces bass, with just a few button presses is appreciated.

The Vizio Elevate has an impressive construction quality. The bar is mostly made of plastic, and there is an aluminum grille on the front of the bar that helps protect drivers. The subwoofer is mostly made of melamine with a plastic plan. Like the bar, satellites have an aluminum grille to protect drivers, and plastic and rear sides. Materials feel durable and solid.
The Vizio Elevate has an Eco Power mode that turns off the soundbar after a period of inactivity. However, if you do not enable this feature, the soundbar always remains active. In addition, there is HDMI CEC support, so you can control some of the basic functions of the bar using the TV remote control.Vizio Elevate soundbar is top-notch for mixed use. You can use it to watch Dolby Atmos content, and its satellite speakers help create an immersive surround experience. Thanks to its dedicated central channel, it can also clearly play dialogue in TV and audiobook programs. However, its heavy bass sound profile may not be ideal for neutral sound, but luckily some customization features are available.

HDMI ARC offers the optimal method for connecting your system to your TV if your TV supports it. It provides the best sound quality and allows you to control the volume and power using your TV remote. To utilize HDMI ARC, you may need to enable Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) in your TV’s menu and set the sound output to Speakers or Receiver. If your TV does not have ARC, there are alternative ways to connect your system, and you might be able to program your TV’s remote to control the soundbar. If you intend to stream music over Wi-Fi through Chromecast, you should download the SmartCast app and follow the provided instructions to connect to your network.
Vizio Elevate is excellent soundbar for music. Its heavy bass sound profile adds an additional power and forcefulness to your music, which is ideal for fans of genres like techno and hip-hop, but can be overwhelming for some listeners. Luckily, there are some EQ presets to help you customize its sound. Its impressive sound stage also helps you feel immersed in your music.
The Vizio Elevate soundbar is acceptable for content that dialogues like TV shows. Thanks to its dedicated central channel, it can reproduce voices clearly and accurately. There is a dialogue enhancement feature and an automatic volume mode to improve the listening experience. You can also stream podcasts and audiobooks to the bar using built-in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Chromecast. However, while it can get noisy, there is some compression at maximum volume.
Vizio Elevate soundbar is very good for movies. It supports Atmos content and comes with dedicated satellite speakers to help create a more immersive surround experience. It also has a wide and targeted sound stage. The Vizio Elevate soundbar is a uniquely designed 5.1.4 configuration. The sides of the bar automatically rotate when you watch Dolby Atmos or DTS:X content, which can help create a large sound stage for an immersive listening experience. Thanks to its dedicated satellite speakers, it also has good surround performance. While its heavy bass sound profile isn’t ideal for everyone, there are a few sound customization features and many connectivity options available to help you use the bar as a hub between devices. Photo:Vizio

In The Box All cables included!

• Remote control with 2x AAA batteries
• Stereo RCA to 3.5mm audio cable
• 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable
• HDMI cable
• Optical cable
• 2x Satellite Speaker audio cables
• 2x Power cables
• 4x Wall mount screws
• Wall-mount template
• 2x Wall-mount brackets (Satellite speakers)
• 2x Wall-mount brackets (Soundbar)
• 4x Cable ties
• Manuals
• Vizio Elevate price: $999.99