Elevate 5.1.2 Soundbar SE (SL512X-0806)

Best for the price would be the Vizio elevate. Can find the 5.1.4 (highest end) for $500 refurbished at Costco. Best new for under $450 would be the Vizio m-series SL512X currently $400 from Walmart or Sam's club. If you want to compromise slightly on performance and prioritize connectivity (120hz passthrough 4k) then it's the hisense AX5125H - currently out of stock near me but $237 on Walmart is a great deal. These are the best in class unless you get lucky on a swing deal for a high end system.

I have an ultimea x70 which sounds great and for the price i think it's a steal. And otw is the new x100 dual by ultimea and im expecting that 1 to be soo much more than the x70 I am already happy with. I've had the vizio elevate se which was decent and even tried walmarts onn 5.1.2 which for 200 bucks isn't that bad tbh.

Check eBay for some food soundbars. I just purchased an open boxed Vizio elevate se for 299, I believe

Did you end up making a decision? Personally, I would choose Vizio over all Tim because of their reputation for making great sound bars for an affordable price, but up firing speaker speakers do make a difference. Did you look at the new Vizio Elevate 5.1.2? I actually have the SV510M up in my office (and it’s excellent), but I also have the Vizio M-series Elevate (5.1.2) downstairs in the living room and I can tell you the up firing speakers are definitely worth the improved overhead effects.

Ahh ok, well I hope you’re happy with whatever your choice is! Just to clarify, I’m referring to the new Elevate SE 5.1.2, not the original 5.1.4, which was much larger and heavier. The Elevate SE is only 7–12 lb more than the SV510. Not sure how much of a difference that makes for shipping.

I own a 5.1.2 Vizio sound bar (M512E-K6), and I had a 5.1 Polk prior to that. Personally, I think the .2 is worth it. Is it going to sound as good as discrete down-firing ceiling mounted Atmos speakers? Of course not. But, the .2 does add a sense of verticality, especially if you choose the right system. As a Vizio owner, I’m biased, but there are a plethora of reputable reviews out there praising Vizio sound bars for their Atmos performance, especially for the price. If you’re going to pick between the two you have in the screenshots, I would definitely go with the Vizio Elevate. It’s reviewed well, and discreet height speakers are always going to be an improvement over none at all, even if they’re up-firing.

Yeah, like I said, it’s nothing like down firing ceiling mounted but for certain models, you can definitely hear overhead effects, with mine you can especially if LFE. I think it also depends on room, size ceiling, height, and all that. Even if they don’t produce overhead effects, they do improve the sound stage vertically, at least a little bit, and in OP’s case, that Elevate is the better system, especially for $100 less. Like I said if he had to pick between those two, I would definitely get the extra drivers, especially for less, why not?

I don't think there's any specific features that stand out, some design aspects like the knobs on the top are nice. But just the Marshal name stood out to me considering they're known for guitar amps so that excited me as a rock music lover. I hope it has a channel adjustment tho. I currently have the Klipsch Flexus Core 200 + sub 100 and it's a nice system, however the dialogue can seem a bit too "pushed back" sounding. It's somewhat manageable with the midrange EQ & Dialogue adjustments but I still have trouble with movies background action being overpowering. I will say that I do miss the THD chart. That was a very helpful tool in making decisions, also helped me understand what I didn't exactly like about the sound. Like take my experience with the Vizio Elevate flagship system & the LG S80QY. I thought my LG S80QY had a very nice sound to it & it sounded good at normal conservative volumes, but once you turn it up it really falls apart and just sounds like it's shouting. Whereas the Vizio Elevate had a bit of a "tinny" sound to the treble overall, but it sounded really good and clean at loud volumes, and that alone would make me take the Elevate over the S80QY. I've had at least 15+ soundbar setups over the years, from Sony, Samsung, Bose, Sonos, Klipsch, Vizio, probably 2 or 3 other companies I'm forgetting too. Some disappointed me like Sony, some absolutely amazed me like Bose did with my Smart 600 + BM700, and some pleasantly surprised me like the flagship Vizio Elevate system. I hope to see the THD chart come back soon! Absolutely love the website!