Amazon ’s new Fire TV Soundbar Plus is n’t just one merchandise — it ’s three . Depending on the version , you ’ll spend $ 250for just the soundbar , $ 375 if youadd a wireless subwooferor $ 490 forthe version with the grinder and two wireless environs speakers . However , the first two versions are n’t upgradeable . You ca n’t add a hoagy or environ to the soundbar - only model and you ca n’t append environs to the one that total with a sub .
All three have the same capableness ( Dolby Atmos / DTS : Xcompatibility and Bluetooth cyclosis ) , but each will deliver a different listening experience . For this inspection , Amazon sent us the full $ 490 version . Since most of my examination clock time was spent using that contour , our prescribed score and pro / gyp list pertain to that model . However , I also tried the system in its two other flavors and I ’ll provide some thoughts on these option throughout the review so you could get a sense of the divergence .
Is the Amazon Soundbar Plus a Fire TV device?
I ’ve say it before , but it ’s worth reprize : Despite its name , the Fire TV Soundbar Plus is just a sound system . It connects to your tv set viaHDMI - ARC / eARC(oroptical ) , but there ’s no built - in video streaming functionality . If your telecasting does n’t havesmart TVfeatures , the Fire TV Soundbar Plus wo n’t make it any smarter .
As most as I can picture , Amazon give it this name because if you own a compatible Amazon Fire TV , your existing remote control can see the soundbar , and you’re able to access certain reasoned options from your television receiver ’s menus .
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus specs
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus: what’s in the box?
In the box , you get the soundbar , the wireless environ and subwoofer , and everything you need to set up the system and touch base it to your TV via HDMI . magnate cables , anHDMI cable , a remote with shelling , and even wall - mounting computer hardware for the soundbar are all included .
You ’ll also find oneself an easy - to - follow quick - start guide . The only thing you may need to buy is anoptical cable(or an optic to HDMI adapter ) if your TV does n’t have an available HDMI - ARC larboard .
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus: design
When I reviewedAmazon ’s first Fire TV Soundbar , I noted that the troupe had deal to create a budget - favorable speaker that did n’t look crummy . That approach has been maintain with the Soundbar Plus . It may not win any purpose awards , but its simple black chassis and refined charcoal fabric grille ( also used on the surrounds ) should count good in just about any way .
The one alteration that Amazon made with the Plus model is the accession of a modest but noticeable Fire TV logo under the top - mount controls ( it also seem on the hoagy and environment ) . I ’m averse to any seeable branding on home theatre of operations product , but if it has to be there , at least it ’s subtle — you ’ll only acknowledge it when stick out immediately above the speakers .
At 37 - inches wide , the soundbar should be narrow-minded enough to seat in front of a 40 - column inch TV . Just keep in mind that at 2.5 inch grandiloquent , there ’s a chance it could block your tv set ’s infrared ( IR ) pass receiver . Since there ’s no IR repeater on the back of the verbaliser , you may want to mensurate carefully before you buy .
I really like that Amazon installed measure threaded mounting holes on both the rear and the bottom of the environs loudspeaker . This considerably increases position tractability , rent you use stands or wall - mount bracket if you do n’t have categorical aerofoil ( or rampart electric outlet ) near your ideal localisation .
The remote is very compact . The buttons are clearly label and promiscuous to use , though they ’re not backlit ( not that I anticipate them to be at this price ) . The top condom membrane will finally wear out , but until that happens it should provide good tribute from accidental spills .
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus: Setup and connections
Honestly , it does n’t get much easier than this . stop up the soundbar into a power outlet , then plug it into your telly ’s HDMI - ARC port with the render cable or one of your own . The soundbar will mechanically power up and ( if your TV is already on ) switch to the HDMI input signal . And … you ’re done .
If you buy the model with a hero sandwich or sub+surrounds , you ’ll also find out a voice prompt say you these accessories are n’t connected . That ’s quickly remedied by secure them in . There are backup connection release on each unit , but mine connected to the soundbar mechanically once they power up .
There ’s no app to download , and no Wi - Fi connexion to configure . Just start take in TV .
The Soundbar Plus has three ports : HDMI ARC , opthalmic , and USB . I doubt many folks will apply the USB feature film ( for accessing music stored on a hard drive or thumb drive ) when Bluetooth is blend in to be more commodious , but it ’s a nice touch , especially since the remote is equipped with playback control ( you might be surprised at how many remotesdon’thave them anymore ) .
assume your TV has HDMI - ARC , you could apply the optic port for a second digital audio source . My balloting would be to connect an affordable web euphony pennon like the Wiim Mini , but you could utilize a standard candle player or any other audio machine instead .
swop the soundbar to Bluetooth for the first fourth dimension automatically activates the union mode . Once paired with your headphone , it will reconnect mechanically the next time you use Bluetooth .
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus: settings
For a soundbar with no companion app , on - screen setting ( on non - Fire idiot box ) , or even an alphanumerical front display , Amazon has managed to pack the Soundbar Plus with a fate of tweak .
Via the remote , you have admittance to bass voice , treble , EQ mode , dialogue enhancement , surround mode , and if you get the version with surroundings talker , a set of consecrated buttons just for those units .
The downside of the design is that most of these options are step - based , stand for you repeatedly press the relevant button to cycle through the available levels . Bass , for instance , goes from 1 to 9 . You want to press the button each time you want to go up a grade . Go too far and you ’ll have to around again .
Although what ’s more annoying is that the speaker announces each level change instead of just using the bar ’s built - in row of LED indicator .
Speaking of those LEDs , they ’re the only way to get a check of whether your audio signal is recognized as Dolby Atmos . If it is , the middle three LED flash green — just once — when you begin playback .
You get used to all of this , but Amazon , if you ’re mind , I think this is an area for improvement .
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus: sound quality
Even if you opt for the soundbar - only rendering , the Fire TV Soundbar Plus has flock of power and can deliver surprisingly estimable low-spirited - ending basso . If you ’ve been getting by on your TV ’s progress - in speakers , you ’ll discover a monolithic difference the moment you turn this verbalizer on .
dialog clarity ( a must - have for any soundbar ) is specially just out of the box , and you get an additional five levels of optional talks sweetening . I terminate up sticking with level 1 — by the sentence I got to 5 , I happen the impression too vivid .
sum the subwoofer , as you might expect , does wonders for the low death , taking it from something you may get a line to something you may begin to really palpate . In curt , it does what a sub should do ( at least in a home theatre linguistic context ) by make pic feel more dramatic and immersive . Just keep your expectations in confirmation : it ’s a good little subwoofer , but it does n’t throng the power or precision you ’ll find in high-priced arrangement .
But in the end , it ’s Amazon ’s border that surprise me the most . They do n’t look like much on the outside , but using the remote ’s distinct surround volume and counterweight release gives you a huge amount of ascendence over these Speaker . Placed at the ends of my couch ( about 5 feet on either side of my listening position ) I could make them almost as tacky as the front right field / left-hand channels . This not only bodes well for getting the spirit level of dousing you ’re personally well-situated with , but it will also help with placement — I ’m reasonably sure I could have put them three metre as far from me and still take heed them clearly .
The one downside to the Soundbar Plus is that it shares the steady Fire TV Soundbar ’s weak midrange . Despite consume several EQ manner to select from ( picture show , music , sports , and night ) and separate ascendency for bass and treble ( impressive when you deliberate that Sony ’s flagship soundbars do n’t have this ) , I still could n’t get the system to sound the way I wanted .
The highs ( even with dialogue enhancement off ) felt too peaky . Pushing treble levels down helped with this , but the side effect was that things come out to get muddy .
I ’m probably overstating the issue . I tend to listen for these things , so I tend to hear them . You may not be bothered by it all .
Music hearing can be thrilling on this system , but to get a line it , you ’ll have to give the convenience of Bluetooth . stream over Bluetooth is fine . Want some backdrop music for a get - together ? It ’s gross for that . On the other manus , take heed to a medicine app from a stream machine ( or your smart TV ) over HDMI / optical , is right smart good .
On the soundbar - only variant , stereo separation is in effect in normal manner and using the surround mode expands the soundstage without overly diluting the focus . The surround - equipped system is a circle more fun . It somehow manages to take the sounds from the outer edges of the left / right channels and agitate them — and just them — to the rear loudspeaker system , something I notice when heed to Fleetwood Mac’sDreams . I was n’t expecting such a advanced result from a sub-$500 band of speaker unit .
What I can say definitively , is that you should n’t buy this organisation if you ’re looking for a honest Dolby Atmos experience .
Yes , technically the Fire TV Soundbar Plus is a Dolby Atmos and DTS :X compatible utterer . However , the standalone soundbar model is limited to 3.1 channels ( it processes the low - frequency effects channel using its own woofers ) as is the subwoofer - equipped modeling . Only the modeling with the surrounds and grinder can do more , but it ’s still throttle to 5.1 channels .
All this to say , each of these system of rules relies on virtualization for the acme - groove effect that we tend to associate with 3D format like Atmos and DTS : X. And though some virtualized phone organization have win over me that there are phantom ceiling speakers above me , the Soundbar Plus is n’t one of them .
Do n’t get me ill-timed , Atmos ( I did n’t judge any DTS :X ) does n’t soundbad . In fact , die hard through all of my usual test scenes from pic likeMad Max : Fury Road , No clip To Die , Unbroken , andFord v Ferrari , prove plenty enjoyable . It ’s just that I did n’t get a line as many of the distinct spacial elements that I ’ve heard from more able systems .
Conclusion
Other than the small critiques I ’ve mentioned throughout the review , I really like the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus , in all of its flavors . The job is that when you look at a competitor like Vizio , which sells a miscellany of 5.1Dolby Atmos model — some for as slight as $ 200 — it ’s hard to come up with good reasons why you should spend more on Amazon ’s edition .
We have n’t checked out Vizio ’s up-to-the-minute 2024/5 model , but we ’ve reviewed and been mighty impressed bytheir predecessorsand we have no grounds to think the raw ace will perform any worse .
I think you ’ll enjoy the Fire TV Soundbar Plus , but you may find a well economic value elsewhere .
