Bose and VIZIO are two of the most popular brands for sound systems among audio enthusiasts. Bose has been in the market for 60 years now and is probably one of the most recognizable brands in the world. VIZIO, on the other hand, is just about two decades old and yet has made a good name for itself in the industry. In this article, we’re going to compare two of their best-selling soundbars — the Bose TV Speaker and the VIZIO M-Series M51ax-J6 Soundbar. We tested and recommended these two soundbars in our best soundbars article a couple of weeks back. These are some of the most popular soundbars on the market and have received great reviews from the majority of their users.
Bose TV Speaker vs. VIZIO M-Series Soundbar
We’ll be breaking these two down, comparing all of the major criteria — it will help you pick the right one for your home.
Design: The Bose speaker has a typical soundbar design with chamfered edges and a smooth feel on the sides. The speaker grill covers three sides, sparing the back part for the ports. Whereas, the M-Series includes two additional speakers and a subwoofer. All of them have similar designs to stay consistent with the theme. The edges are a lot smoother on this set than on the Bose, with the similar placement of the speaker grills.
Interface: The Bose TV Speaker comes with a remote control, but you can always configure it to manage the volume with your TV remote as well. The buttons on the remote feel really good and have effective feedback, adding a satisfying feel to it. When you connect it to the TV, the soundbar automatically turns on and off with it. This way, you won’t have to interfere manually every time you switch on the TV. Additionally, you can easily switch between input sources with dedicated buttons.
The VIZIO M-Series also comes with a remote control, which looks and feels better than the Bose TV Speaker remote. The remote has a small LCD screen that works as visual feedback for your actions. You can easily switch between different presets with just a tap of a button. Apart from that, you can also manage basic settings like volume and turn on/off directly by using the buttons on top of the soundbar itself. So, if you can’t find any remote instantly, you can always rely on the physical buttons.
Audio Quality: The Bose TV speaker’s hero feature is its Dialog mode, which enhances the clarity of the vocals from movies, music, and games you play on your TV. This offers more clarity than what your TV speakers offer. Moreover, there are two speakers on the inside that are integrated at an angle that creates a spatial audio environment for better immersion. The spatial audio feature is good and does a decent job, but it’s less impressive than what a surround sound speaker can do. The downside that we’ve found is that when the bass is turned up, it slightly covers the dialogue and background music. This isn’t a major issue, but know that it exists.
The M-Series has the advantage of the 5.1 surround sound features and DTS Virtual:X, which creates a totally immersive audio experience. The soundbar has a cumulative total of nine built-in speakers, so with the additional two external speakers and a subwoofer, you get a complete 5.1 surround sound experience. When the other two speakers are placed in the right spot, it can deliver an authentic, theater-like experience at home. And, with the subwoofer, you can feel every beat just like you would in a theater. It fills your room with bass effects that can literally shake your furniture, sending vibrations across the room during high-octane scenes or high-energy music.
| Bose TV Speaker | VIZIO M-Series M51ax-J6 5.1 Soundbar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279—a good balance of cost and a feature-filled device | $379—a higher range but worth the purchase |
| Dimensions | 2.21″ H x 23.38″ W x 4.02″ D | Soundbar: 2.24″ H x 35.98″ W x 3.54″ D, Subwoofer: 9.92″ H x 8.30″ W x 11.69″ D, Speakers: 2.24″ H x 5.71″ W x 3.54″ D |
| Features | Dialogue mode, deep and rich bass, and Bluetooth connectivity | DTS:X, Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround sound, and Bluetooth connectivity |
| Connectivity Options | USB, Bass, Optical, Bluetooth, Aux 3.5mm, and HDMI (ARC) | USB, Optical, Bluetooth, Aux 3.5mm, HDMI (eARC), and Voice assistant |
Which One Should You Buy?
Now that you’ve read through the comparison, the decision is purely up to your preference. You can choose the Bose TV Speaker if you need a more simplistic audio system that delivers better audio clarity compared to your TV, with some additional features. It’s also a tad less expensive than the Vizio soundbar.
The VIZIO M-Series M51ax-J6 Soundbar is a better option if you’re looking for a great surround sound system where you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars. It has nearly all the features that make for an excellent soundbar, despite being placed in a mid-range price category.
FAQ
Is VIZIO a good brand of soundbar?
Yes! VIZIO is one of the leading brands of soundbars and TVs.
What is the best quality soundbar?
Between the VIZIO and Bose soundbars, the VIZIO M-Series M51ax-J6 5.1 Soundbar has the better audio quality.
Is Bose or JBL soundbar better?
Bose audio systems have better audio and build quality when compared to JBL systems.
Are VIZIO soundbars better than Samsung?
Both have their distinct features and benefits, but we prefer VIZIO out of the two in terms of soundbars.
Is VIZIO American-made?
Yes. VIZIO is an American brand.
Is VIZIO a high-end brand?
VIZIO is known to offer feature-filled products at affordable prices and high-end features at budget-friendly costs
Is the Samsung soundbar better than Bose?
Between Samsung and Bose, Bose has the better audio quality and user-friendly features. They are pretty easy to install, too.
What is the best soundbar for speech quality?
Between Bose TV Speaker and VIZIO M-Series M51ax-J6 5.1 Soundbar, the Bose TV Speaker has a dedicated dialog mode, making it the better option.
Which is better, a 2.1 or 5.1 soundbar?
5.1 soundbar is the obvious choice for its higher channel count. It creates a better immersion than 2.1 surround sound systems. If you can spend a couple of extra bucks, go with 5.1 surround sound systems.
What brand is as good as Bose?
Samsung is the best alternative to Bose soundbars.
Which soundbar is best, Sony or Bose?
Sony has better soundbars than Bose, given their history of incredible audio systems throughout the years.
Is VIZIO good for audio?
Yes. VIZIO is a great option for audio systems.
Does the VIZIO soundbar support Dolby Atmos?
Yes. The VIZIO M-Series M51ax-J6 5.1 Soundbar does come with the Dolby Atmos feature.
How do I get better sound from my VIZIO soundbar?
To make the best of your VIZIO soundbars, ensure you have installed all the speakers properly and the wire that you’ve used is not damaged. You can also manually change the settings according to the movie, sports, or games that you’re playing and save them as presets.
