Vizio has a well-earned a fame for delivering excessive worth at low costs, however I battle to characterize the entry-level Vizio SB2020 that approach. This soundbar has all the fundamental options you’d look forward to finding in a $70 soundbar, however it delivered a disappointing audio efficiency.
While most price range soundbars need to be greater (deceiving your mind into pondering dimension issues), the ultra-compact SB2020 does simply the alternative. This speaker is completely tiny, measuring simply 20 inches vast, 2.19 inches excessive, and 4.45 inches deep. It’s one of many few soundbars that may mate comfortably with a 24- or 32-inch TV.
Every Vizio soundbar options fashionable silver finish caps stamped with the Vizio brand.
It’s additionally price noting that the SB2020 is designed strictly for placement on furnishings—it affords no wall-mount choices. The speaker is wrapped in acoustically clear fabric, with Vizio’s attribute silver finish caps stamped with the Vizio brand.
Inputs cowl all of the fundamentals
The SB2020 has tactile buttons on high of its cupboard for fundamental operations corresponding to energy, quantity, Bluetooth, and enter. And it has all of the inputs you’d look forward to finding at this value: Toslink optical, 3.5mm analog, USB, and Bluetooth. There’s no HDMI, however you possibly can plug a wired subwoofer into its LFE output. There’s no Wi-Fi adapter onboard both, so it’s not suitable with Vizio’s excellent Smartcast platform. But you possibly can pair it with a Vizio TV that does have these options and never miss something.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe SB2020’s rear panel has a number of enter choices in addition to a subwoofer output.
DTS Virtual X on board
DTS Virtual:X is one function you may not count on to come across on a soundbar at this value, however the Vizio SB2020 has it. DTS Virtual:X makes use of digital sign processing and psychoacoustics to simulate a three-dimensional audio expertise with out requiring further audio system. It’s certainly one of my favourite soundbar applied sciences.
DTS’s know-how makes SB2020 sound approach greater than it has any proper to be. Don’t be fooled, nonetheless, into pondering that this stereo soundbar will magically provide the sensation of being surrounded by 13 audio system, as you’d in a real DTS:X setup. What DTS Virtual:X does properly with the SB2020 is broaden the entrance sound stage, making it taller, wider, and deeper. The sensation is noticeable, however I’d cease shy of calling it radical. I by no means bought the feeling that there have been discrete facet or overhead results throughout my evaluation interval.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe SB2020 can’t be wall mounted. It has 4 rubber toes on the underside to forestall marring any surfaces. however there are not any keyholes or bracket attachments.
Almost each soundbar at this value level—as much as round $200 or so—features a low cost, credit-card model distant management. It’s refreshing to see Vizio buck that development. The included distant is fundamental, however extremely useful. Buttons are giant and properly laid out, and you may navigate them by contact at nighttime—which is an efficient factor because the distant isn’t backlit.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGUnlike most soundbars beneath $200 that include low cost, credit-card model remotes,. Vizio’s distant is fundamental however stable.
Budget-sized efficiency
I examined the Vizio SB2020 soundbar linked by way of Toslink optical to my Oppo UDP-203 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray participant. Additional sources included my Roon music server streaming to the Roon-ready Oppo, and Bluetooth by way of my iPhone XS.
I had the chance to take heed to the SB2020 at Vizio’s product showcase in New York in May. At the time, I famous that the SB2020 elevates the mid and higher bass and emphasizes the frequency vary during which vocals reside. This soundbar has a ahead presentation, with audible limitations within the audio band. Those similar traits manifested themselves in my dwelling setting.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe SB2020 comes with all of the equipment you’ll want—except you need to wall-mount it.
On Adele’s “When We Were Young,” the bass traces had been boomy, however they delivered a euphonic sensation given the soundbar’s restricted bass. Playing the Revivalist’s “Wish I knew You,” vocals had been introduced ahead from the remainder of the devices.
Streaming tracks by way of Tidal over Bluetooth, the SB2020 fared properly with male vocals and acoustic tracks. “Not bad for a $69 soundbar,” I assumed to myself. It was simply then that issues went a bit south. The Vizio’s total sound went from respectable to downright horrible, relying on the observe and musical devices in it.
I made a decision to fireside up Delta Goodrem’s “God Laughs.” Piano notes firstly of the track had been downright horrible—a toy piano would have sounded higher. Thinking there was maybe one thing incorrect with the observe, I then set the Roon music zone to my Denon X8500H with RBH SVTR Tower Reference Speakers. The piano sounded pure. I switched again to the Vizio and heard the identical issues.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe high of the soundbar has buttons for simple entry to the most typical capabilities.
I then switched to Alycia Keys’ eponymous track, “Alycia.” The similar downside reared its ugly head. Imagine Dragons “Bad Liar?” Yes, similar distorted sound there, too. Piano notes on on Alycia Keys “Harlem’s Nocturne” and “If I Ain’t Got You” sounded tinny and horrible. At instances, I even famous cupboard resonances. I attempted turning DTS Virtual:X on and off, switching the EQ settings, and extra. I lastly concluded that the SB2020 merely couldn’t reproduce all sounds faithfully inside its vary.
If that wasn’t sufficient, I then observed one other darkish facet to this ultra-compact soundbar: It struggles at excessive quantity. My listening house could be very giant—greater than 24 toes vast by 30 toes lengthy. My listening place is about 14 toes away. When I cranked the quantity on the SB2020, I might hear audible distortion begin to kick in. The sound began making me really feel anxious and was fatiguing to take heed to. Lowering the quantity calmed issues down a bit. I observed that after I bought above 25 clicks above zero on the quantity issues began taking place hill.
Switching to motion pictures, I made a decision to throw in Gladiator. When I popped within the disc, the Vizio began telling me in a robotic voice, “Format not supported.” In case you’re not conscious, Blu-ray gamers and a few streaming bins ship the audio sign as a bit stream (e.g., Dolby Digital, DTS, or any of a number of others), anticipating your audio system—a soundbar or an A/V receiver—to decode that information. Soundbars on this value vary usually aren’t outfitted with the processing chops to deal with that job.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGVizio’s SB2020 soundbar can solely play audio despatched as PCM. You should explicitly set your sources (like a Blu-ray participant or streaming system) to output audio as PCM or this speaker received’t perceive it
To get round this limitation, you could go into your system’s setup menu and alter the output from bit stream to LPCM (linear pulse code modulation) or PCM (pulse code modulation). Once I did that with the SB2020, the film performed because it ought to.
Enabling DTS Virtual:X on the soundbar expanded the sound stage on the opening scene, with the Roman military battling the barbarian horde. The diminutive SB2020 did yeoman’s work for its dimension, however lacked the muscle to ship the total dynamics this scene possesses. And when Chapter 12 got here up, the SB2020’s darkish facet began to return out. On Hans Zimmer’s rating, “The Might of Rome,” sure notes turned harsh. In that scene, as Caesar is available in on his chariot and the Roman senators are speaking, dialog was very muddy—and at factors—tough to make out.
Conclusion
Vizio’s SB2020 soundbar scores factors for its diminutive footprint, and its inputs and non-compulsory subwoofer output ship vital worth and adaptability. It will make a superb companion for smaller, cheaper TVs in smaller rooms—supplied you keep inside its consolation zone. Go even a hair outdoors that zone, and also you’ll immediately hit this soundbar’s limits—and people limits aren’t nice.
You will encounter the Vizio SB2020’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde character in some unspecified time in the future. Only you possibly can determine if its small value and proportions are an affordable trade-off for its cut up character. So by all means, in the event you want one thing this dimension, give it a shot. Just make sure you retain your receipt till you’ve given it an intensive audition in your individual listening house.