VIZIO SB36512-F6 vs Sonos Playbar review

Votes 3 3
Rating 3.7 3.7

VIZIO SB36512-F6 vs Sonos Playbar comparison chart

Overall
VIZIO SB36512-F6
7.4
Sonos Playbar
5.5
7
5

VIZIO SB36512-F6 vs Sonos Playbar review

VIZIO SB36512-F6
vs
Sonos Playbar

It makes sense comparing VIZIO SB36512-F6 vs Sonos Playbar because they both are able to give some premium features. Based on our rating, SB36512-F6 has a total rating of 7.4 out of 10 versus 5.5 for Playbar. The competitors' control buttons are different: power, input, Bluetooth, volume down, volume up and play/pause, volume up, volume down, respectively.

Audio features

Both soundbars have active amplification type. A significant difference between the units in the number of channels, the VIZIO SB36512-F6 has 5.1.2 versus 3.0 for the Sonos Playbar. Competitors do not have a built-in subwoofer. Rivals have wireless connection to separate subwoofer. The VIZIO SB36512-F6 got our rating of 8 out of 10, and the Sonos Playbar 7 for its audio features and specs. Spotify is available on each of the soundbars.

Connectivity

These models have the ability to connect to the Internet via WI-FI. Only the SB36512-F6 has Bluetooth support. Only the SB36512-F6 supports HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). For connectivity, the SB36512-F6 received a rating of 8/10 versus 3/10, respectively.

Features

App control is available in every soundbar. None of the models under consideration have a built-in microphone. Multi-room is only available for the VIZIO SB36512-F6.

Multichannel surround

Only the SB36512-F6 has a Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format support. The soundbars do not support the surround sound technology DTS:X. For multichannel surround VIZIO SB36512-F6 got a rating of 7, and Sonos Playbar 4 out of 10.

Advantages VIZIO SB36512-F6 over Sonos Playbar

  • Separate subwoofer in package
  • Bluetooth enabled
  • Audio return channel (HDMI ARC) support
  • Multi-room support
  • Compatible with Dolby Atmos
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Common

Product

VIZIO SB36512-F6
Sonos Playbar

Model

SB36512-F6
Playbar

Brand

VIZIO
Sonos

Reviews

165
1800

General

Placement type

table-top, wall-mountable
table-top, wall-mountable

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

power, input, Bluetooth, volume down, volume up
play/pause, volume up, volume down

Audio features

Built-in channels

5.1.2
3.0

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

Separate speaker (in package)

2
0

Separate speaker connections

wireless
wireless

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay 2

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, TIDAL, VIZIO SmartCast, Chromecast
Pandora, Tuneln, SoundCloud

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
2

NFC

HDMI input/output

1/0
0/0

HDMI ARC

HDMI eARC

HDMI CEC

Optical digital input/output

1/0
1/0

USB

1 (USB 2.0)

Coaxial digital input/output

1/0
0/0

Analog audio input/output (RCA)

1/0
0/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

0
0

Features

Voice control

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

91.4 x 6.3 x 8.1/36 x 2.5 x 3.1
90 x 14 x 8.5/35.4 x 5.5 x 3.3

Weight, kg/pounds

2.5/5.6
5.4/11.9

Other

Release year

2018
2013
VIZIO SB36512-F6
Sonos Playbar
VIZIO SB36512-F6
Sonos Playbar

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 7.4
  • 5.5
  • 7.4VIZIO SB36512-F6
  • 5.5Sonos Playbar