I have been a fan of Vizio soundbars for awhile based on the fact they give you impressive quality for the price. They aesthetically usually look good as well. Vizio tends to go for the fabrics and the brushed metals compared to other brands. So, while the M-Series Elevate 5.1.2 Immersive Sound Bar has been out awhile I’ll tell you if it is still a good system to pick up. Especially with its recent price drop.
Style
Soon as you unbox the M512e-K6 you will notice the charcoal fabric that is wrapped around the soundbar. It feels great and surprisingly over the time using it hasn’t really picked up any dirt or dust. This soundbar measures 41.38” across. Its dual Satellite speakers, also wrapped in a charcoal fabric are a tad over 6” each while the subwoofer is about 9” tall and 10” wide. While there isn’t fabric on the subwoofer it does come in that dark charcoal colorway, we have seen on previous soundbars by Vizio.
There are clickable buttons on the soundbar such as Power, Source, Bluetooth, and Volume Controls on top. With the speaker facing you there is an LED illumination hiding behind the fabric for various functions such as volume control and other setting changes.
M-Series Elevate 5.1.2 Immersive Sound Bar includes HDMI, power plugs, wall mounts, and remote.
Setup / Features
This is the first time I have hooked up a Vizio soundbar to a non-Vizio TV (currently using a TCL TV), but the results were great. First connecting the soundbar to the TV, it recognized it right away, and then going with connecting the satellite speakers to the subwoofer. Within a matter of moments everything was synchronized together.
Setups wise I have the soundbar front facing, subwoofer on the right of the couch and the satellites on each side of the couch slightly behind the cushions.
Unfortunately, the M512e-K6 does not support Wi-Fi or casting such as Google or Apple AirPlay so you will have to rely on functionality through the included remote. The remote does have a display on it to help navigate through the numerous options on the soundbar system. You can adjust the EQ modes, sound levels, and even the height of the Elevate speakers on the sides.
One thing you will miss from not using this with a Vizio TV is the on-screen soundbar options which visually may make it easier to set up your equipment to your liking.
Sound
So, what makes the M-Series Elevate 5.1.2 great is its number of speakers with a total of thirteen. Also, two of those are what they call Adaptive Height Speakers. Usually, you wouldn’t notice they are there but when Dolby Atmos is activated, they will come out the sides illuminated in whatever color you choose then firing up and down to get you immersed even further into your cinema.
Using this for everyday use you get a nice sense of detail while watching regular programming whether it is sports or your usual drama show. When you decide to put on something that supports Dolby Atmos is when you get that kick up in sound. I like to play scenes from Multiverse of Madness (Disney+) as there are various action sequences. One is Wanda being trapped in mirrors of glass and she shoots a projectile. It pings off all over and you can feel and hear this in detail via the speakers. Another case of immersion would be The Batman (VUDU) when he is chasing The Penguin. You can feel the swerving through traffic and the rear speakers help it feel like you are passing cars.
M512e-K6 was used with a PS5, Xbox Series X, and NVIDIA Shield on a TCL TV.
Verdict
Vizio still manages to give you great sound quality and detail at a price point that isn’t too heavy on the pockets for consumers. Its setup is easy and should work with your TV without much issue. Its style profile can be welcome in most homes and fits right in looking premium. This soundbar originally retailed for $800 but I have seen it as low as $500 at times if you catch it on sale.
