As a longtime Digital Technology Expert covering the home audio space, I‘ve witnessed firsthand Amazon‘s growing ambitions to expand beyond their core e-commerce business into hardware, particularly audio products. What started as a humble line of Alexa-enabled Echo speakers has blossomed into a full-on assault on the home theater market, ranging from the high-end Echo Studio to the newly-released Fire TV Soundbar, amazonbasics‘ first foray into the soundbar category.
So when I got my hands on a review unit of the Fire TV Soundbar, I was eager to put it through its paces and see how it stacks up to the competition, both in terms of raw audio performance and from the perspective of Amazon‘s broader home entertainment strategy. Here are my candid thoughts after extensively testing the product over several weeks.
Unboxing and First Impressions
The Fire TV Soundbar arrives in eco-friendly, minimalist packaging emblazoned with a life-size product shot. Included in the box are the soundbar itself, an Alexa Voice Remote (2nd Gen), a power cord, and an optical audio cable. Some may bemoan the lack of an included HDMI cable given the soundbar‘s HDMI ARC connectivity, but it‘s an understandable omission considering the highly variable lengths and specifications of HDMI cables.
Extracting the soundbar from its packaging, I was immediately struck by its sleek, understated design. Clad in dark fabric mesh, it sports a simple rectangular profile measuring 31.5 x 3.4 x 2.8 inches (W x H x D) and weighing in at a manageable 4.2 pounds. While not the most visually striking soundbar I‘ve laid eyes on, its low-key appearance should blend well with most TV setups.
The top panel houses touch-sensitive buttons for power, input selection, and volume. There‘s also a set of four LED indicators that provide visual feedback on volume level, audio format, and when Alexa is listening. Around back, you‘ll find a modest selection of ports – HDMI ARC, optical audio input, USB port, and Ethernet. Wireless connectivity comprises Bluetooth and dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi.
Specifications and Audio Technology
Under the hood, the Fire TV Soundbar packs dual 1.7" x 3.2" full-range drivers powered by a 30W amplifier. While driver size alone doesn‘t tell the full story, it‘s fairly typical for an entry-level soundbar. Notably absent is an included wireless subwoofer, which is offered by some competitors in this price range like the TCL Alto 6+.
Amazon doesn‘t provide a formal frequency response spec, but subjective listening suggests solid extension down to around 50-60Hz – enough for some palpable bass impact, but short of true subterranean rumble. The Fire TV Soundbar partially makes up for this with its DTS Virtual:X audio processing, which applies psychoacoustic techniques to simulate a more expansive, immersive soundstage from two-channel driver configuration.
In terms of audio formats, the soundbar supports Dolby Audio (including Dolby Digital Plus) and standard PCM over its HDMI and optical audio connections. Dolby Atmos is not supported – no surprise given the lack of upward-firing drivers. Bluetooth audio playback is also available, but limited to the lossy SBC codec.
Setup and Ease of Use
One of the Fire TV Soundbar‘s greatest strengths is its quick, pain-free setup process. If you have a TV with an HDMI ARC input, simply plug in the included power cord and an HDMI cable (not included), then follow the on-screen prompts. The whole setup wizard takes less than five minutes, covering fundamentals like WiFi network login, TV audio settings, and a quick primer on Alexa voice commands.
If your TV doesn‘t support HDMI ARC, you can utilize the optical audio input instead, though you‘ll lose support for some advanced audio formats. I tested both connection methods and found that the HDMI ARC setup was flawless, while optical exhibited some minor audio/video sync issues until I enabled a lip sync adjustment in my TV settings.
Once configured, the Fire TV Soundbar behaves much like Amazon‘s Fire TV Stick dongles. The Fire TV interface is presented in a clean tile-based format with all your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, etc. Navigation is snappy and intuitive with the included Voice Remote, and Alexa voice commands work as expected for hands-free content search, playback control, and smart home integration. The overall user experience is polished and will feel instantly familiar to anyone who‘s used a Fire TV product before.
Audio Performance Evaluation
To evaluate the Fire TV Soundbar‘s audio performance, I spent time watching a wide range of content, from dialogue-heavy sitcoms to action-packed blockbusters. I also sampled some music playback over Bluetooth from Spotify. While no groundbreaking revelations, my takeaway is that the Fire TV Soundbar delivers very solid sound quality for its compact form factor and price point.
Dialogue intelligibility is a clear high point. Compared to my TV‘s built-in speakers, the Fire TV Soundbar renders speech with greater clarity and presence, even at lower volumes. This is partly attributable to the more directional nature of a dedicated center-channel speaker versus down-firing TV speakers.
In terms of frequency response, the soundbar has a mostly neutral, uncolored tonality with slight emphasis in the upper bass and lower midrange. This lends a sense of warmth and body to male voices and acoustic instruments. The dual driver design means that stereo separation is limited, but the DTS Virtual:X processing does an admirable job of widening the perceived soundstage, particularly when viewing surround-encoded content.
As mentioned earlier, bass extension and impact is decent but not earth-shattering. You feel some weight behind punches and explosions but don‘t expect your couch to rumble. Treble is present and mostly distortion-free but lacks the airy sparkle and micro-detail of pricier tweeters.
I had no complaints about the Fire TV Soundbar‘s maximum volume and dynamic range for my small-to-medium size living room. But those with especially large or open-concept spaces may find themselves wanting the extra headroom of a more powerful discrete sound system.
Measurements and Technical Performance
While subjective listening is important, it only tells part of the story. To get a more complete picture of the Fire TV Soundbar‘s technical performance, I ran some basic measurements.
Using a calibrated USB measurement microphone and the Room EQ Wizard software, I captured the soundbar‘s steady-state in-room frequency response from one meter away. The results show a commendably flat response from about 55Hz to 17kHz within a +/- 5dB window. Some minor peaks and dips are evident in the treble range, but nothing egregious.
I also measured output at various volume settings to assess dynamic compression and maximum SPL. At 50% volume, the Fire TV Soundbar achieved an average level of 78 dB(C) with peaks of 88 dB(C) – more than enough for casual TV viewing. Pushing to maximum volume, I measured averages exceeding 85 dB(C) and peaks around 95 dB(C). Some dynamic range compression is evident at the highest volume settings but not to an objectionable degree.
Finally, I evaluated the Fire TV Soundbar‘s latency in game mode with a Leo Bodnar lag tester. Results were somewhat disappointing, with end-to-end latency averaging 135ms. That‘s on the high side for gaming and may result in some lip sync errors with external sources. But it‘s less of a concern for most TV and movie viewing.
Comparisons and Competitive Analysis
To put the Fire TV Soundbar‘s performance and value into context, we have to look at the competition. In the sub-$200 range, the most obvious rivals are the Roku Streambar, TCL Alto 6+, and Vizio V21.
The $130 Roku Streambar is a near-clone of the Fire TV Soundbar in terms of form factor, feature set, and even audio/DSP technology (both use DTS Virtual:X). I spent some time comparing the two side-by-side and frankly could not discern any meaningful difference in audio performance. Both offer solid fidelity and a wider soundstage versus built-in TV speakers. The choice between the two really comes down to your smart TV platform preference – Roku OS or Fire TV.
Stepping up to the $130 TCL Alto 6+, the key differentiator is an included wireless subwoofer. This allows the Alto 6+ to dig deeper in the bass for more cinematic oomph. However, you lose out on the built-in streaming capabilities of the Fire TV and Roku products. For buyers prioritizing sound quality over simplicity, the Alto 6+ is a compelling alternative.
The $180 Vizio V21 distinguishes itself with the addition of a dedicated HDMI input and virtual Dolby Atmos support. While I found the V21‘s simulated Atmos effect to be subtle at best, the extra HDMI port is handy for connecting a gaming console or UHD Blu-ray player directly to the soundbar. That said, the V21 also lacks integrated streaming apps and comes in at a higher price.
Conclusion and Recommendation
So where does that leave us with the Fire TV Soundbar? After extensive evaluation, I‘d say it‘s a resounding success for its target market – budget-conscious consumers looking to upgrade their TV audio and streaming experience in one fell swoop.
No, it won‘t match the sonic refinement or immersion of a multi-channel dedicated surround system. And yes, there are some feature omissions (Atmos support, WiFi 6, etc.) that videophiles and audiophiles will understandably bemoan.
But for the vast majority of mainstream living rooms, the Fire TV Soundbar delivers a legitimately satisfying audio upgrade. Dialogue is clear, bass is respectable, and the DTS Virtual:X processing creates a surprisingly expansive soundstage for a simple stereo configuration. Toss in the considerable added value of a built-in Fire TV 4K streaming interface and the intuitive Alexa voice controls, and you have a winning formula at the $130 MSRP. (And it‘s frequently available for less on sale.)
If you fit any of the following criteria, I wouldn‘t hesitate to recommend the Fire TV Soundbar:
- You‘re currently using your TV‘s built-in speakers and find the audio lacking in clarity and depth.
- You‘re in a smaller room like an apartment or bedroom and don‘t need earth-shattering volume levels.
- You‘re already bought into Amazon‘s ecosystem and appreciate the convenience of Alexa voice control.
- You want an all-in-one TV audio and streaming solution that doesn‘t break the bank.
While I‘d still steer picky audiophiles and hardcore cinephiles towards slightly pricier options like the Sonos Beam or Yamaha YAS-209, the reality is most consumers will be more than content with the Fire TV Soundbar‘s performance. It strikes an excellent balance between sound quality, ease of use, and overall value that‘s rare in this price bracket.
In short, Amazon may be a relative newcomer to the home audio space, but the Fire TV Soundbar proves they can bring the innovation and aggressive pricing of their Echo smart speakers to the soundbar form factor. Highly recommended for budget-minded buyers looking for a simple, one-box TV audio makeover.
