Amazon Fire Soundbar Plus

Chris Bayer/ZDNET

Initially, I placed the two satellite speakers on the credenza to the left and right of the TV. As a result, the volume and bass drilled me in the face. I had unwittingly turned the volume well above 50%, and it was loud. The tsunami of sound reminded me of sitting in a large cineplex when you weren’t exactly prepared for that first blast of noise. This is to say, the collective five speakers were projecting their vibrations directly toward my earholes, which were met with hefty volume, clear dialogue, and crisp musical notes.

Also: This soundbar has some of the best audio I’ve ever heard, but there’s one thing I can’t get over

The subwoofer’s speaker is down-firing, located on the bottom of the unit. Despite the low-pile Berber carpet in our testing space, the sub delivered rumbling bass with a frequency as low as 50Hz. I doubt you’d encounter much quality loss if you placed the subwoofer on a higher-pile carpet, but it’s something to consider.

Then I positioned the two surround speakers where their name suggests they should be placed, surrounding the viewing area behind the couch. While some users have indicated the Soundbar Plus falls short of providing a true surround sound experience, I disagree. The surround speakers make for a memorably immersive experience.

is a comprehensive surround sound system that’s compatible with any smart TV and streaming app and delivers dynamic, room-filling sound for under $500. The lesser models (without the additional sub and surround speakers) provide quality sound at an appropriate price point, but obviously, you’ll get less sound. 

All in all, though, it’s a sound system that can significantly upgrade your audio experience while being easy to set up and use without breaking your bank. That’s a good bet, in my book. 

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