TVs are getting thinner and that’s terrific for aesthetic purposes but disastrous for audio quality. Those razor-thin screens don’t have any physical room for decent speakers which means most integrated audio sounds flat, tinny and lifeless.
Amazon definitely noticed this gap in the market and decided to create a solution that’s largely inspired by premium brands like Bose and Samsung – except the Fire TV soundbar Plus costs two to three times less than comparable models from those manufacturers. At the moment, you can score this soundbar for just $174, down from its usual $249 sticker, which puts it at an all-time low.
Serious Audio Upgrades
The Fire TV soundbar Plus is a fantastic soundbar that houses real home theater technology inside a single sleek unit sitting neatly below your television. This is a 3.1 channel system which means you get three forward-firing speakers combined with a built-in subwoofer for bass in one compact unit. The dedicated center channel takes care of dialogue specifically so that if people are talking in movies or shows, the conversations come across sharp and clear rather than being blurred with background music and effects.
Dolby Atmos support brings 3D audio into the mix with the sensation that sound is moving around and above you rather than just blasting straight ahead. Action scenes feature helicopters flying overhead, atmospheric dramas rain from above, and much more. Support for DTS:X multi-dimensional audio processing for filmmakers and sound designers gives multiple ways to create immersive experiences that this soundbar can actually reproduce.
Special attention is given to the built-in subwoofer as most soundbars in this price range either forgo bass altogether or use a separate wireless subwoofer that requires floor space and its own power outlet. Amazon manages to house the sub directly within the chassis of the soundbar and with it, you gain deep, punchy low frequencies for everything from explosions to music and ambient rumble-all without adding another component to your setup.
Setup couldn’t be any easier since you only have to hook up the included HDMI cable to your TV’s HDMI eARC or ARC port. The same cable carries both audio and control signals, which means the remote from your television can change the soundbar’s volume for you with no unnecessary controller cluttering up your coffee table. Audio sync issues that plague some soundbar setups simply don’t happen here, since the HDMI connection keeps everything perfectly timed.
It’s compact enough to fit under most TVs without blocking the screen or the remote sensor and has an understated design that lets your entertainment take center stage. For the price, you’re getting tech and performance that’s regularly between $400-$600 from other established audio brands which makes this one of the single best value propositions in home audio at the moment. And for an all-time low price, it’s an even easier decision.
