Budget-Friendly Fire TV Soundbar Plus Delivers Great Sound Quality

The Fire TV Soundbar Plus amazes with its audio performance given its affordable price. Featuring two woofers, it produces strong bass that enhances shows, movies, and music. The surround sound effect allows for directional audio, though clarity and balance can sometimes be lacking, and distortion may occur at higher volumes.

Reasons to Consider

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  Exceptional price-to-performance ratio

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  Major upgrade over standard TV speakers

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  Good surround sound experience

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  Rich bass and depth

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  Extremely easy setup

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  Compact, understated design

Potential Drawbacks

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  Music can sound flat

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  Audio may distort at high levels and complex scenes

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  Sound balance could be better

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  Annoying voice prompts during settings adjustments

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  No app support, limited features

In a market where high-end soundbars can exceed $1,000, discovering an affordable option that enhances your home audio setup is refreshing. That's why I was eager to evaluate the Fire TV Soundbar Plus. Ranging from $150 to $250, it's budget-friendly while offering features like built-in subwoofers and Dolby Atmos compatibility.

Quick Verdict

For its price, the Fire TV Soundbar Plus impresses by adding volume, depth, and clarity to your audio. While it significantly outperforms standard TV speakers, it lacks the sophistication of soundbars that may cost two to four times more.

This soundbar amplifies bass as well as mid and treble frequencies for a fuller sound. However, it often sacrifices clarity and detail, leading to occasional tinny sounds.

If you're on a tight budget, this soundbar is a solid pick, but if you can spend a bit more, consider the Yamaha True X Bar 40A, which offers superior sound quality for around $200 more.

Fire TV Soundbar Plus: Specs

Fire TV Soundbar Plus: Setup

Setup for the Fire TV Soundbar Plus is straightforward. Simply plug in the power cord and connect the HDMI cable to your TV's ARC port.

Since it doesn't use an app, there's no online configuration required. Although it functions as a 'dumb' soundbar, it features several sound customization options typically found in pricier models.

Fire TV Soundbar Plus: Design and Features

This budget-friendly soundbar doesn't include advanced features found in models that cost significantly more, such as the Sonos Arc Ultra or Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8. It's a simple, compact model designed for enhanced sound without the frills.

Four EQ presets let you choose between Movie, Music, Sports, and Night modes, the last of which softens loud noises while amplifying softer sounds — perfect for quiet viewing.

You can adjust treble and bass levels from 1-9 and dialogue volume from 1-5. Many pricier models lack these features, so it's commendable for this budget soundbar to offer them.

However, without an app, adjustments require using the remote, which triggers loud voice prompts for every change made. This can be distracting, especially during quiet scenes.

With eight speakers in total — two woofers, three tweeters, and three full-range drivers — the soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, though lacks upward-firing speakers, limiting its surround sound capability.

Bluetooth connectivity allows for using the soundbar as a music speaker, too.

Amazon promotes the Fire TV Soundbar Plus as a great addition for users of a Fire TV Stick or Fire TV. However, the only controls that sync with the TV remote are power and volume.

Fire TV Soundbar Plus: TV and Movies

For its price, the Fire TV Soundbar Plus significantly enhances the audio experience of movies and shows, giving a sense of directionality to sound. However, it can't match the quality of higher-end models like the Samsung HW-QS750F or the Sonos Arc Ultra.

At times, sounds can come off as tinny or lacking depth, especially during busy scenes, and details in quieter moments can be lost.

For example, the opening of Our Planet II showcases a variety of sounds, and while the soundbar performs well, it's evident that its limitations become apparent with more complex audio.

While the woofers generally deliver good sound, the bass isn't always strong, but can surprise with impactful moments.

John Wick Chapter 2 highlights the soundbar's ability to enhance audio, providing a booming effect that adds depth. However, this amplification can lead to a lack of balance, making all audio elements feel equally intense.

In The Trial of the Chicago 7, dialogue is noticeably improved compared to premium brands, though not as dramatically as expected. The courtroom sounds are clear, and the impact of actions is felt, with voices remaining distinct and powerful.

Watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the bass is impressive, creating a rumble that adds to the experience, but clarity can falter during chaotic scenes.

Fire TV Soundbar Plus: Music

The Fire TV Soundbar Plus improves music playback compared to standard TV speakers, but it falls short of more advanced systems like the Samsung HW-QS750F or Yamaha True X Bar 40A.

This soundbar enhances bass, mids, and treble, but lacks the richness and detail you'd get from pricier options.

While some tracks sound decent, others, like Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know, can become scratchy at louder volumes, signaling its limitations.

At times, vocals shine, as heard in Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues, but can also sound tinny in tracks like Morcheeba's The Sea. This speaker excels at louder volumes, yet can struggle with clarity at certain frequencies.

In All Day Breakfast Cafe's What If Nile Rodgers And Fela Kuti Were Friends, instrument separation is good, but the sound lacks authenticity. The brass can sound sharp, and vocals may lose clarity.

The bass can be impressive; when cranked up, you feel the resonance, especially with Daft Punk's Phoenix. However, volume consistency can be an issue, with tracks fluctuating in loudness.

For dedicated music listening, this soundbar may not be the best choice unless you're on a tight budget, as the Yamaha True X Bar 40A offers a much richer audio experience for a bit more investment.

Fire TV Soundbar Plus: Pricing

The Fire TV Soundbar Plus retails for $249.99 on Amazon, but often sells between $150 and $200. It's among the most budget-friendly branded soundbars available, while premium models can start at $900.

For deeper bass, you can purchase the Fire TV Soundbar Plus with an external subwoofer for $374.99. There are also bundles available, including a soundbar with a subwoofer and surround speakers for $489.99, offering a more immersive surround sound experience.

This comprehensive setup is similarly priced to the standalone Yamaha True X Bar 40A, which outshines the Fire TV Soundbar Plus in all areas. This illustrates the significant price gap between Amazon's offering and the competition.

It's a commendable budget-friendly option, but it falls short of impressing compared to premium alternatives. If your budget allows, I recommend investing a little more for the Yamaha.

Testing Methodology for Fire TV Soundbar Plus

I assessed the Fire TV Soundbar Plus in my home, a spacious room with various furnishings. Given its limited features, I couldn't use an app, but I experimented with every adjustment available on the remote and evaluated the setup process.

To ensure consistency, I used the same scenes and songs for all soundbars tested. You can find the full list here.

For more soundbar recommendations, see why we rated the Samsung HW-QS750F so highly.