Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Review
After the success of its streaming sticks, Echo speakers, and TVs, Amazon is now trying its hand at its own sound bar for the first time. Just like the previous products, the retail giant is sticking to proven methods and offering a compact Fire TV sound bar with plenty of features and an appealing design at a bargain price.
The Fire TV Soundbar comes with Bluetooth 5.2, an HDMI ARC connection, an equalizer with various sound modes, and even the virtual 3D audio format DTS Virtual:X. In our review, we’ll see whether users can expect good sound quality despite the low price, which other sound formats the 2.0 sound bar supports, if Amazon has integrated its Alexa voice assistant, and whether it’s worth buying.
Did you know… that alongside the sound bar we tested, Amazon recently launched a new Echo speaker called the Echo Spot? Unlike the similarly designed Echo Pop, this model features a full touch display, which can show the time or song information. It’s perfect for use as a smart alarm clock.
Build and Dessign
The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar comes in a box that’s 83 centimeters wide, but the sound bar itself is just 61 centimeters long, making it roughly comparable to the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini. Despite its extremely compact design, the Amazon sound bar surprises with a high-quality and modern look, which is further emphasized by its relatively heavy weight of around 1.8 kilograms.
The front is completely covered with finely crafted acoustic fabric, which extends about two and a half centimeters onto the top, bottom, and both sides. Behind it are the two full-range speakers on the left and right, which together deliver 40 watts of power. The black body is smooth and made of plastic. On top, there are five round control buttons, while the connections are located in a rectangular recess on the back.
These include an HDMI port, an optical S/PDIF input, and a USB port. There are also two keyhole openings on the back, which are intended for the included wall mount. The package also includes two power adapters (for EU and UK), a 1.5-meter HDMI cable, a multilingual user manual, and a remote control with batteries. Instead of a display, there is a three-digit LED indicator on the front that shows the selected input source or volume, although the latter doesn’t work precisely as the number of lights only increases after pressing the button several times.
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Remote Control The included black infrared remote control looks like a more compact version of the Fire TV Stick remote. It has all the buttons found on the sound bar, as well as additional ones for switching or pausing audio tracks, adjusting the sound mode or bass intensity, and activating the sound expansion feature.
“Affordable stereo sound bar with Bluetooth and wall mount included”
Setup, Operation, and Features
Connect the cables, turn it on, select the input source – that’s it. The Fire TV Soundbar is that easy to set up. HDMI ARC/eARC compatibility is also convenient, allowing users to control the sound bar with their TV remote, as long as their TV has an ARC/eARC port. Alternatively, you can use the included infrared remote control.
Sound Bar The new Amazon sound bar features a sleek, no-frills design, with the front covered in acoustic fabric for a high-quality appearance. The mostly smooth plastic body is gently rounded on the sides and impeccably crafted. On top, there are five control buttons for volume, power, Bluetooth activation, and input source selection.
The remote control is about the size of two matchboxes placed side by side, with buttons for music playback, input source selection, and sound format changes. Basic functions, such as volume control and Bluetooth mode activation, are also accessible via the control buttons on the top. Notably, the sound bar announces changes in input source or sound mode in English via voice prompts, which we found useful during everyday use.
However, if you prefer not to have voice prompts, you can disable them by pressing the mute button on the remote for about seven seconds, and re-enable them the same way. We were a little disappointed that Amazon didn’t include its Alexa voice assistant, which would have made the device much more valuable.
The general features are limited but sufficient. Bluetooth 5.2 is available for wireless music streaming, and there’s even a USB port that can charge mobile devices or play MP3 and WAV files from a FAT32-formatted USB drive. However, since the sound bar doesn’t have a full display, it’s best to organize your music files in the desired playback order on a PC or laptop beforehand to avoid any confusion.
Sound Formats and Quality
Amazon’s affordable mini sound bar offers three sound modes for movies, music, and dialogue, each enhancing voices or adjusting the sound profile for films or music. The differences are minor, though, and the film mode can serve as a default setting for most scenarios. The biggest impact on the overall sound comes from the three-level bass adjustment. For regular TV programming, we found the middle setting optimal, while the lowest setting made the sound too tinny, and the highest setting was too boomy. For action-packed movie scenes, turning up the bass can add some serious impact to the sound.
Thermal Image 30.5°C After three hours of TV use, only the central area on the top and back of the sound bar warmed up, reaching a peak of just 30.5°C. The highest temperature was measured at the HDMI port, at 37.7°C.
Overall, the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar delivers decent performance and significantly improves the sound of most TVs that don’t have a built-in sound bar. We also liked the effect of the virtual sound expansion, which can be toggled on and off with the press of a button. It creates a wide and fuller sound stage that extends beyond the compact dimensions of the sound bar.
Even without it, we enjoyed a well-executed stereo sound that worked well for both films and TV, bringing out background sounds and effects impressively. However, the balance could be better in terms of voice clarity, as dialogue can get lost in the sound mix. The dialogue mode and the lowest bass setting can help a little with this, but it comes at the expense of the rest of the soundscape.
When playing music via Bluetooth, which was quick and easy to set up in our test, the sound bar tended to drone a little at high volumes. It also lacked a bit of dynamic range and nuance, making complex tracks like “Bohemian Rhapsody” sound somewhat dull. Nevertheless, the stereo sound bar delivers reasonably clear highs and deep bass, although the mids are a bit muffled. This sound profile is reminiscent of smaller Bluetooth speakers in the mid-to-high double-digit price range, which is perfectly acceptable for everyday music listening, especially given that this is a very affordable sound bar.
Specs
| Product Name | Amazon Fire TV Soundbar |
| Dimensions | 61 cm (Length) |
| Weight | 1.8 kg |
| Speaker Output | 40 watts (2 full-range speakers) |
| Sound Formats Supported | Dolby Digital, DTS Virtual |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2, HDMI ARC, Optical S/PDIF, USB |
| HDMI ARC/eARC Compatibility | Yes |
| Control Options | Infrared remote control, TV remote via HDMI ARC, physical buttons on device |
| Inputs | HDMI, Optical S/PDIF, USB |
| Power Consumption | 11 watts |
| Included Accessories | Wall mount, 2 power adapters (EU and UK), 1.5m HDMI cable, remote with batteries |
| Special Features | Virtual sound expansion, multiple sound modes (Movie, Music, Dialogue) |
| Audio Control | Equalizer, 3-step bass adjustment |
| Display | 3-digit LED indicator (for input source and volume) |
| Additional Features | Wall-mountable, Bluetooth streaming, USB playback |
| Not Included | Alexa voice control, AirPlay, NFC, Subwoofer |
| Temperature (after 3 hours use) | 30.5°C (central area), 37.7°C (HDMI port) |
| Overall Rating | 8.3/10 (Good) |
Verdict
The main selling point of the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar, aside from its well-known brand, is certainly its low price. For that, users get a well-built and visually appealing sound system with adequate sound quality. While it can’t compete with high-end devices, it still offers a good introduction to this product segment and clearly improves the sound of standard TV audio.
It supports Bluetooth, Dolby Digital, and DTS Virtual:X, offers wall mounting, virtual sound expansion, and has several preset sound modes. We were puzzled by the lack of Alexa voice control, though.
Overall, the compact sound bar earns a score of 8.3 out of 10, with a “good” rating. If you’re looking for an affordable way to enhance your TV’s sound, the Fire TV Soundbar is a solid choice.
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