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Credit: Amazon

A soundbar is often the easiest way to fix thin TV audio, but a single bar can only go so far when you want movies and games to feel more immersive. That is where a fuller surround setup can help, and Amazon currently has its Fire TV Soundbar Plus bundle for $399.99, down from $489.99. Unlike the soundbar-only version, this package gives you a proper 5.1-channel setup, with the bar handling the front and center channels, the subwoofer adding low-end impact, and two speakers sitting behind you for surround effects. Its dedicated center channel should also make dialogue easier to follow when background music or action gets busy.

The system also supports Dolby Atmos and DTS, along with Dolby TrueHD, so it can handle the surround formats you are likely to run into on streaming services and Blu-ray discs. That said, the bar does not use dedicated upward-firing speakers for Atmos effects, so sounds that are supposed to come from above are created virtually rather than with physical height channels. You still get the wider sense of space that comes from having rear speakers, but buyers looking for convincing overhead effects should temper expectations. Also, the soundbar itself is not Alexa-enabled and does not support Alexa Home Theater, so the Fire TV branding does not mean it doubles as a smart speaker, notes this PCMag review.  

Setup is otherwise straightforward. Once the subwoofer and satellites are plugged into power, they connect to the soundbar wirelessly, while the bar itself connects to your TV through HDMI ARC or eARC for the best Dolby Atmos and DTS support. Bluetooth is also available when you just want to play music from a phone or tablet. Plus, compatible Fire TV devices can show sound presets (including Movie, Music, Sports, and Night sound modes) directly in the interface, and HDMI control can let one TV remote handle basic power and volume duties—though, there is less room for fine-tuning than you would get from more expensive home-theater systems with room correction or deeper calibration tools.