I tested a cheap Dolby Atmos 5.1 soundbar system with real speakers heres where it impressed me, and where it fell short of the competition

Date:
Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Description:
The Ultimea Poseidon D60 is an affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar system, but it doesnt come without a few trade-offs.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Ultimea Poseidon D60 review Looking to unleash the power of surround sound on your living room without breaking the bank? Then the Ultimea Poseidon D60 surely seems like a tempting proposition. This 5.1 channel system comes with a compact main bar, a small subwoofer, and a couple of surround speakers, enabling you to experience more expansive audio than your TV can provide alone.

Not only that, but the D60 supports Dolby Atmos, has a wide array of connectivity options, and customizable sound. All of that for less than $200
/ 200? Seems like a sweet deal. But is the Ultimea Poseidon D60 actually
worth considering? Can it compete with some of the best cheap soundbars around? I spent a few days testing it, and this is my verdict. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

First things first, lets talk setting up. The D60 isnt especially hard to get up and running. The sub is wireless, and pre-paired to the main soundbar, and both of those units just need to be hooked up with a power cable, as well as an HDMI or digital optical cord for the bar itself. However, the rear
speakers are not wireless you have to connect them up to the subwoofer with RCA cables. Depending on your placement of the sub, this can look pretty messy, and I prefer the solution offered by models like the Majority Bowfell Halo Atmos , where you wire the two surround speakers together with just one linked to a power output.

Otherwise, setup is simple. You can use either the included remote, or Ultimeas companion app to adjust aspects such as channel levels, EQ settings, source controls and more. The included remote looks and feels a bit cheap and I found that it wasnt always perfectly responsive, but the D60 does have HDMI CEC support, meaning you can simply use your main TV remote to alter the soundbars volume.

More generally, I have to say that the Poseidon D60 does look as cheap as its price suggests. Its not an eye sore or anything, but each constituent part of the system is very plasticky and does little to stand out in a fairly convoluted market of plain black boxes. The LED display on the bar is also pretty small, and not the clearest.

Something I will applaud about the D60s design, though, is how diminutive it is. The main bar, sub, and rears are all very small, and can easily fit into
a smaller living space. Even in my relatively cramped apartment, the full system seamlessly slotted into my setup and, even if youre limited on space behind you, the rear speakers can be placed beside the main bar for front surround effects. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. (Image credit: Future) Ultimea Poseidon D60 (Black) at Amazon for 199.99 But anyway, you must be wondering how the Ultimea Poseidon D60 performs by now, right? Well, in all honesty, it exceeded my expectations.

I started by throwing on my 4K UHD Blu-ray copy of The Boy and the Heron ,
and there were some positives right out of the gate. In a scene where the protagonist, Mahito, exits his house, the surround speakers did a great job
of conjuring up immersion, with the sounds of birds and crickets chirping coming through with impressive clarity. Shortly after, the heron flew towards me on-screen, and the directionality was captured well I almost jumped back in my seat.

As the heron swooped to the side, the D60 mapped his movement with precision, and it sounded as if he extended past the confines of my screen. As Mahito
and the heron conversed, I found that the dialogue was pretty clean too. It wasnt the most forward or expertly separated, but I had no issue following along it didnt sound muffled or tinny as Ive experienced on other soundbars.

But after this, I was introduced to the D60s Achilles Heel: its bass output. When a horde of fish and amphibians appeared, exclaiming JOIN US, it was
meant to be accompanied by an all-consuming, almighty bass roar, but this
roar sounded more like a meow. The D60 failed to provide the impact I was looking for, even after I turned the level of the sub up a notch.

I found that bass lacked substance as I tuned into other 4K UHD Blu-rays and Dolby Atmos content on streaming services. While dialogue remained consistently tight, and the rear speakers whipped up surprisingly prominent, well-balanced surround effects, the bass always just felt lacking. Why? Well, the sub is small and limited in terms of power output, meaning it cant
provide the impactful low-end youd expect from pricier options.

Another area where the D60 struggles to compete with some of its rivals is in its lack of height effects. The main soundbar has no upfiring speakers, so
the vertical Atmos effects are hardly the most convincing. If you want to experience more substantial height effects while remaining on a budget, then Id suggest checking out a model like the Hisense AX5125H . (Image credit: Future) As you may expect, the D60 isnt the most musically talented, with
bass sometimes lacking impact, and guitars or vocals in the mid-range feeling short on texture and definition. But most tracks I threw at the soundbar system were clear enough for background listening, and Bluetooth connectivity makes playing tunes from your phone feel pretty seamless.

Speaking of connectivity, the D60 is pretty versatile. Of course theres Bluetooth and HDMI eARC, but you also get access to digital optical, AUX, and USB playback. Thats a great line-up for a cheap soundbar, though it's worth noting that theres no Wi-Fi streaming or HDMI input for connecting devices like games consoles or streaming sticks.

Other features include a 10-band equalizer, as well as a vast array of
presets in the Ultimea app, and a bass boost mode. The D60 isnt offering specialized options like room correction, speech enhancement, or a night
mode, but the fundamentals are solid overall.

So, at the end of it all, would I recommend the Ultimea Poseidon D60? Its a complicated one. If you want surround sound on a budget, then its certainly a decent solution. Youre not going to get the most amazing Dolby Atmos effects due to the limitations to height effects, and bass isnt the most impactful. But the rear speakers work surprisingly well, and you get clearer dialogue than a lot of standalone TVs will offer.

If youre more particular about your sound, then I think it's worth looking elsewhere. If your budget is flexible, Id suggest checking out the Samsung HW-Q800F or one of its predecessors for seismic bass and incredible expansiveness, although the aforementioned Hisense AX5125H is another amazing surround sound option if you want something cheaper. (Image credit: Future) Ultimea Poseidon D60 review: price & release date Priced at $169.99 / 199.99 (about AU$240) Released in September 2023 The Ultimea Poseidon D60 was released in September 2023, and typically costs around $169.99 / 199.99
(about AU$240). This plants it firmly in the budget category when were discussing 5.1 channel surround sound systems. Its available in a single
black colorway. Ultimea Poseidon D60 review: specs Swipe to scroll horizontally

Dimensions

Soundbar: 15.7 x 2.8 x 3.5 inches / 400 x 70 x 90mm; subwoofer: 6.1 x 9.6 x 8.5 inches / 155 x 244 x 215mm; rear speakers 5.3 x 2.8 x 3.5 inches / 135 x 70 x 90mm

Speaker channels

5.1

Connections

HDMI eARC, digital optical, AUX, USB, Bluetooth 5.3

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / No

Sub included

Yes

Rear speakers included

Yes (Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Ultimea Poseidon D60? Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Not the most feature-rich, but has EQ options, a control app, and a good set of connectivity options.

3.5/5

Performance

Generally clear dialogue, effective surround speakers, but disappointing bass and lacks verticality.

3.5/5

Design

Pretty plasticky, but nice and compact, making it easy to slot into any
setup.

3/5

Setup & usability

Simple setup, but wires can be a bit messy, remote not the most responsive.

3/5

Value

Limited bass and Atmos, but surround sound is very solid at this price-point.

4/5 Buy it if

You want affordable surround sound If you want more expansive, immersive sound than your TV can offer, but you dont want to spend a huge amount, then the D60 is a decent option. It comes with a soundbar, sub, and two rear speakers, and supports Dolby Atmos though this is relatively limited.

You need versatile connectivity options Want a soundbar with a wide range of connectivity options for a specific setup? It's likely that the Ultimea Poseidon D60 has you covered. It supports HDMI eARC for Atmos content, as
well as Bluetooth, digital optical, AUX, and USB. Dont buy it if

You want true Atmos Sure, the D60 can decode Atmos content, but it doesnt give you the fully fledged Atmos experience. It lacks upfiring speakers, meaning height effects are lacking. And though it creates a decent sense of width, it wont provide the depth of pricier compact soundbars, like the Marshall Heston 60 or Sonos Beam Gen 2 .

Youre looking for cinematic bass I can forgive the D60s lack of true Atmos, but I was a little disappointed by its bass output. Considering theres a dedicated sub, the low-end output on offer is pretty underwhelming, so if you want an affordable option with meatier bass, you may want to check out the Majority option down below. Ultimea Poseidon D60 review: also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell - Column 0

Ultimea Poseidon D60

Majority Bowfell Halo Atmos

Hisense AX5125H

Price

$169.99 / 199.99 (about AU$240)

169 (about $230 / AU$320)

$299 / 349 (roughly AU$449)

Dimensions

Soundbar: 15.7 x 2.8 x 3.5 inches / 400 x 70 x 90mm; subwoofer: 6.1 x 9.6 x 8.5 inches / 155 x 244 x 215mm; rear speakers 5.3 x 2.8 x 3.5 inches / 135 x 70 x 90mm

Soundbar: 15.9 x 3.5 x 2.4 inches / 405 x 90 x 62mm; subwoofer: 7.2 x 5.9 x 12.6 inches / 185 x 150 x 320mm; rear speakers: 3.5 x 2.4 inches / 90 x 62mm

Soundbar: 36.2 x 18.8 x 3.5 inches / 920 x 478 x 90mm; subwoofer: 8.5 x 12.3
x 11.9 inches / 210.5 x 310 x 300mm; rear speakers: 3.6 x 5.7 x 4.3 inches / 90.1 x 140.5 x 110mm

Speaker channels

5.1

5.1

5.1.2

Connections

HDMI eARC, digital optical, AUX, USB, Bluetooth 5.3

HDMI eARC, digital optical, AUX, USB, Bluetooth 5.3

HDMI eARC, 1x HDMI in, digital optical, AUX, USB, Bluetooth 5.3

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / Yes

Sub included

Yes

Yes

Yes

Rear speakers included

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority Bowfell Halo Atmos I recently tested the Majority Bowfell Halo Atmos, and its in a very similar camp to the D60. It provides surround sound on a budget, with Dolby Atmos support and a wide array of connectivity options. However, it suffers from a lack of height channels and poor build quality. It offers better low-end output than its Ultimea rival, though Id argue it's more lacking in terms of expansiveness. Read my full Majority Bowfell Halo Atmos review .

Hisense AX5125H OK, it's a bit pricer than the competition, but the upgrade youll get with the Hisense AC5125H is considerable. Not only did it impress
us with its cinematic sound, but it has HDMI passthrough, height channels,
and DTS support. It's still very affordable for what it offers, so why not check it out? Read our full Hisense AX5125H review . How I tested the Ultimea Poseidon D60 (Image credit: Future) Tested across the course of multiple days Connected to the Sky Glass Gen 2 TV Mainly used HDMI eARC connectivity I
spent a handful of days testing the Ultimea Poseidon D60 at home, using it to watch movies, stream videos, and listen to music. I had the system connected up to my Sky Glass Gen 2 TV via HDMI eARC, although I did test out other connectivity methods such as Bluetooth.

During listening sessions, I made sure to use a range of 4K Blu-rays, which I played using the Sony UBP-X700K Blu-ray player. When listening to music, I steamed tunes via Tidal as well as Spotify, and made sure to try out a range of Dolby Atmos and stereo format tracks.

More generally, Ive spent years testing audio-visual gear here at TechRadar, and have reviewed everything from budget-friendly models like the Sony HT-SF150 to premium Dolby Atmos systems like the JBL Bar 1300MK2 . Read TechRadars reviews guarantee First reviewed: August 2026 Ultimea Poseidon
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