Soundbars are slowly becoming a "must-have" gadget if you enjoy watching movies on your TV. It is mainly because the in-built sound systems on most smart TVs are becoming sub-standard, and secondly, there are loads of options available in the market under Rs 10,000. Mivi, an Indian audio brand, has been at the front for offering affordable audio systems. Some of their true wireless earbuds are available for under Rs 2,000 - making them accessible for customers with a tight budget. The company also has a soundbar for under Rs 5,000. Their latest offering is the 'made in India' Mivi Fort S200 soundbar with a wired subwoofer at just Rs 9,999.
If you time your purchase correctly, you can bring the Mivi Fort S200 for just Rs 6,999 during Flipkart sale events. And if we look at the spec-sheet, the soundbar has most of the eye-catching features. It promises to deliver 200W sound output, which theoretically is loud enough for a large living area/ bedroom. It also supports Bluetooth connectivity, and there's an external sub-woofer for punchy bass. However, with any budget (or expensive) gadget, there are some caveats, and the Mivi Fort S200 is not immune from criticism.
Therefore, if you're planning to upgrade your entertainment system without burning a hole in your pocket, is the Mivi Fort S200 soundbar worth your money? Here is what you need to know.
Mivi Fort S200 design: The Mivi Fort S200 succeeds the Mivi Fort S100 that launched in India earlier this year. The entire audio system includes a soundbar and an external sub-woofer, while the old Fort S100 only comes with a soundbar with inbuilt sub-woofers. Both units don a black finish, which is standard across most soundbars but not my go-to choice.
Practically, gadgets with a black body hide dust and dark smudges easily, though I wish that companies should start exploring options beyond this colour. Apple understood the market, and their latest iPhones, Macs, and iPads are available in rainbow colours - giving a variety of options to customers.
In terms of portability, I was very impressed to find that the main Mivi Fort S200 soundbar is extremely light and easy to carry from one room to another. The external sub-woofer is heavier, but the entire set-up weighs roughly 7 kg, easy enough for one person to move around the house.
The light design is due to the plastic build, which feels slightly sub-standard. I can't be sure of its durability, but I would advise users to keep it in a safe location away from children and pets. What matters is the visual experience, and the Mivi Fort S200 from the couch or bed looks pretty sleek and minimal, though placing the soundbar and the sub-woofer could be tricky. If done wrong, your TV area could appear cluttered and be an eye sore very soon.
Speaking of the main soundbar, the Fort S200 looks quite different from its predecessor. The top surface now has a glossy finish instead of a mesh body. The front bears the unavoidable Mivi logo in silver, which I didn't really mind. Above the logo, there's a seven-segment LED display, which is quite common in cheap digital clocks. It helps with checking audio, bass, and treble levels. However, the visibility of this display is not optimal if you're operating the soundbar from a distance. In my case, I changed channels and managed audio levels from the bed, roughly 10 feet away from the TV.
Interestingly, the sub-woofer looks quite different from the main soundbar, as the sides and the front have no glossy finish. I am not an expert in design, but differences between the two units in terms of texture are evident and may irk some users. To be fair, most users won't care about these elements, especially with audio systems that usually go unnoticed at home. That does not mean there's no scope for improvements, and Mivi can take inspiration from brands like Sonos and Bose if they want to stand out in a congested market like India.
Mivi Fort S200 performance and sound: Appearance-wise, Mivi could've worked a little harder; however, the sound quality will not disappoint most users, especially if you get the system for Rs 7,000. Setting up the system is extremely easy, and the external sub-woofer elevates the viewing experience to an extent with punchy bass. I used the soundbar via Bluetooth, but the package includes an auxiliary cable in case you want to establish a wired connection.
Purely in terms of sound, the Mivi Fort S200 offers an ample amount of loudness with a frequency response of up to 15KHz and sensitivity of up to 86Db. The soundbar includes four 2.25-inch drivers, and the output is more than adequate for rooms with 500 sq ft.
Thankfully, the audio does not distort too much, and the details are acceptable. By default, the sound is more on the bass side, but you can choose between different modes. I watched most shows and movies in Movie mode, and there weren't too many complaints in terms of output quality during my month-long usage. Also, I didn't notice too much lag while watching movies on Netflix and other OTT platforms, but there was some lag while watching live sports on Hotstar.
Since it is a budget soundbar, don't expect support for high-end codecs or sound technology like Dolby Atmos. Adjusting the sound levels via the soundbar's remote is slightly different from the TV remote. For instance, if I have to adjust the volume with the TV remote, I am forced to increase/decrease the volume by six units to get the desired output. Sadly, there was no fix for this with my TV, and I am not sure if the same would occur with other TVs.
Speaking of the remote, I found the Mivi Fort S200's remote quite compact and lightweight. That does not mean there's no scope for improvement and the company can take inspiration from Apple, Amazon, or even high-end projector maker XGIMI for a sleeker and minimal-looking remote.
Mivi Fort S200 verdict: Overall, the Mivi Fort S200 gets the work done and it helps with two of the most obvious elements of a soundbar - loudness and punchy bass. As I mentioned, the audio output, by default, is heavier on the bass side, and some details get muffled in that process. But you can custom tune the treble and bass, to an extent, with the bundled remote.
Since there's no Dolby or high-end audio support, don't expect an immersive surround experience. Therefore, for Rs 7,000, it is a good choice since you also get an external sub-woofer for the punchiest bass. If you're getting the Mivi Fort S200 for Rs 10,000, it won't be disappointed with the sound output. However, the company needs to improve on the design, to make it stand out against rivals in this range.
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