What Hi-Fi? published its hands-on review of the Valerion Thunderbeat 4.1.2 on August 13. The package places two satellites at the front and two behind the listener, adding a subwoofer to create a 4.1.2 system for a projector or television.
Each satellite combines a front-firing 10cm full-range driver, an upward-firing 50mm full-range unit, and a 38mm tweeter in a 23 x 14 x 13cm enclosure weighing 2kg. The subwoofer uses a 16.5cm driver powered by a 120W amplifier. Valerion claims 840W for the complete system, which decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
A compact dongle accepts HDMI eARC from the display and distributes audio wirelessly to the speakers. Bluetooth playback is included, but there is no Wi-Fi streaming, control app, or microphone-based room calibration. The remote adjusts bass, treble, and the surround level relative to the front pair; individual channel trims and a calibration test tone are absent.
What Hi-Fi? heard a large, weighty presentation with good tonal balance, well-integrated bass, and clear dialogue. The trade-offs were softer impact, reduced fine detail, and gradual dynamic shifts that lacked tension. Effects remained attached to individual speakers instead of travelling seamlessly between them, while height information formed vertical pillars rather than the continuous overhead dome achieved by stronger rivals.
The 4.1.2 package costs £639, $799 or AU$1799. An optional centre converts it to 5.1.2, but the magazine found a clear mismatch in tonal character, dynamics, and detail, and judged the centre-less version to be the better configuration. Its verdict was that Thunderbeat improves substantially on most television speakers, while more cohesive and immersive Atmos systems are available for similar or lower prices.