Yamaha MusicCast Bar 40 SW

With its music streaming skills and full-bodied performance, this soundbar system doesn't need to rely on DTS Virtual: X to impress Mark Craven

- Mark Craven

AV INFO

PRODUCT: Soundbar/subwoofer combi with DTS Virtual:X and multiroom

POSITION: Mid-range in Yamaha's lineup

PEERS: Samsung HW-Q700A; Sonos ARC

AVAILABLE FOR £550, Yamaha's MusicCast Bar 40 SW clearly wants to outdo the budget soundbar competition despite not featuring Dolby Atmos upfiring drivers (or, indeed, virtual Atmos playback). Its driver configuration is old-school stereo.

While leaving a specification box unticked, this needn't be a problem. Experience suggests that a well-engineered two-channel soundbar can leave a poorly-engineered multichannel soundbar in its wake. Plus this system does include DTS Virtual:X surround processing, which aims to expand its sound field into immersive territory.

The soundbar tucks its front-facing drivers into an elegantly designed, low-profile chassis that measures a little short of a metre wide. Each channel array gets a pair of bass/mid units and a single tweeter. There's no central channel for dialogue handling.

Yamaha's subwoofer houses an 8-in driver (bigger than you'll often find in a soundbar package) in a smart-looking enclosure with fabric grille and gloss black sides.