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.
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