Yamaha YHT-S400BL Front Surround Unique Home Theater Package (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Just received from Amazon today... My primary requirements were a low profile, black unobtrusive sound bar to go in the 3 inches of space I have under my wall mounted Panasonic TCP-65S1. Other options from Samsung and other manufacturers that fit my space requirement had fewer features, only 2.1 channels, and reviews indicating sound quality not quite up to snuff. It is replacing a Yamaha YSP-800 that works fine but simply takes up too much space.
I understand there is some doubt out there about the sub combined with the receiver but so far it sounds fine.
In fact the whole setup sounds better than good... very crisp clean surround 7.1ch emulation, louder and better quality/separation than the 5ch YSP-800 it is replacing.
Time (and a bunch of Blu Ray movies) will tell, and I will update this review with further observations as I further evaluate the unit.
Very easy to install and setup, the setup menus are easy to use. I am not a huge picky audiophile so the minimal setup options are plenty for me... and if I were an audiophile I probably wouldn't be getting a soundbar.
I was curious to see how the HDMI-CEC would work with my VieraLink panny, and this was the one area I was disappointed... First off it loses the VieraLink "HD Theater sound control" setting when the TV turns off and back on. Secondly while the input button works to change inputs on the receiver, it doesn't change it to the right HDMI input to match the panny onscreen display. Not sure how much these are the panny's fault and how much the receiver.
On the plus side for controls, since my DVR control can turn the TV power off and on, using the HDMI inputs on the receiver instead of the TV does the trick... I control inputs and volume with the receiver control and am able to eliminate one control (the TV remote) from my coffee table. I know, I know, I should just get a universal/programmable remote but I haven't had good experiences with them, and two remotes is fine for me.
Since the HDMI-CEC wasn't a requirement for me and the HDMI input handling solves my needs, and everything else is great, I'll tip over the edge from four stars and make it five... since this is a subjective review and I am not rating it against higher end solutions, just $500 or lower sound bars.
Anyways, I hope this account helps anyone with similar needs considering this product.
UPDATE 2.11.2010
Still love it, happy with the sound quality but I really like the little remote... just enough buttons not too many, HDMI passthrough works well and let me ditch my TV remote. So the HDMI-CEC complaint is less now, the only reason I cared about that was to ditch a remote... mission accomplished.

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Yamaha YHT-S400BL Front Surround Unique Home Theater Package In Black

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Acoustic Audio HD-6c-2PKG 350 Watt In-Ceiling Center Channel Speakers Review

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(More customer reviews)I did not even install/hook-up. Took one thorough look at the construction/quality of the speakers and decided to return them and try another. I am now using Klipsch and Definative Technology, both very nice.


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Yamaha YSTSW012 8" Front-Firing Active Subwoofer, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great deal for $59 delivered. I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe some hollow sounding computer type sub-woofer that pops when I turn it on and off. This sub has a 50-watt RMS amp at 5ohm. It has a decent .5 inch MFD box with an internal space of almost 10.5 X 10.5 (small!) External is about 11.4 x 11.4 x 11.5 height. It's much better built than the Sony's on this site. They even made a small attempt to support the box with 1-inch corner braces on all 6 sides. The sub sounds great at lower volume. It maxis out fast though. In a small room or apartment, you wouldn't need it any louder. It's the quality of sound that's important, and that's where this delivers. Up to it's distortion point, it sounds like a true big sub-woofer. This is the perfect sub for anybody who is not allowed to shake the foundation. This sub plays deep! It just hits its max excursion fast. Either the amp is more than 50 watts or the speaker can't handle much wattage. Speaking of the speaker, it's about 5lbs. They seemed to have glued a smaller magnet onto the larger one at the base. I've heard of some seedy speaker manufactures doing this, but this speaker seems to deliver pretty good quality. I swapped out the stock speaker with a Dayton and secured the walls with cross braces and then covered the inside walls with carpet. Foam would take up to much space and there isn't much inside already. This setup was a pleasure to work with. The grill pops right off. The speaker is held on by 4 screws in the standard speaker hole location. (making it easy to replace) The amp is held on by 8 screws. The port is held in place mostly by a tight fit and some glue that easily breaks loose. The amp is connected to the speaker with standard removable connectors. That's it. It takes about 3-5 min to take apart. As for the Dayton, it performs about the same as the stock one. It was made for a little bit bigger box, but I wanted to know if the stock speaker was unable to handle much or was it the amp that produced the power. It seems to be the amp. It can push a stronger speaker. If I had a 100 watt 8" speaker with a high SPL, built for a small-ported box, and good excursion level (that's the amount of movement on a speaker), then I would really need the extra bracing. Problem is, that would cost much more than this whole system. That, and I wouldn't use a .5-inch thick box. Where am I going with this... anyway, this sub is worth every penny of $59. If you have a set of decent bookshelf speakers and a sub-woofer out jack on your amp that you're not using, you would be a fool not to get this. To cut costs, it has no auto on/off, and no pass through signal. If you must have auto on/off, buy a remote control on/off power supply from someplace cheap. I had one left over from my X-mass lights. (or use the power connection on the back of your receiver if you have one). This sub doesn't pop at all when turned on or off and its amp is inside the box. This sub is much better looking than a Sony I have. If the person before me didn't didn't give this 4 stars, I wouldn't have tested this out. So thanks! I'm very happy I purchased this. I think its so cheap people are afraid of it! I don't know how they make money on this. (update 1-11-08) to clarify the wattage on these: output power on the spec sheet is rated at 5ohms. 50 watts to 5 ohms RMS and 100 dynamic. It has a 6ohm speaker in it. That means it's probably pushing about 45 watts RMS to the speaker. The frequency response is -4db at 40hz, -10db at 30hz, -15db at 25hz. It has a decent flat response from 45hz to 120hz at 90db. It then tapers off to -5db at 200hz. Not bad for $59 !!! Update 1-15-07 Here's a FYI given to me: The second magnet glued on the back of the driver magnet is for shielding. It is not there to deceive. The second magnet is attached in polar opposite to the functional magnet, canceling the magnetic pollution it would normally give off. (Thanks Kevin!)

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Polk Audio AM1805 SurroundBar SDA Instant Home Theater (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'll start with my current set up and what my expectations were. I have a 47" Philips LCD TV, all the major gaming systems, and I also use my LCD TV as a computer monitor. I was looking for a speaker system with a subwoofer for around $400. I didn't want to buy a receiver if I didn't have to for my set up. I had researched and heard several soundbar systems before deciding on this one. All of my gaming systems and my laptop connect directly into the TV through HDMI cables. The speakers are connected to the TV through the "TV Out" connection. Overall, I am very, very happy with it.
The soundbar itself is smaller than expected. The mid and high rannge sounds are great. One concern that I had with soundbar systems was the ability to hear dialogue. Many soundbar systems I listened to had muffled dialogue that was difficult to hear at times. This soundbar does not suffer from any of those qualities. Dialogue is easy to hear from all sources.
The subwoofer has very good bass output. One of the nicest things about this system is the fact that the subwoofer is wireless. I have a smaller living room, and 8 foot ceilings, so for my space this subwoofer is more than adequate. As other reviewers have noted, a seperate 5.1 or 7.1 system and seperate receiver have the potential of creating more robust sound. You have to consider the space you are working with and of course, your budget. The Polk soundbar is by far better than any speakers that an LCD TV can offer.
The best part about this system was the ease of set up. It took literally less than ten minutes to take everything out of the box and connect it to my TV. My universal remote control is used to adjust the volume. This system is great deal for the price, and the best part about the system was the ease of set up. It sounds fantastic, and provides a very full and pleasing bass. I am completely happy with this purchase, and I would buy it again in an instant.

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There's an easy way to get great, immersive surround sound pumping from your new flat panel, widescreen HDTV--Polk Audio's SurroundBar Series speakers, which provide single-speaker surround sound from one slim speaker bar. The Polk Audio AM1805 SurroundBar SDA Instant Home Theater requires only a RCA stereo output from a TV, DVD play, or any source--no additional electronics or wires are needed. It even comes with a wireless subwoofer and can "self learn" to work with your existing TV remote control.
The Polk Audio AM1805 SurroundBar SDA Instant Home Theater.

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ZVOX 550HSD Low-Profile Single-Cabinet Surround Sound System with Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs Review

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(More customer reviews)Before purchasing this speaker/amplifier system, I read every review I could find. However, no matter how well a speaker review is written, the proof is in the actual listening. After some careful measurements of the space where I intended to put this speaker, I decided to go ahead and spring (also known as "putting a dent" in the credit card) for the system. Quick background - I've been using a Yamaha 5.1 channel surround receiver with Bose AM-3 speakers and an OPPO BDP-83 Blu-Ray player. One of my biggest gripes about compact systems has been high levels of total harmonic distortion. But the simple convenience of fewer remotes and easy adjustments does have its charms.
I received the system about 3 days after placing the order and I set it up the day after I got it. Did I say setup? This marvelous audio soundbar/box sets up faster than an egg on hot asphalt. I ran a set of RCA cables from the TV's analog output to the ZVOX analog RCA inputs. Everything else, video and audio-wise, is plugged into the back of the TV. An optical digital cable from the Blu-Ray player to the optical input on the ZVOX takes care of the DVD audio. Even my PC's audio goes through the ZVOX unit.
The unit itself is wonderfully "invisible" in that it sits under the LCD TV base and does not call attention to itself. The sound? With a little noodling on the included remote (which is larger and easier to use than the chiclet size remote provided with the standard 550 model), I was quite impressed. I played my Blu-Ray copy of AVATAR and with the PHASE CUE setting near maximum, the BASS on maximum, treble on about three-quarters of the allowed adjustment range, I began my listening test. After several minutes, I was struck by the fact that the sound was so full and clear that I got lost in the movie. The speakers just "disappeared".
Several observations: The bass output doesn't have quite enough "oomph" for my taste, so I purchased an inexpensive Yamaha YST-50 subwoofer that worked out just nice. It's compact, provides a nice punch to the bass, and fits almost anywhere. As for the surround effect - the system broadens the soundfield more than adding weird surround effects. Truthfully, I like its overall balanced sound much better than some of the other soundbar manufacturers attempts at faux surround.
In summary, if the complexities of today's audio/video receivers and multi-channel rat's nest of connecting cables is driving you to distraction, try the ZVOX 550 HSD system for small spaces (I'm using it in a third bedroom space which is quite small), or the ZVOX 575 HSD system in larger living room spaces. Simple is best!

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MTX Monitor 5i 5-1/4 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker Pair Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought these to replace a pair of Jensen JS43 that worked and sounded good for their size but was not on par with the rest of my surround sound system. My Centre Channel is a Polk Audio RM6751, the Surrounds are Klipsch HS-1's, The Sub is a late 1990's Paradigm PDR-10, with a silver Yamaha HTR-5930. And I have to say I am glad I made the decision to go with these. The sound sound from these speakers as good if not a little better than my Klipsch's and I am very pleased with other than I was hoping for a little more Bass out of them given they go down to 48 Hz. But they still have a full sound for their size. I would recommend to people and I hope this review helps.

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Sony SSCR350H Center and Rear Speaker Package Review

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(More customer reviews)I already had a pair of Hi-Fi speakers with excellent bass response for the front left and right as well as a pro-logic receiver. I had just not bothered to add the center and rear left and right speakers before. These Sony speakers have added a whole new world of listening/viewing pleasure to DVD's and even to CD's. They are very sturdily made a good materials and most importantly provide excellent response across the complete range of frequencies. The center speaker if fairly large and needs a secure position on top of a TV or cabinet. The rear speakers have 4" full range speakers that provide a very full sound and a very good complement (as they should) as the rear channel for movies in particular. The accompaning sets of speaker cables were sufficient to reach accross our living room around the perimeter to reach them as well. Overall an excellent value and an excellent addition to our system.

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Sony SS-CR3000 Center and Rear Channel Speaker Package Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a little chagrined I waited so long to immerse myself in the world of 5.1 surround sound.
Most websites on the subject will tell you to get all of your speakers from the same brand, so the harmonics are all cousins of each other. Well, with Bose bookshelf speakers, the accompanying surround speakers would have been another grand, so I decided to bottom end with Sony.
These little puppies are weird in that you can't take the mesh covers off to spock the look of the speaker diaphragms, but that's the only weird thing. They ship with the tiniest capellini-sized speaker wire you can imagine, which helps you enjoy your new sound straight out of the box until you can get some more decent sized wire.
For a starter kit, these are thoroughly sufficient, plus, they're sleek and unobtrusive. If you haven't experienced surround sound anywhere but the theaters, get these babies and rent Apocalypse Now, or any of the Bourne movies. (Or better yet, watch the dust storm episode from the first season of Carnivale--you'll quite literally be blown away.)
Also, you'll need a digital optical cable from your DVD player to your receiver; otherwise the Dolby surround won't work.

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Sony SAVE325 6-Piece Speaker System Review

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(More customer reviews)When I bought this system in April I had some fears that the speakers would die or the sound would be low or scratchy. I was wrong on all accounts and this little system blew away my expectations.
All I had to do was toss Sony's speaker cable and replace them with Monster cables and the sound was very strong. I tested out just how loud they could go using Gladiator with DTS they handled unhumanly loud volume and bass with no distortion.
If you have a small living room/den, or you're living in an apartment and you want to get into the home theater scene without going broke then this is the system for you.

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KLH HT-9900 6-Piece Home Theater Speaker System Review

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(More customer reviews)I was extremely impressed with these speakers. The sub is not powered but it still thumps pretty good. We watched the X-men movie the other night and the house was almost shaking with the incredible sound produced by these speakers. Obviously not high end price, but certainly great quality for the cash outlay!

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KLH's six-piece home theater speaker set is a compact and affordable ticket to enjoying multichannel surround sound from your favorite movies. Best when used in conjunction with a Dolby Digital- and DTS-decoding surround receiver, the KLH HT-9900 handles 10 to 100 watts per channel and--at 8 ohms/88 dB sensitivity--will work nicely with almost any receiver.
Speakers The five central speakers in the HT-9900 consist of four identical satellites (left, right, front, and rear) and a slightly larger center channel speaker (since 70 percent of a movie's soundtrack is dialogue or center focused).
The two-way satellites each use a single 4-inch woofer and a 0.625-inch piezoelectric tweeter; the center channel uses dual 4.25-inch woofers and a matching tweeter. All speakers are magnetically shielded, so they won't induce image distortion now matter how close you set them to your TV (center channels often rest atop the set).
With the satellites, it's safe to use amplifiers pumping up to 100 watts per channel when the sats are wired through the subwoofer (see the enclosed hookup manual). Use a more conservative 60-watts-per-channel receiver if you'll be feeding them speaker-level signals directly from the receiver's back panel.
The satellites measure 8.625 by 5.125 by 5.5 inches; the center-channel speaker measures 5.25 by 17.25 by 5.5 inches.
Subwoofer The sub uses dual 5.25-inch woofers, which help push bass down to 50 Hz--impressively deep for the sub's diminutive size. A low-pass filter rolls the top end of the sub's frequency response at the low end of the satellites' range, ensuring seamless integration between them. The subwoofer measures 11.25 by 7.625 by 17.125 inches.
The system includes speaker wire and is covered under a one-year limited warranty on parts and labor.

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Sony SS-B1000 5 1/8-Inch Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) Review

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(More customer reviews)Hello friends,
Before you begin to read my review, please understand that I only wrote it because there are so very few reviews currently available about these speakers. Knowing that, here is what I can tell you about them:
First of all, I purchased these speakers for one, and only one, reason. I presently own a very nice Panasonic 27" color (stereo) television. The sound from the internal TV speakers never thrilled me, so I looked into purchasing some better speakers. The first thing I discovered (to my dismay) was that my TV did not have "external speaker" jacks. Okay, so I dropped a few extra bucks ($99.00 to be exact), and I purchased a very nice, 100 watt Sherwood, stereo receiver. Bear in mind now that I am only talking about a "stereo." I am not talking about a surround sound system, a Dolby digital system (5-1, 6-1 or the like), or any other high-tech system. Just plain old, every day, run of the mill stereo!
Now, I really thought that I was home free because I already owned a great pair of Bose bookshelf speakers. Wrong again! The Bose speakers are only "four" ohms, and my new Sherwood receiver called for "eight" ohm speakers. I know that seems to be a minor problem, but the receiver DID run very hot, and numerous reviews regarding the receiver clearly stated that it WOULD overheat using anything less than eight ohm speakers.
After realizing that the reported problem was true, I visited several electronic stores; I listened to numerous bookshelf type speaker systems, and I finally decided on the Sony. Let me tell you my friends, these little babies are absolutely superb! The bass quality absolutely blew-away my $300.00 Bose speakers (regardless of impedance). The sound is crisp, clear, and the typical problems of "no", or "very little" bass, are gone. Don't get me wrong . . . you are NOT going to get 15" bass speaker sound out these, but you WON'T be disappointed. They are truly, in my humble opinion, the very BEST bang for the buck!
My wife, who doesn't give a s**t about audio quality, actually commented on how really nice the TV sounds now, compared to my fancy-dancy Bose speakers. These little speakers deliver sharp, crisp, clear sound, and they seem to easily handle all the power that my Sherwood receiver throws at them. If you want some really nice speakers, with all of the bass that you can realistically expect from a small pair of bookshelf speakers, buy these! In a nutshell . . . they sound GREAT!

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Enjoy your favorite music in any room of the house with quality sound from the SS-B1000 performance bookshelf speakers. With 120 watts of power and an advanced woofer and tweeter design, they deliver high-resolution audio so you hear the music just as it was recorded.

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