Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400

Powerful bass depth and crisp, clear highs. Wireless subwoofer with adjustable levels. Bluetooth and multi-room streaming. Works with Amazon Alexa.

Traditional EQ adjustments would be more useful than sound modes. Remote is small and sometimes annoying to use. LED indicators are oddly placed and hard to decipher.

Sonically, Yamaha's MusicCast Bar 400 is a winner. It's versatile, the sub can be powerful or subtle, and the definition in the highs is solid. The ability to use it as part of a multi-room system only adds to its allure, and as a standalone 2.1 system...

Super easy setup ; Wireless Sub is a wonderful room friendly addition. ; Subwoofer volume on the remote!!! ; The most painless Bluetooth connection I’ve ever used. ; The ability to connect other wireless speakers.

This is asking a lot but, a bigger main bar. ; Indicator lights up front or some sort of menu system.

In this category, you have a fair amount of options. The $499.99 YAMAHA’S MUSICCAST BAR 400 might have the most extensive feature set of them all. For the prospective consumer, if having every option considered, easy to connect to, then this is the...

Delivers some of the best audio quality you’ll hear from a 2.1 soundbar ; AirPlay 2 and MultiCast high-resolution multi-room audio support ; Excellent music performances ; Well-designed remote

No Dolby Atmos or DTS:X support ; DTS Virtual:X mode sounds harsh ; No eARC support

Besides letting you fiddle with the soundbar’s settings, the MusicCast app also lets you take advantage of one of the BAR 400’s key features: MusicCast audio streaming.

At just under $500, Yamaha's MusicCast BAR 400 soundbar/subwoofer system is a great value. When you add the company's MusicCast 50 wireless speaker ($499) to use for surrounds, you get a stellar wireless 5.1 system that creates an immersive experience...

Good virtual 3D surround sound ; Clear dialog and booming bass ; Multiroom and 5.1 capabilities

Average music-playback quality ; No Dolby Atmos support

The Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400 offers good sound and plenty of features, but you'll get the most out of it if you invest in additional MusicCast speakers to expand to a 5.1 system.

Great sound with movies and music ; Well-integrated subwoofer ; MusicCast multiroom audio ; Impressive build quality ; Easy set-up

No Dolby Atmos/DTS:X ; Only one HDMI input

A capable 2.1-channel soundbar, but a lack of immersive audio support puts it at a disadvantage to the competition

Great with movies and music ; MusicCast multiroom ; Sub well integrated ; Easy to set-up

No Dolby Atmos/DTS:X ; One HDMI input

The Yamaha BAR 400 delivers a solid 2.1-channel performance, making it ideal for both movies and music. The inclusion of MusicCast allows for multiroom support, while DTS Virtual:X delivers a more immersive experience. Yamaha certainly knows how to put...

Performs well with movies and music ; MusicCast built-in ; Bass is well integrated ; Discreet design and well-made

No Dolby Atmos/DTS:X support ; Only one HDMI input

The Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400 is a solid 2.1-channel soundbar, that sounds great with movies and music. The inclusion of DTS Virtual:X helps create a more immersive experience, while MusicCast multiroom is a really useful feature. However, the lack of...

The Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400 offers a wealth of connectivity and wireless streaming options. The home theater performance, coupled with its ability to add wireless rears, means the bar can rub shoulders with more expensive models such as the Sony.

No lights on the front and "always on" video can make it hard to tell if the unit is on or off. Setting up the wireless surround speakers wasn't as straightforward as it was with the compatible Yamaha receiver. No Dolby Atmos or Google Chromecast.

The full-featured Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400 offers a palpable sonic upgrade for your television over cheap sound bars.