Bros, I'm been searching for a home system to accomodate mu plasma tv.
As I do not want the messy wires, thus my search has streamed to soundbar which is simple yet quite powerful (although not as good as those custom sets).
Do you think it's good enough to accomodate for movies and music?
I'd been searching and found few brands which offering soundbar (Samsung, Philips, Yamaha, Denon).

Which one would you recommend?

Are you looking for surround sound thru soundbar? In order for the soundbar to work you will need a 4 walls / square room for the surround to reflect back to ur ears. This is not quite achievable when placed in living room.

As for your question, yes it is good for small to medium size room but most soundbars were designed for movies purpose. And you will need a partnering sub.

u can try pinoneer or keewood

Hi all, i am looking for home theater system for my bed room too. To avoid messy wiring and space constrant also lead me to sound bar.

For info, some of the sound bar do not required wall to reflect the sound, it uses tme delay to create the 'surround'

Anybody know, where can i find shop who sell a lot of sound bar, want to test these sound bar.

Ronn77 are you from KL? Maybe we can do the testng together.

I heard the Yamaha soundbars are actually good...

Go to Harvey Norman@ikano. There's a room for you to audition the Yamaha YSP soundbars.

sound bar user..

dont know if any shop here sell this soundbar


http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-10395236...tag=mncol;title

enrique, I'm in Puchong..maybe we can meet and share the comment to get a better unit.

I did look on Yamaha YSP 2000 and 3000 series, looks ok and the sounds not bad. Samsung is more for design and the sound is fine too and cheaper. To my ears, Denon seems a good choice but the price is $4500 but it comes with subwoofer.

Actually I plan to put it in living room. According to our bros here says that soundbar is just fine for small to medium room, do you think I will not get a good sound quality if I put in my living room?

The Yammy Soundbar sold here comes with subwoofer too. Forget about the YSP2000. Go for at least the 3000 and if budget permits, the 4000.

The Sammy soundbar does not have builtin amp. It's more of just an extended speaker system, unless you are talking abt the one with builtin DVD player

my uncle has the YSP4000.. he coupled with a SVS sub (old downfiring box type) and setup was in living room. I must say the overall sound was

Ok, thanks. Will go there to check it out.

You are sound bar user? Which model you are using?

Bro, we can do servey together huh! Want to start with Ikano Harvey norman?
How much is the ysp 2000, 3000 and 4000? Where you audit the Denon?

Why forget about the 2000? How much is the 4000 selling price now?

yamaha is going to launch new sound bars. ysp-5100, ysp-4100 & ysp 3100 which can generate pseudo-7.1 channels sound (of cause with a sub.) soon

At this RM4000 you can get a budget seperate system that easily blow the sound bar out of the water. For me soundbar is just a gimmick system. How can you produce surround sound if you don't have speakers at the back? Jmho.

When are they planning to luanch? Any article?

We don't plan to get a separate system, due to messy wire and space constraint.
Sound bar can produce surround sound by using either wall reflection or time delay method.
Yes, sound bar will be weak at back sound stage. But their sides sound stage seems better.

read here from the star on YSP 4100 & 5100 etc.:

http://sites.thestar.com.my/audio/story.as...1&sec=afreviews

If you are looking at spending above 5k, then wait for the latest... If you have budget contraint, then can get YSP3000 or the smaller YSP900, YSP600 or lesser .. even the older YSP-1 or YSP1100.. All these, I think would be below 4k..... the only model above 4k is the YSP4000.

There is a lot of type of soundbar, therefore look at the tech involve... YSP uses wall reflection, other could use time delay and other type...

I would not say other saparate would blow the YSP out of the water.. in the correct room.. YSP sound as good or even better than equivalent system.. but "in the correct room"

Maybe other YSP user can give their comment as well.. But I am satisfied with my YSP.....

This post has been edited by scsoo: Nov 16 2009, 12:11 PM

the Denon I saw is in Mid valley, sound quality wise is great but the price is on a higher side.

Today take a look on a Samsung sound bar which comes with dvd player. Design wise looks the best among all models and the sound is quite decent too and only @ $1999 (Mid Valley HN).

Should I get the ammy or just wait for new Yamaha series?

Understand that the new Yamaha series will be more expensive than the Denon, so its your call...

The Samsung look nice but I would suggest you try to listen to the lower end YSP.. ie the YSP600 or YSP900 that is below 3k... But these model do not come with dvd player... like the samsung...

not me.. richard..

Yes, I am using a YSP3000 and am happy with it considering I have peasant ears So long at I can get the BOOM BOOM POW and the biling balang, I'm happy

Do be wary of those soundbars which come with DVD players. If the player were to kaput one day, some may not have the avenue for you to hook up an external player through the bar i.e. no input. So, do check first if the unit has input connections

As for me, I am using the YSP but I do not have a backwall..... my living areas opened up to the rest of the house.. only have 2 side wall and the wall behind the TV and YSP (which dun count....) I get good side surround but rear surround, I have to live with the shortcoming....

Still it give me good BOOM BOOM POW and biling balang... max volume for use never above 50 (YSP max out at 100). You require a subwoofer, as the BOOM from the bar quite minimal.. so get the Yamaha woofer as can be connected ie turn off together.....

I think most of us uses soundbar due to convenience... If you can accomodate speakers all around.. then do get a proper set..... If you decide to go the SoundBar way.. then dun listen to people saying "you can get a full system with the price you pay for the stupid bar"

As for AQ, better not compared to those full set... different ballpark... But just a note.. for music.. dun expect to much.. soundbar more for movies.. its HTIB.....

You are spot on! I went the Soundbar way because I din want the messy cabling with the conventional option of going with real speakers. I got my YSP3000 with sub and have NEVER gone above 46 on the volume. Would have gone with a YSP4000 instead but my peasant ears decided that the 3000 is good enough.

Only shortcoming is the limited 1 HDMI out + 2 HDMI in

Same here~ going to get a soundbar just because wanna avoid messy cables~ aiks..

How much is the Denon? Which shop in Mid valley selling it?

I see.

How is the sound positioning and sound movement(Surround)?

---

Added on November 18, 2009, 1:50 amWhen you wanna get? Which model?

This post has been edited by enriquelee: Nov 18 2009, 01:50 AM

For Soundbar, sound positioning and sound movement are heavily room dependant.... This is because you do not have speakers placed in specific location in the room where you can know for sure the sound source.... If the room is not condusive ie do not have 3 wall in front of the bar.. then you have to live with certain shortcoming.... This is for Yamaha which rely on sound reflection.. other sound bar uses different tech and some only do up to 3.1...

If you can have your listening room made to cater for the specific requirement of the soundbar, then it will sound great.. but how many of us have that kind of luxury.. if we can have a room like that.. I believe most of us will go for a full-blown set.... We so call "compromise" so we ended up with a Soundbar and have to live with "For the kind of price, you can get a decent set"

This post has been edited by scsoo: Nov 18 2009, 11:40 AM

My bedroom is a square room with the following walls:-
Left side - Full wall height curtain with casement windows at the back
Right side - Full wall height wadrobe
Back - Solid concrete wall.
My LCD is hook up at a dry wall.

Will it produce a good surround sound with sound bar which rely on wall reflection. Eg, Yamaha YSP4000

Your curtains are going to hamper sound reflection as the soft material will end up absorbing it

Square Room.. good... Bedroom.. problem.. bed absorb sound.. front channel kenna a bit...
Left Side .. Curtain absorb sound.. casement window..got glass... maybe sound escape
Right Side .. wardrobe.. unless perfectly flat along the wall 100% and solid like concrete door.. or still absorb a bit..
Back .. Solid Concrete wall.. good... make sure no Headboard.. no soft furnishing.. no wedding photo..
LCD .. Dry Wall .. can wall-mount the YSP there.. Look Cool...

Every night Biling Palang until wee hours in the morning....

Do you think i increase the db of the speaker facing curtain will help?

My bedroom is full with wooden furniture. Eg, bed head panel, 2 bedside drawer, bed skirting and wardrobe. Is wooden stuffs consider as bad reflection surface?
Left side, the glass is fully covered by the curtain. Sound still able to escape?
Right side, the wardrobe wall is flat mirror
Back, yes there is a 6'x2' wedding photo.

How are all these sound to you all?

The SoundBar is a Bar.. will you be placing it to face the curtain? That you have to answer yourself. Sound always reflect best on flat, solid, even surfaces... so you need to determine if you have this criteria. Normally for Bedroom you would have a lot of soft furnishing ie bed or carpets...

My suggestion, if you can pull wires .. then get a normal sets with all the speakers.. you can always hide all wires under the bed.... if you do not want the wiring issue.. then its the soundbar...for cheaper alternative, you can go for those samsung philip one... YSP4000 is more expensive.. pleasant like me.. uses the cheaper YSP......

If you already into the YSP4000 route, then I would suggest to wait for a while and see the latest .... For cheaper alternative.. then there is always YSP3000 and below.....

My budget is RM5K, YSP 4000 should be ok? Latest model will increase how many %, any idea?

Wood will surely absorb sound more than reflecting it.

I believe the latest models should be slightly above 5k, both below the 6k mark.

You can still take the YSP4000 if you are not too particular, there is no review on the latest YSP yet, so you would be one of the first-timer.. but sometime being the first in the line is not too bad ....

To me 'First to test' is not so confortable, worry product is yet to be perfect. Even Merz Car have this problem before, they request to send back all 1st batch units.
Do you have any idea where can i test the latest model?

The YSP5100 and YSP4100 are not launched yet so, kenot test

I own a Philips 8100 series bought in Australia for AUD 1050. Really good and has wireless sub.. I saw Desa Audio selling it for RM 2k++

Why not give a try?

When buying wireless systems, always look for the frequency above 2.4 GHZ as this frequency will interfere with Microwave, Cordless phone and mobile.. Samsung ones are not bad but it doesnt simulate like what Philips does (Ambisound)

Hopefully they launch soon, their 'AirWired' seems interesting to me.

Yeah, talk about frequency. Mind to explain how this frequency interfere will occur? Coz i can't on my ps3 and my wireless AV receiver at the same time, interferance will occur. Now i add 1 more wireless device, will it make the scenario worst?

What about Sharp soundbar ?

Currently they have the ht-sb300 wich sells around RM 600++
I am waiting for the latest version ht-sb500
Both model does not come with a sub-woofer thou


Sony too has it own version of soundbar but unfortunately it is not available in Malaysia.

Just saw the YSP4100 & YSP5100 available at Desa Home Theater... for quite a good bargain price..

New Yamaha YHT-S400 in Harvey Norman

around RM 2 K looks and sound nice



This post has been edited by mdmee: Feb 8 2010, 05:06 PM

One thing differentiate Yammy Sound Projector with other brands, is that you can MANUALLY set the sound beam to any direction you want, and if it is reflecting towards a curtain rather than hard solid wall, you might wan to boost the level of that particular beam direction.

Saw the YSP5100 appearing in Harvey Norman Mid-Valley... in their Yamaha Room....

How much did you pay for your YSP3000 (with sub, right) ?

Can I digress a bit and suggest a simple amp plus Two channel bookshelf speakers instead?
Its very little wires, the speakers can be placed besides the screen (make sure its magnetically shielded speakers), and Amp can be places besides. Not that messy I think.

true but for some...
1. It still doesn't look as good as sound bar (some folks want to have a minimalist feel in their living or bedrooms)
2. Little wires are sill wires running all over and some folks still don't want that

To be honest, the soundbar's sound quality isn't that bad

small room with walls on all side is good for sound bar. so depends on application.

Can't remember the exact amount I paid but it was under RM4k with the sub-woofer

Now I am hoping can get the YSP-4100 for the price you paid for your YSP-3000... Hope with Sub-woofer inclusive as well... WELL.. I need to continue dreaming...

Interesting. I plan to upgrade my tv to a 50 but then the bookshelf have to go. No way i could use a floorstander. So, soundbar is the way. But then i worry as have always been used to bookshelf quality. Am going to check them out on my next trip to KL.

Mars - KL shuttle fully booked at the moment.

---

Added on March 1, 2010, 1:59 amI got this from cnet:

-Truth be told, sound bar speakers don't sound very good.

That hasn't stopped them from selling like gangbusters. People happily buy the fantasy of single-speaker surround sound, mostly because they don't want to deal with all the wires and hassles of a bona fide 5.1-channel home theater.

I don't blame them. Even stereo, HT 2.0 systems are too intrusive for some buyers. Enter Canton's nifty CD 90 SB sound bar, it looks and sounds terrific.

I have to admit sound bars can look pretty slick mounted under a flat screen display, but there is the tricky matter of mounting the thing and running wires through walls. I suppose that's why most sound bars wind up sitting on a shelf under the display.

My real beef with sound bars is they don't sound all that good. The worst offenders are the ones that try to do some sort of fake surround sound. True, the better ones spread the sound well out to the sides of the room. Some project sound forward, towards the listener. But it's never as good as real 5.1.

Most sound bars' "surround" is only heard when you're sitting directly centered relative to the display and speaker; once you're over to the left or right the surround effect fades away. Worse yet, the sound quality of these things is iffy: it's either harsh or dull (most sound bars don't have tweeters). Mind you, sound bars aren't cheap: the better ones sell for between $1,000 and $1,800. For that much dough you could buy a really decent 5.1 speaker/subwoofer package with way better sound.

Granted, sound bar sound is passable when you're watching a movie, but try listening to music, and you'll realize just how lame the sound is.


- Damn, i enjoy music too. How laaaa????

This post has been edited by anchovies93: Mar 1 2010, 01:59 AM

guys...for the price RM3000-rm4000 i belived sound bar is good enough for some reasond...

Just for discussion sake, the YSP are mainly catered for matching tv watching, to provide surround sound for theater experience and they do quite a good job at it. But the higher range model can go above the 5k mark as they handle more codec and have more function built-in against lower range model that only peasant like us can afford
But for Music ie without the video function, from CD and MP3 might as well get a proper stereo set-up. Get a pair of stereo speakers with its proper set-up ie CD player, amp and receiver. Its nothing wrong having 2 set-up to make those biling-palang sound....

Yea.. for Movies, the Soundbar is ok.. but for music it's gonna suck.. even my Pioneer 5.1 set, the music sucks... not as good as those dedicated 2 pc systems just for music that cost RM10k...

I'm using Sonic Array 2000 plus 1 giant Subwoofer http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3795/98241858.jpg of course cannot compete with the real sound bar lah http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/772/subwoofer3.jpghttp://img195.imageshack.us/img195/501/img1299l.jpg

This post has been edited by G4man: Mar 2 2010, 05:17 PM

Nice sub bro..Can boom..boom...kebowww

Sonic Array?
Hey.. RM400+ right?
How to complain? hehe... good way of improvising

Hi all. FYI...saw Philips HTS6120/98 soundbar selling for RM1699 @ Harvey Norman - The Curve.

if you AVR at the same cost maybe you will like it for music....

Q-Acoustics Q-AV 5.1? I've always wondered how much this is in Bolehland

Just my sugguestion..

Maybe u can try wireless system.
mean the real speaker is using wireless, so no wire problem.
and u can get better sound effect as well..

Just another note to inform that still need some wire at the back for power to the speaker and wireless receiver. Not forgetting need a power point/socket at the back at convenient place.

no problem if u totally dun wan wire. even behind ur bad.

Then ur limit is only sound bar..

Good news for those of you considering this. In TheStar today, Desa Home Theater advertised the YSP3000 and YSP4000 at RM1.8k and RM2.8k respectively

The one I saw was 50% off Purchase with Purchase of LCD for the YSP... Can get just the unit alone without buying TV?

This post has been edited by scsoo: Mar 19 2010, 11:25 AM

Hi,

Here's my unsolicited opinions on soundbars and one speaker solutions to multichannel use..

Coming frm a veteran HT user.. soundbars wif their mulitple drivers wif electronicaly dsp'd sound is best in a 4 walled room and no matter how gud it may sound will never beat a true 5.1 system..
Nevertheless wif its minimal fuss n WAF factor, this product does have its merits..

D

I just bought the puny lil Philips soundbar with wireless subwoofer. Damn nice for only rm1299. Got audio input n DVD upscaling player too. I wanted a small simple n wireless system for living room, with decent sound n it meets all my requirements at a super duper cheap price.


I'm using the Philips soundbar with wireless sub n it doesn't interfere with my PS3 at all.

This post has been edited by ianho: Mar 19 2010, 03:46 PM

Oh, you mean the advert is a "purchase with purchase" scheme? If so, my bad I din really read the advert in full detail

I am a YSP-3000 user. Just want to share some of my non-professional & layman experience with the kakis here.

My initial setup is just the soundbar without a subwoofer. The room is very small maybe just 3m x 3m. Sofa set against the wall (a bad choice but no other options). There are 4 solid walls and one side of the wall with curtain. The soundbar is set above the TV on a tv-cabinet. The placement is not in the center as suggested in the user manual.

The experience with movie – the details and clarity are better than my previous cheapo 5.1 systems (Hyundai made in china stuff). I can hear the crisp and details at the front stage but the rear surround is really none. Only can listen to side surround. Low bass is always inadequate. With the previous 5.1 systems, I can clearly hear the cracking of ice from the rear in Ice Age (the intro) DVD but I can’t find that in the soundbar.

So I add a Mordaunt Short Alumni 9 subwoofer. The bass improved and it is really like in the theatre ‘boom boom pow’. Even just at 40db. Still it will not improve the rear surround.

The experience with music – again the details, clarity, mid are good with the soundbar but surely it can’t be compared with a 2.0 stereo hifi system (those with separate amplifier, cd player and speakers). But the soundbar is better than the mini or midi-Hifi from the typical electronic brands like Soxy / Philxps

So my humble opinion is when u are truly looking for surround sound go for 5.1 speakers even the wires are giving u a mess. And if you can give up the rear surround go for a soundbar for a neat and easy installation. If you don't listen to music too much forget what others say about the hifi system. The hifi system is totally different route. If movie is your stuff, a soundbar / mid range 5.1 speakers will give you all the thrills and excitement.

If you do listen to music most of the time at home and music is your life, then you should go for high-end to mid range speakers audition with dedicated cd player and amplifier. It is another totally different experience. I listen to my friend’s $50,000 setup and really got hooked but I couldn't afford that set up. And when I compared that to my soundbar I regretted so much that I’ve listened to his hifi. Reason being, it will make me noticed the flaw of the soundbar in playing the same CD.

A lot of ppl go for soundbar coz interior design is more important than outright sound quality. For me, I just want reasonable sound that doesn't mess up my living room. I HATE wires. As long as TV big, sound big, nice clean wireless room, kautim. Hehe

Good to hear from a fellow YSP user here, and in a small room it could be earth-shaking if the enviroment is suitable.

Just curious if there is a solid back wall (ie no curtain and with good reflective surface) directly behind the listening position, if not.. then there is your answer to the weak surround. The other option is to turn up the surround manually, as the YPAO normally set the surround to weak. Maybe the side wall with the curtain also hampering the reflection of the surround back to the listening position. I think the manual teaches on the surround adjustment, so go on a trial and error session.

The YSP need the support of a subwoofer or else really no earth-shaking bass. It handle the high and mid well but a let down at Bass. You need a sub that can go up to 150Hz as anything below it does not sound correct with the YSP.

The YSP is marketed as compliment to TV, to support HT experience, therefore stereo music is not its forte. I believe its play quite loud for its size, I seldom hear people need to push the YSP volume pass 50. Curious if anyone can stand it max volume.

Lastly, I would suggest better aftermarket cable but those non-believer, I would sound like a hypocrite. The supplied cable does indeed do the job, but with "enhance" cable it does have "marked" improvement.

Soundbar is an alternative, its still a compromise and even Yamaha mentioned that its a lifestyle thingy. To those that can afford it, can have all the wiring, can settle the logistic issue, I would suggest a proper system. But for certain peasant like us, with HM nagging, space contraint, must look nice, in-law friendly, children friendly and the list go on and on and on.. we "compromised". If I have all the money in the world....

I have to agree with scsoo, i think we are in the same wavelenght

About the back wall, yes it is solid without curtain but the sofa is set against on the backwall. So there is no favourable position for the sound to bounce on the backwall to the prime listening area. As suggested in the user manual the prime listening area should be at least 1 meter from the backwall. Yes, the auto beam adjustment isnt too accurate. U have enlighted me to try for manual adjustment. it is time to do it. Because I am so lazy for the trial and error and it requires quite a lot of time. I will do it this weekends and post the results here for the soundbar kaki.



This post has been edited by egoiste.rm: Mar 29 2010, 10:48 PM

Then no choice, you need to live with side surround.. you can actually tune the direction of the sound beam and also the length of travel. Also the volume per channel, suggest increase the db for rear to max of +10. You still need to trial and error as no room is the same. Items in the room may deflect or absorb the sound and therefore you need to play with the setting until you get to a setting that maximise the current enviroment the YSP is in. As for me, I do setup late at night when the other half is asleep or else kenna complain why the YSP sound like its rosak with all those white noise.

Unless, you get professional from Yamaha to do it. Not sure the local Yamaha have this service and how much will they charge you for it. Lastly, you need to consider the location of the YSP whether it can give the best sound. I also moved mine around to test and tilt up and down a bit to get the sound direction up to ear level. I also upgraded all the interconnect and do not use the supplied item that came with the YSP.

You need to play with it and see what is the best for you.. Need to waste time on it, no other way around it unless you spent money to get other to do it on your behalf. Not so simple as plug and play....

I listened to a Philips Soundbar once at one electrical shop. It was on a L-shape but yet I could still hear the surround sound effects, especially directly on my left and right. The sound quality is of course not even as good as my RM1600 Pioneer HTIB system but the wireless subwoofer is rather tempting...

I've yet to test the Yamaha... Harvey Norman doesn't seem to have the new models here in Penang...

Ok I have adjusted the sound projection manually. There is much improvement on the Front Right and Right Rear Surround. However, the Left Rear Surround is still weak even the sound level is increased as suggested. The rear doesnt sound as if it is bouncing from the rear left. I need to do more tweaking on the angles.

My living room is really to small to move the soundbar. I am actually living in Hong Kong now.

I recently noticed that the Yamaha amp and soundbar are Made in Malaysia, proud that it is made in my homeland. The Monitor Audio Bronze range speaker also made in Malaysia. Any kaki have lubangs to get those stuff direct from the factory?

Hahaha.. u wan sale it at hong kong a???

I am making a guess that the curtain (covering glass window) is on your left , therefore the rear left is being absorb instead of being reflected. Another guess, there isn't a solid wall there to do the reflection or it too far to be reflected back.

I guessing that the room is those Hong Kong design urban living-room, with soft furnishing and angle wall. As such, there is certain compromise that need to be made. You just have to trial and error until satisfactory level, to the best you can do. If not, then get the Yamaha professional to do it. Think even more expensive in Hong Kong.

As mentioned, we go the soundbar way as its lifestyle purpose, so compromise need to be made. If we intend to do a proper one (no compromise) then is how thick the wallet for equipment cost and logistic purposes. Wires can be hidden at a cost and its the wallet bleeding accordingly.

no la so heavy how to bring back to hong kong for sale. Just want to see if really cheaper than in HK then i can consider for upgrade or a seperate system for music.

Yes, the left wall is giving me alot of problem. The window on the left wall is indend into the wall (the window is not flat with the left wall. It is indented in) hmmmm dunno how to explain oh yeah angle wall on the left only the rest is ok. Not too many furniture because i put above the tv so not much obstruction. If i put the bar below the tv then i can see a lot of obstruction. Wow cant afford to get professional to do la... I think will settle with weak rear left surround. But the rear right surround really a lot of different after the manual adjustment. Thank you so much for the advise

Yeah when i move back to malaysia I think i will do a proper wiring with all wire concealed. But this home theater and hifi thing is addictive. Upgrade and upgrade all the time

This post has been edited by egoiste.rm: Mar 31 2010, 04:06 PM

Hey mdmee,

Which Harvey Norman did you see the YHT-S400 in? I'm quite interested to get one.

thanks,

TheCodFather

I saw this at penang Queensbay...

Compromise for the mean time loh... at least got some sort of surround.. can still piling palang until heart content. Need to trial and error and see what is the best to your ears.

This Hifi and Home Theater very painful one to the wallet.. always bleed dry if upgrade too often.. so becareful of the poison....

This post has been edited by scsoo: Mar 31 2010, 02:21 PM

Eh? really? I've never seen this unit at Harvey Norman QBM before... there's an old 'brick' unit that's lying around and that one I saw...

I'm also contemplating for YSP-4000 or YSP-4100, until I read about YHT-S400 uses this Air Surround Xtreme technology to imitate 7 channel surround without using wall reflections. I will have the "wall" problems with YSP and this YHT sounds like the more suitable solution for me.

Saw it selling for RM1999 in Harvey Norman @ Ikano. Sounded a bit flat, and the promoter promptly show me to YHT-S300 - uses the same subwoofer+amp, but with 2 speaker (each has 2x2.5" cone woofer+1x1" tweeter). This 2.1 can simulate all the 3.1 S400 can, plus I can adjust the distance between the speakers...it is at RM1889 with 1+2yr warranty.

Think I'll just grab this YHT-S300 tomorrow. And a Sony DVP-NS728 DVD player with a free HDMI cable - anyone has experience with this DVD player?

These front-surround systems are definitely not for my music enjoyment, but is sufficient for watching movie in my apartment. If I have the time, money & space, I will then get a decent hifi set dedicated for music. Like some of you here, I've had a chance with good $$$ hifi (way above those reasonably highend AV amp/receiver components), yet I have no choice but to reduce to this, for now.

Hope you all will enjoy whatever biling balang in your home

Wah I didn't see that YHT400 when I bought my Philips set at Harvey. The YHT400 looks superb.

It's actually quite old technology same as Q-Sound or Virtual Speaker (anyone still remember this technology). It can't produce sound from the back, only expand the sound field a bit. Onkyo now produce a slim receiver and if you can get some nice flat speaker or in-wall speaker then this would be a better solution.

This post has been edited by pierreye: Apr 3 2010, 09:39 AM

Too bad wifey disapprove cables across living hall...and wireless (rear) speakers systems don't seem to be popular here.

This post has been edited by ewombat: Apr 3 2010, 10:02 AM

Drop by Desa Home Theater yesterday, saw the lower range YSP going for a song.. some of the model going for less than 2k and with subwoofer.. That the price that is printed and think can get some discount as they wanna get rid of the lower range model, I heard...
Can consider YSP as the price seem reasonable now...

Bought YHT-S300. Think it sounds better than YHT-S400's fixed speaker position. YSP-4100 and YSP-4000 is not to my liking, actually quite bulky with the big subwoofer. And at Harvey Norman's Yamaha Sound Room (which incidentally is similar in floor layout as my living hall), YHT-4100 simply didn't sound right. Which I think S300 at RM2k cheaper can give me the better value.

FYI, it seems YHT-S400 is exclusive for Harvey Norman only...

And yes, without much hassle of setting up & calibration, my family is in awe on our first movie experience with the S300

Any recommendations for a sound bar with ipod connectivity? Please refer a store where I can get it (online or a shop).

TIA.

Tested both the large and slim soundbar at Harvey Norman recently... decided against buying it because for music it sounds horrendous.. for movies it was ok

That why in this world we got Hifi Integrated amp and HT AV amp...

Hi guys,

I'm actually looking to get either the YSP-4100/5100 right now but there are a couple of unanswered questions which I hope someone here will be able to answer.

1. Between the 4100 and 5100, the only difference is the addition of 2 tweeters at the side. They market the 4100 for 4*-inches and 5100 for 50", but the price difference is about RM1k. I have a 50" plasma but I'm just thinking if the extra 2 tweeters are worth the RM1k topup or not.

2. I'm looking to hook up the soundbar to 1 HDMI (PS3), 1 Component (Wii), 1 Composite (Astro) and 1 minijack (laptop). However, as the 4100/5100 both lack a front minijack input, I was wondering if the intellibeam mic port can double up as a minijack input or not?
Otherwise, I'll probably have to sacrifice the Astro to accommodate the laptop connection...

Thanks

edit : Just a quick addendum. My room is 5m wide x 6m long.

This post has been edited by Chinoz: Apr 24 2010, 07:44 PM

Hope you have actually seen the physical unit and actually there is size difference between the 2. The best is for you to test both unit and hear the difference to make up your mind.
I believe the mic port do not work as minijack input as it also not suppose for any other purpose but for intellibeam usage only....

Yes I'm aware of the size difference. I've tested both units (but in different Harvey Normans) and I can't really tell them apart. I'm thinking this could be due to the showroom's small size and funny layout though.

I'm just worried that after getting the 4100s, I find out they don't fill my room as well as it should. But then again, I'm hard pressed to think that 2 extra tweeters would make *that* much a difference...

If you are paying that much for a system, I believe you want to make sure it "worth" the money but unfortunately in Malaysia its hard to get a seller that let you "test it out". So its your money at stake and I believe I understand your doubt. If you take the cheaper alternative and it doesn't satisfy your need then you be forever thinking "Why I did not get the bigger one?" If you gotten the bigger one, you will be forever thinking"If the smaller one will do and save me 1k to buy something else"

If you have a choice that mean you can have wires.. I would suggest you go for a proper 5.1/7.1 with AVR and speakers as easier/cheaper to upgrade/downgrade. For lifestyle system you have to take risk. Every one of us owner of YSP will always think if we should have gotten the better one or the lower range one will still give us what we ask for. Also we will have doubt if the better one will be that much better and really worth that much more but in Malaysia there isn't that many feedback to tell us the answer....

You guys can drop by to HomeDec 2010 in KLCC Convention Centre from 29 April to 2 May 2010, whereby, they will display all YSP soundbar, and will have special discount according to the Desa people.

This post has been edited by LoonFay: Apr 26 2010, 03:11 PM

For me one of the reason for buying a soundbar is due to aesthetic and cabling issue. Not so much for the sound quality. I read in another forum regarding soundbar/pod speakers for movies which I totally agree. To summarise what the forum said is that the special effects in the movie is recorded digitally. No one actually know how does a Startrek spaceship in the universe will sound like. So as long the home cinema system can give u a huge impression of biling balang then it is a good system. In this case a subwoofer does make a great deal of difference in a movie.

Whereas, the music reproduction e.g. from a violin and piano is what a musician trying to convey it to you. how hard/soft or how emotional he/she hits each note on the piano (sorry if wrong terms used, I have not musical instrument illiterate).

So for a soundbar i think it is better to go for the most beautiful and matched to your home decoration set, if cash permits. The satisfaction you get is the uuuhhh and ahhhh u get from friends and relatives that visit your home. And when you turn on the system for movie they will be impressed too.

In this case if the 4100 match perfectly to your home and depends on how you install the unit (either wall mount / on a bookshelf) then go for it. If you wall mount closely or just below your 50" plasma i would imagine that a 5100 looks very matching to your deco.

Bought Philips HSB4383 abit disappointed. No choice wifey dont like wires around so get a soundbar with wireless sub. The soundbar cannot even match my 4/5yr old philips LX-8000SA..

This post has been edited by tpl: May 7 2010, 09:57 PM

I have the soundbar at home, sounds quite bad to music I would say.. Never watch any movie before.. buy it because of wall mountable..