The two-year-old Yamaha BAR 400 is one of the least expensive soundbars around to offer high-resolution multi-room audio support, but you'll need to sacrifice other features--such as Dolby Atmos and a center channel--in the bargain. This 2.1-channel model boasts support for Yamaha's robust MultiCast multi-room audio platform and Apple's AirPlay 2, and it serves up solid 2D movie audio and top-notch music performance. But the $500 MusicCast BAR 400 lacks native support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, the two leading 3D audio formats that are fast becoming de rigueur in this price range, and its DTS Virtual:X mode sounds too harsh to be a viable substitute. With its $500 price tag and support for Yamaha's high-resolution MusicCast multi-room audio system, the two-year-old Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 is something of a throwback in Yamaha's soundbar lineup. In the past couple of years, Yamaha has focused more on budget-priced DTS Virtual:X soundbars (think $350 or less), none of which support MusicCast.

The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 fits neatly under a TV while the wireless sub-woofer can easily be tucked away out of sight. It's possible to add on surround speakers wirelessly using MusicCast Surround speakers.Yamaha In the past year or so there have been a few attempts at trying to package surround sound for a flat screen TV alongside speakers for a music system. Unfortunately, until now sound bars and sound bases have indeed offered great sound to boost your TVs weedy speakers but they've not been able to offer wireless facilities like Apple's AirPlay or the ability to play hi-res music files. Well, that could be about to change with a brand new soundbar that Yamaha has announced today.