DickTurpin August 28, 2009 16:45
Finally managed to find one of these last weekend (at a very reasonable sub £650 price) and snapped it up, plus picked up a subwoofer at the same time. Hooked up the Soundbar first ........ sounded pretty good (with out a separate sub or being set up via the cal/mike) had to turn it up pretty loud to gat any Bass. Next connected the Subwoofer and WHAT a difference ......... still sounded a little woolly on low volume settings but a lot better with the volume between 55 - 70. Once all tidied up and in the finally position used the calibration mike - left the room and left it to do it's thing (Whoop - Hiss, but no BANG) and what a difference it now makes. OK not FULL 5.1 Surround Sound ............. but a hell of a lot tidier without cables to trip up on or have to try to hide - but not far off ............... watching DVD's the sound is great .......... turn the speaker up to 70+ and the sub to 3/4 and your away. ______________ One thing it says in the set up manual is Soft Furnishing CAN block the signal that bounces around the room - my unit is in a corner position and I've left space for the bouncing to happen and I have to say it DOES work. As for normal TV watching, you often find on many of the US import drams that the spoken word is a bit muffled ........ this soundbar seems to clean this problem up and we can now understand (as far as we brit's can) just what the yanks are saying! ............. makes watching all types of TV more enjoyable. Only down point's I can say about it is ------- It's B####y heavy and you most defiantly need a sub to get the most out of it (for films and action programmes). Lastly whilst it comes with most of the cables you will need to hook it up (though NOT HDMI) I would defiantly recommend get decent ones such as the QED range ........ glad I have and I can without hesitation give this Sound Bar 5 out of 5.
alex.hawker August 10, 2009 16:49
I purchased a YSP-40D after reading the review here but I have to say I am rather disapointed with it. It has been carefully set up etc, but to say it compares in any way to a real 5.1 system is just not true. Its better than the sound you get fom the TV's own speakers but to say it has good surround sound is simply misleading. Its fine as an occasional family room general TV watching sound system but its useless if you want decent DVD or BR sound with all the surround effects.
shado May 3, 2009 01:27
Sorry WHF will not review the 30D model, but with matching YST Subwoofer a cracking investment that does work with irregular room shape. Most decent Hifi shops will audition.
fjw3yld March 11, 2009 20:24
just recently purchased the ysp40d just brillent for my flat,great sound with no need for a high volume to get good effects,easy to set up great price at richer sounds £499.good advice from what hi-fi
Impressive power, scale and extension from a one-box surround sound system, even without a subwoofer