Yamaha YSP-2200

The Yamaha YSP-2200 uses 16 integrated speakers and Yamaha's digital signal processing technology to simulate surround sound much more effectively than other sound bars. The audio quality is pretty good, too, though a dull high-end blunts music somewhat. The sound bar also comes with features and decoders aplenty.

Performance

Great for TV and movies. Yamaha's Intellibeam technology is unsurpassed in its ability to create a convincing simulated surround-sound effect, and reviewers say it works wonders in the Yamaha YSP-2200, though this sound bar's 16 speakers can't match the precision output of a true 5.1 channel system or the more expensive Yamaha YSP-4100 (*Est. $1,700) and its whopping 40 speakers. The audio quality itself is just as good for television watching, delivering clear dialog, a solid low-end and balanced audio throughout. A somewhat dull high-end makes music listening a less impressive affair, however.

Design

Perfect for under-screen placement. Rather than using the traditional tube-like sound-bar design, the Yamaha YSP-2200 is a shallow, wide rectangular shape, which allows it to fit underneath most HDTVs easily, and its height is adjustable to boot. The subwoofer is powerful, but it's wired with a 4-foot cord, so you'll need to keep it fairly close to the sound bar itself. The device is relatively loaded with ports, including three HDMI inputs, a single HDMI output and a pair of digital optical connections.

Features

Plenty of extras to be found. Yamaha is known for providing well-rounded electronics and the cornucopia of features found in the Yamaha YSP-2200 continues the tradition. Just in case the squat design still blocks your TV's sensor, the rear of the sound bar includes an infrared repeater to pass along command signals. Decoders for the advanced Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio lossless technologies are onboard, and the sound bar ships with a small microphone that helps you automatically calibrate the Intellibeam surround-sound function for your surroundings. The HDMI ports support 1080p video, 3D pass-through and audio channel return, while optional adapters offer an iPod/iPhone dock and Bluetooth wireless streaming capabilities.

Value

Expensive, but still a bargain. It's hard to call any sound bar that costs this much a bargain, but the Yamaha YSP-2200 delivers expansive, high-quality sound at a level that lower-priced sound bars just can't match and ups the ante with an unsurpassed features list. To find a better-sounding system you'll have to spend nearly twice as much.

The bottom line

Let's be clear: Experts say that most people looking to boost their HDTV's audio will be perfectly fine with the sound output from the Best Reviewed (though not wall mountable) Zvox Z-Base 580 (*Est. $500) or possibly even a budget system like the Yamaha YAS-101 (*Est. $250). However, if you're looking for atypical advanced features and an auditory experience that starts to approach the level of immersion provided by 5.1 systems, the Yamaha YSP-2200's DSP technology is where you want to go -- at least if you're interested in movies and television.