Yamaha YSP-4100

If you want the best possible sound-bar experience out there -- and don't mind paying as much as you would for a cheap used car, and living with a sound bar that's bigger than most adult's legs -- the Yamaha YSP-4100 is an excellent option, with superb sound and numerous helpful features.

Performance

Sound bars don't get better than this. The Yamaha YSP-4100 is as large as it is because the bar houses an integrated subwoofer, a digital sound processor and numerous sound drivers and includes 40 -- yes, four oh -- speakers that are directed by Yamaha's Intellibeam technology to place surround-sound effects more precisely than any other virtual surround-sound system, with excellent audio quality to match. Only the MartinLogan Motion Vision (*Est. $1,500) comes close to delivering the same experience, reviewers say, though that sound bar lacks the Yamaha's bells and whistles.

Design

Bulky, but beautiful. There's no two ways around it: At over 40 inches long and 8 inches deep, the Yamaha YSP-4100 is big. Very big. However, reviewers appreciate its looks, and an automated calibration function will have you up and running smoothly in minutes. The sound bar is chock full of ports for all your connection needs, as well. While a subwoofer isn't included -- and not all think one is necessary -- Yamaha does put an adapter into the box that lets you wirelessly connect any subwoofer to the YSP-4100.

Features

More features than you can shake a stick at. No sound bar comes close to matching the Yamaha YSP-4100 feature-for-feature. The sound bar includes HDMI ports with full 3D pass-through and audio return channel support, digital decoders for Blu-ray audio, a satellite-ready FM tuner, the ability to upconvert analog video signals to 1080p for HDMI output, IR pass-through and wireless iOS device compatibility with an optional adapter.

Value

Premium, but powerful. The sound bar is insanely expensive, but it's also insanely capable. It's up to you to decide if that's a worthwhile exchange.

The bottom line

Make no mistake: The Yamaha YSP-4100 is one of the most expensive sound bars you can buy. But for that price, you get the best-sounding, most feature-packed single-box home-theater solution available. The Yamaha YSP-4100 sits firmly at the top of the sound-bar market, both in price and performance.