Gizmodo
The Gadget: A soundbar by one of my favorite A/V companies that includes a sub. It is one of the rare soundbars NOT to block your TV if mounted on the same table. Processes DTS and Dolby surround through optical and coax and stereo inputs (But no HDMI). The sub draws power off the main unit at 40 watts, and the six 3-inch drivers get 22-watts each. It comes with a glow in the dark universal remote.
The Price: $1200
The Verdict:And again, it's very valuable that this bar does not block the screen. The piano black finish is great. And it's loud, like all Denon gear, although the bass gets a little cloudy at high volume. What's sad is that this expensive set up does not do any sort of cool sonar-like bouncing of soundbeams off walls like the YSP series by Yamaha. (See below.) So, you get good wide imaging, but you can definitely tell the sound is coming from the center bar. Nor does it have a mic for room calibration. (All the delay and room settings are done on the little LCD.) What's more, with so few inputs, you'll either have to rig the sound to output from your TV, or switch your sources often. But with no HDMI or pass through, you'd better check if your TV has an output before even considering this unit. All in all, that's academic. With less than great surround presentation, I'd recommend you try the YSP line from Yamaha (even if that means you have to cough up for a sub and wall mount or block some of your TV.)
[Denon]
Comments
Please remove all of those fugly stickers from your TV.
Denon is pretty sweet, but are they actually SELLING one of the downfalls of the system? nice job.
All A/V and computer mfgs need to start having HDMI all over the place and quit charging for it like a luxury. It should even have a couple channels of HDMI if you ask me, but they didn't.
@BensAngel: He can't help it, he's Asian... ;)
@oo0cyst0oo: it could be worse, my father-in-law has the plastic on the screen after like 2 years and it is cloudy from windex(im assuming) and peeling back at the corners. that he taped down even more than that.
@BensAngel: Hey, it's a loaner.
[cache.gizmodo.com]
I just thought about how Blam lives in a WAY cooler place than me and he has WAY cooler stuff. Don't knock the tv.
@oo0cyst0oo: Yeah you never know when you'll need to sell it and be able to say "still in plastic! like new!"
@Brian Lam: and gets to borrow tvs.
@meefer: or return it.
Mr. Lam, I love your writing and Gizmodo. However, after seeing some of the close-up shots of the A/V cabinet, may I suggest the next gadget you review is a Swifer Duster?
@getz76: What are you, my mom?
Why are these damn soundbars so damn expensive
@nXt: Damned if I know.
time for Outlaw Audio to build one
A little OT, but I have a question Mr. Lam. When playing Wii in 480p on your various plasma and LCD sets, do you notice faint horizontal bars in dark scenes?
I'm both laughing and kicking my own ass. I bought the YSP while deployed for the sweet woman back home.
Without measuring.
It's blocking the base of our TV...and I'm trying to figure out a solution.
Hell, a block of would SHOULD suffice...
Guess I'll have to wait until I get home.
@Brian Lam:
Maybe. :)
I need to sleep. I glanced at that power button on the left side, and thought it was an XBOX controller port. I thought "WTF, mate?"
This would be sweet if it didn't cost as much as my TV.
@Jsembower: WOOD that be WOOD or WOULD?
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