Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Samsung HW-K850 review

Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Samsung HW-K850 comparison chart

Overall
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
8.2
Samsung HW-K850
6
10
4

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Samsung HW-K850 review

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
vs
Samsung HW-K850

l would like to share my experience after comparing and testing two soundbars – Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Samsung HW-K850. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 was rated 8.2, while the Samsung HW-K850 has a rating 6. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, volume down, volume up, input, mute for the MusicCast BAR 400 and power, volume down, volume up, source for the HW-K850.

Audio features

Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that MusicCast BAR 400 has 5.1 and HW-K850 has 3.1.2. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 200 (overall) versus 350 (overall) according to devices. The built-in subwoofer is not implemented in any of these models. An external subwoofer can be connected to any of the units in this comparison. Rate 7 out of 10 received the Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 for audio features and specs, but the Samsung HW-K850 received 6 out of 10. Each of the competitors can play content from Spotify.

Connectivity

Both models have a wireless Wi-Fi interface. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs in the Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 versus 2/1 HDMIs in the Samsung HW-K850. As in the MusicCast BAR 400, so in the HW-K850 there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the MusicCast BAR 400 at 8 out of 10, while the HW-K850 was rated 7/10. None of these soundbars can be controlled using the app. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 equipped with a microphone. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 may become part of a multiroom system.

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos audio decoder is onboard the HW-K850. Devices from this comparison cannot process surround sound due to lack of DTS:X. The MusicCast BAR 400 was rated 6/10, while the HW-K850 received a mark of 4/10 for multichannel surround.

Advantages Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 over Samsung HW-K850

  • Separate subwoofer in package
  • Microphone
  • Multi-room support

Advantages Samsung HW-K850 over Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400

  • Compatible with Dolby Atmos
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Common

Product

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
Samsung HW-K850

Model

MusicCast BAR 400
HW-K850

Brand

Yamaha
Samsung

Reviews

121
82

General

Placement type

table-top, wall-mountable
table-top, wall-mountable

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

power, volume down, volume up, input, mute
power, volume down, volume up, source

Audio features

Built-in channels

5.1
3.1.2

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

200 (overall)
350 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
0

Separate speaker connections

wireless
wireless

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay 2

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, Deezer, TIDAL, Napster, SiriusXM, Qobuz
Napster, iHeart

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

1/1
2/1

HDMI ARC

HDMI eARC

HDMI CEC

Optical digital input/output

1/0
1/0

USB

1 (USB 2.0)
1 (USB 2.0)

Coaxial digital input/output

0/0
0/0

Analog audio input/output (RCA)

1/0
1/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

0
0

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

DTS Virtual:X, DTS Digital Surround
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

94.2 x 8.3 x 11/38.6 x 3.3 x 4.3
120.9 x 8.1 x 12.9 /47.6 x 3.2 x 5.1

Weight, kg/pounds

2.7/6
6.6/14.7

Other

Release year

2018
2016
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
Samsung HW-K850
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
Samsung HW-K850

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 8.2
  • 6
  • 8.2Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
  • 6Samsung HW-K850