Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Vizio M21d-H8 review

Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Vizio M21d-H8 comparison chart

Overall
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
8.2
Vizio M21d-H8
5
10
6

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Vizio M21d-H8 review

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
vs
Vizio M21d-H8

l would like to share my experience after comparing and testing two soundbars – Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Vizio M21d-H8. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 was rated 8.2, while the Vizio M21d-H8 has a rating 5. 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, Bluetooth for the M21d-H8.

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 M21d-H8 has 2.1. A built-in subwoofer is available only in the Vizio M21d-H8. Rate 7 out of 10 received the Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 for audio features and specs, but the Vizio M21d-H8 received 5 out of 10. The MusicCast BAR 400 can play audio from Spotify.

Connectivity

Wireless Internet connection is realized only in the MusicCast BAR 400. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs are in each of soundbars. As in the MusicCast BAR 400, so in the M21d-H8 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 M21d-H8 was rated 6/10.

Features

None of these soundbars can be controlled using the app. The soundbars in this review are equipped with a microphone. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 may become part of a multiroom system.

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos audio decoder support is not implemented in either the MusicCast BAR 400 or M21d-H8. Devices from this comparison cannot process surround sound due to lack of DTS:X. The MusicCast BAR 400 was rated 6/10, while the M21d-H8 received a mark of 5/10 for multichannel surround.

Advantages Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 over Vizio M21d-H8

  • Separate subwoofer in package
  • Amazon Music compatible
  • Spotify support
  • WI-FI enabled
  • Multi-room support

Advantages Vizio M21d-H8 over Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400

  • Built-in subwoofer
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Common

Product

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
Vizio M21d-H8

Model

MusicCast BAR 400
M21d-H8

Brand

Yamaha
Vizio

Reviews

121
4

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, Bluetooth

Audio features

Built-in channels

5.1
2.1

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

200 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
0

Separate speaker connections

wireless
has not

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay 2

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, Deezer, TIDAL, Napster, SiriusXM, Qobuz
has not

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

1/1
1/1

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
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri

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
DTS Virtual:X

User manual

Manual

N/A

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

94.2 x 8.3 x 11/38.6 x 3.3 x 4.3
98 x 11.4 x 18.8/39 x 5 x 7

Weight, kg/pounds

2.7/6
3/6

Other

Release year

2018
2020
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
Vizio M21d-H8
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
Vizio M21d-H8

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 8.2
  • 5
  • 8.2Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
  • 5Vizio M21d-H8

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 competitors

Vizio M21d-H8 competitors