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.
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.
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.
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.
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.