I had a chance to test and compare two models: Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Vizio V21-H8 and this review should help people who are looking for a good soundbar. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 was rated 8.2, while the Vizio V21-H8 has a rating 5.5. 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 V21-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 V21-H8 has 2.1. The built-in subwoofer is not implemented in any of these models. An external subwoofer connects to the MusicCast BAR 400 via wireless, but V21-H8 has wired and wireless connection type. Rate 7 out of 10 received the Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 for audio features and specs, but the Vizio V21-H8 received 6 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. There are 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs in the Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 versus 0/1 HDMIs in the Vizio V21-H8. As in the MusicCast BAR 400, so in the V21-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 V21-H8 was rated 6/10.
The manufacturer of the V21-H8 provides a device control application. 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 V21-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 V21-H8 received a mark of 5/10 for multichannel surround.