I had a chance to test and compare two models: Yamaha YAS-209 vs Vizio V21-H8 and this review should help people who are looking for a good soundbar. The Yamaha YAS-209 was rated 6.4, 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, microphone for the YAS-209 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 YAS-209 has 2.0 and V21-H8 has 2.1. The built-in subwoofer is not implemented in any of these models. An external subwoofer connects to the YAS-209 via wireless, but V21-H8 has wired and wireless connection type. Audio features and specs of considered models we rated 6 out of 10 in our ranking.
Soundbars do not have AirPlay support. The YAS-209 can play audio from Spotify.
Wireless Internet connection is realized only in the YAS-209. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs in the Yamaha YAS-209 versus 0/1 HDMIs in the Vizio V21-H8. As in the YAS-209, 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 YAS-209 at 7 out of 10, while the V21-H8 was rated 6/10.
Each of the soundbars can be controlled using the application. The soundbars in this review are equipped with a microphone. The models under consideration cannot become part of a multiroom system.
Dolby Atmos audio decoder support is not implemented in either the YAS-209 or V21-H8. Devices from this comparison cannot process surround sound due to lack of DTS:X. The YAS-209 was rated 6/10, while the V21-H8 received a mark of 5/10 for multichannel surround.