Audio Video News

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 Soundbar System: $500

Ideal for small rooms — which is par for the course in college living — Yamaha’s ultra-sleek BAR 400 system will bring music and movie soundtracks to life without commandeering precious living space. Throw in a MusicCast 50 wireless speaker ($500) and you have what Leslie Shapiro calls a “stellar wireless 5.1 system that creates an immersive experience.” But the BAR 400 is much more than just a streamlined movie sound system: It can just as easily be pressed into action to deliver music across multiple room thanks to the inclusion of Yamaha’s app-based MusicCast platform.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
DTS Virtual:X simulated surround processing
Simple set up
Multiroom capability
Optional MusicCast 50 wireless speaker ($500) can be used to boost surround performance
Minus
Unnecessarily complicated user controls
No Chromecast built-in

Full Review Here

Onkyo TX-NR787 9.2-Channel Network AV Receiver: $449 (on Amazon; originally $699)

When some semblance of real home theater is the priority among grads and undergrads, Onkyo’s TX-NR787 is impossible to beat at its current Amazon price of $449. Sure, it’s a 2018 model but who cares? You’re getting a versatile nine-channel AVR that delivers an impressive blend of performance and features for $150 less than the price that led to it being a Sound & Vision Top Value Pick in the first place. With ample processing power to accommodate a DTS:X or Dolby Atmos 7.1.2 setup, the TX-NR787 is certified by THX to deliver rich, powerful sound in rooms as big as 2,000 square feet. Add to that a robust feature set, including a wealth of wireless streaming options and AccuEQ Advance room calibration, and you won’t be disappointed.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Powerful, full-bodied sound
5.1.4 and 7.1.2-channel surround options
AccuEQ Advance room calibration
Minus
No multichannel preamp outputs
Basic remote control

Full Review Here

Q Acoustics 3000i Series Speaker System: $1,499

For grads and undergrads who more than earned their keep over the summer, the 3000i “Cinema Pack” from Great Britain’s Q Acoustics is a 5.1 tower-based home theater system that easily earned our Top Value Pick designation. Its sounds as good as it looks, which is to say very good, indeed — so good, that it made our 2018 Top Value Picks of the Year list. Veteran reviewer Dan Kumin dubbed the system a unique value and praised it for delivering the goods with music and movies. As he put it, “I was rewarded with big, impactful sound (with or without the 3060S sub), a satisfyingly deep presentation, and unfailingly crisp and intelligible dialogue.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Rich, full-range sound
Fine imaging
Great-looking and nicely finished
Minus
Center-channel not a perfect timbral match with towers
Subwoofer output and extension does not fully complement towers

Full Review Here

 

Vizio PQ65-F1 LCD Ultra HDTV: $1,500 (originally $2,100)

Admittedly a high ticket in the world of back-to-school planning, the PQ65 is quite the bargain at $1,500. Yes, it’s a 2018 model, but imagine the cachet that comes with having a 65-inch TV in a dorm, or more realistically, off-campus housing. P-Series Quantum TVs represent Vizio’s most advanced smart TV designs and, in this case, a TV with excellent high dynamic range (HDR) chops. As veteran TV reviewer Tom Norton put it, “Colors were rich and full-bodied, and detail left nothing to the imagination. Reference discs such as The Greatest Showman and Avengers: Infinity War kept me glued to my seat…The P-Series Quantum set is worth serious consideration, not only for its price but for its solid performance.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Exceptional value
Effective full array local dimming
Brilliant HDR

Minus
Limited off-center viewing angle

Full Review Here

To browse all Sound & Vision-recommended AV gear, broken out by category, visit our Top Picks page.