My first impression when unpacking was initially very positive. The 20 EUR more for my chosen aluminum design (silver) were money well spent. From my perspective, it looks much better quality than in the normal version with staubanfälligem piano black, but this is of course subjective. Negative only falls on the very small and very cheap-looking remote control. Since then the normal control but should be on the television remote control, did not bother me this once.
The commissioning appears initially easy, the TV speakers off, the Soundbar using the supplied optical cable connected to the TV and have done the TV audio through the sound bar. The sound is indeed directly noticeably better than on TV, enthusiasm, however, he does not fire. You can not just, as one might suspect, control an optional connectable external subwoofer but also the built-in internal via the included remote control. Another adjustment possibility there's Clear Voice (better voice or sound quality), Audio Delay Control (synchronization of image and sound) and UniVolume (constant volume). In addition, you can choose between stereo and surround. After some try, I have decided for the following settings: Surround, Subwoofer internal two steps higher, Clear Voice on, Audio Delay Control and UniVolume from. The sound was now quite well and harmoniously, Surround, however, was to continue to guess more than actually present.
When I then display the Soundbar looked me more I realized that apparently always (only) an incoming PCM signal. Unfortunately the manual does not answer the question of whether this is good or bad or normal. Rumgoogeln Slightly brought the realization that this probably is not optimal, since the television coming regularly then there is only one stereo signal. So put myself in the TV's menu and somewhere discovered that the default settings for whatever reason is in PVC. After I changed to this automatically, the Soundbar showed some transmitters (mostly HD channels) as an input signal now "Dolby Digital" at. However, in the variant "surround playback of a two channel supply" ?! In other words, it still came to only a stereo signal (Dolby Digital 2.0), which explains why practically no difference was audible. Another Internet research showed then that this is probably normal, even the HD TV channels broadcast only selected television programs, in particular more recent movies in Dolby Digital 5.1 from. During the evening I zapped me from time to time by the programs and in a feature film was the Soundbar then suddenly that a 5.1 surround signal feed is present and lo and behold, as the Yamaha shows then what they can. A beautiful sound with clearly visible surround.
Now to my final point, any teaching of TV remote control, ie the control of the Soundbar about this. My remote control (LG Motion Remote) settled teach only for on / off, not for loud / quiet. Since the permanent simultaneous use of two remotes was not an option for me, I sent the Yamaha at this moment in thought already back. Without real hope I have but then again go and found that there is the menu selection Universal control and there to point me in the SoundBar TV's menu. There I could from a manufacturer Yamaha Select list and can suddenly my TV remote control also functions loud / quiet and not only that, but also the mute function (mute) works! Why the manual only succinctly indicates that the Teach possible in some remote or not, not all functions is possible, remains incomprehensible. If there is this alternative setting option in LG, there are the current television models of other brands well also can.
Conclusion:
The manual is translated superficially and carelessly and in my view simply an impertinence. And we must not and can not of course compare this Soundbar with "real" 5.1 or 7.1 surround systems, they play in a different league. But the sound of the Yamaha should almost always bring a significant improvement to the flat-Fernselautsprechern and provided as an input signal is a full 5.1 surround sound, and an amazingly good sound comes out. Especially if you live in an apartment building and the maximum volume is limited by the neighbors, this soundbar may therefore be a useful alternative. I would buy me, especially considering the beautiful designs and the relatively low price, again.
