Yamaha yas 207 vs 107

[Reckoner89]

I am split between these 2 soundbars. My highest priority right now is the virtual surround experience. I live in a small apartment so bass and volume are not that important to me. I currently have a Panasonic soundbar with built in subwoofers and that provides plenty of bass for my needs. So I want to get the soundbar with the best virtual surround performance. They both have DTS Virtual X but I was wondering if anyone knew if the 207 provides better virtual surround since it has more drivers, or is the 107 better because it's drivers are bigger? I read on another forum that someone said the 107 is better. Then I asked crutchfield and they said the 207 is far superior but I think he was just trying to get me to buy the more expensive one. Does anyone have experience with both these soundbars? Or even provide other suggestions if there is a sub $400 soundbar with better virtual surround?

 

[americanaudiophile]

Yamaha soundbars have a unique way of generating surround sound without rear speakers. Each speaker has it's own amp and signal. The more speakers the better the virtual surround sound will be.

 

[madmatt30]

The 207 homestly sounds LOADS better when it comes to virtual rear audio .

Yes its more money but it comes with a seperate sub , the 107 doesn't.

Absolutely worth the extra money imo.

You think you don't need a seperate sub until you actually have one - then you'll realise what youve actually been missing.

Its not about sheer volume or thumping bass , its about the non directional dispersal of lower frequencies through the room.

You cant ever get that with a single bar setup.

 

[Reckoner89]

Ok thanks. I think I'm leaning towards the 207.

Here's a question. Would the YSP 1600 be a much better option, especially surround-wise? I'm not sure exactly how the beam technology works but I'm wondering if that would even work well in my apartment. To the right of the TV is a large window (around 6x7) that's covered by blackout curtains and on the left it's almost all open with a hallway and an opening to the kitchen.

 

[madmatt30]

Ok thanks. I think I'm leaning towards the 207.

Here's a question. Would the YSP 1600 be a much better option, especially surround-wise? I'm not sure exactly how the beam technology works but I'm wondering if that would even work well in my apartment. To the right of the TV is a large window (around 6x7) that's covered by blackout curtains and on the left it's almost all open with a hallway and an opening to the kitchen.

The underlying issue with the older 'beam technology ' yamaha bars is placement/positioning & room layout.
In a perfect scenario they work brilliantly ,as well as any single bar could possibly ever do.

The issue is that perfect scenario is a closed off square or rectangular room with the tv & soundbar dirrectly in the centre & your seating postion directly in line with the tv & a metre or so space behind it from the rear wall.

Thats maybe 20% of the population at best,rooms are rarely straight 4 cornered squares nowadays.

The virtual x technology is really really good for what it is ,honestly do not expect reall surround sound from it though,theres some spatial awareness ,theres some sense of audio behind you - its not real surround though,only 5 or 7 speakers can do that.

The biggest difference immersiveness wise is going to be that subwoofer as Ive said before.
3 or 4 inch bass drivers that are built into the soundbars cant possibly go down to low enough frequencies to make the bass non directional - it'll still sound like its coming from in front of you.

That yamaha sub ,while not incredible in any way ,is at least capable of much lower frequencies & when you get low frequencies happening onscreen - gunshots,explosions etc - they are going to sound like they're all round you rather than in front of you.

 

[Reckoner89]

Ok yeah that's what I've figured. I think I'll go with the 207 then. I have set my expectations low, I know it won't be anything compared to actual surround sound. Just want something a little more immersive. My current soundbar does advertise some form of "virtual digital surround" and it's pleasant when I actually notice it so I just want something that's an improvement over that. I've just had this Panasonic soundbar for 5 years and I feel it's time for an upgrade. Props to Panasonic though. This thing has withstood some tremendous abuse. It's fallen onto the floor from about 5 feet up more than once, it's even had an entire cup of water dumped on the speaker grill and it still works, just a slight buzzing noise that happens even now and then when dialogue reaches a certain frequency.

 

[madmatt30]

Ok yeah that's what I've figured. I think I'll go with the 207 then. I have set my expectations low, I know it won't be anything compared to actual surround sound. Just want something a little more immersive. My current soundbar does advertise some form of "virtual digital surround" and it's pleasant when I actually notice it so I just want something that's an improvement over that. I've just had this Panasonic soundbar for 5 years and I feel it's time for an upgrade. Props to Panasonic though. This thing has withstood some tremendous abuse. It's fallen onto the floor from about 5 feet up more than once, it's even had an entire cup of water dumped on the speaker grill and it still works, just a slight buzzing noise that happens even now and then when dialogue reaches a certain frequency.

Dont know what your panasonic actually is but Id hazard a guess if its 5 years old then the yamaha is plain going to knock your socks off comparitively.