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Yamaha YAS-408 Soundbar Review

Kenn Muguna Avatar
Updated Dec 20, 2023 11:32 AM

True Score

70
71
6

Experts

78
0

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Expert Rankings

The Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400 provides powerful bass and clear highs, immersing users in movies and music. It has great audio performance and Bluetooth/WiFi connectivity but lacks height channels and has limited HDMI inputs. Testers found it satisfying for podcasts and music.

Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The Yamaha YAS 408 is an entry-level 2.1-channel soundbar that was announced in 2018. It consists of a soundbar and a subwoofer and boasts a neutral sound profile.

Despite its narrow soundstage and missing support for Dolby Atmos content, owners can determine where exactly object sounds are coming from. The array of physical inputs on the YAS-408 is also not far from what the best speakers offer.

The YAS-408 has an Optical Audio In port, three HDMI ports, an AUX port, and an Ethernet port which is standard for wired connections.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the YAS-408 fares well since owners will be able to stream content through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay, only missing out on Chromecast.

Like many top-tier soundbars, it also has a high peak volume, and its latency is low enough for users not to notice any lag when watching audio-visual content.

Consensus

our Verdict

The Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400 is ideal for users who enjoy a powerful bass depth alongside crisp, clear highs. This translates to an immersive experience when watching movies or listening to music.

The soundbar also offers great audio performance and comes with support for wireless connections through Bluetooth or WiFi. However, it has some shortcomings, such as a narrow soundstage, the lack of support for height channels, and only one HDMI input.

Still, testers were satisfied with its audio performance out-of-the-box, as both dialogue and instrumentals were clear when listening to podcasts or music.

It also has a slight advantage over the Harman Kardon SB 16 since it comes with a remote. (Check out the SB 16 in our Harman Kardon SB 16 2-1 channel active soundbar speaker system review)

ReasonS to Buy

  • Clear dialog and impressive bass levels
  • Multiroom and 5.1 capabilities
  • Great with movies and music
  • Easy to set up
  • MusicCast multiroom

Reason to Avoid

  • No Dolby Atmos/DTS:X support
  • One HDMI input
  • Upper register can get shouty
  • No front display
  • Virtual surround is just OK

Yamaha YAS-408 Soundbar Specs

Bluetooth EnabledBluetooth EnabledYes
DepthDepth4.3"
Dialogue Enhancement FeatureDialogue Enhancement FeatureYes
Energy Star CertifiedEnergy Star Certifiedn/a
HDMI ARCHDMI ARCYes
HeightHeight2.38"
Number of Audio ChannelsNumber of Audio Channels2.1
SubwooferSubwooferIncluded, Yes
Surround Sound SupportedSurround Sound SupportedDolby Digital, DTS Virtual:X
Voice AssistantVoice AssistantAmazon Alexa, No
Wall MountableWall MountableYes
WeightWeight6 lbs
WidthWidth38.6"
Wireless ConnectivityWireless ConnectivityBluetooth, Wi-Fi
Wireless Subwoofer ConnectivityWireless Subwoofer ConnectivityYes
Works WithWorks WithAmazon Alexa, Bluetooth, Remote Control, Wi-Fi

All Specs

Test Results

Minimum Freq Response (Hz)38.9
Maximum Freq Response (Hz)19,900
Max Volume Test (db)95.8
Latency (ms)42

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Product Comparison

Yamaha YAS-408 Soundbar Review

True Score

70
77
72
NR

Ranking

#

127

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151

#

78

/

151

#

125

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151

#

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Market Context

The Yamaha YAS 408 is an entry-level 2.1-channel soundbar that was announced in 2018. It consists of a soundbar and a subwoofer and boasts a…

The Yamaha YAS 408 is an entry-level 2.1-channel soundbar that was announced in 2018. It consists of a soundbar and a subwoofer and boasts a neutral sound profile.

Despite its narrow soundstage and missing support for Dolby Atmos content, owners can determine where exactly object sounds are coming from. The array of physical inputs on the YAS-408 is also not far from what the best speakers offer.

The YAS-408 has an Optical Audio In port, three HDMI ports, an AUX port, and an Ethernet port which is standard for wired connections.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the YAS-408 fares well since owners will be able to stream content through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay, only missing out on Chromecast.

Like many top-tier soundbars, it also has a high peak volume, and its latency is low enough for users not to notice any lag when watching audio-visual content.

The Yamaha YAS 408 gets significantly louder than the Yamaha YAS-209, making it more ideal for large groups compared to the 209. The YAS-209 also…

The Yamaha YAS 408 gets significantly louder than the Yamaha YAS-209, making it more ideal for large groups compared to the 209. The YAS-209 also offers EQ presets for sound adjustments while the YAS 408 does not, however, the YAS 408 has Apple AirPlay support which is missing on the YAS 209. Make sure to check out our YAS-209 review to see what else it has in store.

The Yamaha YAS 408 is a 2.1-channel soundbar whose surround sound performance is no match for the LG SP8YA, which is a 3.1.2-channel soundbar. However,…

The Yamaha YAS 408 is a 2.1-channel soundbar whose surround sound performance is no match for the LG SP8YA, which is a 3.1.2-channel soundbar. However, the YAS-408 gets slightly louder than the SP8YA.

The Yamaha YAS 408 can connect to devices through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay, making it more adept for wireless streaming than the Yamaha YAS-207,…

The Yamaha YAS 408 can connect to devices through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay, making it more adept for wireless streaming than the Yamaha YAS-207, which only allows for Bluetooth streaming.

Bluetooth Enabled

Yes

Yes

Yes

Depth

4.3"

4.3"

4.7"

Dialogue Enhancement Feature

Yes

Yes

Energy Star Certified

n/a

No

HDMI ARC

Yes

Yes

Height

2.38"

2.5"

2.2"

Number of Audio Channels

2.1

2.1

3.1.2

Subwoofer

Included, Yes

Included

Dig Deeper

Yamaha YAS-209 Review →

LG SP8YA Review →

Score Card

E

Expert Score

71

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

78

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

70

Expert Scores

  • Rtings
    101.4

    Category Trust Rating

    72
    Decent for mixed usage. The Yamaha YAS-408 has a great audio reproduction that is suitable… Read More

    By:

    Jean-Simon Bonneterre
  • Trusted Reviews
    57.5

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    A capable 2.1-channel soundbar, but a lack of immersive audio support puts it at a… Read More

    By:

    Unknown
  • CNET
    52.25

    Category Trust Rating

    79
    The full-featured Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400 offers a palpable sonic upgrade for your television over… Read More

    By:

    Ty Pendlebury
  • Digital Trends
    48.7

    Category Trust Rating

    70
    The MusicCast 400 offers powerful, detailed sound and plenty of features, though at $500, it’s… Read More

    By:

    Ryan Waniata
  • Techhive
    27.5

    Category Trust Rating

    70
    While it packs DTS Virtual:X and high-resolution multi-room audio, the BAR 400 lacks Dolby Atmos… Read More

    By:

    Ben Patterson
  • What Hifi
    36.05

    Category Trust Rating

    NR
    Sonically, soundbars live on a scale from hopeless to magnificent. Not only does this Yamaha… Read More

    By:

    Unknown