Yamaha YSP-2500

Enveloping surround sound ; Superb build quality and elegant design ; Extensive feature list

Surround effect dependent on room layout ; More complicated than most soundbars ; Relatively expensive

Yamaha’s fantastic soundbar delivers home cinema thrills like no other, while a packed feature list and killer design seal the deal.

Exciting, expansive surround sound Good scale Plenty of punch Great build and design

Needs sympathetic placement and room acoustics to get a convincing effect

The YSP-2500’s expansive soundfield, punch and scale are impressive, and it’s the most appealing solution for those that want cinema-style sound without going the full hog with a 5.1 system. MORE: Awards 2014 - all the winners

Neat design; good build quality; connectivity; convincing surround sound; HD audio decoding; superb sonic quality; versatile DSP modes

Bluetooth metadata not shown on display; remote control not backlit/non-learning

Excellent audio quality ; Sound beam technology ; Feature packed ; Attractive design and finish ; Great build quality ; Price

May not suit every room

If it's a soundbar that you're after then you'll be hard pushed to find a better performer for the money than the Yamaha YSP-2500. The company's long association with soundbars shows through in every aspect of the YSP-2500's design and there's an...

Edging towards the price point of diminishing returns in the sound bar genre, Yamaha’s YSP-2500 may not be cheap, but it offers a powerful burst of audio imagery that pulls you into the action and refuses to let go. While music isn’t its forte,...

Discrete surround sound from a single sound bar ; Easy auto-setup with a user-friendly features ; A more affordable version of Yamaha's YSP technology

Even at the middle of Yamaha's YSP product range, still more costly than most soundbars

Doesn’t tamper with video, including 4K Ultra HD ; Excellent build quality ; Lively dynamic sound with good bass output ; Wireless sub ; More consistency in calibration, as calibration may not work in some rooms ; Improved surround sound, especially...

More consistency in calibration, as calibration may not work in some rooms ; Improved surround sound, especially with Blu-ray movies ; Less dependency on location of sub, which is important as it is somewhat directional

YAMAHA YSP-2500 is the Best Build Quality Soundbar

Excellent audio performance ; Superb subwoofer ; Believable surround sound ; Lots of inputs, Bluetooth connectivity ; Support for 4K/60fps pass-through

No USB port ; Looks weird if mounted on walls ; Dialogue sometimes muffled ; Pricey but justifiable

To sum up, if you are looking for a true surround sound experience from a minimal speaker setup, the YSP-2500 will not disappoint. And this is especially true for readers who want to buy into the Yamaha digital sound projector experience. The YSP-2500...