Set up and feat ure s
Are these bars really as good as they look? Time to get ’em up and running
The LG SJ9 is simple to install, with Bluetooth and Chromecast built in
TOur three immersive champions take contrary approaches here. Yamaha opts for auto calibration, LG encourages you to just get on with it, and Sony treads a middle ground.
The Yamaha YSP-5600SW is installed using sophisticated Intellibeam optimisation, via a supplied microphone. To help centre dialogue, the bar offers a three-point lift to lock centre channel imaging to your screen.
There are four listening modes, plus a selection of Cinema DSP modes. It’s also MusicCast enabled, so you can integrate it within a Yamaha-based multi-room system. Networked audio playback includes 192khz/24-bit FLAC and WAV.
The Sony HT-ST5000 doesn’t ship with a calibration microphone, and is nearly plug ’n’ play, but there is an opportunity for manual intervention. Speaker settings enable you to modify distance and level, as well as set the ceiling height. There are various video display options, which we advise you to leave in Auto.
The HT-ST5000 works with Google Home Assistant and has Chromecast built in, which means it’s an absolute doddle to stream a range of Chromecast-enabled apps direct to the soundbar, including the likes of Quobuz, Spotify, TuneIn, Tidal and Google Music. You can also integrate it within a Google multiroom music system.
The Sony HT-ST5000 has the best High-Res Audio support in our group. It’s DSD and 24-bit 96kHz FLAC compatible. And if you still have compressed files you can use Sony’s DSEE HX processor to restore depth and dynamics.
The LG SJ9 doesn’t require any microphone setup at all and cocks a snook at adjustable parameters. It’s beautifully simple to install. Bluetooth-enabled and with Chromecast built in, it enjoys Google benefits (multi-room support, app streaming). It’s compatible with Hi-Res Audio FLAC and WAV, and upsamples low-resolution music files to 24bit/192Hz.