Denon DHT-FS3 v Yamaha YSP-900

[angusjack]

I am currently looking to improve sound quality from my system. I currently have the sound routed from the TV (Sony 40W2000) to my Arcam Solo Stereo. I'm looking for a wife friendly system with minimum speakers and wires so the sound bar option, although obviously a compromise, seems to be the best option. I will Be connecting a PS3, Sky HD box and Oppo DVD player.

From what I have read the Yamaha would give the best 'virtual' surround sound in an ideal room layout, while the Dennon probably has the better quality speakers and is not as badly affected by the room layout. Unfortunately I am limited to a corner set-up so am thinking towards the Denon at the moment. The price for each system is similar as with either system I would be buying the matching stand and with the Yamaha the Optional Sub.

There are no stockists locally (Aberdeen) and therefore I have not been able to listen to either system yet. The only similar system I have listened to was the Sony RHT-G800 which is considerably cheaper and looks good, but sound wise was not particularly impressive.

Any views on these systems would be much appreciated.

[etch]

I bought the Denon sound bar to use with my 40W2000 two weeks ago and my initial impressions are as follows:

Overall the Denon provides a substantial improvement in sound quality over the TV's disappointing built-in speakers.

You'll notice a significant increase in the clarity of speech and other material that is typically routed through the centre channel. The sub handles the low end quote well, but I tend to run it at a fairly low level due to the acoustic of my living room and the proximity of my neighbours.

The Denon's surround sound effects range from accasionally convincing to moderately spacious. I have my TV and the Denon set up in a corner and this doesn't seem to stop the surround system from working well. However, this is no substitute for a genuine 5.1 setup, as you would expect. I reckon one of the Yamaha YSP series may be a better choice if surround sound effects are your main priority.

The Denon does seem to boost the audio signal's dynamics - so you may find yourself reaching for the volume control more frequently in order to avoid bothering the neighbours. There is a night mode which I believe is meant to compress the dynamics, although I didn't notice a big difference when using it.

The Denon puts in a surprisingly good performance when fed with CD's or my iPod. It kicks out a decent volume level without distortion and is very easy on the ear.

The Denon's build quality is impressive. Both the sound bar and supplied sub feel very weighty and solid and are nicely finished in a glossy piano black - however fingerprints show up easily. The sound bar fits perfectly beneath the TV on top of my unit and doesn't obstruct the picture. The glossy finish on the bar's top surface reflects the TV picture which can take some getting used to.

The output quality over headphones from the Denon is very good. It has a Dolby Headphones system to simulate multi-channel surround which I always use when listening to film soundtracks. This works well for me (the 'reference' ears around which the system was developed must be similar to mine) although its perceived effectiveness will no doubt sounds vary for other listeners.

If you're looking for something with a tidy appearance that offers decent sound quality and a reasonable attempt at surround sound I would recommend the Denon.

[angusjack]

Etch,

Thanks very much for the feedback, much appreciated.

Just one question though, with the unit mounted in front of the tv does it block the remote sensor on the TV.

[etch]

Originally Posted by angusjack

Etch,

Thanks very much for the feedback, much appreciated.

Just one question though, with the unit mounted in front of the tv does it block the remote sensor on the TV.

I have to raise the TV remote to use it as the denon partially blocks the receiver. This doesn't bother me as I typically change channels on a cable box and operate the TV off using the on/off button on the top. However, it could be a pain if you needed to change channel on the TV frequently.

The gap between the back of the Denon and the front of the TV is about 15cm and I sit about 2.8m away. I have the denon standing on its 30mm high feet, which can be easily unscrewed to improve the situation with the remote.

[survesunil]

Hi etch,

Thank you for your feedback on the Denon DHT FS3. Could you kindly clarify the following points for me?

1. Is it possible to control the bass and treble separately or is there a common 'tone' control?

2. I got a bit worried about your comment on dynamic boost requiring frequent volume control. Does this happen all the time, for all volume levels?

Regards
Sunil.

[etch]

Originally Posted by survesunil

Hi etch,

Thank you for your feedback on the Denon DHT FS3. Could you kindly clarify the following points for me?

1. Is it possible to control the bass and treble separately or is there a common 'tone' control?

2. I got a bit worried about your comment on dynamic boost requiring frequent volume control. Does this happen all the time, for all volume levels?

Regards
Sunil.

Sunil

The Denon does have separate controls for bass and treble. There is also a control for adjusting the setup to match your room's natural acoustic, which seems to subtly alter the frequency response.

I wouldn't worry too much about the way the Denon handles dynamics. It just has a more lively sound than my TV's speakers, which is what you would want from this type of upgrade. I'm probably overly concerned about annoying my neighbours given that my area is very quiet at night.

[survesunil]

Thank you, Etch, for a prompt response, much appreciated.

Peter Tyson have currently reduced the price to £519 and I'm very tempted...

I'm concerned about the volume dynamics because my wife is very sensitive to such things, especially if the bass is overpowering...

I plan to keep the soundbar on the same stand as the TV. You made an interesting observation about the picture reflection but I don't think I have a better placement choice considering its dimensions and since the middle shelf is occupied by my dvd player and sky+ box...

I plan to keep subwoofer on the bottom shelf of the TV stand. According to Peter Tyson expert, it should not matter for a LCD TV. It seems the magentic field affects only CRT TVs. What do you think?

Regards
Sunil.

[etch]

I haven't seen any visible interference from the Denon on my LCD TV - I don't think LCD screens are susceptible to magnetic interference like CRT's, although I may be wrong.

The bass is definitely not overpowering on the Denon - although you can turn it up quite high if desired. I keep mine at a fairly low level (+2dB) which I find is great for speech while giving a pleasant but not excessive punch with music and low frequency film sound effects like explosions.

There is a night mode which adds mild compression and therefore should address any concerns you have with dynamics. After nearly 4 weeks of use I barely notice the reflection on the top of the Denon.

[survesunil]

Highly appreciate your feedback.

Regards
Sunil.

[starbaby76]

Hi,

Can I please ask about lip-synching? I have a panny 37 plasma and the Denon DVD-1940 and am consideing buying this soundbar. But some people have said I may run into some issues of speech/sound being out of sync with picture.

Can I ask if you have encountered anythjing like this?

Thank you

[etch]

Originally Posted by starbaby76

Hi,

Can I please ask about lip-synching? I have a panny 37 plasma and the Denon DVD-1940 and am consideing buying this soundbar. But some people have said I may run into some issues of speech/sound being out of sync with picture.

Can I ask if you have encountered anythjing like this?

Thank you

I have never noticed any problems with lipsync. My sources are a Virgin Media V+ box and a Sony RDR-HXD860 DVD.