Customer Reviews

Yamaha YHT-150 600-Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater in a Box (Silver)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We wanted an HTB (Home Theater in a Box) for less than $300 for our Master Bedroom, to go with the new small HDTV. We already had the other components (DVD, etc.), so we wanted an HTB without the DVD but with plenty of component connections for future expansion. After some shopping we purchased the Yamaha YHT-150.

However after purchasing this product, I struggled for 2 weeks to like it, but in the end I finally did. I debated about taking it back and I looked at several other systems during these 2 weeks, but really couldn't find anything better in this price range.

Both the receiver and the powered subwoofer are excellent, but my 2 week struggle was with the other 5 speakers (NS-AP-1500s).

After setting the system up, I tried the DVD movie "Twister" (always a good HTB test movie), but the sound was "flat", "hollow", somewhat "tinny" and low volume (IOW, had to turn the volume way up). The speaker sound reminded me of being at the drive-in theater (remember what those speakers sounded like). This is when I entered my 2 week struggle with the system.

To start sorting it out, I tested 2 of the speakers on another system, and quickly discovered that they are not very efficient (it takes power to get sound out of them), but I also discovered that the sound they produced was very clear and clean, unlike the YHT-150.

So back to the YHT-150, I realized that the speaker wire that came with the system was only 22 gauge wire (though it looks heavier) which I used to set it up. So I theorized that this wire was too small for the power required to drive these speakers, and that this might be responsible for the unwanted sound effects. So I bought $5 worth of cheap 16 gauge speaker wire at Home Depot for a test, and rewired the front 3 speakers. Then I turned on the local classical FM station, and WOW, what a world of difference the 16 gauge wire made! I could hear richness and detail in the piano solo, and even people quietly moving around in the background of the recording.

However at the new more powerful and cleaner sound levels, I could now hear that the speakers had no low-end bass (which is noted in the manual specs), but the subwoofer was not filling in the bass correctly to compensate for this. There would be a sound from the speakers (like a voice for example) that should have a bass component, but only a rumble from the subwoofer. This problem turned out to be the cheap subwoofer cable that came with the system.

So I ordered a 100ft roll of good quality 16 gauge speaker wire and a good quality subwoofer cable, both for $38 total (I caught both on sale), and both of these have transformed the system. The speakers now deliver good clean clear sound at significantly reduced volume settings. The required volume settings are still higher than I'd like due to the speaker inefficiency, but the receiver has more than enough power to drive them in a bedroom setting, so this is not an issue. The excellent subwoofer is now very clean and tight, and it accurately fills in the bass for sounds that have bass.

In the end, I've come to like this system, and it does a really good job for the reasons we bought it. I'm not sure I'd recommend it for a large living room as I don't think it has the power to fill a large room, but it can fill a bedroom or a smaller living room just fine.

I have a couple of other issues with the sytem. First, the remote looks a little cheap, but it works fine. Second, the system was a little complicated to figure out and setup, and I think this system needs to be setup correctly for it to deliver its excellent sound potential.

All in all this is a nice system, and I recommend it.

The Yamaha YHT-150 home theater is a superb surround sound system. Before I bought it I tried a used all-in-one Panasonic system and was extremely disappointed (returned it the next day due to multiple problems). I then purchased this system to hook up to the coax sound-out on my existing DVD player and have not looked back. The sound is crisp and fully supports 5.1 channels. 600 watts should be plenty for small to medium rooms and/or apartment situations. Unless you have a large room in a house where you can really crank it up, you won't need anything more powerful than this amp.

Note to those customers considering an all-in-one system: I would highly advise against it. A system such as this one that has completely swappable speakers and is not tied to a DVD player is much more preferable and cheaper in the long run. If something breaks, the option to replace it with something completely different exists. With an all-in-one solution, you're locked-in.

This system supports all the sound inputs I need and then some. The only input related complaint I have is that it doesn't support S-Video inputs, only the standard RCA. This isn't a huge deal, it just means that when I switch devices I have to switch the sound and video input on two separate devices rather than just one. But that only applies because I prefer S-Video inputs rather the RCA ones. It may not apply to you.

As usual, the supplied speaker and subwoofer cables are rather thin. I wired 14 gauge from the get-go and would recommend at least 16 gauge. It will provide better sound and allow your amp to not have to work as hard to deliver loud & crisp sound to the speakers. The subwoofer cable is essentially a long RCA cable that was also very thin. I found a bargain cable that was much thicker and had gold contacts--now the bass is noticeably better.

As another reviewer mentioned, the satellite speakers lack decent bass output. If this is a big deal to you, consider another system or upgrading the front speakers. I consider myself moderately picky about sound and haven't found it to be quality-degrading yet.

My only real dislike is the remote. It looks cheap and is meant to control other Yamaha devices as well. That's great if you have a Yamaha TV, DVD player, etc, but even so, it's ugly. It does its job well, but it's ugly.

Overall, for the price of $300, I'd say it's a great system that will last me many years. In short, I especially like that no component is dependent upon another--even the powered subwoofer. My silver unit is very stylish. There are plenty of different sound/environment filters. And all the speakers have equal power--in other words, the front and rear speakers have equal power, which most surround amps don't support. Be sure to pay attention to that when shopping.

I have owned this system for about 48 hours now. Setup was standard... almost. Since it doesn't come with a DVD player, they furnish no cables to allow you to connect one to it. No RCA, no S Video, no fiber optic cable. (In fact, come to think of it, I don't recall an S Video connection on the back of this unit. I'm no expert, so I don't know if this is a bad thing or not.) There are a TON of input ports, though, including two fiber optic inputs for your DVD / CD and cable / satellite. Anyhow, setup required two visits to my local hardware store to pick up the necessary cables, and I am now fully connected. Also, so long as I am talking cables, I am pleased to point out they included higher-gauge speaker wire (although not quite enough of it).

Sound is acceptable, for a $300 unit. I don't think anyone would mistake it for a much costlier piece of equipment, but for what I consider a bargain-basement home theatre system, it's pretty good. The Sub stays busy, even while watching golf. I am disappointed that my digital cable system did not have a fiber optic output from the box, but that is a different issue, and obviously not the fault of the Yamaha.

The interface to set your system settings is a little cumbersome. It took me a number of attempts to successfully define my speaker landscape, room size, and all that. I do appreciate that the remote seems quite capable of subsuming the responsibilities of other remotes. It was easy to get it to

I'll try to update my review after a few months with the system.

I was looking for a small system for my master bedroom. Thought I'd be buying something cheapo until I discovered the YHT-150. I never thought I'd get Yamaha quality for such a low price.

I have not been disappointed. It has plenty of inputs, looks handsome, and the sound is great. The remote works my Sony TV, JVC DVD, and JVC VCR without a problem. If you are looking for an inexpensive home theater, I don't think you can beat it.

I only rate it 4 stars because it does not switch S-Video, and the sound (while very good) is not as full as the Bose speakers I have in the family room. OK, maybe that's really not a fair comparison given the price difference. The fact that I dare draw a comparison should tell you how good this system is.

I bought this system without hearing it first, because I already own a great Yamaha AVR and Yamaha subwoofer that is mated with Bose 401s and KLH center/surrounds. I thought that Yamaha would have good quality and I wasn't interested in spending allot of money for a second HTS. However, after set-up I was initially disapointed with the sound of the YHT-150 compared to my other system. I thought it had a noticable lack of crisp mid range and highs, as well as muffled vocals. In fact, I was ready to return it. However, after making adjustments to the center channel 5-band equalizer (reducing the 100kHz and 300kHz levels and boosting the 1kHz, 3kHz and 10kHz levels) it sounds very nice. I like crisp mid range and highs, other may not have the same issue. When watching "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" the clash of swords was sizzling while the subwoofer performed very well! I have the system in a good sized family room too and it fills it well. I like the AVRs numerous sound settings, everyone should easily find settings which they prefer for listening to non-Dolby broadcasts. The AVR doesn't have allot of video connection alternatives (best to connect your digital video sources directly to your HDTV), but that is fine with me since I only wanted to send it cable/DVD digital audio. I might try replacing the front and center 18 gauge speaker wire with 16 gauge just to see if I get more improvement. Overall, when I compare it to my much more expensive older system, I'm very happy with it, especially for the price. Glad I didn't return it, 4.5 stars!

This is probabaly the best system that $300 can buy. The only upgrade throughout the system should be all the cables (Speaker Cable, Subwoofer, Coax, optical, etc.) I was looking for something basic and this system exceeded expectations. Yamaha has good recievers so this system is easily upgradable.

I agree with other reviews regarding the speaker cables--replace them from the beginning (I used 16-gauge). One reviewer spoke positively about the subwoofer having a signal input sensor that turns the subwoofer on/off automatically. The subwoofer that came with my system does not have that.

The receiver will take a while to set up, especially for surround sound, as you get used to navigating through the options. The receiver itself is powerful and gives you enough inputs and variables to run most configurations (CD, DVD, TV, etc.).

However, the speakers produce very little bass, even at high volume levels. Sure, you could turn the subwoofer on and off everytime you play the radio or a CD, but it's a hassle and doesn't sound the same for CDs as opposed to watching a movie in surround sound.

Bottom line: Great receiver, but you may want to replace the speakers, especially the front left/right.

I purchased this system after trying a similar Sony system. The Yamaha is vastly better in quality, sound reproduction and power. Don't be fooled by the "total watts" statements from other manufacturers, the Yamaha spreads out the wattage evenly through out all the speakers. Next to Bose (big $$$), this system decodes all dolby digital and DTS signals. If you have a satellite dish, all programming is digital!! Great system for the price!

I've had this system for a little over a month now, and I just love it. The speaker wire that comes in the box is as flimsy as other reviews have said, but that's par for the course with ALL electronics. The speakers are small and unobtrusive and deliver great sound. (The ugly remote, well, what can I say. It's no Tivo.) Overall, a terrific value.

When i first saw this system at frys i was very impressed with all that is came with right out of the box. The thing i liked the most was that the sub woofer was independently powered straight to the wall, which leaves the rest of the 600 watts to be delivered through the rest of the speakers. Along with having many component options in the back, i liked that it also had a decent amount of HDMI ports which makes it easy to connect your TV, game consoles, and even a laptop to it.
The setup is pretty simple if u know which components go where, the speaker inputs are all labeled and are easy to work with, and your remote is handy when it comes to switching in between channels on the receiver itself and i certainly love the selection of surround sound pre-set's.
As far as the sound its pretty good but as i've learned thicker gauge wire is something to look into. Since the wire that comes with the system is around 22 gauge as someone has already mentioned, its not such a bad idea to go with a bigger wire.
other then that i 'd say its a great buy if your not looking for something crappy but not something to the quality of Bose.