DENON DHT-S216 VS YAMAHA YAS-109 WHICH IS A BETTER CHOICE?

Denon DHT-S216 vs Yamaha YAS-109 which is a better choice?

Choosing between the Denon DHT-S216 and Yamaha YAS-109 can never be easy. These soundbars are loaded with endearing features and excellent sound output capability. All these at a price that won’t force you to break the bank.

Yamaha brand is known even in the remotest of places in the world, and as such, the Yamaha YAS-109 might not find it rough selling. But does the product deliver superior sound as the brand name brags, or does it just ride on the name Yamaha? Today, we are going to compare Denon DHT-216 and the Yamaha YAS-109 soundbars. While Yamaha has decades of experience in churning out impeccable sound output products, Denon has a century of experience to its name and a passion for delivering unique premium electronic products.

TV manufacturers are investing more into visual effects rather than sound. This has led to many people finding the need to have external speakers and soundbars to make their movie, news, and music experience enjoyable. Denon has stepped in with an entry soundbar that not only delivers but also looks quite appealing. The Denon DHT-S216 boasts immersive quality sound, which very much resembles a real surround sound experience. On the other hand, where DHT-216 boasts of cool visuals and surround effect, the Yamaha YAS-109 comes loaded with Wi-Fi connectivity, LAN Ethernet capability, and other cool features.

Whichever soundbar you opt for, you can rest easy knowing your choice is an excellent upgrade for your living room entertainment. Lets explore the different features that make each soundbar stand out and which one you should go for.

The profile of the companies

Denon is an electronics company established in Japan in 1910 by Frederic W. Horn. From making gramophones and one-sided discs, Denon has over the years grown to be a world leader in making 8K HDMI 2.1 compliant channel and video receivers. There are many wireless sound systems, multi-room sound systems, home theatre systems, sound monitors, and soundbars the company makes. Denon has struck a first when it comes to giving the audio world the very best. Picking a Denon brand can never leave you regretting.

Yamaha music instruments are known in every corner of the globe. The company is a global leader in making superior and reliable speakers, amplifiers, AV receivers, Hi-Fi components, and soundbars. The company also manufactures other musical instruments like pianos, guitars, drums, and synthesizers. Picking a Yamaha soundbar from the shelf can only mean one thing, you know how important it is to have quality speakers.

The size of the two speakers

The shape of a soundbar makes it tricky to insert a big woofer. However, the current technology allows Denon DHT-S216 to house six different drivers for effectual sound output. The unit measures 37 inches long by 2.35 inches high. The depth is 4.7 inches. The overall weight of the soundbar is 7.5 pounds. It also comes with a mounting plate if you want to fix it on the wall.

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The Yamaha YAS-109 measures 35 inches long by 2 inches high by 5.3 inches deep. It weighs 7.5 pounds, the same as the DHT-S216.

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Two of the DHT-S216 speakers measure 3 inches are down-firing, and are for low frequencies. Mid-range drivers measure 3.54 inches and are front-firing. The tweeter speakers measure 0.98 of an inch. For Yamaha YAS-109, you will also enjoy the presence of 6 speakers. There are two 3″ front-firing drivers for low-range frequency. Mid-range frequencies are delivered by two 2.13″ drivers while the high range is done by the two 1″ tweeters.

The verdict

The Denon soundbar measures 408 square inches, while the Yamaha model measures 371 square inches. While both will fit perfectly in front of a 43″ TV, the Denon model is better as it marries well with the background and larger screens.

The design of the soundbars

The aesthetics of a soundbar matter to most buyers since this unit is meant to merge well with your home’s interior décor. This being the case, you will find that the Denon DHT-S216 exudes a posh executive look. It is of the perfect size as it will fit on your media cabinet without blocking the TV screen or the IR sensor. The manufacturer has added some keyholes at the back, making it easy to hang the soundbar on the wall. You will find power, volume, Bluetooth, and input buttons at the top of the speaker, though all are duplicated in a cool-designed IR remote.

The Yamaha YAS-109 soundbar boasts of a superior design that allows it to make it look good and accentuate the overall TV area. Its curvy edges and soft color make it take its space below the screen without ever forcing you to shift your gaze. It comes armed with a cool LED display at its top, which can be seen even when you are lounging on the sofa. This LED indicator show which function or volume is at play. The small remote works effectively, but more importantly, you get to explore the effectiveness of the Alexa virtual assistant.

The verdict

The Yamaha design will take your breath away on the first instance. But the Denon model seems to marry well with your black screen. On design, Yamaha scores more points.

Technical specs

The Yamaha YAS-109 soundbar is a 2.0 speaker that was introduced in 2019. It is basically an upgrade of the YAS-108 and ATS-1080 soundbars. The manufacturer has added an Ethernet port to the soundbar, six EQ settings, and Wi-Fi wireless connectivity. But the most remarkable feature of the YAS-109 is the in-built Google Alexa voice assistant, which makes it extremely easy to control the soundbar without ever touching the remote. The amplifier output is 120W, and the frequency range is between 23 kHz and 62 Hz. The unit input channels are one HDMI port for audio and video and one optical TOSLINK port. You have an HDMI port, a USB port, RCA for your subwoofer, and Bluetooth capability for the output options.

The Denon DHT-S2016 soundbar is 2.0 and is CEC enabled, meaning that upon connecting it to the TV, you can use the TV remote to control the soundbar. The six speakers of the soundbar are installed in such a way to make you feel like you are in a room full of speakers. The surround effect is especially good when listening to dialogue movies and shows. The soundbar boasts of coming with superior Bluetooth and NFC connectivity. It has an input HDMI, an optical TOSLINK port, and a 3.5mm jack port. There is a 2.0 HDMI, an RCA port, and a rear USB port for output.

The verdict

Both of these soundbars are a great addition to your living room because they come armed with a whole lot of specs. They can connect to almost any modern audio and video source. They are both wall-mountable, but if you love a soundbar that delivers a realistic surround effect and has a headphone port, then the DHT-S216 should be your pick. The Yamaha beats the Denon model in that it has Wi-Fi connectivity and also comes with an in-built Alexa voice assistant. While Yamaha YAS-109 gives you that modern feel and a much lower price than the DHT-S216 soundbar, it doesn’t provide heavy quality bass, and the sound is not really immersive.

The performance

Once you listen to the Denon DHT-S216, you will be blown away by the quality sound it delivers, given the low price tag it carries. Denon has made this 2.1 have the capability of sounding more than just that. The surround effect makes the soundbar idea for watching and listening. The soundbar perfectly captures the highs and lows when using a virtual 3D source. The other unique thing about the DHT-S216 is that even when connected to an external subwoofer, the sound remains crisp and clean at loud volume, and distortion reverb is not experienced.

The Yamaha YAS-109 is the perfect soundbar for mixed usage. Though it offers a poor surround effect feel, it is quite the machine you need if you are just shopping for a quality upgrade for your living room entertainment. It can reproduce vocals clearly, and you will love watching and listening using it. Though the speaker’s fidelity is not premium, it is above that of the competition. You will love the smoothness and boominess of music when you connect it to an external subwoofer.

The verdict

The Denon DHT-S216 is a your-to-go soundbar for watching, especially dialogue movies. The surround effect is natural when listening to this unit, unlike listening to the Yamaha YAS-109. The Denon doesn’t come with distortion complications at higher volumes, as is the case with the YAS-109. For quality bass, the Yamaha model performs well but not at low-bass. At the midrange, the YAS-109 is perfect for it is smooth and there is high fidelity. But when you want to listen to high volumes without earache and distortions, Denon seems to have found the answer with the DHT-S216.

The Verdict

Price should be a key consideration when buying a soundbar. Of these two products, the Yamaha YAS-109 goes for a lower price. However, the sound quality seems slightly off compared to the Denon DHT-S216. Features such as Wi-Fi connectivity, Alexa virtual Assistant, and LAN Ethernet compatibility are solid points for the YAS-109. But if on the other hand you prefer the surround effect when watching and a boomy bass even at higher volumes, then the Denon DHT-S216 is your option.

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