Yamaha YSP 800 -- returned in 24 hours...

What a great idea and worthless product -- for me, in a small media room, at least. While I have a lot of respect for various Yamaha products, this one is not on my list. While it purports to be a "sound projector" -- I would characterize it as a very expensive, small speaker box with marginal stereo effect, unimpressive midrange, non-existant bass and no observable surround sound. I was not prepared to shell out better part of a grand for a "$100 sounding" speaker. I set the system up with an expert and spent hours trying to improve the effect -- no luck.

I replaced it with a Sony DAV-FX900W with wireless rear surround speakers and saved a few bucks. A much better choice.

Caveate: in my small media room, the sofa is against the rear wall and the room is completely asymetrical, albeit very "live". If the unit were placed in a corner of a more rectangular room with the doors shut, it could work much better. I am quite sure it needs space and sound reflective surfaces behind the viewing/listening locations -- which is not all that common.

Quals: Owner of much higher end audio system with Denon receiver with Polk RTi10 speakers and subwoofer as well as Bose Lifestyle system. Former owner of Bang and Olufsen high end system and Yamaha grand piano and Yamaha bookshelf stereo (for daughter's dorm room and which sounded better than the YSP 800!).