When the need for a 5.1 home theater speaker system comes along, but your budget does not allow for it, Yamaha has a solution with the NS-SP1600 that just about anyone can afford.

This little system fills the gap passed over by many other manufacturers. We think the NS-SP1600 is perfect for a children's bedroom, a college dorm, or any small room where a 5.1 system is desired but spending a fortune is not an option. When the price of a small cube-type system seems outrageous and larger speakers simply isn't attainable, Yamaha fills the void with system that is every bit as capable at a fraction of the cost.

The NS-SP1600 system consists of four small satellite speakers, a center channel speaker, and one subwoofer. The four satellites are a 2-way acoustic suspension design containing one 2-1/2-inch woofer and one 1/2-inch dome tweeter; the center speaker contains two woofers and one tweeter in what's often referred to as an M-T-M configuration. The subwoofer contains one 6-1/2-inch driver powered by a 50-watt amplifier, which utilizes Yamaha's Advanced YST/QD Bass Technology. This puts the little sub one step ahead of the competition in this price category. All the speakers have removable grills, spring clip terminals, and threaded inserts on the back for wall or ceiling mounting.

The sound of the system is well matched, and everything was clear provided the speakers were not pushed beyond their limitations. The little sub is a step up beyond the sound of most systems in this class. However, due to its small driver size and limited cabinet volume, it's not going to shake the walls. Everything is sharp-looking and build quality is right on target for a system in this price class.

What Yamaha has done here is provided a nice little system at a fair price that performs very well for those looking to break into the world of home theater surround without breaking the bank in the process. What more could you ask for?

Pros: Inexpensive, small
Cons: Somewhat weak subwoofer

Warranty
2 years