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There are hundreds of different surround sound configurations available for your home theater set up. Many come from well-known, expensive brands. However, there are plenty of lesser-known brands claiming they offer the same products at a much lower cost. But can you trust these claims?
Today, I want to talk about one such product: the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch (on Amazon). Before I get to the details, let’s take a quick look at what makes the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch stand out from the rest.
The Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch is an all-in-one surround sound kit. Featuring a soundbar, subwoofer and two satellite speakers, the assembly comes with everything you need to achieve quality sound without spending thousands of dollars.
Pros:
- Provides quality, true surround sound for the cost.
- Dialog is clear and concise.
- 4K-compatible HDMI ports give you plenty of options.
- An all-in-one kit that requires little to no additional equipment.
Cons:
- Surround speakers will semi-frequently cut in and out.
- No stereo mode.
- Slight cabinet resonance in subwoofer and satellite speakers.
- Remote control is not user-friendly.
The Nakamichi may not be one of the major name brands associated with surround sound, but the Shockwafe Pro does offer some quality features without breaking the bank.
The Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4 comes with everything you need for a quick and easy installation. (We will talk more about this later.) Conveniently packaged to include everything you need, the Shockwafe Pro can be installed by most beginners.
When I first heard of this product, I assumed that the sound quality would be subpar. I made this assumption because the hardware is equivalent to other units that are over double the price. But, boy was I proved wrong!
Features and Design
The Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.14Ch is packed with features that help make it a quality investment for any home entertainment center or home theater! Let's go over each aspect of the
Soundbar
The soundbar included with the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch is the upgraded version of the 2016 7.1 model.
Delivering 33% wider sound, the soundbar includes seven individually powered speakers. With four 2.5-inch full-range speakers divided along the left and right sides of the soundbar, two 2.5-inch center channel drivers and a single driver at each end of the soundbar for “extreme” left and right sounds enmesh an audience in quality audio.
The soundbar, which has a unique shape, measures 45.5-inches long, 3.5-inches deep and 3-inches tall.
Wireless Subwoofer
With an 8-inch, 180-watt, down-firing driver, the subwoofer included with the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch delivers deep notes that will have the room shaking. Encased in a wooden enclosure, resonance is minimized.
Using their patented bass reflex system, Nakamichi’s newly designed subwoofer delivers intense, powerful low frequencies. Overall measurements for the wireless subwoofer included with the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4 are 9.5-inches deep, 12-inches wide and 20.5-inches tall. At 19-pounds, this subwoofer is heavy enough to reduce vibrations but light enough to move around when needed.
Dual Satellite Speakers – One of the Best Features!
The 2-way dual surround sound speakers round out the sound delivered by the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4. Each contains a high-frequency tweeter and a mid-range woofer. Providing dynamic sound that is powerful and precise, each of these speakers measures 5-inches deep, 5.4-inches wide and 8-inches tall. Lightweight at 2.8-pounds each, these speakers are easy to mount or conceal.
These satellite speakers aren't technically wireless, but they do connect to the subwoofer via a cable. However, the subwoofer is wireless, so technically the satellite speakers wirelessly connect to the soundbar (we have info on how to connect to other devices like the Echo Dot as well).
Special Features
The hardware is not the only thing you should expect when you invest in the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch system. Below are several of the features that make this product stand out.
- Room Optimization: The Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch comes with an easy-to-set room optimization button. Select from small (200 square feet), medium (350 square feet) or large (500+ square feet) to automatically set the system to ideal sound levels for your specific home theater.
- Advanced Sound: The Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch supports some of the most advanced sound technologies available today. In fact, thanks to the build-in cinema-grade 3D advanced surround sound quad-core processor, this system supports: Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD, and DTS Digital Surround.
- Video Pass-Through: You can easily connect your source media to the included soundbar. Thanks to the HDR video formats included with this technology, the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch supports Dolby Vision and 4K HDR formats.
- Input Options: There are plenty of options with the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch. Inputs include: ARC HDMI (1), HDMI 2.0/2.2 (3), Optical (1) and Bluetooth v4.1 AptX.
Set-Up Process
Set up is extremely easy, requiring a little more than connecting the devices.
Connecting the TV to the Soundbar
If your television uses ARC HDMI, set up is even easier. Simply connect your television to your Shockwafe soundbar with the included ARC HDMI cable. Then, using the audio menu, change your television’s output to “external speakers”. (Some televisions will list a “receiver” option instead of the “external speakers”; this is also acceptable.) If your television is not compatible with ARC HDMI, that is ok. Optical and analog connections are also included.
Connecting Other Devices as Sources
If you are connecting other devices, such as a Blu-ray player or PlayStation 4, the additional HDMI inputs allow for direct connectivity with the Soundbar.
Connecting and Setting Up the Satellite Speakers
Once you have connected your source media, you can begin to set up your satellite speakers. While the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro does come with recommendations for speaker placement, this is ultimately up to you.
You should note that wall mounts or speaker stands will likely be needed for full installation. (Of course, a conveniently placed bookcase or side table can also be used.) Once you have placed or mounted the satellite speakers where you want them, you can connect them to the subwoofer.
The subwoofer should be placed behind the main seating area of the room, facing towards the main seating area. Unlike the satellite speakers, the Shockwafe Pro subwoofer is wireless; cabling is not needed to connect this to the Shockwafe system.
How Well Does It Perform?
Previous models may have had some issues. However, Nakamichi really seemed to nail their goals with the Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch. With their latest firmware updates, included with every unit coming off the production line now, the sound produced by the Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch is exceptional. With rich, deep tones and a full spectrum of precision audio, this product exceeded my expectations.
Will It Last The Test Of Time?
I will not lie – the system appears to be made of plastic, which makes it feel a bit cheap. However, the system is actually quite robust. Most people will not have any issues with the durability of the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch or any of their products. They are built extremely well, especially for their price points.
Should You Buy the Nakamichi Soundwafe Pro 7.1.4 Ch?
After careful review, the Nakamichi Soundwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch is a great investment for anyone looking to build a home theater system, regardless of price. Delivering quality sound on par with other well-known brands, such as Vizio, the Nakamichi Soundwafe Pro 7.1.4Ch is an excellent surround sound option that will help you lose yourself in your entertainment. If you find yourself considering the Bose options, have a look at our guide comparing the Bose 700 and 900 soundbars here.
What Are The Other Alternatives?
Vizio Alternatives
- VIZIO sound bar with over 10 years of immersive audio
- Not waterproof
- Low-profile design, attaches to VIZIO M-Series TV stands
- Dolby Atmos and DTSfor 3D surround sound
- HDMI eARC for 4K Dolby Vision pass-through
- 5.1-channel sound for room-filling audio
- 9 high-performance speakers with separate tweeters and woofers
There are always alternatives. Vizio offers one main competitor to the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro Soundbar. The newer VIZIO Premium Soundbar (on Amazon) offers a similar setup with a very close price. The SB46514-F6 is a 5.1.4 soundbar system that includes a 46″ soundbar, a 10″ wireless subwoofer, and 4 upward-firing drivers!
Polk Audio Alternative
Another alternative is a Polk True Surround III 5.1 Channel Wireless Surround Sound System (on Amazon) used as surround sound speakers. This is an absolutely excellent alternative and it's lower in price.
Bose Alternative
There's also the Bose SoundTouch 300 Soundbar with their optional Acoustimass 300 Wireless Bass Module, and Virtually Invisible 300 Wireless Surround Speakers (All links to Amazon.com). This entire system is also going to cost a pretty penny but still ends up being an amazing system.
