Nakamichi - Shockwafe 9.2.4Ch 1300W SSE MAX

**TL;DR:** Bought the Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 in late 2022 for $1,800 based on promises of "zero localization," bass that "flows evenly eliminating dead zones," and "futureproof audio formats." Three years later: severe bass localization, muddy dialog, zero firmware updates while newer models get upgrades, and support that blames my placement despite their own marketing encouraging flexibility. This isn't so much a review as it is a warning about false promises and a company that doesn't stand behind their products. **Background** Back in the day, I was a home theater installer, now turned hobbyist. My personal system is a 9.2.4 Atmos setup with DIY 1099 towers, dual 18" subs, 8,000 watts of Emotiva amps, and miniDSP room correction. I understand the sub crawl, acoustic treatments, phase alignment, room EQ, the whole deal. When I needed something dead simple for our remote cabin, the Shockwafe Ultra seemed perfect. No wiring nightmares, just plug-and-play performance with a Nakamichi promise. Their website specifically claimed: * "Zero localization" * Bass that "flows evenly through the room, eliminating dead zones" * "Futureproof: Enjoy fuss-free compatibility with the latest and upcoming high resolution music formats" At $1,800, I bit. These claims couldn't be further from the truth. **The Problems** **Bass Localization is a Nightmare** From day one, the bass has been highly directional. You can clearly hear where each sub is located. The crossover defaults to 180Hz and even dialing it down to 110-140Hz leaves frequencies above 80Hz localizable. Male vocals literally sound like they're emanating from the subwoofers. Their setup guide encourages "flexible placement," even suggesting putting a sub closer to your seat for "optimal performance." But that just invites comb filtering and phase mismatches with no way to correct them there's zero distance or phase control. **Dialog is Muddy and Garbled** The upper bass dumping into both subs masks vocal frequencies. Even with center channel, dialog control, and treble maxed out, voices are smeared. My elderly mom with hearing aids couldn't understand dialog at all until we turned off the Shockwafe. She much prefers the LG TV's built-in speakers! Here's the kicker: I disconnected both subwoofers, and dialog instantly cleared up. Of course, that also kills the surround sound, but what's the point of a 9.2.4 system when the most important aspect, dialog, is completely muffled? **"Futureproof" Was a Lie** There have been ZERO firmware updates since the 2022 launch. Meanwhile, their Dragon 11.4.6 (released mid-2023) got DTS:X Pro baked in. Early adopters who paid $1,800 for "futureproof audio formats"? Left in the dust. **The Support Runaround** I first contacted support back in 2023. Their response: * **"This is the first we're hearing of this issue"** – Despite having a FAQ article specifically addressing "[muffled audio](https://www.helpdesk.nakamichi-usa.com/faq/shockwafe-ultra-9.2.4/no-sound/my-audio-sounds-muffled)" (though they blame PCM 2.0 instead of the real culprit) * **"Try adjusting the crossover"** – Already did, doesn't fix the fundamental design flaw * **"Your placement is wrong"** – Wait, your website encourages flexible placement and claims "zero localization" After multiple back-and-forths, I spoke with their "head ninja" aka support manager. I laid out the technical issues: comb filtering from the lack of phase control, localization contradicting their own marketing claims, the works. The response? My placement was wrong. Like physics don't exist. I sent a detailed email with receipts, support history, and examples of others reporting the same issues. I told them flat-out a review was coming if nothing changed. Their response? "Go for it." **I'm Not Alone** After those conversations, I dug deeper. This isn't an isolated quirk, it's a pattern: * **RTINGS.com**: "the extra emphasis in the bass range muddies vocals and lead instruments a bit, and the roll-off in the treble means that the audio lacks some detail and brightness" \[[RTINGS.com](https://www.rtings.com/soundbar/reviews/nakamichi/shockwafe-ultra-9-2-earc)\] * **AVSForum**: "I cant pull the dialog up enough without going to literally 100 on volume and turning everything else down then its all a bit less tight and more muddy" \[[AVSForum](https://www.avsforum.com/threads/official-nakamichi-shockwafe-9-2-and-7-2-dts-x-dual-subwoofers-soundbars-thread.2917940/page-329)\] * **Amazon reviews**: * "Subs sound great individually but together they fight—bass localizes to the corners, and dialog gets lost in the boom. Not the seamless room fill promised" * "Muddy mids from the upper bass bleed; voices sound detached and garbled during action scenes. Sold after a month—TV speakers are clearer for talk" * Multiple people saying "the subs fought each other more than they blended" and returned it \[[Amazon reviews](https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B08Z37YTVG)\] * **Dragon owners** on [Reddit ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Soundbars/comments/1ewblt6/nakamichi_dragon_soundbar_lies_updates_subwoofer/)calling the subwoofer performance and wireless claims a "scandal" and "straight-up lies" **The Real Issue** This comes down to engineering fundamentals. The crossover pushes too much upper bass (above 80Hz) to the subs with no phase or distance control to prevent the subs from fighting each other. For a $1,800 system marketed as the leading soundbar system with "zero localization," this is unacceptable. Add in the abandoned "futureproof" promise while newer models get features, support that gaslights customers by contradicting their own marketing, and zero acknowledgment of a widely reported problem? That's a company that doesn't stand behind their products. **Final Recommendation** If you're considering Nakamichi, save your money. Look at alternatives or put that money toward a proper AVR-based system. I'm stuck with an expensive reminder that marketing gloss can't fix sloppy engineering. **For early adopters like me:** We paid premium prices for premium promises. We got neither.

Go for the 990D it’s by far the best for the money. The Nakamichi shockwafe 9.2 earc is $1299 right now and it’s 1300watts with 2 10in downfiring sub woofers.

The 9.2.4 earc shockwafe is 1300watts and has side and rear speakers with 2 10in downfiring subs. The 11.2.6 shockwafe has a bigger sound bar but only 2 side or rear speakers with 2 10in downfiring speakers and is 2300watts. The 9.2.4 is $1299 and the 11.2.6 is $1699. They are both two of the best soundbars u can get. And it’s a lot for the money they are both on steep discount from there website right now

Go for the 990D it’s by far the best for the money. The Nakamichi shockwafe 9.2 earc is $1299 right now and it’s 1300watts with 2 10in downfiring sub woofers.

The 9.2.4 earc shockwafe is 1300watts and has side and rear speakers with 2 10in downfiring subs. The 11.2.6 shockwafe has a bigger sound bar but only 2 side or rear speakers with 2 10in downfiring speakers and is 2300watts. The 9.2.4 is $1299 and the 11.2.6 is $1699. They are both two of the best soundbars u can get. And it’s a lot for the money they are both on steep discount from there website right now

Nakamichi shockwafe earc. That one is a lot better for music

Nakamichi hands down makes the best systems. The new shockwafe is as good as the dragon also. Even the 9.2.4 earc is badass

I wish JBL offered there older bars with a 12” like there 1300 models do but there 10” sub sounds better then most. Ill use sound bars in my bedrooms and office i also got all mine stupid cheap when they were all fairy new or been out a year or so. A vizio m512a in office if came w an 8” sub wouldve been nice. Then 2 Nakamichis a 7.2 with dual 8” subs for 200$ was 1500$ or so new at time and 250$ for a 9.2.4 eArc 10” subs which was over 1600$ on Amazon back then. Both Geek squad had lost connection with sub which took out both surrounds on 1 and both subs and 4 surrounds on the other. Both Customers didn’t even try to fix them apparently because i messaged Nakamichi on each system they sent me out thumdrives for subs to try for free which worked on the 7.2 but lastthing they tried on the 9.2 was sent out new sub plates to try and if worked then id send mine back to them with a shipping label they also sent out. That actually worked out I couldn’t believe it for free in under 2 weeks and both sound better then other bars at the time especially in bigger rooms. Then some crack head was selling a JBL 5.1 multibeam w/ 10” sub for 175” I offered 125$ didn’t think id see a response but he messaged back a week or so later to sell BestBuy was selling it new for over 600$. I use it as a blutooth system in my garage off basement and sounds mint mostly because of the sub. Most sound bars I don’t think music sounds good at voume the Nak 9.2.4 still sounds decent id like to hear the 1300Pro just check Marketplace sometimes be surprised what you find sometimes.

Honestly those prices I’d get 1 of the couple Vizio M series 5,1,2 or check out used. I got a crazy deal on a Nakamichi 9,2,4 and a 7.2.4. You can’t beat dual 8 or 10” subs on anything really.

If money really is no object, the Nakamichi Dragon Quad costs $7K and is the best on the market. For less money, the less expensive Nakamichis are still the best on the market. I have a Shockwafe 9.2earc on one TV and a Shockwafe 7.2 earc on another TV. I've been through more soundbars than I can remember and the Nakamichis are the only ones that I've kept. Better than Vizio, Samsung, and a million others I tried.

Not true. Their newer soundbars are excellent. I have two different Shockwafe eARC models and they are a lot better than pretty much all comparable systems from Samsung, LG, Vizio, TCL, and a bunch of others I've been through. I bought and returned probably 7 or 8 soundbars including the highly rated Samsung 990. The only ones I didn't return are the Vizio M512a-h6 which I kept because they were the best out of that bunch. All the rest of them were pieces of crap. Eventually I upgraded from the Vizios to the Nakamichis and never looked back. I still have the Vizios stored in a closet just in case. The most recent ones like the Dragon and the Shockwafe Wireless are incredible. That said, sure, a well matched system of AVR and separate speakers can sound better but they are also more expensive and not always physically possible to place in some rooms.

I don't have a Dragon but I have a Shockwafe 9.2 eARC that I bought as a refurb from their Ebay store. Other than not coming in the original box I would have never known it's a refurb. And I think it was an A-. You're buying direct from Nakamichi and it comes with a full warranty so I wouldn't be too worried. As the previous poster said, also look into the new Shockwafe Wireless. It looks awesome too.

Nakamichi 9.2.4 absolutely blew me away compared to the q99d.

Its a great system, but for the price it's not great..you can get a system that comes close for 50% less.

Lol. Most people don't want that. Especially at a cost of $5k+. I had a Nakamichi 9.2.4 and sold it for the Q990D. I'm much happier. I prefer crystal clear dialogue and surround effects over Bass my neighbors can hear.

I went from the Nakimichi 9.2.4 to the Samsung Q990D and it's an entirely different experience. The Q990D blew my Nakimichi out of the water even going down to 1 sub.

My 9.2.4 was bought new ~6 years ago for reference. Loved it, just wanted to see what all the hubbub was about with the 990D. And phew. At least for my living room and setup, it's very good.

Been using the Nakamichi 9.2.4 for about 6-7 years now. Would the q990d be a noticeable upgrade?

Nakamichi Shockwafe or Dragon if in the budget. Period. Anyone with another opinion just doesn't know any better. I've side by side compared them ALL, extensively! You will agree if you take the time to investigate on your own!

Please do yourself some justice and research and investigate the Nakamichi Shockwafe or if possible the Dragon. In head to head comparison, in my home theater, the Shockwafe 9.2.4 atmos dwarfed the 990 and the sonos. In EVERY way. Period. My opinion as a sound engineer.

The Nakamichi definitely hits harder on the low end, but the Bravia Quad setup really shines in terms of clarity and spatial sound. I was surprised how much difference it made, especially for Atmos content. The way it fills the room is just on another level, even with a tricky speaker layout.

Always depends on budget, but ive had a Samsung system, Nakamichi 9.2, and now upgraded to the Bravia Quad with the SW5. I do miss the big bass from my Nakamichi sometimes, but the Bravia quad has given me the soundstage and atmos effects ive been wanting especially since my room is a bit weird and my back speakers are mounted higher than my front speakers.

Not technically a soundbad, but I had a Nakamichi 9.2 and switched to the Bravia Quad + SW5 and am very happy with it as the sound stage is much more full. Full disclaimer that I got the Quads at an amazing open box price.