While a soundbar will never deliver quite the sound separation that a proper multi-speaker home theater environment could, it can still turn any TV room into a mini-home theater. The YMS-4080, as it's also known, is a single, two-channel soundbar with no included subwoofer and, as the name suggests, it boasts Yamaha… It's a unique 2.2 setup that has two built-in subwoofers intended to create a deep bass in a soundbar without a dedicated wireless subwoofer. Frankly, it’s not going to be a hi-fi musical experience, but at $350 it doesn’t have to be — especially with so many features. However, for strong bass performance you need the additional power of a subwoofer. Between $200 and $399, you’ll encounter the best values in Yamaha soundbars. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t benefit from ideal placement. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar. Yamaha says the 209’s drivers and amplifiers have been redesigned for improved clarity, and while I’m not sure I heard any major change, it remains a formidable collection at this price. There are 44 beam drivers and two woofers in … We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. Yamaha is targeting these disgruntled TV viewers by expanding its range of soundbars with two new models, the SR-C20A and SR-B20A, as entry … Yamaha’s new YAS-209 offers an embarrassment of riches at its price point, from Wi-Fi connection and Alexa voice control to multiple EQ modes and (eventually) multiroom sound. Decide how you’re going to set up your soundbar: are you going to connect it to your TV with an optical cable, or are you going to connect it to both your cable box and your TV with HDMI cables? We then choose a shorter list for in-depth research and testing before finalizing our top picks. Included remote is inadequate (control via smartphone app is a must). Yamaha created a nice low cost, good performing sound bar and if you are in the market for one then the Yamaha YAS-109 definitely deserves an audition. Yamaha claims this has been improved upon over the 207, and I did notice less icy sibilance this time around. No internet connectivity means all firmware updates must be done via the USB port. Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks.Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Wall-mounting a soundbar is a great way to keep it from getting bumped, moved, or damaged. Remote controls are great — until you lose yours. The soundbar won't offer an immersive listening experience because of its lack of surround sound and height channels. Unlike their TV counterparts, most soundbars include mounting hardware so you can attach it directly to a wall. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t benefit from ideal placement. At the low end of this price range, you’ll find great models for any home. HDMI ARC is the preferred connection, which allows for easy control of volume and power with your TV remote (though you may need to turn CEC on in your TV’s settings). At first sight, it might look like an ordinary soundbar. Price (RRP) $599.00. Yamaha’s new SR-B20A budget soundbar is a peculiar product offering. For example, if you’re planning on connecting your cable box, you’ll need one that supports Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, but if you’re planning on connecting a. , you may want a soundbar that also supports common 4K audio formats like Dolby Atmos. ? If you just need a basic soundbar for a secondary TV or a similar situation, you don’t need to spend more than this. Virtual surround can add sibilance For over two years, an affordable Yamaha model has sat atop our list of the best soundbars you can buy. But if you’re outfitting your primary TV, consider spending a little more. In any case, even more so than its predecessor, the 209 is virtually invisible beneath your TV, which Yamaha claims is just how its customers want it. Spotify fans can now stream over Wi-Fi via Spotify Connect. Yamaha has never been the most stylish brand when it comes to soundbars, though, to be fair, there’s only so much you can do with a piece of gear designed to stay out of the way. It won’t really affect most folks, but if you want to connect an analog device like a turntable, you’ll need an adapter. Yamaha YAS-108 is a great soundbar to go for without breaking the bank. For its follow-up, the YAS-209 (what dark fate the 208 met, we’ll never know), Yamaha has stuck with the 207 playbook, while also offering even more extras — including built-in Amazon Alexa — at a $50 markup. Different soundbars include a variety of features. Soundbar prices vary depending on feature set. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Yamaha YAS-203 Sound Bar with Bluetooth and Wireless Subwoofer at Amazon.com. If you’re tired of digging through the couch cushions to find your remotes, or if you’re looking to integrate a digital assistant like Amazon’s Alexa, get a soundbar that includes voice control. But you very soon come to understand that it is more, much more. Voice / Dialogue. The Yamaha Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400 YAS-408 is a good performing soundbar that has a great audio reproduction. If you just need a basic soundbar for a secondary TV or a similar situation, you don’t need to spend more than this. ... Plus, the Yamaha soundbar has a more traditional shape, a more responsive remote, and a good control app. I’d complain about the lack of a substantial digital display, but the LED solution has become so common in the segment, I’ve run out of hot air on that one. The Yamaha YSP-5600 is a 7.1.2 soundbar capable of supporting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-oriented audio formats. Many soundbars actually have multiple speakers inside, often pointed in different directions. In the home theater market, Yamaha has developed a name for itself as a producer of quality equipment, but it’s the company’s affordability that makes it unique. In fact, soundbars are so popular that practically every electronics manufacturer makes at least one model. These are the ones that matter the most. It’s an incredibly convenient way to stream music, and because it works over WiFi and not Bluetooth, it delivers even better audio quality. Learn about the products you’re wondering if you should buy and get advice on using your latest purchases. Only a handful of models are this expensive, but if you want the best sound available and don’t have a lot of room, you’ll need to pay a lot more. As for functionality, the system allows for rudimentary soundbar controls like volume up/down, mute, and source switching (though you can’t switch EQ modes), all of which can be done by either calling out to Alexa, or summoning her with the quick key on either the remote or the bar. If you want a soundbar but don’t want to bother your neighbors, buy one that includes built-in subwoofers. Easy to mount on the wall. The YAS-109 is beginning to take home entertainment to another level altogether. Decide how you’re going to set up your soundbar: are you going to connect it to your TV with an optical cable, or are you going to connect it to both your cable box and your TV with. If you don’t need Alexa or Wi-Fi support, the YAS-207 (which can be had for a bargain) is also a killer choice. Soundbars offer a few advantages over more traditional home theater speaker setups: They tend to take up less space, are easier to set up, and are often more affordable. As alluded to above, I’m still not a fan of DTS Virtual:X in most scenarios due to the sharpness it lends to the treble, although this time around it did better when it comes to expanding the YAS-209’s soundstage pleasantly in powerful cinematic action scenes. There are quick keys for Source (including “TV” for the ARC or Optical input); multiple surround sound/EQ modes like TV, Movie, Music, and Sports; as well as a Stereo key, which I vastly prefer over the other choices for music. … She must be very small. The Best Budget Sound Bar: JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass 2.1 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Sub. Soundbars typically connect to TVs directly via HDMI cables or through optical audio cables. While the YAS-209 offers Wi-Fi streaming and control, it isn’t a MusicCast device, meaning it can’t sync up with other MusicCast speakers in Yamaha’s family. In many cases, finding a better-sounding option than a Yamaha would mean paying twice as much. A high-end soundbar with a low-end price tag, it strikes an ideal balance between audio quality, size, and format support. For its part, the YAS-207 impresses from the start with its rounded form factor topped with slick vinyl and wrapped in taut acoustic mesh. Before you start shopping, take a moment to measure your TV’s footprint, and keep those dimensions in mind when comparing soundbars. While Yamaha is far from the first to omit all the cables you need, I’m going to go ahead and say this now: All soundbars with HDMI ARC need to include an HDMI cable! Soundbars in this price range don’t usually include a subwoofer and are often not loud enough for TVs larger than 42 inches. According to Yamaha, it’s a bar designed to build on the success of the cost-friendly YAS line — and in … First and foremost, you need to be certain you’ll be able to connect your TV’s audio to your soundbar, so pay close attention to connectivity options. On the higher end, you’ll find more niche features and soundbars powerful enough to fill a large room. Yes. A powerhouse that comes with every feature – and a huge price tag to match. Subwoofer audio is directionless, so you don’t have to be in front of one to hear sound from it. The driver dimensions for both the 207 and 209 are exactly the same, including dual 1-inch tweeters and four 1¾-inch drivers in the bar, and a 6¼-inch woofer in the sub cabinet. 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Soundbars are flat, rectangular speakers designed to sit directly beneath your TV and provide higher-fidelity audio — and they’re much more affordable than multi-speaker alternatives. Take a moment to consider which audio formats you use most, and make sure the soundbar you buy supports them. The result: in the right environment, a lot of soundbars can mimic surround sound, creating convincing, immersive audio. It definitely expands the imaging a bit more, though as I’ve come to expect, the trade-off is less weight to the upper midrange and treble registers. For example, if you’re planning on connecting your cable box, you’ll need one that supports Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, but if you’re planning on connecting a 4K Blu-ray player, you may want a soundbar that also supports common 4K audio formats like Dolby Atmos. The Yamaha SR-B20A is indeed about as simple to set up and use as soundbars get: just plug in the power, plug in an HDMI cable, and you're pretty much good to go. Before you start shopping, take a moment to measure your. Yamaha YAS-207 Soundbar Review. (More on that below.). Hopefully, this is something that can be fixed via an update down the line. On the video side, 4K HDR passthrough is supported, but you can’t pass Dolby Vision or HDR10+. BestReviews wants to be better. Some subwoofers are wireless; others need to be directly wired to the soundbar. The only concerns on longevity here are the soundbar’s lack of future-looking features like HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, but for a variety of reasons, those issues won’t affect many potential customers for a bar at this price point. Learn more about our approach to product reviews here. Supports DTS Virtual:X, which deftly simulates the best-in-class DTS:X surround sound audio format. Frankly, the best alternative (especially for those who don’t care about Alexa support) is Yamaha’s own YAS-207, which still offers some of the best value in the soundbar segment two years on. For example, if you plan on using an optical cable from your TV to connect, make sure the soundbar you buy has an optical input. While the ting of spears or the metallic clicks of Black Panther’s helmet aren’t as expressive in the titular film as they are with Klipsch’s similarly priced Bar 40, the Yamaha does a better job balancing all the elements, especially when it comes to bombastic action scenes like the Busan car chase, where the screeching wheels, pumping machine gun blasts, and various explosions are all richly rendered. Yamaha calls the SR-B20A "simple to use and simple to love," and the company is onto something—at least partially. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. Alexa users will be happy with a built-in Alexa feature. The result: in the right environment, a lot of soundbars can mimic surround sound, creating convincing, immersive audio. The 209 serves up sneaky-good detail in your favorite films and TV shows, without punching you in the ears with sharpness or sibilance. Dolby Atmos effects are simulated with up-firing speakers and may not perform well in all environments. Otherwise, the YAS-209 is well equipped to handle your soundbar needs for years to come. Unique styling and 46-speaker internals make this an elegant and remarkably capable sound bar. Not available at this time are drop-ins or announcements throughout your smart speaker setup, calling, or alternative wake words (e.g. Alongside the LEDs on the top of the bar are all the basic control keys you’d expect from a standard bar (power, volume, source, etc. Similarly, if your TV doesn’t have an optical output and you want to use HDMI, make sure you buy a soundbar that has an HDMI input. One omission is any analog connection, something we’re starting to see left out more often these days. 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