Buena Park, Calif. —
Like last year’s introductions, all systems connect to the company’s $99-suggested YDS-11 iPod dock and $129 YBA-10 stereo-Bluetooth transceiver. Also like last year, all models feature proprietary Compressed Music Enhancer to improve the sound of compressed music files, and two feature Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer (YPAO), which analyzes and automatically compensates for the deleterious sonic effects of a room’s acoustical qualities.. All models also feature Cinema DSP signal processing and four preset Scene buttons (BD/DVD, TV, CD and radio) to activate the receiver’s appropriate inputs and surround mode combinations for the selected source.
The series starts with the $399-suggested YHT-391, which includes 5×100-watt A/V receiver; two-way acoustic suspension satellite speakers; and 8-inch, 100-watt subwoofer.
At $549, the YHT-491 also features 5×100-watt A/V receiver but adds 1080p HDMI switching with two inputs and one output. Speakers consist of the slim bass-reflex tower speakers for the front left and right channels, a two-way acoustic suspension center speaker, two-way bass reflex surrounds and 8-inch 100-watt subwoofer.
At $649, the 5×105-watt YHT-591 adds decoding of all Blu-ray surround formats, four 1080p-compatible HDMI repeater inputs and YPAO. Speakers include three-way front and center bass-reflex speakers; two-way surrounds; and a 10-inch, 100-watt subwoofer.
At $849, the 7.1-channel YHT-791 adds 7×90-watt A/V receiver, analog video up-scaling to 1080p, and Auto Lip-Sync compensation to synchronize picture with sound without requiring the manual adjustments. The system also adds Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs for all channels and a direct mode to bypass non-essential internal circuitry. The YHT-791 comes with two-way satellite speakers and 10-inch, 100-watt subwoofer.
None of the systems is packaged with DVD or Blu-ray player, although last year’s lineup included one system with packaged DVD player. None is satellite-radio-ready, although two models last year were Sirius/XM-ready. All come with front-panel mini-jacks to connect portable audio players.
Last year’s selection was also priced from a suggested $399 to $849.
Yamaha’s four new receiver-based home theater in a box (HTiB) systems, priced from a suggested $399 to $849, include the company’s first 7.1-channel model, first two that decode all Blu-ray surround formats, and first with up-scaling of analog video to 1080p.
