By Joseph Palenchar
Buena Park, Calif. — Yamaha will go to the CEDIA Expo with its previously announced Dolby Atmos A/V receivers, but showgoers will also get a chance to see the company’s first under-TV speaker, at least one new active soundbar and four new stereo integrated amplifiers.
The products ship in September.
The soundbars include the $999-suggested YSP-2500, which incorporates proprietary Digital Sound Projector technology to deliver what the company called “true 7.1-channel surround sound.” It packs 16 drivers into a 2-inch-tall aluminum chassis, and it’s packaged with a wireless subwoofer.
Another $999 soundbar, the YSP-2200, will eventually be phased out.
The new model adds a different look and new capabilities, including Bluetooth technology to play back music from mobile devices and deliver remote control via Yamaha’s free Home Theater Controller app.
The bar also features AptX streaming over Bluetooth, joining other Yamaha soundbars with Bluetooth and AptX.
The bar is Yamaha’s first with HDMI 2.0 inputs and output, which support the 4K Ultra HD 50/60p passthrough feature of HDMI 2.0. The three HDMI inputs and single HDMI output lack HDCP 2.2 copy protection.
Also new are a wireless subwoofer instead of a wired model, wall-mount capability, and a back-panel IR repeater strip instead of an IR output jack with included IR flasher cable.
Overall sound quality has been enhanced via more powerful 130-watt subwoofer, new tuning, and a single-piece aluminum top panel that prevents unnecessary vibrations.
Other key features include Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master decoding.
The under-TV speaker is the $499-suggested SRT-1000, made of wood and capable of supporting TVs up to 55 inches. It incorporates proprietary Digital Sound Projector technology, 10 drivers, and dual built-in subwoofers to deliver surround sound. It also features stereo Bluetooth and Bluetooth control from the Home Theater Controller app.
It has Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 decoding and optical, coaxial and analog audio input. It lacks HDMI.
The three new stereo integrated amps are the $999 A-S801, $899 A-S701, $599 A-S501 and $399 A-S301.
The $399 model features proprietary ToP-ART (Total Purity Audio Reproduction Technology), 2×95-watt (max) and 2×60-watt RMS output, Pure Direct mode for greater sound quality, and digital audio inputs for TV or Blu-ray player.
The $599 model steps up output to 2×120 watts (max) and 2×85 watts RMS, and it adds gold-plated speaker terminals and RCA outputs for CD and phono.
The $899 model steps up output to 2×160 watts max or 2×100 watts RMS and adds CD Direct amplification for greater sound quality, terminal for a detachable AC cable, and gold-plated speaker, RCA and coaxial terminals.
The $999 model further steps up power output and adds high-resolution music file playback via USB DAC, and high-grade parts such as an ESS DAC, double bottom and metal feet.
