The YSP-5100 is one of the newer Digital Sound Projectors offered by Yamaha. This soundbar is available at around $2,200, but you can find it cheaper or more expensive depending where you buy it from. This unit is perfect for those who want to save some space: you just have to mount it on your wall, underneath your LCD TV and you will be good to go. The system contains many drivers which have enough power to fill a medium or even large room and best of all, the sound is exceptionally clear.

Design
This model is similar in design with the YSP-4100. The middle portion of the unit contains 40 drivers, each side contains one woofer and the soundbar also comes with two tweeters which are placed on its edge. A very simple black grille covers all of these drivers and they have a power output of 120W. Just below the grille, you will notice a small glossy portion which bears the Yamaha name, an LCD display screen and some buttons for basic commands. The remote control is gray and it has an easy-to-pick-up design. The button layout is simple and pretty intuitive. You can also use it for controlling TVs that are CEC compatible, even if the soundbar isn’t turned on.

Setting up the Yamaha YSP-5100
The best part about the Yamaha YSP-5100 is that you won’t need to connect it to an amplifier. If you want to get sounds that are more powerful from your TV, you simply have to plug in your soundbar, connect it to your TV and enjoy the result. Those who have a Blu-Ray or DVD player will have to connect that device too, so you will have to deal with 3 cables at most. If you feel you need more power from this soundbar, you can get an extra subwoofer that will connect through a wireless transmitter, so no extra cables there. There are 4 HDMI inputs and one output, which is perfect for connecting multiple sources at once. You will also notice 1 component and 2 composite inputs and one composite output. The system comes with 2 analog, 2 optical digital and 1 coaxial digital audio outputs and one minijack on the front-panel, which pretty much covers the needs of the average user.

This soundbar should be mounted on the wall and it will fit great under LCD TVs of up to 50 inches in length. Those who don’t want to get the optional wall mounting bracket will have to place this unit on a shelf, which might affect the overall look of the system, but it won’t affect its functionality. You will need to take a look at some optional tabletop pedestals and floor stands, which come at around $400 or $500. If your shelf can hold 24.3 pounds, it will support this system. The YSP-5100 is only 3 inch deep, 47 inches wide and almost 9 inches tall, so it will fit just about anywhere.

The yAired technology allows users to connect their iPhones and iPods to the system wirelessly. This, along with the integrated FM tuner for Sirius Satellite Radio, makes this soundbar the right choice for those who want to listen to music without too much hassle.

After you finish setting up the system, you just have to start the calibration process. Just place the microphone which is included in the package in your listening area and the system will make the necessary adjustments in around 3 minutes. After that, you’ll be good to go.

Sound quality
The strong point of this Digital Sound Projector is its ability to decode HD audio. You will receive support for Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS HD and DTS Neo:6. This means that your Blu-ray disc player will finally live up to its potential. Because each person has different needs when it comes to sound quality, you can further enhance the performance of this system by choosing between 5 listening modes and 11 cinema modes. You will eventually figure out which setting is best for the type of program you are about to watch. The 5 beam plus 2 and the 5 beam mode are the ones which might offer you a glimpse of surround sound. You shouldn’t expect a full 7.1 or 5.1 channel system experience, but this soundbar will certainly get close to that type of sensation.

Another common problem that is addressed by the YSP-5100 is high volume spikes during commercials or even during a movie. The UniVolume feature will keep these spikes in check, so you won’t have to worry about explosions making too much noise if you don’t want to.

The system uses a technology that will make all of your mp3 files sound better. The Compressed Music Enhancer feature will certainly be noticed.

Video quality
Those who have LCD screens are probably not happy with the quality offered by their TVs when watching movies from analog sources. The Yamaha YSP-5100 will help you get rid of this problem by upcoverting these movies to high definition quality. The result is more than satisfactory and anyone can see the difference.

Pros and cons
The Yamaha YSP-5100 is a great system for some of the things it does: it eliminates the need of cables, it occupies very little space and it offers incredible sound. The surround sound capabilities of this system are acceptable, but they can’t be compared with those of a real 5.1 channel system. After you play around with the audio settings for a bit, you will certainly be happy with the result.

The downside is that you will have to buy the wall mounting bracket separately. It would have been nice to see it in the package.

Conclusion
The Yamaha YSP-5100 costs $2,200 and this price tag will satisfy most of your listening needs. Your music files will sound better than ever before and so will your movies. You will even notice some improvements when watching clips from analog sources, you will save a lot of space and the system will look great under your TV. All in all, you should consider buying this unit if you are looking for a soundbar.

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The Yamaha YSP-4100 is one of those soundbars that have a little bit of everything: 40 beam drivers and two woofers that will offer powerful sound, 4 HDMI inputs which are perfect for watching 1080p movies and yAired, the perfect wireless feature for those who want to listen music from their iPod or iPhone. This unit doesn’t need a separate amplifier, so you just have to mount it under your LCD TV and plug it in.

Design
This soundbar is quite thin: only 3 and a half inches deep. This means that it will fit perfectly under any LCD TV if you use a wall mount bracket. The black soundbar comes with a simple design; all of the drivers are scattered on the entire length of the unit and the two woofers are placed on each side. A simple grill covers these drivers. The bottom side is where you will see a small LED screen and a few buttons, but you will use the remote most of the time. Each one of the 40 drivers measures 40 mm and the woofers are 110mm in diameter.

Setting up the Yamaha YSP-4100
After you mount the unit on your wall and plug in the power cord, source cable and output, you will have to go through the sound calibration process. This only takes a couple of minutes and it will help the soundbar offer the best sound quality possible. There are 4 HDMI inputs and two component and digital inputs. Keep in mind that the YSP-4100 will bounce sounds off the walls, so it will perform best if you don’t have large objects obstructing the beams. Thi system is ideal for those who have rooms with 4 walls and without small pieces of furniture. If you have an open space instead of the back wall, you won’t receive the full experience. Those who have consumer electronics control TV’s will be able to use one remote to control both the soundbar and their LCD.

The soundbar is 1030mm in width and 210mm in height. This unit is meant to be placed under a 40 or 42 inch TV. Keep in mind that the wall mounting bracket will cost some extra money since it is not included in the package.

Sound quality
If you have a Blu-ray player, the YSP-4100 will provide great sound thanks to the HD audio decoding feature. There are various listening modes to choose from and if you play around with these settings for a bit you will eventually find the perfect mode. You can also switch between 3 movie modes, 3 music modes and 5 entertainment modes. No matter how large your room is, some of these modes will be able to fill it with powerful sound. UniVolume is the feature which will take care of the sound levels. Whenever you will change the channel or when a commercial pops up, the soundbar will maintain the sound properly leveled, so you don’t have to worry about keeping your hand on the volume button.

The YST-SW255 subwoofer can really improve the power of this system. An extra 120 watts of power will make a huge difference, but even without it, the soundbar performs way above other models that come at a similar price.

The unit will struggle to offer surround sound, but you won’t be able to notice it unless you figure out the perfect settings for your room. Even in the best case scenario, getting full surround sound is impossible. However, you will hear the beams coming from your sides and sometimes even from behind you. The YSP-4100 lacks in the surround sound department, but it makes up for it in sound clarity and power.

The yAired feature offers the possibility of connecting an iPod or iPhone through a simple wireless transmitter. This is perfect for listening music without the hassle of connecting wires or buying an iPod dock. The Compressed Music Enhancer will make your mp3 songs sound better than ever before.

Video quality
The soundbar can upconvert analog signals to HDMI, but this it he only upscaling you will see. Video quality is not what the people from Yamaha were focusing on, so this system is most likely dedicated to those who are interested in getting high quality sound. If you have a full HD TV and the right source for playing movies, you should get this soundbar as a way to increase the movie viewing experience in the audio department.

Pros and Cons
The YSP-4100 is certainly dedicated to those who are looking for HD audio decoding. Listening to music is great on this system and those who are not searching for surround sound won’t have any complains. Even if you can use the seven-channel surround sound mode, the result won’t be impressive most of the time. Besides not offering surround sound, the unit is not that great when it comes to deep bass.

Conclusion
Some soundbars might offer a better package, especially the models which include a Blu-Ray player, but if you already own such a player and you are happy with the video quality offered by your TV, you can get the YSP-4100 and improve the audio quality of your movies and mp3s. This Yamaha soundbar will cost you around $1900, which is reasonable if you take a look at the overall sound quality and features.

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The Yamaha YHT-S400 is one of the more stylish soundbars around. If you are looking for a system which draws attention upon itself without taking a lot of space in your room, this is the one. Yamaha didn’t hold back when they started designing this soundbar and it definitely shows. The unit comes with a subwoofer which also looks great and it also includes an AV receiver. Basically, you just have to plug it in and it will be ready to go. The price which you will have to pay is $599, but most people agree that it is worth it.

Design
The YHT-S400 is only 2 inches tall, which means that you can easily fit it in front of your TV without affecting the signal of your remote control. You can also remove the feet and place the soundbar under small TV sets thanks to its unique size. The system is 31.5 inches wide and only 2.75 inches deep. This is one of the smallest soundbars around and it only weights 3.4 pounds, which is perfect for those who plan on wall mounting it. The design of this unit won’t stand out at first, but as soon as you take a look at it, you won’t be able to take your eyes off it. The color of choice is black and each edge is rounded in a specific way. The front panel is covered by a black front grille and nothing else. The central piece of this product seems to be the subwoofer/AV receiver. This is a simpler black box, but this doesn’t mean that it is ugly. The design is pleasant and you will surely find the perfect place for it. It measures 17 and 1/8 inches in width, 6 inches in height and 14 and ¼ inches in depth, at a weight of 19 pounds.

Setting up the Yamaha YHT-S400
The AV receiver contains a 100 watt subwoofer which blasts off sound from a 5 inch driver. The soundbar itself can offer 150 watts through its three drivers which measure 4 by 1.5 inches. The left, center and right drivers won’t use the usual sound bouncing off the walls technique. Instead, Yamaha incorporated the Air Surround Xtreme technology which was created to simulate surround sound. This method relies on changing the phase of each driver; as a result, you will be under the impression that the sound is coming from a different location. The best part about this technology is that you will get the same sound quality no matter the shape and size of your room. You can even adjust the sweet spot for a maximum surround effect. With other soundbars, you would have to take a close look at the design of the room and see if any pieces of furniture interfere with the sound beams. With the Yamaha YHT-S400, this problem is eliminated.

The connections which you will find on the Yamaha YHT-S400 are three HDMI inputs and one HDMI output. This is not a lot, but you should be ok as long as your source is HDMI compatible. Unfortunately, the AV receiver doesn’t come with a lot of features, so you shouldn’t expect any type of video decoding. You can watch Blu-ray movies, but you shouldn’t expect full quality.

The package includes a stand and you can add a YDS-11 iPod dock if you want to use your iPod with this system or the YBA-10 wireless Bluetooth receiver if you want to listen to music from your phone or even your computer. However, both of these pieces have to be purchased separately.

Sound quality
On the audio part, Yamaha has incorporated the Head Related Transfer Function which will basically improve the surround sound quality. If you simply want to get high quality stereo, this can be done through the Extended Stereo mode which will make you feel like sound is coming from two distinct speakers which are placed on opposite sides of the room.

There are a few sound modes which can be accessed through the remote: movie, sports, music and game. If you want to keep the volume levels under control, you can use the Univolume feature which is also available.

You might think that a small subwoofer won’t offer strong audio, but this is not the case. The bass sounds coming from the YHT-S400 are more than enough for medium sized rooms and the sound clarity which they offer is impressive. This means that the system is better than similar soundbars which don’t come with an included subwoofer. The difference is more than noticeable especially when watching movies.

There aren’t many sound settings which you need to make before starting the system, but there are some. You will have to spend a few minutes in front of the soundbar because the auto-calibration feature was not included for this model. The channel output levels are easy to set up and the result will certainly please you.

The illusion of surround sound is close to reality, but you shouldn’t expect any movement from behind you. The YHT-S400 performs admirably and you will feel surrounded by sound on certain occasions, but not too often. When watching movies, the sound quality will be considerably higher than that offered by the speakers of your TV, but it won’t match a real 5.1 channel system. Even so, the effort is noticeable and Yamaha did a fairly good job at incorporating surround sound into this system.

Pros and Cons
If you are looking for a soundbar which doesn’t take a whole lot of space, this is probably your best option. As one of the smallest soundbars around, the Yamaha YHT-S400 is incredibly powerful and the sound quality won’t disappoint you.

Unfortunately, there aren’t that many inputs and outputs. This won’t be a problem for some people, but many would notice that something is missing. Video decoding would have also been a great addition to the features of this system, but Yamaha decided not to include such perks. ConclusionThe price of $599 is not much if what you need is a particularly small system and you don’t plan on watching a lot of Full HD movies. The Yamaha YHT-S400 is perfect if you want a combination between surround sound, high quality stereo and you plan on placing it in a small or medium sized room.

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If you want to get an audio system without buying a large 5.1 channel unit, you should take a look at the Yamaha YSP–3050. This sound bar won’t take much space and it can be placed next to or under any flat panel TV screen. With a single unit, you can now get the illusion of surround sound through a technology which sends sound beams at different angles for the perfect result. The YSP-3050 contains no less than 21 drivers and 2 woofers, along with 23 digital amplifiers. The result is 82 watts of output, which is not bad for a single unit system. With such an audio ensemble, you can be sure that the sound quality and power won’t disappoint you. The Yamaha YSP-3050 comes at the price of $1,399.

Setting up the Yamaha YSP-3050
There are two coaxial and two optical digital audio inputs on the YSP-3050. You will also notice analog stereo audio connections and a subwoofer output. Luckily, the people from Yamaha also included two HDMI inputs and one output, which was certainly a necessary addition.

The system can be wall mounted or you can simply place it in front of your TV on a shelf. There are only a few controls present on the sound bar itself, such as volume, input selection and power on/off. A LED display is also present.

Features
This audio system can also play HD surround sound from XM Satellite Radio, which is a great addition. Am built in AM/FM tuner is available. If you don’t want to listen to radio, you can always buy the YDS-11 dock and connect your iPod to the sound bar. After you do this, you can switch between songs with the included remote control and basic info will be displayed on the screen. Some sound bars will play music from iPods, but the quality offered is questionable. With the YSP-3050, you can be sure that the songs from your iPod will be played at top quality.

Sound and video quality
One of the best features of this system is the fact that it is capable of upconverting analog signal to HDMI. Video upscaling can reach 1080i, but you can also connect sources which play 1080p thanks to the two inputs and one output which can be noticed on the back of the unit. This means that you will get the highest video quality possible through the YSP-3050, no matter what type of movie you are trying to watch. The only inconvenience is the lack of Dolby TrueHD decoding, which will be noticeable when playing 1080p Blu ray movies.

If you notice a delay between the sound and video of one of your movies, you can use the Lip Synch adjustment feature. In just a few minutes, you will manage to synchronize the sound with the video and you will be able to watch the movie without any problems.

Unlike other sound bars, the YSP 3050 will offer a very wide sound stage, so you can be sure that everyone will get to experience the surround sound feeling, no matter where they are seated. The My Surround mode is recommended for those who want to be sure that surround sound will be present in the entire room, but you can also try other modes such as 2- channel Stereo, 3 Beam, 3 Beam stereo, 5 beam or 5 channel stereo. The My beam mode is perfect for those who want to watch a movie or listen to music alone, because the sound will be focused on your exact position for maximum quality. If you have enough time, you can experiment with these options and see which one is the best for your room’s shape and size. If you are not a fan of adjusting the sound yourself, you can always use the IntelliBeam system calibration which will choose the perfect settings for you. You just have to connect the microphone which is included in the package and the system will start calibrating itself depending on the shape and size of your room.

This system can offer high quality sound and video because it supports various codecs such as Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS or DTS Neo:6. Besides this, the unit included the Cinema DSP technology which will dramatically improve the sound quality when watching movies.

The sound modes offered by the Yamaha YSP-3050 are great and they can enhance the listening experience in any situation. For example, if you want to watch a movie at night and you can’t make a lot of noise, you can use the Night Listening Enhancer mode. With this option, dramatic sounds like explosions and gunfire will be lowered, but the dialog will always be clear. The TV Equal Volume mode is also a great feature because it will make aggressive sounds dimmer. Another important feature which can be noticed is the SRS Trubass technology which will improve the sound quality offered by the woofers. However, if you really want deep bass levels, you should connect a subwoofer which you have to buy separately.

Pros and cons
The Yamaha YSP-3050 is a great sound bar when it comes to surround sound. The sound stage is wide compared to what you get from other units and the power is reasonable for the price you pay.

The system could include more HDMI inputs, but this is not a problem for everyone. Another disadvantage is the fact that the soundbar can’t upscale videos to 1080p, but you can at least watch 1080p movies if they are already in this format. The lack of decoding for Dolby TrueHD will lower the quality of Blu ray movies.

Conclusion
The Yamaha YSP-3050 is a great sound system for those who don’t want to connect many sources and are looking for surround sound. This system scores excellent when it comes to the wide sound stage and the only problem appears when trying to watch a Blu ray movie. If you don’t care much about the lack of Dolby TrueHD decoding, you won’t be disappointed by the YSP-3050. If you do, you might want to look for another sound bar.

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Everyone knows that a simple surround sound bar can’t be better than a high quality 5.1 or 7.1 channel audio system. However, if you are not a fan of loose cables, you might be interested in getting a Yamaha YSP4000. This is a surround bar which can be used by those who are not interested in 5.1 or 7.1 system, but want to get high quality sound from surround audio system. The design of your new audio system will certainly look great along with your TV. The YSP 1 wasthe first surround bar offered by Yamaha and the YSP 4000 is the result of a couple revisions.

The Yamaha YSP4000 is a $1,800 surround bar which doesn’t look that special when you first see it. In fact, it seems to be a simple wide speaker and it can easily go unnoticed. However, this is not just a basic audio system. It is one of the best ones available at Yamaha and you will get a large array of features and amazing sound quality as soon as you plug it in. It is no surprise that this product is often considered better than most 5.1 or 7.1 channel system when it comes to sound quality and surround capabilities.

Setting up the Yamaha YSP4000
This audio system is 40 inches wide, 8 inches tall and 6 inches deep. It is larger than most surround bars, but it also has more power and offers higher sound quality. The entire ensemble weighs 35 pounds. You can mount the system on a shelf or place it on a wall with the help of a SPM-K30 bracket. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come in the box and buying it will set you back another $80 or so.
You can use the Auto Setup feature which will tell you exactly where you place the surround bar. If you don’t like the solutions it offers, you can experiment with the position of the system yourself. The surround bar can be adjusted manually to aim its sound to far, near, left, right, up and down. Spending a few minutes changing these settings is recommended.

Sound
The sound offered by this system comes at 120 watts of power and the surround bar contains 40 drivers of 1.5 inches each and two 4 and a quarter inch woofers. They have the ability of producing surround sound, even without having the classical 5.1 set up. The technology behind it is complicated, but these speakers will basically bounce the sound off the walls and you will end up hearing sounds all around you. This means that the system is not recommended for those who plan on using it in a room with no back wall or with a large open space behind the viewer. Because the quality of the surround feature may differ from room to room, it is best to set up the Yamaha YSP4000 before starting a movie. You will get a microphone which has to be plugged in and after you start the IntelliBeam calibration system, the sound bar will know exactly what to do.

The entire process won’t last more than 3 minutes and the end result will certainly be noticed. If you are planning on moving the system around or watching different types of programs, you can set up 3 IntelliBeam settings, save them and switch through them until you get the perfect experience, no matter what you are watching. If you plan on listening to live or classical music, you might want to try the 5 Beam mode, which will bring the sound quality to a whole different level. This system uses a few modes: 3 Beam, 3 Beam and Stereo, 5 Channel Stereo, 2 Channel Stereo, My Beam and My surround. If you plan on watching a movie while someone is sleeping, you can use the Night Mode. With this option, the surround bar will dampen the effect of loud sounds and avoid sound spikes. The lack of an external subwoofer can be compensated by experimenting with some of the sound settings available in the menu.

Instead of having to listen to the sound as it comes from the sound bar, you can improve the experience by switching through seven DSP modes. Three of them are recommended when listening to music, other three for watching movies and the last one will sound great when watching sports. The “My Beam” feature is also recommended if you are enjoying the Yamaha YSP4000 alone. In this case, the system will focus its attention on you and you will have a better sound experience.
A good part about this surround bar is that you can play with the levels until you find the right set up. This will certainly come in handy when you are trying to watch a movie where the dialogue has to be distinguished from the ambient sound. With the YSP4000 you can forget about struggling to hear what the actors are saying when they’re running through explosions because the dialogue will always get through to you.

The surround bar uses a Compressed Music Enhancer which will perform admirably when you are listening to music. This system will make any MP3 file sound better and you will certainly notice the difference. You can use your iPod in the optional iPod dock if you have one. The dock costs almost $200, but it will certainly make your life easier. You just have to connect your iPod and start playing your favorite music with the help of the remote you receive with the YSP4000. If you don’t want to get the iPod dock, you can connect an mp3 player through the 3.5mm jack located on the front panel.

Pros and Cons
The Yamaha YSP4000 will certainly satisfy everyone when it comes to sound quality. It can fit under most flat screen TVs and its design is attractive. You can use it for watching 1080p movies with the help of a simple receiver. After you finish the 5 minute set up, you will enjoy the design of this surround bar and you can forget about loose wires and cables.

You will also like the included FM radio.

There aren’t that many problems with this audio system, but there are some. The remote you will receive doesn’t have backlight and you might have problems pushing the right buttons if you are doing this in the dark. Some people will probably want to add a subwoofer to this system, which can be done easily, but it will certainly affect your budget. The surround bar can’t decode Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD master Audio, which might a problem to some. However, it can decode sound for Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II.

The Yamaha YSP4000 is easy to set up and operate. You just have to take a look at the two HDMI inputs and the one HDMI output. With a simple HDMI/HDMI cable, you can transmit both HD content and sound, so you won’t have to worry about additional cables. This is the easiest setup possible, but you can also use the two component inputs and the two component outputs available. You will also notice two COAX connections and two optical ones, along with four analog audio inputs. You won’t find S-video connections, but you will get three composite inputs and one composite output. If you want to add a subwoofer, you can do it through a special jack.
If you plug in an HD video source, you can use the YSP4000 to convert the signal to 480p, 720p or 1080i resolution. However, the system can’t handle HDMI 1.3. It only supports HDMI 1.2 and you will have to make a few changes to the source if you want to make it work.

Conclusion
The Yamaha YSP4000 is perfect for those who want high quality sound for their small or medium sized room. If you are looking to get full bass sound in a very large room, you have to start searching for another system. However, even without window shattering bass, the system performs fairly well and it certainly offers clean sounds. Even with all the options available, you can enjoy the excellent sound quality just by plugging the system in and pressing play. The surround effect is not just an illusion and people will try searching for the source without realizing that it is in front of them. Even with the lack of a subwoofer, the Yamaha YSP4000 surround bar is worth its price tag and it won’t let you down.

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The Yamaha YSP-3000 is a $1,000 sound bar, but you might find it at a lower price these days. This system is not just an audio unit, but a product which can also comes with XM satellite radio, an FM tuner and even 1080p HDMI switching. Unlike other sounds bars, you won’t need an AV receiver and the set up process is extremely simple.

Design
The YSP-3000 has a front panel which is covered by a grey metal grille. You will also notice a small LCD display which will show you information such as volume. There are only a couple of buttons on the soundbar itself, such as volume and the input selection button.

The unit weights 25.4 pounds and it is 31.5 inches wide, 5.9 inches deep and 6.1 inches tall. These measurements make it larger than most soundbars, especially when you look at height and depth. If you can’t fit in under or in front of your TV, you will have to buy the SPM-K30 bracket and wall mount it. Yamaha could have included a mounted bracket for this sound bar, but apparently they didn’t.

You will receive a remote control with the package, but the number of buttons will certainly surprise you. While other sound bar remotes come with only a handful of buttons, this one contains no less than 58 of them. This means that you will be able to make adjustments for individual channel levels and you can even control your TV. Because most buttons are similar in size and shape and the remote isn’t backlit, you will have to memorize some of them and this will take a while.

The unit uses 21 drivers which measure 1.5 inch each for bouncing the sound off the walls of your room. This means that large pieces of furniture or the lack of a back wall will lower the surround capabilities of this system. If you don’t have large drapes and if most of your walls are not decorated with anything, the sound quality will be better. The YSP 3000 also contains 2 woofers which measure 4 inches each. The total power offered by the system is 82 watts.

Setting up the Yamaha YSP 3000
If you want a system which is easy to calibrate, this is the one. With the IntelliBeam feature, you can just plug in the included microphone, go to the menu and let the system figure out which are the best settings for your type of room. In just a couple of minutes, everything will be ready. If you want to make a couple of adjustments, you can improve the sound quality even more. You can individually adjust the levels of your sub or speaker, set the delay and choose between 4 different beam presets to see which one fits your room best. If this doesn’t work, you can always change the position of the sound bar itself. If you place it higher on the wall, the surround sound quality will surely get better.

The system is capable of Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS, DTS Neo:6, Dolby Digital, Cinema DSP and Neural Surround. Unfortunately, the lack of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio can’t go unnoticed, especially if you want to play Blu-ray movies and expect high quality sound. Even so, the sound quality shouldn’t disappoint you in most cases.

If you take a look at the rear panel, you will notice two HDMI inputs and one output, along with a subwoofer output. You will also see two optical digital inputs, two stereo analog inputs and two coaxial digital inputs. You can also use the dock terminal if you have the Yamaha YDS-10 iPod dock. However, if you decide to use your iPod, keep in mind that only audio and video files can be played and pictures won’t be detected. Other audio players can be connected through the 3.5 mm jack.

If you plan on connecting a HDMI set, you will have to use the composite video output of the sound bar and connect it to your TV if you want to see the menu. This is a somewhat complicated procedure and most people won’t enjoy connecting these cables.

Sound quality
When it comes to the sound stage, the Yamaha YSP 3000 does an amazing job. No matter where you are sited, you will still feel the immersive sound offered by this system and every tone will reach your ears from a different angle. If you are looking for bass in particular, you should consider buying a separate subwoofer, but most people will enjoy the sound quality without this addition. The YSP 3000 performs great in this category and the surround sound feeling will surely be present at all times.

From time to time, when watching an action scene, you will notice the lack of a subwoofer since the sound bar doesn’t pack enough punch to make you feel like the action is happening around you. At 82 watts, the system isn’t powerful enough for this type of sounds, but the situation will get better if you place the sound bar in a smaller room.

Listening to music on the Yamaha YSP 3000 seems to be better in the Stereo mode. If you use the surround feature, the sound quality will get lowered.

Pros and Cons
After you finish setting up the system, you will surely enjoy the sound quality offered by Yamaha. The YSP 3000 is great with stereo music, it can offered surround sound when you need it to and the overall quality is certainly impressive.

Even so, the lack of a subwoofer will be noticed at times and the connectivity could have been better.

Conclusion
At $1,200, the Yamaha YSP-3000 is a great sound bar. There are some minor problems which can be noticed with this system, but if you can get around the fact that the YSP 3000 doesn’t support Dolby TrueHD, you should definitely buy it. The sound quality offered by Yamaha is impeccable and the surround sound illusion will certainly trick everyone who is listening.

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Yamaha has expanded its range of Digital Sound Projectors and the new YSP-1100 is a third-generation product that incorporates Yamaha’s impressive technologies, which includes easy setup and configurations such as the Yamaha Intellibeam intelligence.  Its packaging is an improvement compared to earlier Yamaha innovations, and the system boasts the ability to be as good as an entire 5.1 surround system. 

Design
The YSP-1100 includes 42 drivers and amplifiers, together with the basic electronics that formed earlier YSP models. It comes in either black or silver, and weighs at 28.6 lbs. It costs slightly higher than the first generation YSP-1, but comes with the auto-setup function and is able to configure based on the information of the room. It has a non-removable grille cover that is carefully designed not to disrupt the intended frequency response of the system. The gloss, black lower portion of the YSP has a blue LCD screen for displays.  It fits perfectly under a 42-inch flat screen or optionally, users may choose to mount it on a wall. There are 2 sets of analog inputs, 3 digital inputs (2 optical and 1 coaxial), a subwoofer output, 2 component video inputs, 3 composite video inputs and one set of component- and composite-video outputs. However, it has no S-Video and HDMI connections. The RS-232C interface is an addition and will be used as part of a custom installation system. YSP-1100 also supports infrared (IR) signal transmissions to comply with the component requirements of its IR remote-in connector. 

Measuring at 40.6" x 7.75" x 4.5", it is specially made for flat-panel TVs in mind. It also complements well with rear-projection TVs and front-projectors.  However, due to its magnetic shielding, Yamaha cautioned that it might interfere with CRT tubes TV if positioned too close to these old-fashioned TVs. As it works by bouncing sounds off walls, rooms with bare walls will bring out the best of these systems.

Setting up the YSP-1100
Installation of the YSP-1100 is easy, however, as any other YSP systems, there are some tips for placements that will maximize the experience of the YSP. Reflective surfaces maximum at best, and preferably rooms do not include too many furniture. It can be placed above or below the TV and this elegantly designed YSP looks best for anything between 42" to 50".

Configuration is easy with Yamaha’s IntelliBeam which would optimize the sound with its ready configuration. Simply plug in the included optimizer microphone and place it on the included cardboard stand and position it at the estimated ear-level of listeners. Press for the automatic setup and more experienced users may choose to do manual set-up to tweak it to the best accuracy. The manual setup includes four main areas with corresponding sub-menus: Sound, Beam, Input and Display. As the titles indicate, setup of each component will be based on these titles. The Sound menu allows you to tweak for tune controls, subwoofer settings, mute level and audio delay. Meanwhile, the Beam menu allows you to adjust based on settings perimeter and the beam adjustment menu. Input gives the user manual control over input assignment, modes and trims. And finally the Display menu controls the front panel dimmer.

The included remote control is a handy tool as well, with basic functions for controlling a TV, DVD player or other legacy device. The downside of this remote control is that it does not have a backlighting that would help most audiophiles that enjoy their favorite music in the dark.  

Sound quality
Audiophiles will be delighted with the surround mode that YSP-1100 delivers. Users will be happy with Yamaha’s technology that delivers quality sound reproduction that gives a three-dimensional feel to music. Surround processing modes include Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS, DTS Neo:6 and Yamaha’s proprietary Cinema DSP technology.  The surround decoding is built-in, hence eliminating the need for an A/V receiver. 

The YSP-1100 sports 40 1.5" microdrivers and two 4.25" woofers. It also offers five Beam-Mode settings which are controllable via the remote. There are 5-Beam which produces five sound beams that bounce off the walls and produce a pseudo-surround sound effect, 3-Beam, Stereo-plus-3-Beam, Stereo (without beams reflection off walls) and My Beam, which allows users to focus the sound to one position in the room, which, however, may squash the surround spaciousness down to a mono channel of sound. It is intended for users who would like to listen to their favorite pieces during the night without waking up members of the household.

There are significant improvements to the sound quality compared to its predecessors, the YSP-1 and YSP-1000. However, the bass is still not powerful enough with its twin woofers, and some users may wish to include a powered sub-woofer for an additional oomph to the sound effects, especially for those with bigger rooms. While surround sound quality is unmatchable, users need to be careful not to tune up the volume too much lest the sounds may turn harsh. Stereo sound performance is clean and naturally balanced, and the Dolby Pro Logic II surround opens up the sound of CDs dramatically.

However, this clever system is still not able to convince users when it comes to the rear-channel effects, even though the front channels do create an engaging sound. Dialogues in movies are very clear and crisp, and well separated from the front left and right channels.

Pros and Cons
It is stylishly designed and uses 40 1.5" drivers to bounce sound off walls and create enveloping surround effects. With built-in digital amplifiers, Dolby/DTS and proprietary sound processing, and video switching features eliminate the need for an A/V receiver. YSP-1100 is easy to configure as well. An additional subwoofer may not be necessary as the lack of bass is not clearly noticeable.
However, the My Beam focus effect does not seem to deliver as advertised. There are no S-Video and HDMI connections. Plus, the rear-channel effects may not be as convincing as having real speakers at the back of the room behind the users.

Conclusion
The Yamaha YSP-1100 is considered a breakthrough for sound bars technology, and it replaces the AV receiver and surround sound speaker system. Although there is no HDMI port to support this system, users may find that it is not yet necessary to include as this "short-coming" can easily be overlooked by the performance that it delivers.

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The YSP-900 is a lower level system of Yamaha’s acclaimed range of Sound Projectors, a successor to the award-winner YSP-1 and varied version of YSP-1000 and YSP-800. This third-generation model is suitable for users that are not fussy over the insufficient bass in action movie playback. As an entry-level Yamaha product, users can be surprised by its performance which gives good value for the price it asks for.

Design
This small footprint design is ideally suited for 32" and 37" flatscreen TVs and monitors, with either silver or black speaker grilles to match the color choice of most TV screens available in the market. It may also be optionally mounted on the wall right above or below the displays with a mounting bracket. YSP-900 has 21 beam drivers and two 4-inch woofers, which is similar to the YSP-800. The beam drivers direct high-frequency, localization sounds towards the listener by bouncing off the side walls or projecting them directly towards the listening area.  Meanwhile, the pair of bass drivers at both ends of the unit fill out the sound below the frequency range and gives sonic weight to the overall presentation. It also comes with built-in digital amplifiers. There is neither 1080P HDMI switching, FM and XM radio, nor an iPod dock.

Setting up the YSP-900
Setting up of this simple sound system is easy. YSP-900 is self-powered, so an additional AV receiver is not necessary, unless the tv cannot handle the video switching duties between various AV sources. YSP-900 does not switch video signals, so video connection between sources must be made directly to the tv or an optional AV receiver.

The front panel is mostly covered by a perforated metal grille, and below the grille is the LCD display for volume level and processing status. Further right is a volume control and input selector. Meanwhile, some users may find that the speakers are better off wall-mounted due to its size that makes it difficult to fit under the tv.
There’s a set of connections at the rear that allow users to hook up to several audio sources.  There are two stereo analog inputs; and for surround sources, two optical and one coaxial digital input. There is also the provision for an active subwoofer connection for users who wish to put in more power in the projection, especially for music and action movie playbacks.

This easily portable system comes with Yamaha’s Intellibeam auto calibration system which analyses the sound output and tunes the settings. Users only need to bring up the onscreen menu, plug in the supplied microphone and run the automated calibration procedure. While the auto setup may be sufficient for most average users, there is still the option to tweak it manually. Within minutes, the surround processing modes which includes Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS, DTS Neo:6 and Yamaha’s proprietary Cinema DSP technology are ready for use.

The included remote control may be considered a bit complicating for those who are less tech-savvy. Users may easily access to factory-set 5-beam and 3-beam modes tailored for virtual surround sound. In addition, a user-defined "My Beam" mode refocuses sound towards a user-specified location by pressing a button on the remote control. While it could select to adjust the individual channel volumes directly and also control a tv at the same time, the buttons are small and navigation is a challenge with little differentiation between the button size within each section.

Sound quality
Yamaha YSP speakers are reputed as state-of-the-art speakers with regards to projection of large, immersive soundfield, and YSP-900 is no exception. Also, YSP-900 includes two stereo listening modes besides the expected surround sound systems. Its 21 1.5-inch microdrivers create the surround sound effect by bouncing the front-left, front-right and surround channels’ sound off the room walls, and the center channel’s sound projects directly to the listening position. While 5-beam mode creates good surround sound experience, it lacks some bass to make the most of movie soundtracks, and an additional subwoofer is recommended to users who want more effects for action movies. An average user may find this system sufficient, while an audiophile may suggest that Yamaha add more features to this system, which would actually defeat the design and purpose of having this smaller footprint.

Pros and Cons
It is small, stylish, easily portable and suitable for a user with simple expectations. The easy connections make setup and installation hassle-free for most average users.

However, the woofers are weak and it does not sport the switch for 1080P playback.

Conclusion
YSP-900 is suitable for users who are not demanding too much from a simple home theater systems. Although it may be an entry-level model in Yamaha’s YSP single-speaker surround systems range, it sounds quite similar to its immediate step-up model, which is the YSP-3000 that shares almost the same, basic designs.

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