Yamaha YSP-2500 & YAS-203 Soundbar Preview

While Dolby Atmos was the star of the 2014 CEDIA Expo, the folks at Yamaha quietly released a few new additions to their soundbar lineup. One was the new SRT-1000 pedestal soundbar which we covered previously. Today we’ll be talking about the YAS-203, an entry level soundbar priced at $399.95, and the YSP-2500, a digital sound projector with an MSRP of $999.95.

So what exactly do you get out of a $400 soundbar? To start, the YAS-203 is a two piece system, meaning you get the soundbar itself and a wireless bass module to help deliver some additional low end punch. The YAS-203 features a pair of 2-1/8” cone drivers which are driven by 50W of amplification apiece, and the bass module boasts a 6.5” driver driven by 100W. We note that this solution represents a substantial leap over the $300 YSP-103, which offers dual 3” subwoofers (and we use that term loosely) built into the soundbar itself.

The Yamaha YAS-203 soundbar with wireless bass module.

In terms of feature set, the YAS-203 is pretty basic, but with a few goodies thrown in for functionality. Inputs are limited to a digital coax input, dual optical digital inputs, and a stereo analog input, meaning you’ll connect the YAS-203 to your TV and let it handle source switching. However, the YAS-203 has remote learning functionality, meaning you can control volume and mute with your TV’s remote control. Bluetooth with AptX is also on board for high quality wireless streaming. In addition, integrated Bluetooth allows the YAS-203 to be controlled by Yamaha’s Home Theater Controller app, available for both iOS and Android. Last but not necessarily least, the YAS-203 also features an IR repeater on the back panel, meaning if the soundbar blocks your TV’s sensor, your TV remote will continue to work.

Moving to the YSP-2500, Yamaha is delivering an entirely different animal. For starters, unlike the “conventional” YAS-203, the YSP-2500 is a 7.1 channel digital sound projector sporting 16 - 1-1/8” beam drivers plus a wireless bass module with dual 4” drivers. Each beam driver is backed by 2W of amplification, while the bass module gets 130W of power. What’s the difference? Unlike the basic driver array of the YAS-203, the YSP-2500 can actually “steer” sound to your sidewalls, helping to create a more convincing virtual surround effect. We actually got a quick demonstration of this technology by testing out “target playback mode”, where the soundbar beams sound to one specific spot to avoid distracting others in the room. In short: it works quite well.

The Yamaha YSP-2500 digital sound projector.

Moving on to features, the YSP-2500 has a bit more to offer on that front relative to the YAS-103. This time around, 3 HDMI inputs and 1 output are added meaning that the YSP-2500 can serve as your system’s hub; of note 3D video and 4K/60hz pass-through are supported. The YSP-2500 also has one other perk we’ve not seen on many (if any) soundbars: a headphone jack for private listening. Like the YAS-203, the YSP-2500 features an IR repeater as well as integrated Bluetooth, allowing for wireless streaming as well as app control.

Yamaha's Home Theater Controller app allows you to setup and adjust your soundbar from a smartphone or tablet.

Summary

We won’t blow smoke here: neither the YSP-2500 nor the YAS-203 are revolutionary products. What they offer is a better-than-TV-speakers experience, or in the case of the YSP-2500, a respectable facsimile of a dedicated 7.1 setup for those that don’t want to deal with the hassle of a conventional A/V system. Moreover, Yamaha adds in features that make these soundbars simple to use. Given that the average soundbar owner isn’t likely to be a tech junkie, that’s a very good thing in our view. Does anybody want us to ask Yamaha for a review sample? Make sure to let us know on our forums.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.