Yamaha YSP-1100 Digitial Sound Projector

Yamaha unveiled its newest Digital Sound Projector, the YSP-1100 at CEDIA, which provides true multi-channel surround sound from a single component. The model's 40 built-in beam drivers and 2 built-in woofers, with 42 corresponding digital amplifiers, plus its streamlined design, offer consumers great flexibility in creating their home entertainment spaces.

The YSP-1100 Digital Sound Projector precisely controls the orientation of sound by focusing it into beams. The center channel sound is heard directly, while the sounds from other channels are heard after reflecting off the walls surrounding the listener. SRS's TruBass technology uses harmonics to provide deep and rich bass response. The result is an excellent solution for video enthusiasts who wish to build their home theater systems around larger flat screen TVs and desire a neat, uncluttered, unobtrusive system to match the interior of their room.

Yamaha's proprietary IntelliBeam™ automated system calibration allows users to quickly and easily set up the YSP-1100 for the optimal listening experience.

Five selectable sound settings allow users to choose between 5-Beam Mode, Stereo Mode, 3-Beam Mode, Stereo+3-Beam Mode and My Beam Mode. The YSP-1100 has a wider soundstage than its predecessors, affording more optimum listening positions within a room. My Beam mode allows users to focus sound to a specific position in their room at the touch of a button to avoid disturbing others.

Yamaha's CINEMA DSP technology, which offers seven audio programs compatible with the Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS Neo:6 sound formats, creates realistic soundscapes in any room. For late night movie and music enjoyment, the YSP-1100 features a Night Listening Enhancer mode that allows dialog and quiet passages to be heard clearly, even at low volumes. The TV Equal Volume mode prevents sudden bursts of sound from TV programs and commercials.

The YSP-1100 offers simple video input selection with a multi-language on-screen display. Video can be selected from any of two component inputs to a component output, or from three composite inputs to a composite output with superimposed on-screen display menus in any of four languages (English, French, German and Spanish).

The YSP-1100 is easily integrated into custom installations, as it supports IR signal transmission for the operation of other components. To illustrate, the YSP-1100 can be controlled by an IR signal sent through the Remote In terminal. At the same time, the IR signal received by the Remote Control Sensor on the front panel is directly output through the IR OUT terminal to other appropriate components. The model is also equipped with an RS-232C interface that enables operation via a touch-panel controller.

The YSP-1100 (SRP $1699.95) will be available in September.

Subjective listening impressions

To date, this is the best demo we've heard of the Yamaha Digital Sound Projection System. They integrated dual subwoofers into the demo to yield excellent bass extension and tactile response. The House of Flying Daggers demo was most impressive and we continually felt as if there were side mounted speakers secretly hidden away behind the solid wooden walls. Center channel clarity was excellent and the sound was very dynamic. For those who simply cannot integrate a multi channel speaker system into their room, this is a product worth checking out.

For more information, visit: http://www.yamaha.com/yec/