Yamaha Soundbars
compared

Yamaha - Pioneer in Virtual Surround Sound

There is no question that Yamaha is one of the leading manufacturers of any device that can somehow make a sound. After all, the company’s product range includes all kinds of hi-fi devices – from AV receivers and speakers to headphones and mixers – as well as a large selection of musical instruments.

For its soundbars, the company focuses primarily on virtual surround sound. With the Yamaha YAS-207, the Japanese manufacturer even released the world’s first soundbar that can reproduce DTS Virtual:X sound. Accordingly, the setups only have a few channels, but can still provide a room-filling sound. Let’s take a look at what else Yamaha’s soundbars can offer.

YAS-Soundbars compared

The YAS series contains the most popular soundbar models by Yamaha. These are affordable entry-level models that come with several features and partly even with an external subwoofer.

Yamaha YAS-209
YAS-209
Yamaha YAS-109
YAS-109
Model year 2019 2019
Channels 2.1 2.1
Dolby Atmos
DTS
HDMI 2.1
eARC
WLAN
Room size up to 25 m2 up to 15 m2
Subwoofer External
Satellites
Dimensions Height x Width x Depth 62 x 924 x 102 mm 53 x 890 x 131 mm

Yamaha YAS-209 2019
Surprisingly affordable soundbar with excellent stereo sound profile

Room size
up to 25 m2
Channels
2.1

Yamaha YAS-209 Connections

HDMI 2.0 InHDMI OutHDMI ARCDigital opticalLAN-Ethernet
Set
Soundbar + Subwoofer
  • 200W total power
  • 100W Subwoofer
  • Balanced Sound Profile
  • Great Stereo Sound
  • DTS Virtual:X
  • HDMI ARC, Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth
  • Wi-Fi, Smart Features & Amazon Alexa
  • No Dolby Atmos

The Yamaha YAS-209 offers a well-rounded overall package and is thus best suited for soundbar newbies who want to upgrade their TV sound. The soundbar has 2.1 channels and comes with an external subwoofer, which has a power of 100 watts just like the soundbar itself. Its sound profile is very balanced, which allows it to be used with almost all kinds of content. Since the subwoofer is wirelessly connected to the soundbar, you are also quite flexible in the placement of the setup.

Besides a very good stereo sound, the soundbar also reproduces DTS Virtual:X. Dolby content is also replayed, but there is no real three-dimensional sound due to the missing height channels in the YAS-209. Unfortunately, the soundbar’s surround sound also doesn’t sound very impressive, as surround content is converted into stereo for playback. The audio quality can still be adjusted a bit with the help of the six EQ presets that the soundbar comes with.

The soundbar can be connected via HDMI ARC or an optical input for playback. Those who want to pair wirelessly with the Yamaha YAS-209 can do so via Bluetooth. Furthermore, it can also be integrated into your home network using an Ethernet port or by connecting it via its Wi-Fi interface. Furthermore, the built-in Amazon Alexa also allows you to control the soundbar via voice command.

Yamaha YAS-109 2019
Smart soundbar with virtual 3D sound

Room size
up to 15 m2
Channels
2.1

Yamaha YAS-109 Connections

HDMI 2.0 InHDMI OutHDMI ARCDigital opticalSubwoofer OutLAN-Ethernet
Set
Soundbar
  • 120W soundbar
  • Integrated subwoofer
  • Virtual surround sound
  • Wi-Fi & Bluetooth compatible
  • Integrated Amazon Alexa
  • Clear Voice Technology
  • No DTS:X & Dolby Atmos
  • No HDMI 2.1
  • No eARC
  • No Chromecast & Apple Airplay

The Yamaha YAS-109 is a somewhat reduced version of the YAS-209. Unlike the previous model, this soundbar comes without an external subwoofer. Instead, it is a 2.1-channel system that features a built-in subwoofer. In order to play virtual 3D sound in the form of DTS Virtual:X, it can simulate additional channels. However, surround content is also mixed down to stereo content by this soundbar, which is why the surround sound is not very immersive.

The YAS-109 also comes with six EQ presets to improve the sound. These include a music mode and a sports mode, for example. There is also a dialog enhancement feature that is supposed to make voices more understandable. Despite a total output of 120 watts, the soundbar unfortunately does not get particularly loud. It also struggles with bass-heavy content, but you could still connect an external woofer to its dedicated subwoofer port to compensate for this shortcoming. Other connections include an HDMI ARC port and an optical interface.

In terms of smart features, the YAS-109 definitely impresses. It has both an Ethernet port and a Wi-Fi interface for connecting to the Internet. A Bluetooth connection is also available as another streaming option. And of course, this model also has the voice assistant Amazon Alexa already integrated.

SR-Soundbars compared

Yamaha’s SR series includes one-body soundbars that come with an integrated subwoofer. Thus, they offer a space-saving improvement of your TV sound.

Yamaha SR-B20A
SR-B20A
Yamaha SR-C20A
SR-C20A
Model year 2020 2020
Channels 2.1 2.1
Dolby Atmos
DTS
HDMI 2.1
eARC
WLAN
Room size up to 15 m2 up to 15 m2
Subwoofer Internal Internal
Satellites
Dimensions Height x Width x Depth 53 x 910 x 131 mm 64 x 600 x 94 mm

Yamaha SR-B20A 2020
Plain all-in-one soundbar

Room size
up to 15 m2
Channels
2.1

Yamaha SR-B20A Connections

HDMI OutHDMI ARCDigital optical
Set
Soundbar
  • 120W total power
  • Two optical ports
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Virtual Surround Sound
  • Clear Voice Technology
  • No 3D sound
  • No network connection

At first glance, the Yamaha SR-B20A looks quite similar to the soundbars of the YAS series – except for the missing external subwoofer, of course. The soundbar comes with a total power of 120 watts and has 2.1 channels, so the subwoofer is already integrated. If the bass performance of the subwoofer is not enough, an additional external woofer can be installed thanks to the subwoofer output on the back of the soundbar.

Besides the sub-out, the B20A has an HDMI ARC output and two optical inputs. Using these, the soundbar can receive both Dolby and DTS content. In order to create a broader soundstage, it can also play back DTS Virtual:X, whereby additional height channels are simulated. However, it should again be noted that surround content is reproduced via the stereo speakers, which results in a less immersive sound experience.

For streaming music or podcasts, you have to use the Bluetooth interface of this soundbar, since Yamaha has unfortunately cut back on smart features here. No network connection is possible, and the soundbar does not support voice assistants.

Yamaha SR-C20A 2020
Slim entry-level model with room-filling sound

Room size
up to 15 m2
Channels
2.1

Yamaha SR-C20A Connections

HDMI OutHDMI ARCDigital optical3.5mm Jack
Set
Soundbar
  • 100W total power
  • Integrated subwoofer
  • Compact design
  • Clear Voice Technology
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • App control
  • No DTS
  • No Dolby Atmos & DTS:X
  • No WLAN
  • No smart features

Yamaha’s SR-C20A is the smaller sister of the B20A. The most obvious difference between the two models is probably the size of the soundbar. With a width of only 60 centimeters, the C20A is much more compact. In addition, the soundbar is a bit weaker with a total power of 100 watts, but it is also a 2.1-channel system with an integrated subwoofer.

The two models hardly differ in terms of connections: The C20A also has an HDMI ARC output and two optical inputs. It does not have a subwoofer output for adding a woofer, but it does come with an AUX port, which you can use to connect your smartphone or tablet, for example. If you prefer to connect wirelessly, you can do so via Bluetooth.

Unfortunately, the C20A does not support DTS content. Accordingly, unlike Yamaha’s other models, it cannot play back DTS Virtual:X sound. Thus, those who are thinking about buying the soundbar will have to be satisfied with Dolby stereo sound.