The Yamaha TRUE X SURROUND 90A soundbar is an interesting case in point. It's expensive, but it's an excellent soundbar for both movies and music, but is it enough?

The soundbar market has grown rapidly in recent years, and at the same time, the ranges have expanded to include clearly more expensive and truly multi-channel solutions.

Yamaha has also been involved in this development for a long time, although perhaps not at the top of the sales statistics. For many, the models from well-known TV manufacturers are an easier choice.

However, Yamaha's range has been fairly extensive, and has also included more expensive solutions. For example, the Yamaha SR-X50A, which was also tested by AVPlus.

Yamaha's history in soundbars also goes back quite a long way. The Yamaha YSP-5600, introduced in 2015, was one of the most advanced solutions on the market at the time. Its special feature was the so-called sound projector technology, in which dozens of small elements formed sound beams using DSP, which, when directed at the walls, could create a very authentic and impressive surround effect without separate rear speakers.

Now Yamaha is trying to return to the forefront of soundbar speakers, in a way. And using partly the same, aforementioned “sound beam” technology as in 2015. Although further developed and now specifically for Dolby Atmos surround sound reproduction.

The Yamaha TRUE X SURROUND 90A 5.1.2 soundbar we're testing now, priced at €2,600, is an ambitious attempt to take its place among the premium soundbars - and at the top. The price range puts Yamaha in tough competition with both top models from well-known television manufacturers and traditional premium audio brands. Opponents include Samsung, JBL, Focal and KEF.

First impression

The first impression of the Yamaha is perhaps a bit contradictory. The low-profile soundbar is in itself beautiful in its essence, while being very simple and to some extent also technical, but at the same time perhaps a little plain. In shape, it is exactly as bar-like as the name soundbar suggests.

We don't think the subwoofer in the series is quite in line with the price range, although the construction of a reasonably sized subwoofer is sturdy and it looks quite neat. The somewhat plastic-like surface materials and finish don't quite match the impression expected from a product worth almost 2600 euros.

On the other hand, the subwoofer is usually hidden and a certain restrained and unobtrusive look can also be a positive thing, and at least the whole thing doesn't try to emphasize itself unnecessarily. And the subwoofer itself turned out to be quite functional in its reproduction.

The rear speakers are clearly unique in their style. They actually look quite elegant and valuable.
However, the whole thing still gives the impression that the system was assembled from separate products designed from slightly different starting points.

Although the construction is sturdy and the workmanship is mostly of a very high standard, in our opinion the Yamaha's appearance may not fully meet the premium expectations of this price range. On the other hand, it is a matter of taste. And in the end, appearance does not matter much in a dark viewing environment. In the end, it is the sound that decides - at least partly.

Technology

Technically, it is a 5.1.2-channel soundbar system, which consists of the actual soundbar unit, a wireless subwoofer, and two separate, but completely wireless, rear speakers. So no virtual channels or side-firing elements located in the soundbar, but completely separate speakers.

The soundbar, rear speakers and subwoofer make up these 5.1 channels. Channels .2 are for height information with Dolby Atmos and DTS-X encoded movies (and also music). These have been implemented by Yamaha using the same so-called sound beam technology as the Digital Sound Projector technology seen in the Yamaha YSP-5600 model. Of course, this is further developed here.

On top of the soundbar, at both ends, there are six small, upward-facing, 28 mm diameter “beam” elements on each side. Each has its own amplifier channel. With the help of these and DSP, directional and directional “sound beams” are promised to be achieved and thus a more effective and, above all, more accurate spatial effect than with traditional solutions that radiate sound more widely. So it is about controlled directivity of the sound.

Here, DSP technology also allows for virtual direction of the sound beams and even adjustment of their “width” directly from the application.

The main channels and center channel of the soundbar itself are implemented with identical 110 × 53 mm bass-midrange drivers (doubled in the center channel) and 28 mm dome tweeters. The ends have sound beam units.

The rear channels are handled by separate, fairly compact TRUE X SPEAKER 3A speakers, which operate completely wirelessly and therefore contain their own amplifiers and batteries. Each speaker has 2 57 mm wideband drivers with passive radiators supporting the bass head.

The wireless solution allows for placement in principle without cabling. Separate charging docks are supplied with the rear speakers. The speakers can therefore be kept in the charging stands and lifted to the desired locations if necessary. The charging docks also work when the speakers are permanently placed for continuous power supply. Floor stands are also available as accessories for the speakers. Wall mounting is also possible (with universal stands), but the power supply may pose challenges here.

The speakers are said to have a battery life of up to 10 hours in surround mode. Charging is via USB-C (directly via cable or with charging cradles) and takes about four hours.

The rear speakers can also be used separately as regular Bluetooth speakers. The soundbar itself works as a network speaker in Yamaha's MusicCast system and even as part of a multi-room system.

The subwoofer is not mini-sized, but it is still reasonably compact in its class: its dimensions are 241 × 378 × 414 mm. At the front of the cabinet, behind a fixed protective fabric, there is a 170 mm diameter bass element. The cabinet is reflex-tuned and its reflex tube's Symmetrical Flare Port structure, i.e. the trumpet-like tube ends, is promised to reduce pipe noise and reduce distortion. The reflex tube opens into the lower part of the cabinet.

Connections

The main connection is HDMI eARC to the TV, and there is also one HDMI input for an external source. In addition, there is an optical digital input. The HDMI pass-through supports 4K images as well as Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats. However, the number of connections is quite limited for its price range, which may limit the ability to connect multiple devices directly to the soundbar.

Gamers should also note that the HDMI pass-through does not support 4K/120 Hz signals or VRR functions. In practice, it is best to connect the latest generation game consoles directly to the TV and use the eARC connection for audio return.

Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2. Bluetooth only supports basic audio codecs, but it gets the job done, and network playback will likely be used to listen to music.

For network playback, Yamaha uses its own MusicCastplatform, through which you can use various streaming services and connect the system as part of a multi-room system. The sound pair itself can also be used and adjusted via the MusicCast app if necessary.

Also worth mentioning is the Bluetooth transmitter included in the soundbar, which allows you to easily connect wireless headphones to the device.

Surround sound

In terms of audio formats, the soundbar's support includes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, as well as AURO-3D, which is rare in soundbars, and DTS Neural:X. These are surround sound playback, processing, and upmixing solutions that can expand even standard stereo or multi-channel content into a more immersive and three-dimensional sound field.

AURO 3D differs from Dolby Atmos and DTS:X in that it is based more on fixed height channels than on moving sound objects. The system builds the sound field on several different levels: a traditional surround level and a height level above it. The end result aims to emphasize the naturalness and unity of the space in particular. The Auro-Matic upmix used in conjunction with AURO-3D analyzes standard stereo or multi-channel content and expands it to also utilize height effects. This is considered a very pleasant and natural-sounding solution, especially for music. And in fact, this works very well in Yamaha.

DTS Neural:X is an upmixing system developed by DTS, which aims to utilize all available speakers even when the original content does not contain actual height channels. The system analyzes the audio signal in real time and aims to expand the sound image, especially in the surround and height directions. In practice, for example, regular stereo sound or a traditional 5.1 mix can be reproduced as a clearly more immersive whole. DTS Neural:X works largely as DTS's equivalent to Dolby Surround and Auro-Matic processing

Additionally, Yamaha's SURROUND:AI is available, which Yamaha says analyzes the content being played in real time and automatically adjusts different aspects of the sound according to the situation. In practice, the system aims to keep dialogue, effects and background sounds balanced without constant manual adjustment. The effect was quite subtle in the test, but especially with movies, the whole thing sounded a little more controlled and unified in places. So you can try it, although we have reservations about these in themselves.

Commissioning, operation and adjustments

Setting up the device is fairly straightforward. Perhaps not quite as easy as many competitors, as there is no guided setup. You have to do and figure everything out yourself, and the quick instructions that come with it don't cover everything. More detailed instructions can only be found in the online guide (why not put a direct link to the instructions in the app).

The wireless subwoofer connects to the soundbar automatically, but there is more adjustment required with the rear speakers. That's why a separate instructional video has been made for them.

So, it's not difficult to set up, but it's not exactly a "plug and play" experience. There is room for improvement here. The lack of automatic setup and room correction in particular means that you have to learn more about placement and adjustments. This is often a positive thing, though.

The operation is based on a traditional remote control and on-screen menu. There really isn't any gimmickry with graphics or anything else. It looks that drab. On the other hand, it's also clear. Of course, some of the functions are available via a separate Music Cast application, which has a more impressive and clear appearance.

There are a fair amount of adjustment options. The user can adjust the levels of the center channel and subwoofer rear/surround channels, height effects, and select various sound processing functions, among other things. Yamaha's SURROUND:AI aims to automatically optimize the sound according to the content being played.
In addition, the Clear Voice function aims to bring out speech better if the dialogue seems to be drowned out by the rest of the sound image. The remote control has channel-specific level controls for the rear channels, which is good in itself, but a common control would have been enough and one of the buttons could have been used to adjust the subwoofer level, for example. Well, all the controls can be found in the app, of course.

On the other hand, there are only bass and treble adjustments for the tone of the sound. An equalizer would have been desirable in this price range. Well, of course, there was little need to touch the adjustments. Except perhaps the midrange of the center channel could have been emphasized a little. So an equalizer would not have been a disadvantage.

In everyday use, the Yamaha is ultimately quite comfortable and straightforward to use. The remote control is clear, basic functions are quickly found, and selecting different sound modes is also easy. Once the settings are right, there is really no need to touch them.

The MusicCast app is the most intuitive to use, but using your phone as a controller isn't always the fastest - at least not for everyday use. On the other hand, the MusicCast app also includes all the most common streaming services for listening to music.

The small display on the front panel provides basic information clearly, although the whole thing is visually quite modest and simple. The display is badly needed and we think it could have been placed "hidden" on top of the soundbar. This would have made the front visually symmetrical and perhaps more stylish.

Works with movies

In movies, the Yamaha's soundstage is balanced, not at all emphasizing high frequencies, effects and bass as is the case with many soundbars. On the other hand, the effects and spatial effect are believable in action movies, for example. And above all, in a very natural way. The overall impression is good without being exaggerated.

The height channel Sound Beam technology seems to work well: the sound comes out of the soundbar quite quietly and spreads into the room in a controlled manner. The spatial effect is believable. However, the effectiveness of the height effects always depends on the placement of the soundbar and the room itself in these systems that utilize reflections; what kind of acoustics, the position of the walls in relation to the soundbar, etc. In Yamaha's case, however, the technology and adjustments allow for better consideration of the space than usual. This of course requires experimentation and adjustment.

The subwoofer is one of the system's strengths. The bass is powerful, but it stays under control and doesn't overwhelm other frequencies. That is, when the level is adjusted correctly. On the other hand, the reproduction of any ultra-low frequencies is of course not up to par.

The center channel is reproduced clearly, but in action scenes, for example, the dialogue can be overshadowed by the effects at some settings, although the center channel level can be adjusted separately. The adjustment helps with the volume of the dialogue, but does not completely change the general nature of the soundbar's front field and the placement of speech in the overall picture. The Clear Voice function improves the reproduction of dialogue, but still leaves it slightly darker in tone.

Overall, the Yamaha plays movies in a balanced way without any extra drama. It doesn't offer any wow effect, but in return, it offers a credible and, above all, realistic and natural-sounding playback.

Good with music too

The Yamaha also performs surprisingly well with music. This is quite rare in soundbars. Few soundbars have played music so enjoyable. Well, maybe we're exaggerating a bit here, but for a soundbar, the Yamaha plays music excellently. Even the subwoofer's playback is solid with moderate adjustments, without any emphasis or sibilance.

Overall, the playback is calm and neutral, and there is no typical “soundbar effect” that emphasizes high frequencies. The treble remains controlled, the midrange sounds natural, and the subwoofer integrates well into the overall sound. The end result is pleasant even during extended listening.

And Yamaha's AURO-3D adds a believable spatial effect to the sound without exaggeration.