📌 FIND ONE HERE: bit.ly/3SNNu7b & bit.ly/3UU3tDc 🆘 Missed something? Open the description box ABOVE. Still have questions? Hit THANKS☝to highlight your Q + give thanks for the help you receive!☝ Please NO Links, Self Promotion, or Personal Info. Stay on topic and be respectful.
Since they changed ownership, the new team that handles press has become nothing more than a press release farm. They've ignored every effort to make contact for about a year, even replies to their press emails announcing new products. It's really unfortunate, as we loved the original bar.@@ThomasKahalepuna
Hi Guys,Great review as always. Kristy mentioned the Bose Smart Ultra had the best intelligently of the bar systems, can you adjust the volume of the subwoofer to the point of turning off on the Bose system? I need to be able to turn the bass off. Btw, on hearing loss, ive noted that at night i can hear the super high frequency chirps of micro bats that frequently pass by but my late 50s to mid 60s parents can't hear, I was at the time mid 30s.
@@ThomasKahalepuna i had expected to hear them mention the Nakamichi dragon as the best choice for the money no object purchase. Now you mention it, i do vaguely remember the Sennheiser sound bar. I wonder if an updated version has been released since then?
I have an older Yamaha soundbar and sub that do a really solid job (for what was a fairly low price). Yamaha nail value proposition and are ALWAYS a solid, good quality, low risk choice 👍 Not always the BEST choice... But never a BAD choice.
I agree still have and use my Yamaha Yas -207 which this new model is an update of in some ways nice new features feel the rear surrounds should be included with the bar
@@jefferyberg8186 Yep, mine is the YAS107... Same as yours but without the sub... I opted for a separate Yamaha YST-FSW-050 sub as it better suited my space. Not a fan of the DTS Virtual X (which sounds a bit boxy to me), but otherwise a really solid bit of kit (and used to be very reasonably priced).
I have in the past Yas207 the true X is a Big Big step on performance. Some options are no mentionned on reviews. If you want the best ot true X system. Put bar on Still 5 sec in movie button Lightning on bar 3 Times After that. And enjoy !!! Amazing value bar😊
yes more clarity, just noting that you take time to review products we would be interested in , not going down other tangents some other creators think their success affords them, keep up the good work!@@andrewrobinsonreviews
@@gunsandcars3648 I agree but I can’t see them going in any other direction. Your initial post made it seem like they were. In any case, Robinsons for the win!
I appreciate how Andrew actually discusses the product, different features included and how they work, comparable products and the differences. In other words focusing on the product and thorough. There are a few others that I watch who are literally reading specs, on camera from Crutchfield or Amazon, and that's their review. Very basic to say the least. Another thing I love about Andrew's reviews are that you get 2 perspectives which might not seem like a big deal, but it really sheds another light in the same review. Keep up the great work!
I feel you Kristi! I still have good hearing, but concert going as a young person did some damage to my left ear. I have to be careful. No more concerts, especially in small venues for me. Cant handle ambient crowd noise at all. Stereo and home theater allows me to at least control the volume. Cheers!
On one hand, I don't regret all of the time spent at live shows because those are mostly great memories, but I wish I would've listened to my grandfather when he cautioned me of listening to the radio at full volume in my car. I think that probably did more damage.
I would very much like to hear a video of Kristi doing some sort of ASMR, or really just talking about Hi-Fi for a whole video, that I could then loop and occasionally fall asleep to. What a soothing voice. Or better yet, narrate an audiobook. Does any of that sound reasonably plausible that it might happen, or is that a pipe dream?
Your videos are very good! you actually inspired me to get my first dedicated audio setup. even though its all second-hand stuff I love it so much and i have no regrets.
Another great video guys, thanks. I admit this sounds like a good soundbar but those satellites are a big hesitation for me. I've been looking strongly at the Bose (I have a weakness for them) but I've also been a long time Yamaha fan so now I have to drive 3.5 hours if I want to hear it without "buying and returning" (which I hate doing). I've also always had a preference to listening to separate speakers for best separation and the ability to toe-in to listening spots. Also, I am setting up a small listening room for a friend and this may be a good choice for him.
Good morning, even though I have no interest in sound bars myself I still know that they are a good option for a lot of people and I just enjoy watching your content. So thank you
I appreciate you watching every week, even if the video may not be for you, and I appreciate you being kind in your realization that even though 'bars may not be for you, you still allow for their presence in the home theater space.
I used to be skeptical about Yamaha sound, but then I picked up a really old 2.1 speaker set by Yamaha. It sounds way better than any plastic speaker should. Sound bars sure have come a long way too, I remember some really early ones sounded pretty awful.
Good morning from Ottawa 🇨🇦 I feel for you, Kristi: I go for my hearing test on Tuesday; going to get custom moulded ear plugs for sleeping and concerts. Gotta take care of your hearing, folks! 👂🏻
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I saw Lizzo in Toronto a few years ago, and it was so loud (110db) that it did damage. VERY faint tinnitus. I’m not messing around now 😤 earplugs everywhere!
@@KristiWright I got used to sleeping with ear plugs when I used to work overnight warehouse shifts. Now I can’t sleep without them. 5 minutes of hearing your breathe and heartbeat and I am 😴
Great show/episode as always. Imagine my glea this morning to watch you guys. Random question; when Kristi 1st starts talking about inteligibility you had a clip of an action sequence. I think military type gun sequence. What movie or series was that? Looks like fun to watch. 12:08 mark. Thanks as always 🙏🏾
I'd be interested to see a comparison between the Yamaha w/ the rear speakers and the Samsung Q700C w/ its optional rear speakers. I believe the cost would be pretty close once you add it all up.
It's a nice touch and a way of giving users additional value. They're not as good as say Sonos Ones or ERA 300s, but they're nevertheless more functional than a lot of soundbar surrounds.
I cant tell how i feel about totally wireless surrounds. On one hand, the utility of a bluetooth speaker is awesome, but whi desnt already have one? But i would probably place them plugged in all the time anyway? I'm not going to move them? And having to teach the family how to position them and charge them when they run out of power could be a hassle. On paper "satellite/portable speaker" seems like a value add, but i dont see it being all that practical. Though maybe FlexConnect can help? (I havent watched enough of the video to find out if this supports that or not)
@@KristiWright all reviews I've read say it's practically indistinguishable from the Q990C at reasonable volume, I have the Q930b tho, it's a fantastic bit of kit for smaller rooms
To my eyes, going with a 6¼" sub for a ~1000 dollar system is really kinda lackluster. I know size doesn't tell the whole story, and there are many market reasons for doing it, but I can't help but feel it's maybe missing the mark a bit
The sound effects referenced in the conversation were clearly mixed to be a more ambient sound and were buried well below the volume of the subsequent dialog stems. I'm willing to bet many folks would've missed it at first. Mixing is a delicate balance because, on the one hand, you don't want things to stand out too much or compete with other elements that may be more important, while at the same time, you don't want people to "miss" something, which may have been the case here. The show (as I recall) wasn't mixed all that well, so I can't definitively say if the fault lies completely with Kristi's hearing. That said, she's been very transparent with viewers about her struggles, which is admirable and (likely) more upfront than some so-called "golden ears" in the hobby would ever admit.
As a new owner of this Yamaha soundbar, I have to say that I am a very disappointed. I think all this soundbar reviews are not honest and are just overrated. I'm missing higher frequencies, it has just midtones and there is no possibility to set anything. Even in the App (except to surround and subwoofer volume). My LG G3 has better sound than this soundbar... Subwoofer works fine, low frequencies are natural and powerful. This is my experience, which I paid for €1000... Not a good job, Yamaha. 😒 It is definitely not suitable for listening music. Unfortunately, this information was not mentioned in any review.
As far as I can remember, this review of the Yamaha sound bar provided more price information about the product and its competition than others. It's so helpful in putting a review in perspective is to talk price. Yes, specs, quality, reactions are so important, but at what price??? Thanks, SnellKrell
This looks amazing but the Q990C is only $1400 for the set here in the UK and the Yamaha including the rears comes to almost the same so the question is... Is it worth the $200 savings or is it better to save up another $200 and go for the Q990C?
I will truly miss this room and design. That being said I can’t wait to see the new room and design and hope it’s all that you wanted and wished for. You guys are stellar when it comes to design, production and overall quality of everything, so I’m 1000% confident it’ll be awesome! Great video and review as always! I’m glad to see Yamaha pushing the envelope and bring competitive. (I’m a bit biased towards them in audio world, as my favorite trumpet is made by Yamaha hehe). Hope everyone has a beautiful Sunday!
The room will not be done for several months, but we have a temporary solution you will see next week that will give us a lot to discuss (along with being VERY rental-friendly). Bracing myself for the comments next week 😬
Personally I really like "great cost effective" products for the masses. I don't need and won't spend for the best money can buy. Great channel. Thx to you both. ❤
I love that you're giving yamaha its due, well deserved. They have been left in the dust the last couple of years. Im content with may arc and sub in the living room and bose 600 in my office/game room. But I always like to hear about the new shiny toys. But now that i have those its hard for me to go back to the cloth bars.
I'm watching your reviews and many others because I'm about to buy. I'm hesitating between Samsung HW-Q990D 11.1.4, LG S95TR Soundbar 9.1.5, YAMAHA SR-X50A + 2 x WS-X1A and you've confused me so much that I don't know. If I had to choose with my heart and experience in sound, I would probably choose YAMAHA... I also like the look very much. Will you comment?? 😀
Thank you so much for the double review i always watched all your videos especially the soundbar videos and tv ones i think asked for a polk review way back last year with patience i got the review. My expectations was correct about the bar it is neutral leaning and is better for music but also i think polk does work better in even smaller space so no doubt its the better value. I do have the older poks the none AX version without atmos.according to rtings that bar was even more neutral for music it was enjoyable for music and movies. Although im missing some dolby atmos im not really having fomo about it as the music is so enjoyable neutral yet quite airy in the upper treble at 18khz. Im looking forward to another soundbar review the mini sounbar from sennheiser. Wonderful review with comparisons best part would be its entertaining and enjoyable with great personalities behind it.
Appreciate you watching this video. Not everyone in the hobby is as receptive to soundbars, so you never know if a video like this will find the right audience. Glad to hear it found you!
I, for one, really appreciate Kristi's input. I feel like I align with her views, simply because she offers what feels like a more holistic perspective to living with hifi and theatre. I really value your guys' interactions and discussions at the end. Some people are wild for writing what they do, and I hope none of that garbage ever discourages you guys from doing what you do.
This bar is a amazing value ! And if you want the best sound 1 - power on 2 - press and stay 5 seconds on movie mode on remote (The led flash 3 times) 3 - enjoy you have the best sound. (More powerfull more dynamic and dont need anymore at good levels bass extension ot clear voice) BEST VALUE for me 😊 (This procédure is indicated on manual)
For tv/music/movies, do you prefer an av receiver with tower speakers, center channel, and surrounds, a soundbar with surrounds or 2.1 setup like klipsch sevens of nines? I feel like a av receiver setup is outdated. How do you feel about it? Too many wires, outdated look and it’s space consuming. Do you have similar thoughts?
how is this outdated? its the best sounding option. Double or Single Bass Array, Trinnov / Storm Audio or miniDSP / DSP based Solution everywhere the same speakers and a complete professional treated room is the way for a good cinema. Soundbars are crap and has nothing to do with homecinema
Thanks for the review yall' I like it when you take the time to review more affordable products. While it is fun to watch a review for a $5000 pair of tower speakers...that is just something I will never own.
Plus many speakers are marketed as 'wireless' but personally I find them much more inconvenience than wired speakers as these 'wireless' speakers require plugging into power sockets. The A8 system sounds fantastic but it requires 6 plug sockets compared to wired speakers which require just 1 for the receiver/amplifier. I struggle to plug what i have into my limited plug sockets as it is. As much as I would to buy the A8 or Dragon system, i don't have the power sockets to spare.
@@maxpower78-15 It was the coffee table you had been seeing for 2 years. I moved it under the TV while we swapped out some other stuff. But it's not a good solution honestly so we're moving on.
I tagged the cabinet in the video if you want to check it out. If you refresh the video, you should see the tag pop-up while the video is playing. Or you can open the description box and find it there as well.
Thanks, Yes, with a 450 sq ft. room I prefer speakers and more especially as I have programed the sound for the Atrium with choral and the Transom for the upstairs effect. One bedroom has a bar and that is great for that!
Good afternoon! I appreciate that you do not stick to reviewing 2-channel audio because it opens the mind of your viewing audience to the potential for experiencing products they might not otherwise experience. I'm struggling with the purchase of a good soundbar because of the video entertainment desert that we exist in at this time. So, for that reason only, I lean toward a 2-channel with a phantom center (but feel free to twist my arm😄). If Hollywood turns the corner and we return to pre-pandemic quality for movies and episodics, I'd say yes. 😊
There are still some really good episodics out there but I understand your point. We finally watched Saltburn last night and what a self-serving piece of cinema. Beautifully filmed, the sets and locations were gorgeous, but the plot and character development were seriously lacking.
@@dawaynecleckley8673 I'm excited to check out AMC's Shogun. Constellation is going nowhere fast, but The New Look is incredible (unless you're a Chanel fan).
The Sony HT-A9 is far better, but it's not really a fair comparison. The HT-A9 competes with systems like the Ultimate Sonos setup and dedicated (albeit smaller) home theater setups.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Hi, I really want buy HT-A9 but I'm little scared because few people have problem with that. Linus really love this sistem but he have a lot of problems with lags in music (propably wifi?) But I found this video on youtube (Review of the Sony HTA9 and a solution to the sound cutting off(FINALLY FIXED!) - I don't want paste link because YT can remove my comments, so you can check this? He add a cooling fan because of heating problem with main box. This set cost almost 10 thousand in my country and I don't know if risk and buy that or wait for maybe new fixed HT-A10 if Sony want makes that, maybe wired not wireless? Can you check this subject, talk with other peoples and create video about that? Thx and sry for my language.
Good review, thanks guys. Quick question, why do you think people don't hit the like button? If they watch the whole video, why not hit it? It isn't like they are saying they like the product!
Your def not fans of the sub mini then lol, I have the mini with the arc in a small room and feel that it adds a lot, it does not shake the room but there is a big improvement in sound quality, it is prob not suitable for a larger room
Andrew, I love the Eames Chair in your room there. I have always wanted to get one because of the look of it. How do you find it comfort-wise and build quality. If you don't mind, where did you purchase it? Also, if you wanted to get a real high end soundbar that is great for music and movies, which one would you choose. I will be moving soon to a home with a larger family room and want to get a soundbar that I don't feel like it is something you settle for as opposed to a separate speaker and receiver set-up and I am willing to pay the price for it. I have had separates in the past and found that it dominated the room and would like a cleaner appearance.
I love our Eames, though if I had to do it over again, I would've gone with a more traditional or universal finish. Our custom white oak and prone leather finish is very nice, and the leather is a definite quality upgrade, but the color scheme makes it less universal in all living spaces. I recommend going with one of the classic combos if you're shopping for one. We purchased ours from Design Within Reach, which Herman Miller owns. As far as high-end soundbars go, my favorites include the Bang & Olufsen Theatre ($$$), the Sonos Arc premium system ($$), and the Samsung Q990C ($$).
@cliffordhamblen5477 chiming in here - It's very comfortable and has great lumbar support. One word of caution, if you have mobility issues, the low seat and the seat's dip (which helps relieve back pain), can be more difficult to get out of. By the way, all of those systems Andrew mentions are noted in the description along with a wealth of other information I think you'll find useful. If you use one of our links, it does help to support the channel!
Always helpful insights. I really like the soundbar reviews. While I am not presently in the market I have really enjoyed the Sony bar we have in our bedroom. I think there is a really broad audience for these reviews. It is good to see what is presently available and to watch progress occur in this segment. Thanks again guys. Good luck with the renovation.
We weren't able to directly A/B the two. The JBL is great and still one I recommend. It's about 100 cheaper (amzn.to/39hJ1Xz). The bass may be a little deeper with the JBL - but again, I'm going off memory. I would choose the Yamaha for its intelligibility.
Hi, hope all is well. Like what you do. Kristi, as someone with hearing issues also, I've been looking at the Sennheiser Max or Plus. In this review you stated that the Smart Ultra was the best for dialogue. Which would you recommend as a straight choice of the 3, ignoring price? Greatly appreciate your advice. Cheers, Grant
Hi Kristi, thanks for that. The Sennheiser Max was the big beast you reviewed about 3 years ago. It was just called the Ambeo then. It was changed to the Max when the Plus came out. Cheers, Grant.
Hi mate, Thanks for that. I dont think I was as clear as what I could have been. If you had to choose between the Ambeo, that you reviewed vs the Smart Ultra, which would you pick for dialogue. I watched your review of the Smart Ultra but it wasn't clear which one you'd pick for dialogue. It's a shame they're not dealing with you anymore as I would have loved to hear your thoughts on the new Plus in comparison to the original Ambeo. Keep up the great work. Cheers, Grant.
@@KristiWright thanks , I did watch the complete video and your guys thoughts. Just figured if you had the Polk in house you would have made a complete video about it.
We had planned to when it first came out, but by the time we finally got one for review, we couldn't find a place for it on our schedule. Hopefully, the video gives you a decent impression of its performance and how it competes today.@@skydancerforever
I think when comparing it on price, it should come down to whether or not you want the speakers now or might want them up the road. Because once you add those, you're in the price range in which you can now regularly pick up the Samsung Q990C, or within a hundred or so dollars of it. That makes it a tough ask unless maybe you're positive the bar and sub is all you need - but then, as Andrew points out, you might want to consider the Polk.
The B&W formation bar and subwoofer was $699 (refurbished) directly from B&W outlet an almost 60% discount over the original price and definitely its gonna sound way better than the Yamaha ..
I'm from nz had a Samsung q90r 2019 model soundbar got rid of it for the polk magnifi max sr and it's much better especially for music and top gun maverick sounds awesome could of got the q990 for pretty much the same price but happy with the polk
Happy Monday from Virginia! I enjoyed the review and I can understand from a number of my friends who have lost access to the upper frequencies that it can be a real FOMO moment. I enjoy listening to Celine and Enya, but I have friends with the hearing loss say that they can't stand Celine and they are happy that they no longer hear her full range. Excellent review and a recommendation for a budget setup. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Samsung Q990C is like $170 more expensive than this and I feel like I should go for that or even Q930C is pretty much same price as this which on paper seems like a better choice. What do you think? These are the prices in India for anyone wondering
Hello from Virginia, and thanks for the great reviews. May I ask one question.... Which of the other soundbars offers fully wireless surround speakers like this? Battery powered and wireless connectivity at any price point. Thank you
My disappointment with this bar is it is not musicast compatible. they are still touting musicast on thier receivers but seem to be backing away from the soundbars and the speakers. the whole eco system will suffer as a result. its a shame because musicast is pretty good (Whilst i admit it not as good as sonos or heos, if you have Yamaha receivers its a nice feature to have).
I have a Pioneer Elite 704 I have had no problems until I hooked up a PS5 all media apps voices seemed to come from the right speaker could you do a video on how to correct this
My Philips b97 soundbar broke down. Which model should I choose as a replacement? JBL 1300 or Yamaha x50a + 2x WS-X1A? Mainly for movies and music from Spotify. I've listened to both reviews, and I'm not sure myself. Yamaha seems to be better for music. In JBL, I have doubts about the dialogue quality.
It's nice when husband and wife come together and discuss topics about hifi audio & video you don't see that much happening or mabe not at all blessings folks👍👍👍💯💯💯