How To Install Yamaha Yas 207 Firmware Update

Our Verdict

The Yamaha YAS-207 soundbar is a great value, packing in solid sound quality for the price. DTS Virtual:Ten is a prissy add-on at this cost indicate just its performance is underwhelming with an artificial sounding soundstage. Niceties like Google Cast and AirPlay, available on the YAS-207's competitors, are noticeably missing here.

For

Simple setup
Balanced sound
Excellent value

Against

DTS Virtual:10 is underwhelming
No Google Cast or Apple tree AirPlay
Dated and forgettable design

TechRadar Verdict

The Yamaha YAS-207 soundbar is a great value, packing in solid sound quality for the price. DTS Virtual:X is a nice add-on at this toll signal but its performance is underwhelming with an bogus sounding soundstage. Niceties like Google Cast and AirPlay, bachelor on the YAS-207'southward competitors, are noticeably missing here.

Pros

+
Uncomplicated setup
+
Counterbalanced audio
+
Excellent value

Cons

-
DTS Virtual:10 is underwhelming
-
No Google Cast or Apple AirPlay
-
Dated and forgettable blueprint

With and so many entry-level soundbars these days it'south hard to make a decision about which 1 to buy. From virtual surround and Google Cast connectivity to consider, and big decisions to brand similar whether you want a subwoofer or not, it tin can be difficult to pick a expert slice of audio equipment out from the crowd.

Low-cal on features and rather bland to look at, the Yamaha YAS-207 won't fit every home theatre. Just for those with a limited budget plus the room (and an ear) for actress bass, the YAS-207 will please with balanced audio quality and a couple of keen virtual environment audio tricks.

Only even budget speakers aren't prophylactic from contest. Coming in at $300 (£349, AU$539), the YAS-207 is upwardly confronting fierce competition from the Sony HT-MT300 and LG SH7B – soundbars that support Google Cast and AirPlay, in addition to a number of other niceties.

If yous don't mind going without the actress features and can alive with the bones design, still, the Yamaha YAS-207 is an excellent choice. Here's why.

Design

The Yamaha YAS-207 doesn't do anything to shake upward the world of soundbar design: information technology's simply a black bar with a rectangular subwoofer. If you blocked the Yamaha logo, there'south no telling who made this soundbar ... which might exist practiced if you're looking to build a covert sound organisation but, for the states, it's a bit generic.

On the front of the YAS-207 you'll find impact controls for ability, switching inputs and controlling book. In that location are dark-green indicator lights that show which input is currently active too equally the ability to act as a volume meter.

The dark-green lights look straight out of a 1990s stereo, which gives the YAS-207 a dated design out of the box. If y'all're more than of a design-conscious consumer, bank check out the Sonos Playbar or Sonos Playbase.

Equally for port selection, Yamaha includes HDMI out (ARC), HDMI in, a iii.5mm analog jack and an optical connexion. There'south besides a USB-A port for firmware updates (but more on this in the Performance department).

Every bit for the subwoofer, disappointingly information technology'due south equally generic in its design. Information technology'southward a simple rectangular box with black cloth roofing the driver. At that place's a bass port on the front of the subwoofer and around the dorsum you'll observe power port and pairing button to sync up with the soundbar. Out of the box, the soundbar and subwoofer are already paired so setup is uncomplicated.

Yamaha does include a overnice remote with big, easy-to-use buttons. The remote features buttons to let you switch inputs, toggle surround and stereo modes, and options for enhancing dialogue and bass. The remote also lets you alter the bass balance and command book, which is a neat, well-appreciated feature.

Dimensions: 36.62 x 2.37 x 4.25 inches (W x H x D) | Speaker configuration: 5.1 | Claimed audio power: 200W | Connections: ane x 4K/HDR HDMI loopthrough, ane 10 optical audio input, iii.5mm audio port, Bluetooth

Performance

The sound quality of the Yamaha YAS-207 is excellent, offering crisp highs and deep bass. Dialogue was loud and articulate for movies and Television receiver, merely there is an selection to enhance dialogue farther by pressing the "Clear Vocalisation" push on the remote. While we liked the sounds of the mids and highs, out of the box there can be a likewise much bass and so nosotros didn't experience bad dialing it down by 1 level.

Yamaha was the start to add back up for DTS Virtual:X and DTS Virtual Surround to its YAS-207 soundbar. For the unfamiliar, DTS Virtual:Ten is the company'south digital signal processing that helps soundbars sound more similar traditional surround speakers. One thing to notation is that the YAS-207 requires a firmware update in social club to use DTS Virtual:X and you lot'll want to update every bit soon as possible every bit the virtual surround is almost un-listenable out of the box.

While we were impressed with the traditional stereo sound of the YAS-207, the DTS Virtual:X and DTS Virtual Surround settings left us underwhelmed. While soundstage got better and dialogue sounded more than crisp, the signal processing sounded artificial with boosted highs and lows, altering the timbre of instruments during orchestral scores.

Bass response from the subwoofer is first-class, merely the low end tin can go a bit uncontrolled at times. Higher quality subs resonate for a more shorter period of fourth dimension cutting off sound nearly immediately, but the YAS-207 subwoofer lets bass notes linger, which makes it audio less controlled than we'd similar.

While the Yamaha YAS-207 features Bluetooth, that'due south the only streaming audio input it supports. Other soundbars like the LG SH7B offer music streaming over your home Wi-Fi network, which would have been nice to see.

Verdict

For the money, the Yamaha YAS-207 is an fantabulous pick for users looking to upgrade their movie and TV watching experience on the cheap. The YAS-207 offers balanced audio, uncomplicated setup and DTS virtual surround processing which, while non for us, others may enjoy.

Withal, those with limited space volition want to cheque out the equally fantabulous sounding Sony HT-MT300, which comes in a smaller package and has a slim wireless subwoofer that y'all tin slide under your couch.

For users wanting a multi-room audio setup, the LG SH7B is a adept value if you buy LG's other speaker products. While it doesn't have the all-time sound, it'southward good plenty for most users and its Wi-Fi streaming is like shooting fish in a barrel and convenient to apply. For a bit more money, you can get the splendid Sonos Playbase, which integrates seamlessly with other Sonos speakers.

Come across all these options and more in our guide to the All-time Soundbar 2017

Lewis Leong is a freelance author for TechRadar. He has an unhealthy obsession with headphones and tin can identify cars merely by listening to their frazzle notes.