Hey there! Looking to upgrade your TV‘s audio with a soundbar? Considering the Yamaha YAS-209? You‘ve come to the right place.
In this detailed review, I‘ll tell you everything you need to know about the YAS-209 – Yamaha‘s feature-packed 2.1 channel soundbar released in 2019. I‘ll dig into the key specs, sound quality, design, features, pros and cons, and most importantly – whether it‘s worth buying.
Here‘s a quick preview:
- Immersive audio with a wireless subwoofer
- Built-in Alexa for voice control
- Easy setup – just one HDMI cable needed
- Great for both movies and music
- Lots of connectivity options
Read on for the full review and my final verdict on if the Yamaha YAS-209 is a smart upgrade for your home theater or living room!
Yamaha‘s Long History in Audio
Let‘s start with some background first. Yamaha is one of the oldest and most respected names in audio, with an 85-year history of making musical instruments and electronics. The company is based in Japan and has sold over 30 million soundbars and AV receivers to date.
The YAS-209 is Yamaha‘s mid-range model designed to deliver premium features and performance at an affordable price point. It sits below Yamaha‘s higher-end MusicCast soundbar lineup.
To give you an idea, here‘s how the YAS-209 compares to some of Yamaha‘s other popular soundbar models:
| Model | Price | Channels | Dolby Atmos/DTS:X | Subwoofer | Alexa Built-in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YAS-209 | $249 | 2.1 | No | Wireless | Yes |
| YAS-209BL Bar | $349 | 2.1 | No | Wireless | Yes |
| MusicCast Bar 400 | $499 | 3.1 | No | Wireless | No |
| MusicCast Bar 40 | $279 | 2.0 | No | No | Yes |
| SR-C20A | $219 | 2.0 | No | No | No |
As you can see, the YAS-209 provides a sweet spot between price and features. You get the crucial wireless subwoofer plus Alexa voice assistant while keeping costs reasonable.
Now, let‘s look at why Yamaha‘s YAS-209 might be the perfect soundbar upgrade for your home entertainment needs.
Key Features and Specifications
Here are the most important features packed into Yamaha‘s YAS-209 soundbar:
- 2.1 channel sound – Separate soundbar and 6.5" wireless subwoofer
- DTS Virtual:X – 3D surround sound from 2 channels
- 4K/Dolby Vision passthrough – Single HDMI input + HDMI ARC output
- Built-in Alexa voice control – Far-field mics for hands-free operation
- Music streaming – WiFi, Bluetooth, Spotify, Pandora, Deezer
- Yamaha Sound Bar Remote app – Control via iOS/Android devices
- Hi-res audio support – Plays high resolution music files
Yamaha has really packed this soundbar full of connectivity and streaming options. Here are the technical specs:
Yamaha YAS-209 Soundbar Specifications:
- Dimensions: 36.6 x 2.5 x 4.3 inches (soundbar), 16.5 x 7.5 x 16 inches (subwoofer)
- Weight: 17.4 pounds (sub), 6 pounds (soundbar)
- Drivers: 4 x 1.75” midrange, 2 x 1" tweeter, 1 x 6.5” subwoofer
- Frequency response: 38Hz – 23kHz
- Power output: 100W (soundbar), 120W (subwoofer)
- Processing: DTS Virtual:X, DTS Digital Surround
- Connections: 1 x HDMI in (4K/Dolby Vision passthrough), 1 x HDMI out (ARC), 1 x optical in, Bluetooth, WiFi
- Voice assistant: Amazon Alexa built-in
With 2.1 channels, discrete midrange drivers, and a large subwoofer, the YAS-209 shapes up nicely on paper. Next let‘s see how it actually sounds.
Detailed Sound Quality Analysis
Here‘s where the rubber meets the road – how good is the audio quality on the YAS-209? In a word: excellent. Both experts and users praise its well-balanced, natural sound with thunderous bass.
Crisp, clear audio: The soundbar‘s four midrange drivers and two tweeters cover mids and highs beautifully. Voices sound perfectly clear and intelligible. Higher frequencies come through pristine without any harshness or distortion.
Powerful bass: The wireless subwoofer delivers tight, punchy, room-shaking bass thanks to its large 6.5” driver and 120W of power. Explosions really rock the room!
Spacious surround sound: While not true surround, Yamaha‘s DTS Virtual:X does a convincing job of placing audio all around you. It‘s surprisingly immersive for just 2.1 channels.
Lively music performance: Reviewers say music sounds energetic and lively on the YAS-209 with nice stereo separation. There‘s nuanced instrumentation and the soundbar handles everything from jazz to hip-hop with ease.
Cinematic TV and movies: Dialog is clear and intelligible. Action scenes have thrilling dynamics. The YAS-209 makes TV and movies truly cinematic.
Pro-level sound quality: According to reviewers, the YAS-209 rivals soundbars costing even $1000 or more. The audio performance exceeds what you‘d expect for the price.
In summary, the Yamaha YAS-209 provides clean, balanced sound across multiple sources from TV to music. Dialog, effects, and bass all sound crisp and natural. An excellent sonic upgrade!
Easy Setup – Just Plug and Play
Here‘s another area where the YAS-209 really excels – quick, painless setup. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes start to finish.
Place the soundbar in front of your TV. Connect it using the included HDMI cable. This ONE wire carries both audio and video from your devices to the TV.
That‘s it – you don‘t have to run any cables for the wireless subwoofer. It automatically pairs with the soundbar.
Next, grab your smartphone and download the Yamaha Sound Bar Remote app. This walks you through connecting the soundbar to your WiFi network and enabling Alexa.
The step-by-step app makes setup foolproof. Within minutes you‘ll be streaming music and using Alexa voice control. It‘s super quick and easy!
Voice Control With Amazon Alexa
Here‘s one of the YAS-209‘s coolest features – it has Amazon‘s Alexa built right in. That means you can control its functions completely hands-free using your voice.
Use Alexa to turn the volume up/down, change inputs, look up information, set timers/alarms, check weather, and more. You can even control other smart home devices.
The far-field microphones let you speak to Alexa from across the room. According to users, Alexa understands commands accurately most of the time. The voice control works great and frees you from constantly reaching for the remote.
This is a huge perk you don‘t get on many soundbars in this price range. Alexa makes using the YAS-209 incredibly convenient on a day-to-day basis.
Extensive Wireless Connectivity
Another big advantage of the YAS-209 is the wide range of wireless connectivity options. You can stream music over both WiFi and Bluetooth.
Simply link the soundbar to your home WiFi network using the app. Now you can play music wirelessly from iPhone/Android devices, computers, network storage drives, and online services.
The YAS-209 supports AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora, SiriusXM, and more. Hi-res audio files sound fantastic thanks to Yamaha‘s audio expertise.
You also get Bluetooth streaming from any phone, tablet or laptop. Just pair your device with the YAS-209 to play tunes and podcasts wirelessly.
With WiFi and Bluetooth support, you can stream all the music you want through the soundbar without any cables.
Sleek, Understated Design
Visually, the YAS-209 has an elegant, minimalist design perfect for modern living rooms.
The main soundbar unit has a slim 2.5 inch profile that sits discreetly in front of your TV without blocking the screen. The matte black finish blends in beautifully with any décor.
Touch-sensitive buttons on top glow when activated. There are non-slip rubber feet to hold the soundbar firmly in place.
While the wireless subwoofer is fairly bulky, its wireless design means you can conveniently tuck it away in a corner or under furniture.
Build quality is superb with a sturdy metal grille. At less than 7 pounds, the soundbar feels solid and durable. Overall, the YAS-209 looks as good as it sounds!
What Reviewers and Users Are Saying
The Yamaha YAS-209 has drawn widespread praise from both expert reviewers and regular users:
-
"Impressive bass" – Wirecutter says the subwoofer has "some serious rumble" perfect for home theater
-
"Great value" – CNET states you get "huge features for the money" making it a bargain
-
"Alexa works perfectly" – User reviews confirm Alexa understands commands extremely well
-
" Dialog sounds crystal clear" – Users say the YAS-209 makes voices easy to understand
-
"Looks fantastic" – Many reviewers complement its sleek, minimalist aesthetic
-
"Easy to set up" – Users say initial setup takes less than 10 minutes
-
"Music sounds lively and energetic" – Reviewers praise its clear, dynamic audio quality
Clearly, both experts and owners find a lot to love about the full-featured YAS-209 soundbar. Next let‘s look at the key benefits and drawbacks.
The Pros and Cons of Yamaha‘s YAS-209
Here are the main advantages and disadvantages of Yamaha‘s 2.1 channel YAS-209 soundbar:
Pros
- Excellent audio performance for the price
- Wireless subwoofer adds thunderous bass
- Built-in Alexa for voice control
- Extensive music streaming options
- 4K/Dolby Vision passthrough
- Easy plug and play setup
- Compact, low-profile design
- lots of connectivity: HDMI, WiFi, Bluetooth, Alexa
Cons
- No support for Dolby Atmos/DTS:X
- Surround is virtual, not discrete speakers
- Only one HDMI input (but has ARC)
- Subwoofer is fairly bulky
- Alexa can misinterpret commands
Considering its affordable price point, the YAS-209 ticks nearly every box you could ask for in a soundbar. The few limitations are understandable tradeoffs that maximize value.
Is the Yamaha YAS-209 For You?
Now for the big question: should YOU buy the Yamaha YAS-209 soundbar? Here are my recommendations:
Buy it if you want:
- A significant audio upgrade without spending a ton
- Powerful bass from the wireless subwoofer
- Cinematic sound for movies and TV
- Alexa voice control functionality
- Hi-res music streaming over WiFi
- An easy, plug-and-play setup
Don‘t buy it if:
- You‘re looking for true surround sound
- Care a lot about Dolby Atmos or DTS:X
- Want a compact, less bulky subwoofer
- Have multiple HDMI devices to connect
- Prefer Chromecast or Apple AirPlay built-in
Given its premium features and performance for the price, the YAS-209 makes sense for a lot of music and movie lovers. With excellent sonics and smart perks like Alexa built-in, it‘s an awesome overall package.
The Final Verdict
After carefully reviewing all aspects of Yamaha‘s YAS-209 soundbar, I can confidently say it delivers tremendous value for money.
The audio quality punches well above its weight with clear, dynamic sound that brings movies and music to life. Add in the wireless subwoofer‘s booming bass and you‘ve got room-filling cinematic sound.
You also get great connectivity, Alexa voice control, music streaming, and 4K/Dolby Vision passthrough. Despite some minor limitations, the YAS-209 has virtually every feature you need in a modern soundbar.
Given the premium performance, smart wireless features, and reasonable $249 price point, the YAS-209 is arguably one of the best soundbar deals out there.
If you want an audio upgrade that won‘t break the bank, the Yamaha YAS-209 belongs at the top of your list. It will instantly improve your TV‘s sound for both movies and music.
I hope this detailed review helps you decide if the Yamaha YAS-209 is the right soundbar for your entertainment needs. Let me know if you have any other questions!