Yamaha YSP-2500 sound bar: a solution that has you BEAMING!
Not everyone can afford or accommodate a surround sound amp and six or more speakers scattered around the room. That's where sound bars come in. Some are more successful than others at replicating the effect of multiple speakers. The Yamaha YSP-2500 sound bar is definitely one of the very best.
The bar itself incorporates sixteen 2-watt drive units, controlled by Yamaha's sophisticated sound processing. Through the clever IntelliBeam steering of effects, the bar creates - along with its wireless, active subwoofer - an absorbing listening environment. There are different beam modes to choose from, with one being most appropriate for movies, another for stereo listening, and so on...
A remote control is supplied but the Yamaha Home Theater Controller app can be used to control the YSP-2500, select beam modes and even fine-tune beam angles after the supplied microphone has been used to calibrate the output automatically.
The digital sound processor can decode high-end surround-sound formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. It also sports UniVolume, which automatically adjusts output levels to be consistent, regardless of channel, input, etc. This feature can be disabled would be especially appreciated when suppressing the explosion in volume that seems to occur whenever ad breaks start.
The sound bar may be slim but it doesn't compromise on features. Nor does it exclude the latest technology. Music can be streamed from portable devices via Bluetooth with aptX compatibility for high resolution tracks.
The nicely finished aluminium chassis houses three HDMI inputs and one HDMI output. The HDMIs support 4k Ultra HD pass-through as well as 3D images. Other input options are available: digital signals are also served by two optical inputs and a coaxial input. (An optical cable is included.) Analogue phonos are also present.
The bar is supported by height-adjustable feet and is extremely shallow, so it's unlikely to obscure a TV picture. There's a slim chance that the bar could conceal the remote sensor of a TV but the YSP-2500 can overcome that; signals received by the bar are fed through it and transmitted to the TV's sensor from the back of the bar.
The thoughtful features of the Yamaha YSP-2500 and the immersive sound stage that it creates will have you beaming. It's available at Hi-Fi Stereo.