Soundbar with very good sound characteristics for the appreciation of the LCD TV sound

Like many others, I was looking for an alternative to the appreciation of the quäkigen LCD TV sounds.
It was my primary aim, to improve the sound and clarity and not to find a home cinema surround spare!
This project can be accomplished through different approaches, depending on personal needs and preferences.
This goes beyond the use of an inexpensive PC speaker sets (cost between 30 and 100 euros), to connect the TV to existing HiFi equipment (cost = zero), or else the use of designed for TV sound bars (costs from 80 euros upwards ).
Of this I have already durchexerziert one or the other, and came to the conclusion that now times a reasonable solution must be found, all of which can also be used without any problem in our household.
Since I already have a Yamaha YHT-S400 have in use, however, I was able to accommodate the decoder with integrated subwoofer in our new TV bench is no longer any problem, had to be something new.
I knew, however, that I would stay with Yamaha.
The choice was then on the entry level YAS one hundred and first

I had initially flirted with the Sound Projector YSP-1400, unfortunately, my spatial circumstances unfortunately more than suboptimal for a reasonable sound projection.
Asymmetric cut room, TV in the corner and couch course on the wall ... bye Sound Projector, Hi Soundbar.

The Yamaha YAS 101 is a classic 2.1 sound system, which is home to both the decoders for digital sound formats, as well as the or the subwoofer in its slim casing.

The connection panel expect 3x digital input (2x optical, 1x coaxial), 1x external subwoofer (coaxial) as well as a connection for the propitärer yamahaeigene Bluetooth expansion (iPod dock).
It lacks both HDMI ports, and analog RCA connectors for connecting eg an MP3 player.
The HDMI ports are in my view quite dispensable (more on this later), the analog RCA jacks are already painfully missing since.

To connect an optical TOS-Link cable is included, so the device can basically be put into operation immediately without further acquisition. Very commendable!
But here's already the first hook, which you should keep in mind and check before buying.

The Soundbar basically requires an optical output on TV!
Elderly and / or cheap devices can not always necessarily come up with it.
Alter this, the soundbar for the TV sound remains silent! So previously necessarily check!
Otherwise, may have to be resorted to the coaxial (RCA) digital input, this must also be present on TV.
Here, too, would require a different cable.

We come to the port:
This is quite simple:
The included optical cable TV and Soundbar connect power cord from the Soundbar in and that's about it.
Although the manual is very clear and self-explanatory, here are some comments or tips:

- After a successful connection, in the TV menu to turn off the built-in speakers.
- In the TV menu, the digital output of PCM to "Bitstream", "pass-through", "passing" or similar filters (depending on brand and model)!
This ensures that the digital sound formats passed through and not be reworked because the decoding is performed by the Soundbar! Only one comes in the full enjoyment!
In addition to this also the unnecessary rumjonglieren with HDMI cables, because the sound is always passed on from a player device (eg BD player) on the TV to the soundbar and is then decoded only here.
Again, the assumption that all source devices are respectively set to "passing"!
Advantage: It eliminates any "Quellenumschalterei" and thus stress and demands a la "The television is no sound why !? treasure, do something !!!".
The Soundbar remains in TV mode and plays flawlessly even with BD playback or from the set-top box.

Is everything so far wired, the TV sound off, we can devote ourselves to the sound.

The sound is so often a very polarizing topic.
I possess a pair of human ears and the evolution has provided me with a normal ear, say my ears detect a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, so in about (declines with age certainly, the last hearing test has me however yet 100 certifies%).
I can use terms such as dynamism and transparency certainly start something, and I think that people who paint their CD's at the edge with a black permanent marker to make the sound more "airy and transparent," the also believe that Brimstone folds lemons anyway ,
I also realize that there are tonal differences between PC-horns, shelf speakers, full-range speakers, Acoustic Mass 5 systems and I dunno yet.
My sound judgment here refers to what is offered in terms of price / performance, quality and the subjective feeling!
I am also aware that there is always something "better" or what "cheaper" or whatever.
I'm trying to reproduce my impressions practical enough for everyday use!

The sound is thus, for average Joe really good ears!

For the subwoofer, the so-called "down-firing" principle will be wall, ie the woofer facing down and the bass reflex is (here) away to the side.
This works whether the narrow dimensions and the limited housing volume, surprisingly well.

Who here but brute bass power for crushing kidney stones or the triggering of cardiac arrhythmia expects will naturally be disappointed.
It is, to my mind, a very homogeneous and well controllable bass produced which fits very well in the rest of the sound field. Really amazing!
Certainly the setting of bass boost is always a matter of taste, I was very satisfied with the mean.
The volume can be good up and down regulate the grades I find adequate to the proper level to find for each situation.

The soundbar comes out loud and make it always stable levels and distortion-free stay (BD: Metallica Through the Never).
It's also quiet without hereunder intelligibility suffers, the volume slightly decreases, but without disappearing altogether, great!
I've tested all initially without digital gadgets, like "Air Extreme", "UniVolume" etc..
2.1, no more no less.

Conclusion Sound: For a device this size and design you get a very nice, clean and homogeneous sound.

The YAS 101 brings, like most Yamaha sound bars some DSP programs that have an impact on the sound:

- AIR SURROUND XTREME
- UniVolume
- Clear Voice

AIR SURROUND XTREME:
What makes it ...
It provides a certain space in the front area, which is heavily dependent on the sitting position.
This is also dependent on leaked material.
What it does not matter ...
8 speakers to place around you, so as to create the perfect sound 7.1!

The name and description of the product to give the impression of playing a up to 7.1 surround sound, which is of course nonsense.
Again, a so-called psychoacoustic algoritmus use a digital multi-channel signal via 2 (+1) speakers reproduce.
Depending on the leaked material works with the appropriate restrictions in so far as that the sound actually a certain spatial depth
will be awarded without this, however, even begin to create a real surround sound.
Positioned one in front of the Soundbar centered on "ear level" are also side effects noticeable, giving the sound a certain spatial depth.
One could imagine as a slightly curved panorama the image. Sounds great but has to do with surround sound in the sense of 5.1 / 7.1 precious little!
However, and here the very big BUT comes, applies only for Dolby Digital 5.1!
During my tests it did not succeed, the Soundbar zuzuspielen DTS material, which is also appropriately decoded by it (indicated by an orange LED)!
Here then a downsampling on Dolby Surround PL II is (represents ProLogic II) made what theoretically a 4 channel surround sound
correspond to (left, center, right, surround), practically, however reflected in stereo.
In addition, the decoder does not understand anyway to the HD formats Dolby True HD, DTS HD Master and thus any HDMI inputs would also promise no improvement.

The situation is different from the TV sound, which is broadcast in most HD channels in Dolby Digital.
This shows then also quite clearly the concept of Yamaha idea behind this model of Soundbar.
Primary it is intended to improve the TV sound and it does well.

Of course there is the bottom line in the fact that the perception of virtual surround sound is very strongly dependent on the position of the listener, because here the sound, as opposed
up to seven speakers individually used, is not physically locatable, but the psychoacoustic model is dependent on the correct positioning of the listener "in front"
make it work.
I'm therefore so extensively on this subject, if it is the inclined prospective customer can make a real picture as possible of the intended use.
Certainly, the perception is subjective, too.

Conclusion Surround Sound:
Who is here expected an adequate substitute for its 5.1 / 7.1 system bitterly disappointed! Some surround sound capabilities are the device certainly can not be denied,
for a home theater-like use of it comes from my point of view but out of the question.
Current BluRay discs anyway only deliver digital HD formats, which are then "scaled down" from the Soundbar ultimately in stereo.
However, TV sound in Dolby Digital many HD channels can certainly benefit from this feature and makes here and there certainly for an eye-opening experience.

UniVolume:
Should different volume levels between program and advertising to compensate.
And it does so works, but the sound takes a certain amount of momentum.

Clear Voice:
To improve intelligibility.
Also works quite well, but the overall tonal impression is this little mid-heavy for my taste.
In a "real" Dolby Digital decoding that eliminates known "high / low volume syndrome" anyway.
About sense and nonsense of this function, each one should get an idea itself, I personally do not need the however necessarily, since the dialogue also so
are well understood.

Last but not least now there are further functions, operation, and the reason why I have asked for all the positive things still a return.

The supplied remote control is functional and unspectacular. It does what it should and covers all functions.
About appearance, sets of buttons etc. can certainly argue, they will disappear anyway in the drawer, because ...

... The learning function of the Soundbar is working perfectly!

A really useful feature of the Soundbar is that the functions can be on / off, volume up / down the TV remote teach to the soundbar.
It takes less than five minutes and works flawlessly with me (LG remote control).
Note you should be paid, that of course, the functions of both devices simultaneously controls.
So here it is particularly important that the TV sound in the TV menu is actually disabled and not muted, as it will otherwise interesting
Could lead sound effects.
Also, the switching on and off both devices simultaneously works just fine.

What has not worked for me, was the hatches of the TV remote control commands!

Since the Soundbar is usually by design more or less in front of the TV, the IR receiver of the TV is covered by the Soundbar often.
Yamaha has provided its sound bars of YAS and occasionally also the YSP series with a so-called IR-Flasher.
Front side there is an additional IR receiver and back, a light guide rods over almost the entire length of the soundbar.
This is to ensure that the transmitted signals of the TV remote control are passed, even if the Soundbar obscured the actual IR receiver on the TV.
That did not work with me in spite of different positioning attempts.
Even leaving out the feet brought because there is no appreciable improvement.
To check if anything is passed, I have my cell phone positioned with the front camera so that I when sending IR commands the remote control
see on the display whether the diodes or the built-in fiber optic lights:
Remote Control Yes, optical fiber rather no.

The flickering of the light guide was faintly visible in TV and blinds down left off.
Our LG TV, certainly something bitchy when it comes to adopting IR signals, has not responded.
Whether this was now a manufacturing fault, is another matter, however, has a test in a technology market my confidence on a display there 101 a
similar result unearthed.

For me, it was unfortunately a knock-out criterion. Certainly there would have been to create opportunities in a different way the remedy, but the fact remains
that this feature did not work for me.
Thus, the unit had to unfortunately.

As for build quality and feel there's also nothing to complain about.
The device works with value and despite the Platikcharmes not cheap. The Klavielackoptik is a matter of taste here.
The status LEDs are dimmed during operation and then behave unobtrusively.
The visual feedback on the LED's for status and volume settings is used to, but still useful.

We come to the overall conclusion:

For around 170 Euro you get much sound for the money, which is able to convince even without an additional subwoofer.
The Surround features give the whole extra oomph without being able to really convince with comparable surround sound.
When properly adjusted to obtain a homogeneous and high level stability sound even at high volume levels.
The operation does not constitute a major challenge for less technically savvy people.
The connection is fast out of hand and an optical cable is supplied.
However, you should be aware that the soundbar does not replace a music system.
A connection for conventional anloge audio sources is completely missing and a "wireless connection" with eg an iPod can be over only
accomplish the (expensive) purchase of additional hardware.
A temporary solution would be here a set-top box or a HTPC with Media Center software (eg XBMC), which then also can play music.
However, this should always run with the TV.
So the Yamaha YAS 101 is aimed at those who want to learn with little effort a significant appreciation of the narrow-LCD TV sound.
Cineastes and / or brachial Bass lovers will certainly happier with other devices.

Quick Overview for Down Scroller:

+ Very good balanced sound
+ Very good workmanship and optics
+ Easy to connect and operate
+ Good delivery

o Limited support digital audio formats
o Standard equipment with connections

o No Bluetooth

- IR-Flasher (does not work for me)

Thanks for reading!