In the ever-evolving world of home audio, Yamaha has thrown its hat into the area of constant soundbar combat with the True X Series, a soundbar system that aims to redefine what we expect from a home theater setup. Priced at around $1000, it's entering a fiercely competitive market where every decibel, dollar and feature counts. But does Yamaha's offering have what it takes to stand out from the crowd? After spending considerable time with this system, I'm ready to dive into the details.
The True X Series system consists of three main components: a sleek soundbar, a wireless subwoofer, and two portable surround speakers. The True X Bar 50A soundbar itself is a thing of beauty - slim, elegant, and designed to complement modern TVs without dominating the space. Its build quality is impressive, with a premium feel that justifies its price point.
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The wireless subwoofer is equally well-constructed, with a compact form factor that allows for flexible placement in your living room. It's powerful enough to make its presence known without being overly obtrusive.
But the real stars of the show are the portable 1A speakers. These little marvels are not just rear surround speakers; they're fully functional Bluetooth speakers in their own right in “solo mode”. The versatility here is astounding - you can use them as part of your home theater setup, take them to different rooms, or even outdoors thanks to their IP67 dust and water-resistance rating, but personally I would not leave them outdoors, I would bring them in after listening.
Setting up the True X Bar 50A is refreshingly straightforward. The main sound bar connects to your TV via HDMI ARC/eARC, with an additional HDMI input for connecting a high-quality source device directly. There's also Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity for streaming and updates, and a USB-A port for manual firmware updates if needed.
The wireless subwoofer pairs automatically with the soundbar, making placement a breeze. The portable speakers, when used as surrounds, also connect wirelessly, though they need to be plugged in for power when in this mode.
One of the system's strengths is its connectivity options. With Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and TIDAL Connect built-in, you're covered for pretty much any streaming or living room connection scenario. The inclusion of Alexa for voice control is a nice touch, allowing you to control your audio, set alarms, and even manage other smart home devices without reaching for a remote.
Now, let's get to the meat of the matter - how does it sound? In a word: impressive. The True X Bar 50A leverages Dolby Atmos technology with up-firing drivers to create a truly immersive soundstage. When watching Atmos-encoded content, the sense of height and space is palpable, adding a new dimension to movie watching.
The soundbar itself delivers clear, crisp audio across the frequency range. Dialogue, in particular, comes through with exceptional clarity thanks to Yamaha's Clear Voice technology. This is a godsend for those late-night viewing sessions where you're trying to catch every whispered word without waking the household.
The wireless subwoofer adds depth and punch to the low end, delivering room-shaking bass when called for. It's not just about volume, though - the bass is tight and controlled, adding weight to explosions and depth to musical scores without overwhelming the rest of the audio spectrum.
When the portable speakers are used as surrounds, they complete the immersive experience. The ability to place these freely (within the constraints of power cables) allows you to optimize your surround sound setup for your specific room layout.
While home theater performance is crucial for a soundbar, many users also want a system that can handle music playback with aplomb. The True X Bar 50A doesn't disappoint here either. Whether streaming via Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, or one of the supported streaming services, music comes through with clarity and depth.
The system's ability to create a wide soundstage is particularly noticeable with well-recorded tracks. Instruments are clearly separated, and vocals sit nicely in the mix. The subwoofer adds a pleasing warmth to the low end without muddying the overall sound.
Yamaha provides a companion app for fine-tuning the system's performance. While many users might stick with the out-of-the-box settings (which are quite good), audio enthusiasts will appreciate the ability to tweak EQ settings and adjust the balance between components.
The app also allows you to manage the portable speakers, switching them between surround and solo modes. This process is far more intuitive than similar features from competitors like Sonos, where reconfiguring speakers can be a cumbersome process.
Comparison to Competitors: In the $1000 soundbar market, the True X Bar 50A faces stiff competition from brands like Sonos, Bose, and Samsung. While each system has its strengths, Yamaha's offering stands out for its versatility and overall sound quality.
Compared to the Sonos Arc, for example, the True X Bar 50A offers similar sound quality but with the added flexibility of the portable speakers. The Bose Smart Sound Bar 900 matches the Yamaha in terms of audio performance but lacks the versatile rear speakers. Samsung's Q-series soundbars offer strong competition, particularly in terms of ecosystem integration if you have other Samsung products, but again, they don't match the flexibility of Yamaha's portable speakers.
After extensive testing, I can confidently say that Yamaha's True X Bar 50A is a strong contender in the high-end soundbar market. Its combination of excellent sound quality, versatile design, and user-friendly features make it a compelling option for those looking to upgrade their home theater audio.
The standout feature is undoubtedly the flexible portable speakers, which add a level of versatility I haven't seen in other soundbar systems. Whether you're using them as surround speakers for movies, a stereo pair for music, or taking them to another room entirely, they significantly expand the utility of the system.
While there's room for improvement in terms of ecosystem integration, the overall package is impressive. The True X Bar 50A delivers where it counts - in audio quality and user experience. It's equally adept at bringing movies to life with its Atmos performance as it is at filling your room with rich, detailed music.
For those in the market for a high-end soundbar system that offers flexibility without compromising on sound quality, the Yamaha True X Bar 50A should be high on your list. It's a system that not only meets the demands of today's home theater enthusiasts but also adapts to the varied ways we consume audio in our homes. It's this combination of performance and versatility that earns it my strong recommendation and editor's choice award.
