Yamaha expands sound bar range with Alexa built in
MELBOURNE (June 18, 2019) – Having been at the forefront of the sound bar market since its inception, Yamaha is adding two new models to its sound bar range – the YAS- 109 and YAS-209 – providing a simple solution to improving the audio quality from TVs and now incorporating Alexa voice control with built-in microphone.
In addition to the integrated convenience of one of the world’s most popular voice assistants, these new models offer enhanced music playback capabilities for Bluetooth® and music streaming over Wi-Fi including SpotifyConnect, Amazon Music and other Alexa-supported music services, as well as a free app for locally-stored content.
The YAS-1 09 and YAS-2 09 deliver the trademark audio performance you’d expect from a company that has shaped the way we listen to music in the home. Aesthetically, both models boast a fresh, ultra-slim design for movie and music enthusiasts which fits neatly in front of a TV or wall-mounted without requiring additional brackets.
The YAS-109 features an all-one-design with built-in subwoofers for easy installation, while the YAS-209 includes a separate wireless subwoofer that provides flexible placement options and even more powerful bass.
“V oice control enables users to simplify their home entertainment system,” explained Boyd Gill – Product and Training Manager for Yamaha Music Australia’s Audio Visual Division. “There’s no excuse in having to put up with hard-to-hear audio from your TV, and now it’s easier than ever”.
Yamaha collaborated with the Alexa team at Amazon when integrating the built-in microphone – focusing on both quality and spacing. The feature includes volume ducking capabilities, which automatically decreases the volume of a movie or music to make it easier to deliver voice commands. In addition, the included remote control contains a dedicated button to invoke Alexa, which can in turn be muted when desired or disabled when the sound bar is turned off for complete privacy.
Both models support Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround decoding as well as DTS Virtual:X® for immersive 3D surround sound that appears to come from around and above you.
Yamaha’s Clear Voice mode allows the user to enhance dialogue during movies and TV shows which can be particularly useful during action scenes and live sports programs when background sound might otherwise make dialogue and narration difficult to hear.
The YAS-109 and YAS-209 include an HDMI® input and output with ARC. 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) video is supported for use with HDMI-connected 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc™ players or 4K streaming media players. Both sound bars support CEC, enabling the user to use their existing TV remote control to adjust the sound bar volume when connected to a CEC-compatible TV. An optical input is provided for other devices without HDMI connections.
The Yamaha YAS-109 ($399 RRP) and YAS-209 ($599 RRP) will be available from July and will come with 90 days of free access to Amazon Music Unlimited.