A soundbar is a very simple way to improve the audio of our television. In the market, we can find different types of soundbars. They range from giant bars with a built-in wireless subwoofer to more compact soundbars. Among the latter is the Yamaha SR-C20A, a small soundbar designed to improve the audio of the TV installed in the room or kitchen.
Despite its compact size, it offers virtual surround sound, powerful bass, and the Clear Voice system for enhanced dialogue. It has four different sound modes and can be managed through a mobile application. And it has Bluetooth connectivity, so you can use it as a wireless speaker, too. Let’s take an in-depth look at what the new Yamaha SR-C20A has to offer.
Yamaha SR-C20A Datasheet
| Yamaha SR-C20A | |
|---|---|
| Type | Soundbar |
| Speakers | 2.1 channels |
| Maximum power | 100W (2 x 20W from the front + 60W from the subwoofer) |
| Surround technology | Virtual surround |
| Rear speakers | No |
| Connections | 1 HDMI input/output, 2 optical inputs, 1 analog input |
| 4K pass-through | No |
| Supported audio formats | Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II |
| Wireless connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Subwoofer | Integrated into the bar |
| Control | Control and application |
| Others | Clear Voice Four audio modes |
| Dimensions | 600 × 64 × 94mm, 1.8kg |
| Release date | Coming soon |
| Price | $180 |
A Compact and Simple Soundbar
The Yamaha SR-C20A is a very compact soundbar. It’s only two feet long and two feet high, so it can fit into smaller spaces. It can even be used as a soundbar for the monitor. Its corners are rounded, thus achieving a more elegant design.
As for the rest of the design, the whole front and top part have an acoustic fabric that hides the speakers. This fabric can be black or white. It also has some small lights on the front that will indicate the status of the bar.
To control some functions of the bar it includes four buttons on top. With these buttons, we can change between the inputs, control the volume, and turn the bar on and off.
Finally, in the back, there are the connectors that the Yamaha SR-C20A has. Specifically, they are an HDMI port compatible with ARC, two optical digital inputs, and an analog input. It also has a USB connector, but this is only for possible use by the technical service.
Virtual Surround, Integrated Subwoofer, and Bluetooth Connectivity
Despite its very compact size, the Yamaha SR-C20A offers a great audio improvement over standard TV sound. For example, Yamaha’s soundbar features a virtual surround sound system. This allows the sound effects to be reproduced from the left, center, right, and back, allowing you to enjoy a greater acoustic presence in the room.
On the other hand, although the Yamaha SR-C20A comes without an external subwoofer, it does have a built-in subwoofer. Specifically, it is equipped with a 3-inch subwoofer and a dual passive radiator. According to Yamaha, this system provides rich and powerful bass.
Thanks to this internal subwoofer system the bar offers 2.1 channels. The total power of the system is 100W, with 20W per channel for the front speakers and 60W for the subwoofer.
On the other hand, there is the Clear Voice system, capable of enhancing the dialogues for perfect understanding. This function can automatically distinguish human voices such as dialogue and narration from other sounds, increasing the volume of only human voices. Even in movies, dramas, and news programs where background music and sound effects have been used extensively, the human voice is clearer and more understandable.
Finally, the Yamaha SR-C20A offers four sound modes that will allow us to have the best audio in all types of content. Specifically, the sound modes offered by the bar are Stereo, Standard, Movie, and Game. The Stereo mode is for listening to music with the highest possible purity. The Standard mode provides the best sound in different television programs. As for the Movie mode, it improves the expansion of the space to achieve a more immersive sound. And the Game mode seeks to immerse us in the game, allowing the location of the individual sound action to be clear and precise.
In terms of formats, the Yamaha SR-C20A is compatible with Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II. It is not compatible with DTS and also not with HD formats, such as DTS Master Audio.
Easy to Set Up and Use
The Yamaha SR-C20A is very easy to use and configure. In just a few minutes the soundbar can be up and running, improving the sound of your TV or monitor.
The bar has an HDMI ARC connection, so we only need a cable to pass the audio from the TV to the bar. And if you have an older model of television do not worry, as the SR-C20A has two optical digital inputs.
Using the Sound Bar Remote mobile application it is easy to adjust, for example, the sound modes and volume. Also, thanks to the HDMI ARC connection, you can control the TV and the Sound Bar with a single remote control.
And if what you want is to listen to music, it’s even easier. The Yamaha SR-C20A has Bluetooth connectivity, so we only need to pair the soundbar with any Bluetooth device to stream our music or podcasts. In other words, it works just like any other wireless speaker.
Price and Availability
In short, Yamaha’s new soundbar is a simple bar, but one that can take the sound of our television to a higher level. It has 100W of power, virtual surround sound, and Bluetooth connectivity. And all this is only 60 cm in length.
The Yamaha SR-C20A will go on sale in the coming weeks with an official price of $180.
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