Yamaha True X SR-X50A
Yamaha’s soundbar bundle delivers all you could need, including one of the best subwoofers at this price
Yamaha, the brand that kicked off the entire ‘soundbar’ thing in the first place, is back in the Dolby Atmos soundbar game – and with a modular system it calls ‘True X’. It consists of a Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar, a wireless subwoofer and battery-powered wireless speakers. So has the wait for Yamaha’s return to Dolby Atmos soundbar action been worth it?
Received wisdom is that a centre-channel speaker driver is essential in a Dolby Atmos soundbar – after all, the centre channel handles dialogue. But Yamaha’s engineers have gone for a 4.1.2-channel arrangement, as it allows for a wider sound and better bass drivers.
This lack of a dedicated centre channel doesn’t seem to hold the Yamaha SXR-X40A soundbar back in the slightest. No matter if the scene is purely dialogue, or if it’s a verbal exchange in the midst of a colossal fire-fight, speech is detailed and distinct.
Its 46x66mm full-range racetrack drivers serve up impressive width too. The Yamaha can spread sound far beyond its physical limitations, and can keep them organised and convincingly positioned at the same time. And there’s sufficient bite and shine at the top of the frequency range to make you forget there are no dedicated tweeters.
The handover to the subwoofer is achieved without alarms, and the sub itself controls low-frequency impacts well. It’s also observant where the attack of bass sounds is concerned. Switching to music highlights the subwoofer’s facility with tone and momentum even more readily – but also exposes some of the shortcomings in the soundbar’s performance. There’s a rather papery quality to treble sounds that makes this a less-than-ideal music speaker.
And the Yamaha is at its least convincing where the ‘height’ aspect of Dolby Atmos sound is concerned. Despite actual, physical upwardfacing speaker drivers where quite a few rivals use digital sound processing, the SR-Z40A doesn’t make all that impressive an attempt to place sound above the top bezel of the TV.
The SR-X50A is built and finished to the sort of standard you’d expect from a company as pragmatic and level-headed as Yamaha. The acoustic cloth that covers the majority of the soundbar and the subwoofer’s driver looks and feels good, and is applied flawlessly.
Control – up to a point – is available via the Yamaha Sound Bar Controller app. In truth it’s not the most logical app around, and not especially exciting to look at – but it’s got what you need, and that’s what’s most important.
If you’re after wide, energetic and impactful movie sound, the Yamaha SR-X50A is a system with plenty to recommend it – and its standard of build and finish, along with its understated good looks, will win its share of admirers too. But it’s on shaky ground when it comes to music playback, and the ‘height’ element of its Dolby Atmos presentation is a little on the underwhelming side too.