Inventor of Home Cinema in the mid-80s, Yamaha is also the inventor of the sound bar with the YSP-1 in the mid-2000s based on the innovative sound projector technology (Beam process provided by multiple compact speakers). As you will have understood, like the [abc]Hi-Fi[/abc] universe where the contributions of the Japanese manufacturer were just as major in recent decades, the brand occupies a special place in the hearts of all Home Cinema enthusiasts. And it's not over yet! In 2025, Yamaha is indeed determined to remind all its competitors "Who's the boss"...
Yamaha True X Surround 90A 5.1.2, the combination of True X and YSP technologies££££
While twenty years separate the presentation of the YSP-1 sound bar (2005) and that of the DSP-1 processor (1986), Yamaha keeps the pace and offers in 2025, again twenty years after the YSP-1, a new revolutionary concept with the True X Surround 90A 5.1.2 audio system. This time, the Japanese brand's proposal mixes YSP technology, design, simplicity of installation and use with the ambition of allowing all consumers to own a high-performance Home Cinema audio system, intuitive, discreet and versatile.
Indeed, like the brand's WS-X1A True X speakers, the Yamaha WS-X3A surround speakers presented here are equipped with a battery (USB-C port for charging) and can therefore be easily detached from the True X Surround 90A system, by pressing a simple transport button, to act as a Bluetooth speaker.
Yamaha True X Surround 90A 5.1.2, acoustic package££££
The Yamaha True X Surround 90A 5.1.2 soundbar therefore comes in the form of a complete sound pack consisting of the True X Bar 90A soundbar, the SW-X100A wireless subwoofer and a pair of WS-X3A surrounds, also wireless.
Acoustically speaking, the soundbar has 19 speakers: 1 [abc]tweeter[/abc] 25 mm for the left, right and front channels, 1 full-range ovoid-shaped 50 x 108 mm newly developed by Yamaha engineers (wide frequency response) for the left and right channels, two full-range specimens for the center channel and 6 HP Beam 28 mm for the right and left Height channels, technology inherited from a long line of reference YSP soundbars offered by Yamaha from 2005 to 2015 with the ultimate and fantastic YSP-5600. Namely, the metal chassis of the soundbar has a thickness of 1.6 mm for rock-solid rigidity to eliminate vibrations.
For their part, the Yamaha WS-X3A speakers have two 58 mm full-range drivers plus two passive radiators to reinforce the impact of low frequencies while the WS-X100A [abc]bass-reflex[/abc] subwoofer is built from a [abc]woofer[/abc] with a 17 centimeter cone. Namely, the latter benefits from a new symmetrical vent embedded between two rigid panels in order to control the exit air vortex and reduce parasitic noise by 20 decibels. In terms of power, the Yamaha True X Surround 90A 5.1.2 delivers a total of 470 W: 3 x 100 W for the three front channels plus 2 x 15 W for the soundbar height channels, 100 W for the subwoofer and 2 x 20 W for the surrounds.
Yamaha True X Surround 90A 5.1.2, connections and connectivity££££
In terms of connections and connectivity, the Yamaha True X Surround 90A has an [abc]HDMI[/abc] 2.0 input/output with [abc]eARC[/abc] functionality, an [abc]optical[/abc] input and an [abc]Ethernet[/abc] port. The [abc]USB[/abc]-A port is exclusively for [abc]Firmware[/abc] updates or maintenance.
Connectivity is based on the exclusive MusicCast functionality: [abc]Bluetooth[/abc] and [abc]AirPlay 2[/abc] compatibility are therefore on the menu, in addition to direct access to the main [abc]music streaming[/abc] services such as Spotify, Qobuz, Deezer, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal… Not to mention the possibility of associating the Yamaha True X Surround 90A with other suitable Yamaha equipment for easy management from a smartphone/tablet and the MusicCast application. Finally, the Yamaha True X Surround 90A of course manages [abc]HDR Dolby Vision[/abc]/[abc]HDR10[/abc] in Pass-Through.
Yamaha True X Surround 90A 5.1.2, AI Surround and Auro 3D functionality££££
Among the main advantages of the Yamaha True X Surround 90A, we must mention Auro 3D compatibility in addition to [abc]Dolby Atmos[/abc] and [abc]DTS:X[/abc], and the AI Surround modes coming directly from the brand's Aventage audio-video amplifiers. For your information, the Yamaha True X Surround 90A is equipped with the same Qualcomm QCS407 64-bit processor as the flagship RX-A8A, and therefore the multiple associated sound modes (3D Music, Stereo, Direct, All).
Yamaha True X Surround 90A 5.1.2, bulk features££££
Namely, still from the MusicCast application, it is possible to modify the angle of the sound beam (from 30° to 90°) of the Height channels to manage the ceiling height from 1 to 4 m and/or the distance from the listening point via the reflection of the waves. We must also mention the Clear Voice function to accentuate the intelligibility of the dialogues and the Roon Tested label.
Availability expected for the month of September. Indicative price: 2,490 euros.
UPDATE: good news, the indicative price is finally set at 2,490 € and not 3,000 € as initially announced. The news above has been corrected.
Reminder of the key characteristics of the Yamaha True X Surround 90A:
• Type: sound bar
• System: 5.1.2
• Amplification: Class D
• Total power: 470 W (3 x 100 W for the three front channels plus 2 x 15 W for the sound bar height channels, 100 W for the subwoofer and 2 x 20 W for the surrounds)
• Speakers: 24
• Subwoofer: external wireless (17 cm HP), bass-reflex
• Technologies: Beam, Clear Voice, Bass Extension, Surround AI
• [abc]Wi-Fi[/abc] compatibility
• [abc]AirPlay 2[/abc] compatibility
• [abc]HDR10[/abc] compatibility
• [abc]HDR Dolby Vision[/abc] compatibility
• [abc]HDR HLG[/abc] compatibility
• [abc]CEC[/abc] compatibility
• [abc]Bluetooth[/abc] 4.2 compatibility
• [abc]eARC[/abc] compatibility
• Audio Gateway [abc]UPnP[/abc] ([abc]DLNA[/abc]) function
• MusicCast function
• 4K Pass-Throught function
• Spotify Connect function
• Tidal Connect function
• Qobuz Connect function
• Amazon Music function
• Roon Tested function
• Apple Music function
• Deezer function
• Inputs: 1 x [abc]HDMI[/abc] 2.0 certified input [abc]HDCP[/abc] 2.2, 1 [abc]optical[/abc] input, 1 [abc]Ethernet[/abc]
port• Output: 1 [abc]HDMI[/abc] 2.0 output certified [abc]HDCP[/abc] 2.2
• Application: MusicCast
• [abc]Dolby decoders Atmos [/abc], [abc]DTS: mm for the bar, 241 x 378 x 414 mm for the subwoofer and 88 x 220 x 88 mm for a surround
• Consumption: 0.5 W in standby
• Weight: 11 kg for the bar, 12.7 kg for the subwoofer and 1 kg for a surround
