Yamaha’s new B20 (SR-B20A) and C20 (SR-C20A) soundbars promise maximum performance from minimal footprint. They have been, the company explained, designed to fit any space without sacrificing sound or specs.
The B20 (£ 249) is the more advanced of the two new models, based on the same DTS Virtual: X technology found in the Yamaha YAS-207, a current Hi-Fi? Award winner.
The DTS codec aims to deliver pure sound that is delivered through a 7.1.4 setup, and our experience of the technology within sound bars has only been positive – which indeed points well for the new B20. Could we look for a new best budget for soundbar? Quite possible.
Two tweeters, woofers and subwoofers fire out of their 91 cm wide and 5 cm high chassis, which includes HDMI ARC and optical (two) input, a subwoofer output and a Bluetooth receiver.
Yamaha’s Clear Voice mode – arguably a customer favorite – is on board to improve dialogue clarity, while a handful of sound settings (stereo, standard, movie and game) also do some ways to provide personalization.
The C20 (£ 219) meanwhile goes without DTS Virtual: X, though it has Dolby Digital and Virtual Surround processing to help its two full-range drivers, woofer and twin passive radiators extract sound from its 60cm wide and 6cm wide – high chassis.
HDMI ARC – not a given at this price – and two optical inputs sit next to a mini input for gaming consoles and other portable devices, while Bluetooth is also present and correct. It also shares the Clear Voice and four sound modes with its brother.
Not only are both the Yamaha B20 and C20 modest format for easy printing on a shelf or TV rack, they can also be mounted to the walls via the built-in keyholes, without the need for additional brackets.
The new Yamaha sound bars will be available in ‘early autumn’, so we hope to have the pleasure of their company very much in our test rooms. Australian prices and availability are yet to be announced.
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