Sound quality:
Yamaha's YAS-209 delivers sound quality that falls in the Good range - it reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. In the Stereo sound mode the bass has good impact, but is slightly prominent and boomy and doesn't go deep. The midrange is fairly even but is slightly hazy, grainy, and echoey and the upper midrange sounds a bit dark. The treble is extended, but is slightly prominent, generally smeared, and the upper treble is somewhat sizzly. While this model does a decent job of recovering upper bass and lower midrange room ambience (the sense of the acoustic space in which the music was recorded), upper midrange room ambience is obscured and the overall sound is slightly congested. With stereo program material the sound field extends a bit above and not much beyond the width of the speaker array and does not provided a suggestion of front to back depth.
There was no significant difference between the HDMI, optical, WiFi, and Bluetooth inputs.
The system can provide satisfying volume in a medium sized room.
Sound Modes (Stereo)
The Clear Voice mode made the vocal range sound more grainy and a bit etched. The various virtual surround modes make the sound stage somewhat wider and taller and imparts a diffuse, and to varying degrees, an echoey and metallic quality to the sound. The DTS: Virtual X Surround mode has the most dramatic effect, but not in a good way. While it does make the sound stage significantly taller and somewhat wider, it also makes the sound louder, very echoey, metallic and harsh.
Multichannel
When Dolby Digital and DTS multi-channel program material is played back in the Stereo sound mode the sound field extends well above, but not much beyond the width of the soundbar and still lacks depth. The various Surround modes make the sound field wider but don't impart the echoey and metallic character heard when used with stereo program material.
Sound Modes
The DTS: Virtual X Surround mode makes the sound field taller but a bit narrower than the other surround modes and also doesn't sound harsh and metallic as it does with stereo program material.
Dialog Mode
The Clear Voice mode made the vocal range sound louder, and depending on the program material may make dialog stand out more from the background.
TV ease of use: Very good overall.
Features ease of use: Acceptable overall.
