The recent report by the GfK consumer institute has confirmed all suspicions: the French are enjoying a love affair with their audio products, especially portable speakers and sound bars, which have doubled in sales in a year (2012 vs 2013). Yamaha, an expert in the field, have unveiled the YAS-103, a wireless soundbar with plenty of horsepower.

Yamaha never do things by halves. Remember, Yamaha were the first manufacturers to design and launch ‘sound projectors’ (as they were called at the time), forward facing audio systems able to bounce sound off the walls of the room to create a full sound from a single point in the room.

It’s also worth remembering that Yamaha are experts in digital signal processing ‘DSP’, and in optional high-quality processing of music and film soundtracks. Over the years, the company has been able to build up a significant head of steam despite competition from other brands, including Denon.

Yamaha YAS-103 PV

Yamaha Global

In 2014, Yamaha aren’t letting up, and have launched the YAS-103 sound bar (€289). It’s true that many of our readers will mostly see sound bars as add-ons for their TVs, allowing for a fuller sound, and on the whole we’re inclined to agree. However, within the connected home and with the advances made by certain manufacturers, consumers are also are using them as general speakers paired via Bluetooth with their smartphone or other mobile devices.

The YAS-103 can certainly handle this, and is built around two 6.5 inch cone speakers and a bass system composed of two 7.5 cm cones, which combine to give a total power of 120 W. The YAS-103 vibrates around a double bass chamber driven by two speakers with large magnets, to which Yamaha have added a bass-reflex architecture.

When used as part of a home cinema system, the sound bar features Air Surround Xtreme (7.1 surround sound). The Yamaha Home Theater Controller app (iOS and Android) is used to pair and control the device with tablets and smartphones via Bluetooth, which is perfect for streaming. It’s a multifunctional product, it’s very good value for money, and it can play music in stereo from wired and wireless sources, as well as play film soundtracks back in virtual surround sound.

Details:

- Bluetooth (2.4 GHz, 10m range, A2DP)

- 2 optical inputs, 1 coaxial, 1 analogue

- Dolby Digital and DTS compatible

- 30 + 30 + 60 W

- 890 x 109 x 121 mm

- Price: €289 / www.yahama.fr

If you are a manufacturer, importer, distributor or other player in the area of quality sound and you’d like to get in touch with us feel free to send us an email at: newstech@qobuz.com

PP Garcia for Qobuz

Twitter @ppgarcia75

Original Article:https://www.qobuz.com/info/Hi-Fi/Actualites/Yamaha-lance-la-YAS-103-289-Euros174976

Original Author : PP Garcia

Translator : Jethro Turner