Yamaha revamps virtual-surround DSP home theaters
updated 03:20 pm EDT, Mon August 13, 2007
Yamaha DSP Home Theaters
Yamaha this afternoon refreshed its Digital Sound Projector line for home theater enthusiasts without the space for hardware surround setups. Each new model refines the company's spatializing technique to widen the overall sound field and lets users personalize the surround effect beyond the default 5.1-channel Dolby Surround and DTS processing methods. Two new models also add two HDMI inputs and one output for routing audio to an HDTV, with the mid-range YSP-3000 relaying video unchanged and the top YSP-4000 upscaling analog video to either 720p or 1080i.
The YSP-900 starts the complete line at $900 with 21 micro-drivers and dual woofers but goes without digital video; the YSP-3000 ($1,200) adds both the HDMI option, an iPod connection option, and radio through either a standard FM tuner or XM's optional satellite radio Mini-Tuner. Moving to the YSP-4000 almost doubles the number of speaker drivers to 40 to produce more power and a more defined surround effect.
All three of the speaker arrangements support a pair of new downward-firing subwoofers to enhance bass response: the 100-watt YST-FSW050 ($200) and 130-watt YST-FSW150 ($280) are each compact at 7 inches tall. Both the YSP-900 and YSP-3000 main surround units arrive this month and will be followed by the more powerful YSP-4000 in October.
