Yamaha SR-C30A Shrinks the Sub & Soundbar Package
Yamaha's latest sub and soundbar package is small enough for game stations and Uni dorms.
Yamaha's SR-C30A combines a compact soundbar with a separate slender wireless subwoofer. Not only is this system designed to "deliver reproduction quality with an enhanced three-dimensional sound field", but the bar will slip under any TV or monitor whilst the subwoofer is so compact it will pretty much fit anywhere. Naturally, the soundbar can also be wall-mounted.
With packages such as the SR-C30A, it's generally the large black box of a subwoofer that clashes with your interior design. Not so here, as the C30A's sub can stand at just 36cm high or be laid sideways thanks to the front-firing port and single-sided driver. This also means that you could fit it inside an entertainment unit.
Meanwhile, the soundbar is 60cm wide and just 6.4cm high. There's no Atmos trickery here; however, this is purely a stereo affair. That said, Yamaha does mention its "Original 3D Sound Field Technology." Arguably more importantly, though, you get the company's 'True Sound' that is said to focus on detail, clarity and realism. Furthermore, Yamaha's Adaptive Low Volume technology aims to keep the balance right when playing quietly as well as when the volume is up. In addition, 'Clear Voice' is available to make dialogue more audible and crisp.
The soundbar is quoted as punching out 2 x 20W into six ohms at 1kHz with 10% distortion (THD) from a pair of 4.6cm drivers. The sub is kitted out with a 13cm woofer.
Connectivity-wise, inputs cover HDMI ARC, pair of optical digital and an analogue input. There's also Bluetooth streaming allowing you to squirt tunes from your mobile or perhaps play from Bluetooth-equipped TVs - not sure what the lip syncing would be like, though.
The Sound Bar Controller app is a neat alternative to the bundled remote. Both methods hand you access to four sound modes, with the Gaming option hinting that Yamaha reckons the SR-C30A will find fans looking to bolster their game station audio. The company also recommends it to those looking to better the sound of second sets and in dorm rooms.
The Yamaha SR-C30A soundbar and subwoofer combo will retail at £299 when it lands in October.
Visit Yamaha for more information
Jay Garrett
StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. Jay heads up StereoNET as Editor for the United Kingdom and Europe regions. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.
Posted in: Home Theatre
JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION
Want to share your opinion or get advice from other enthusiasts? Then head into the Message
Forums where thousands of other enthusiasts are communicating on a daily basis.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP
Trending
1Audio-Technica’s Hotaru Levitates Analog Listening to New Heights
2Vertere DG-X Turntable Spins Simplicity into High-End Sound
3Stratton Shrinks the Form Not the Fidelity with Element 6 and 8
4Noise-Free Networking with SilentPower OMNI LAN
5Careful What Music You W(ai)sh For As Deezer Sounds Alarm
applause awards
Each time StereoNET reviews a product, it is considered for an Applause Award. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.
Applause Awards are personally issued by StereoNET’s global Editor-in-Chief, David Price – who has over three decades of experience reviewing hi-fi products at the highest level – after consulting with our senior editorial team. They are not automatically given with all reviews, nor can manufacturers purchase them.
The StereoNET editorial team includes some of the world’s most experienced and respected hi-fi journalists with a vast wealth of knowledge. Some have edited popular English language hi-fi magazines, and others have been senior contributors to famous audio journals stretching back to the late 1970s. And we also employ professional IT and home theatre specialists who work at the cutting edge of today’s technology.
We believe that no other online hi-fi and home cinema resource offers such expert knowledge, so when StereoNET gives an Applause Award, it is a trustworthy hallmark of quality. Receiving such an award is the prerequisite to becoming eligible for our annual Product of the Year awards, awarded only to the finest designs in their respective categories. Buyers of hi-fi, home cinema, and headphones can be sure that a StereoNET Applause Award winner is worthy of your most serious attention.