Yamaha YSP-2200 Digital Sound Projection System - Review

The Yamaha YSP-2200 looks like a typical sound bar/subwoofer pairng, but this system takes a different tact by employing digital sound projection technology. With 16 individual speakers (referred to as beam drivers) housed in a single, central, unit and an external subwoofer, the YSP-2200 produces a surround sound home theater experience. The YSP-2200 features extensive audio decoding and processing and is also 3D and Audio Return Channel compatible. Also, using optional docking stations, users can plug their iPod or iPhone or a Bluetooth adapter. After reading this review, also check out my supplementary Photo Profile for a closer look at the Yamaha YSP-2200.

A Digital Sound Projector outwardly looks like a sound bar, but instead of just housing one or two speakers for each channel within a single cabinet, a digital sound projector, utilizes an entire panel of extremely small speakers (referred to as "beam drivers") each powered by its own 2-watt amplifier. The number of beam drivers housed in a digital sound projector can number from 16 up to 40 or more depending on the unit - The YSP-2200 provided for this review houses 16 beam drivers, for a cumulative total power output for all the beam drivers of 32 watts.

During setup, the beam drivers direct sound to specific locations or wall reflection to create a 2, 5, or even 7 channel system. To create the surround sound listening environment, sound is projected in "beams" for each channel from the assigned drivers. Since all of the sound emanates from the front of the room, the setup process calculates the distance from the sound projector unit to both the listening position and the surrounding walls in order to provide the optimum beam direction to create the desired surround sound listening experience.

In addition, the digital sound projector houses all needed amplifiers and audio processors, and, in the case for the Yamaha YSP-2200, the sound projector unit also houses the amplifier that provides power for an external passive subwoofer. For a complete technical rundown on digital sound projection, with specific emphasis on the YSP-2200, check out the Yamaha YSP-2200 Developer's Story (pdf).

Yamaha YSP-2200 Product Overview

General Description: Digital Projector unit (YSP-CU2200) with 16 "beam drivers" combined with a Passive Subwoofer (NS-SWP600).

Core Technology: Digital Sound Projection

Channel Configuration: Up to 7.1 channels. Setup options: 5BeamPlus2, 3BeamPLUS2+Stereo, 5 Beam, Stereo+3Beam, 3Beam, Stereo and My Surround

Power Output: 132 watts (2 watts x 16) plus 100 watts supplied to subwoofer.

Beam Drivers (speakers): 1-1/8 inches x 16.

Subwoofer: Two front firing 4-inch drivers combined with front port (bass reflex design).

Audio Decoding: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD Master Audio.

Audio Processing: Dolby Prologic II/IIx, DTS Neo:6, DTS-ES, Yamaha Cinema DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, and UniVolume.

Video Processing: Direct pass through of the video source signals (2D and 3D) up to 1080p resolution, NTSC and PAL compatible, no additional video upscaling.

Audio Inputs: (in addition to HDMI): Two digital optical , One digital coaxial, One set analog stereo.

Video Inputs: Three HDMI (ver 1.4a) - Audio Return Channel and 3D-enabled.

Outputs (video): One HDMI, One Composite Video

Additional Connectivity: Yamaha Universal Dock connection for iPod ( via optional YDS-12), Bluetooth Compatibility via Bluetooth® Wireless Audio Receiver, (With optional YBA-10), Wireless iPod/iPhone Compatibility via Yamaha Wireless Dock System (YID-W10).

Additional Features: Onscreen menu system, front panel LED status display.

Accessories Provided: Detachable subwoofer feet, User Guide on CD-ROM, Demonstration DVD, remote control, digital optical cable, Intellibeam microphone, IR flasher, digital coaxial audio cable, composite video cable, subwoofer speaker wire, warranty and registration sheets, and cardboard stand for the Intellibeam microphone (see supplementary photo).

Dimensions (W x H x D): YSP-CU2220 37 1/8-inches x 3 1/8-inches x 5 3/4-inches (height adjustable). NS-SWP600 Subwoofer - 17 1/8-inches x 5 3/8-inches x 13 3/4-inches (horizontal postiion) - 5 1/2-inches x 16 7/8-inches x 13 3/4-inches (vertical position).

Weight: YSP-CU2220 9.5 lbs, NS-SWP600 subwoofer 13.2 lbs.

Home Theater Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR705.

Blu-ray Disc Player: OPPO BDP-93 used to play Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD, DVD-Audio Discs, and streaming movie content.

Loudspeaker/Subwoofer System Used for Comparison: Klipsch Quintet III in combination with Polk PSW10 Subwoofer.

TV/Monitor: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor

Software Used

Blu-ray Discs: Across The Universe, Avatar, Battle: Los Angeles, Hairspray, Inception, Iron Man 1&2, Megamind, Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Shakira - Oral Fixation Tour, Sherlock Holmes, The Expendables, The Dark Knight, The Incredibles and Tron: Legacy.

Standard DVDs used included scenes from the following: The Cave, Hero, House of the Flying Daggers, Kill Bill - Vol 1/2, Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut), Lord of Rings Trilogy, Master and Commander, Moulin Rouge, and U571.

Streaming Movie Content: Netflix - Let Me In, Vudu - Sucker Punch

CDs: Al Stewart - Sparks of Ancient Light, Beatles - LOVE, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Joshua Bell - Bernstein - West Side Story Suite, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture, HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me, Sade - Soldier of Love.

DVD-Audio discs included: Queen - Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles - Hotel California, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Uninvisible.

SACD discs used included: Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon, Steely Dan - Gaucho, The Who - Tommy.

Installation and Setup

Unboxing and setting up the Yamaha YSP-2200 system is easy. The entire package consists of three components: the YSP-CU2200 Sound Projector Unit, the NS-SWP600 Passive Subwoofer, and a wireless infrared remote control.

The sound projector unit is intended to be placed on a shelf or stand in front, above, or below a flat panel LCD or Plasma TV. This unit also has large retractable feet that allows the user to physically raise or lower the position of the unit so that it doesn't block the TV's remote control sensors or the bottom of the TV screen if placed in front of the TV. Also, if you prefer a lower profile in front of your TV on a shelf, you can remove the retractable feet and replace them with four attachable non-skid pads that are provided.

On the rear of the main unit, there are three HDMI input connections for connecting source devices, and one HDMI output that is used to connect the sound projector to your TV. However, an additional composite video connection must be made between the sound projector and the TV in order to view and use the sound projector's onscreen menu system.

One additional connection that must be made is between the sound projector and the provided passive subwoofer. Since the amplifier for the subwoofer is housed in the projector unit, a physical connection, using speaker wire (provided) must be made between the sound projector and the subwoofer. I felt somewhat disappointed with this part of the installation as an increasing number of sound bar systems now employ wireless self-powered subwoofers, which not only makes the extra clutter of a connection wire unnecessary, but frees the subwoofer for more flexible room placement.

After placing the YSP-CU2200 Sound Projector Unit and the NS-SWP600 Passive Subwoofer in your room, you can now begin the setup process. Both manual and auto system calibration options are provided. However, the best option, especially for the novice, is to use the automatic setup option.

Whether using the automatic or manual setup options, you must place a provided Intellibeam microphone in your primary listening position (either on the supplied cardboard stand or a camera tripod). Using the onscreen menu, you are then prompted to start the setup process and are instructed to leave the room while process performs its tasks.

Using a series of self-generated test tones, the sound projector calculates all the needed parameters (horizontal angle, beam travel length, focal length, and channel level) to provide the best surround sound listening results. After the process is completed, you can disconnect the setup microphone and also have the option to go in manually and make any setting changes. You can also rerun the auto-calibration process up to three times and store the settings into a memory for later retrieval.

If you have your source components connected, you are now set to go.

Proceed to Page 2: Audio and Video Performance - Pros - Cons - Final Take