Yamaha SR-B20A Review

Do you want to elevate your audio experience without breaking the bank? Look no further than the Yamaha SR-B20A.

This all-in-one soundbar brings impressive audio quality to your home at an affordable price of $149.95 (as of September 9th, 2023). Its built-in subwoofers deliver solid and tight bass that will enhance your movies, music, and more.

While it may lack certain features like Dolby Atmos and Wi-Fi audio streaming, the Yamaha SR-B20A is perfect for creating an immersive environment in your bedroom or studio apartment.

Design and Build Quality of Yamaha SR-B20A Soundbar

The Yamaha SR-B20A soundbar has a sleek and sturdy design, making it a great addition to your entertainment setup. Its aesthetics and form factor are designed to blend seamlessly with your TV, creating a cohesive look.

The soundbar is constructed with durability in mind, ensuring that it can withstand daily use without any issues. The materials used in its construction are of high quality, guaranteeing a long lifespan. The Yamaha SR-B20A is built to last, with a solid build that can withstand accidental bumps or falls.

Its sturdy construction ensures that it remains stable and secure, even when placed on a shelf or mounted on a wall. With its impressive design and build quality, the Yamaha SR-B20A soundbar is sure to enhance your audio experience and provide a sense of belonging to your entertainment space.

Sound Quality and Performance: Virtualized 3D Effects

Experience impressive virtualized 3D effects that enhance your movie-watching and immersive audio experience with the Yamaha SR-B20A soundbar.

This all-in-one soundbar delivers solid and tight bass with its built-in subwoofers, providing a punchy sound without sounding boomy or flat. The soundbar features DTS Virtual:X technology, which provides subtle surround and height effects, giving you a realistic and immersive audio experience.

While the virtualized 3D effects of the SR-B20A are impressive for its price point, they may not be on par with pricier soundbars. However, the soundbar accurately reproduces sounds and handles the dynamics of different music genres, making it suitable for use in a bedroom or studio apartment.

Whether you’re watching movies or listening to music, the Yamaha SR-B20A enhances the excitement of your entertainment and provides an enjoyable and immersive audio experience.

Connectivity and Compatibility

Enhance your connectivity and compatibility with the Yamaha SR-B20A soundbar by utilizing its various input options and easy setup process.

The SR-B20A offers wireless options such as Bluetooth streaming, allowing you to connect your devices seamlessly and enjoy your favorite music wirelessly.

When it comes to the installation process, the SR-B20A provides multiple input options to suit your needs. It features a single HDMI-ARC port, a pair of optical (Toslink) inputs, an RCA subwoofer output, and a USB interface for firmware updates.

Simply connect your TV’s HDMI-ARC port to the soundbar’s HDMI-ARC connector using an HDMI cable for easy setup. You can use the optical input instead if you have an older HDTV without ARC.

The SR-B20A does not have a 3.5mm jack for TVs without optical or HDMI outputs, so keep that in mind during setup.

With its wireless options and versatile input selection, the Yamaha SR-B20A soundbar ensures that you can easily connect and enjoy your audio content hassle-free.

Pros and Cons

When considering the pros and cons of the Yamaha SR-B20A soundbar, there are several key points to take into account.

On the positive side, the soundbar delivers solid and tight bass, with the option to add a dedicated subwoofer for even better low-frequency output. It also provides impressive virtualized 3D effects and accurately reproduces sounds for an immersive audio experience.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. The soundbar lacks Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, as well as missing features like Wi-Fi audio streaming and AirPlay 2. Additionally, it only has a single HDMI-ARC port and lacks a 3.5mm jack for TVs without optical or HDMI outputs.

Pros

You’ll appreciate the solid bass and virtualized 3D effects that the Yamaha SR-B20A delivers. Here are the pros of this all-in-one soundbar:

1. Value for money: Priced at $149.95, the Yamaha SR-B20A offers great audio performance at an affordable price point. It provides impressive bass and virtualized 3D effects, making it a worthwhile investment for those on a budget.
2. Bass performance: The built-in subwoofers of the SR-B20A deliver solid and tight bass, enhancing your audio experience. However, for even better low-frequency output, adding a dedicated subwoofer using the RCA subwoofer output is recommended.
3. Impressive virtualized 3D effects: Despite its price, the SR-B20A manages to provide impressive virtualized 3D effects. While not on par with pricier soundbars, it still enhances the excitement of movie sequences and creates an immersive audio experience.

With its value for money and commendable bass performance, the Yamaha SR-B20A is a solid choice for those seeking an affordable yet high-quality soundbar.

Cons

Improve your sound experience by considering the cons of the Yamaha SR-B20A soundbar. While this soundbar offers impressive audio quality for its price, it does have a few drawbacks to consider. Here are the cons:

1. Lacks Dolby Atmos support: Unfortunately, the Yamaha SR-B20A does not have Dolby Atmos support, so you won’t be able to experience the full immersive effect of overhead sound.
2. No Wi-Fi audio streaming: Unlike some other soundbars on the market, the SR-B20A does not support Wi-Fi audio streaming. This means you won’t be able to easily stream music or other audio content directly from your phone or other devices.
3. Limited connectivity options: The SR-B20A only has one HDMI-ARC port and lacks a second HDMI port or a 3.5mm jack. This can be limiting if you have multiple devices to connect or your TV doesn’t have an optical or HDMI output.

While the Yamaha SR-B20A soundbar offers great audio quality at an affordable price, it’s important to consider these cons before making your purchase.

Our Experience and Recommendations

Experience the impressive sound quality and immersive audio performance of the Yamaha SR-B20A soundbar.

This all-in-one soundbar delivers deep bass, surround effects, and accurate reproduction of vocals and instruments.

When it comes to soundbar placement and positioning, the SR-B20A offers flexibility and convenience. Its compact size allows for easy placement on a TV stand or mounting on a wall.

In terms of comparison with other soundbar models in the same price range, the Yamaha SR-B20A stands out with its exceptional audio performance and features. While it may lack some advanced technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, it compensates with its 120-watt 2.1-channel system and DTS Virtual:X for virtualized surround effects.

The Yamaha SR-B20A is a great choice for those seeking a high-quality soundbar at an affordable price.

Product Specifications

Feature	Specification
Brand	Yamaha
Model	SR-B20A
Type	Soundbar
Speaker Configuration	2.1 Channel
Total Power Output	120 Watts
Sound Output	– Dolby Digital
	– DTS Virtual:X
Connectivity	– HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
	– Optical Input
	– Bluetooth 5.0
Wireless Streaming	Bluetooth
Sound Modes	– Standard
	– Stereo
	– Game
Audio Decoding	– Dolby Digital
Subwoofer Included	No
Remote Control	Included
Wall Mountable	Yes (Wall mounting hardware not included)
Dimensions (Soundbar)	– Width: 35 inches (88.9 cm)
	– Height: 2.1 inches (5.3 cm)
	– Depth: 5.1 inches (13 cm)
Weight (Soundbar)	6.4 lbs (2.9 kg)
Warranty	1 Year