Yamaha YSP-1 Digital Sound Projector

Other products by Yamaha

Product Details

Data Sheet [1.03mb PDF]

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Product Manual [1.07mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 41 x 8 x 5 inches ; 16 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 35 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007LVW22
• Item model number: YSP-1
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #73,444 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 15, 2005

Product Description

Amazon.com Hands-On Review

Amazon.com Hands-On Review When you want quality sound but can't tolerate hookup hassles or bulky speaker systems, one product demands to be heard: Yamaha's YSP-1 digital sound projector. The YSP-1, which earned the coveted "Best of CES, Best of Show" award at the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show, is an extremely sophisticated powered loudspeaker that renders the most successful single-source surround effects we've ever heard. The big-screen-friendly YSP-1 may be just one box, but its silver-grilled casing houses no fewer than 42 individual speaker drivers, each powered by its own digital amplifier for a clear 120 watts total output.

The Yamaha YSP-1 employs multiple small speakers, each with its own digital amplifier.

This speaker doesn't merely simulate surround sound. Using complex digital signal processing and intricate driver positioning, it actually reproduces and projects discrete 5-channel sound to different parts of your room, relying on a network of sound reflections from your walls and carefully calibrated delays to deliver coherent multichannel surround sound in a multitude of popular formats.

Sound reflecting off the walls is strikingly suggestive of having actual speakers placed behind and at the sides of your listening position. Because the YSP-1 packs a digital signal processor as well as speaker cones and discrete amplifiers, it relieves you of the need for an audio/video surround receiver while freeing you from four of the five primary speakers in a traditional 5.1-channel speaker system. (A subwoofer, the ".1" in a 5.1 system, is optional.) Cabling is minimal and unobtrusive, so you won't have to drape speaker wires around your living room.

All five channels: L, R, C, Ls, and Rs are given separate orientations. Sound is beamed off the walls to create the effect of a surround system with rear speakers.

Configuration is as simple or complicated as you want to make it. You can choose one of three basic preset configurations aimed at small, medium, and large rooms--a great starting point for anyone--and you can, if you wish, fine-tune just about every conceivable parameter, from signal levels for each of the five main channels (front left/center/right and surround left/right) to virtual speaker distance and equalization for each channel to the output level and crossover frequency (for high-frequency rolloff) on the output to your subwoofer.

The device even offers three memory settings to accommodate the listening preferences of different household members or different settings for different sources (movies vs. music, for instance). Its slim depth--under five inches--makes it perfect for use with flat-screen LCD and plasma televisions.

Please keep in mind that to produce successful surround effects, the YSP-1 requires reasonably symmetrical positioning between bare reflective walls, either parallel to two walls or positioned at a 40- to 50-degree angle, as in a corner. Even in rooms laden with books, rugs, and furniture, however--elements that can interfere with the sound reflection needed for proper spatial cues--the YSP-1 still produces a pleasingly full and spacious sound that we found superior to the sound from most surround systems composed of tiny satellite speakers.

The projector comes with four adhesive pads for mounting on a shelf above or below your television, and Yamaha makes an optional bracket, the SPM-K1 wall mount for fixing the YSP-1 on your wall.

For full-impact home entertainment, we strongly recommend using the speaker with an optional stand-alone powered subwoofer. It's certainly usable and enjoyable without a sub, but it's far more impressive (and movies and music far more dramatic) with a subwoofer engaged.

The YSP-1 easily connects to your existing components via two optical and one coaxial digital-audio jacks and two stereo (left/right) analog RCA inputs. The supplied preset remote can control TVs, DVD players, and VCRs. An RS-232C interface permits advanced commercial customization.

The digital sound projector rear panel offers two optical and one coaxial digital inputs, two analog inputs, subwoofer output, and RS-232C interface for custom applications.

A composite-video output facilitates onscreen configuration and display. There are no video inputs, however--the biggest factor keeping the projector from being as convenient as a full-featured AV receiver. You'll need separate inputs on your TV to accommodate each video source in your system, and you'll need to switch the inputs on both the TV and the YSP-1 to match the source you want to watch (whereas an AV receiver will typically send the correct video to your TV and the correct audio to your speakers at the touch of a single button).

When connected to DVD players via its digital-audio inputs, the YSP-1 delivers full processing for Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround formats. Dolby Pro Logic II (with Music, Movie, and Game settings) and DTS Neo:6 Music generate discrete multichannel surround from any two-channel source via either digital or analog audio inputs. Customizable parameters for DPL II include panorama, dimension, and center width; DTS Neo:6 lets you alter the perceived width of the center sonic "image." --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Very good sound for both movies and music
• Simple to use
• Frees you from needing a surround receiver and a multichannel speaker system
• Cutting-edge surround format compatibility
• Remarkably convincing surround effects
• Extremely efficient performance
• Includes bass management
• Great off-axis response
• Three user settings for channel levels, EQ

Cons:

• Does not perform video switching
• Requires large shelf below TV/monitor or wall mounting

What's in the Box
Speaker unit, 4-device universal remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, 1 composite-video cable, 1 coaxial digital-audio cable, 1 optical digital-audio cable, 1 stereo (left/right) analog-audio cable, a cable holder, 4 base fasteners, an AC power cord, and warranty information.

Product Description

The Yamaha YSP-1 Digital Sound Projector provides Multichannel Surround Sound Enjoyment from a Single Component. 42 Digital Amplifiers power 40 sound beam drivers and two woofers to deliver geniune multichannel surround sound for an elegant home theater system. It provides 5.1 Channel Surround Sound with no need for any extra amplifiers or speakers. It has a thin profile designed to match Flat Panel Displays. There is no need for numerous speaker cables and placement is easy and flexible and it can also be wall mounted. The YSP-1 features 120 Watts of System Power, using Digital Amplifiers to provide 40X2 Watts and 2X20 Watts. It has built in Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Decoders. It features Beam Mode settings of Stereo, 3 Beam, 5 Beam and Stereo + 3 Beam. It has a night listening mode. There is an Easy/Comprehensive On-Screen set up menu. It is Magnetically Shielded, has a Front Panel LCD, a Preset Remote Control and a Detachable Power Cord. It has 2 Optical and 1 Coaxial Digital input, 2 Analog Audio Inputs, an RS-232C Interface, a Subwoofer output, a Composite Video output for viewing on-screen display on TV Monitor. It has 40 1 5/8" Drivers and 2 4/38" Woofers.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Probably not as Good as cheaper HTIB's, September 8, 2005

By	Nekretaal "Nekretaal" (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews

I've fooled around with my Yahmaha YSP-1 Digital sound projector for about three weeks now using it primarily as a home theater. I bought it hoping to get a surround sound experience while at the same time avoiding messy wires. I looked at "wireless" speakers, but I already have too many wireless devices in the house and I already have problems with wireless signal interferance. Too me, the YSP-1 seemed too good to be true.

So far I am happy with the clean sound that the unit produces, but I am less enthusiastic about the capablities to simulate surround sound.

The projector bounces sound off of walls, but my living room is "L" shaped and has many windows, so it is not ideal for the unit. The manual and promotional materials say that the YSP should be able to handle my living room, but the YSP is spotty about delivering on its promises of simulated surround sound performance. In addition, the sound projector's system of bouncing sound off of walls gives me headaches sometimes.

In summary:

Pro: the odd technology of bouncing sound off of walls does provide a surround sound experience without messy wires.

Con: the digital sound projector is expensive and does not come with a subwoofer which it needs. Factoring in the price of the unit and the price of the additional subwoofer and speaker cables, there are home theater in a box systems as much as $400-$500 cheaper which deliver a superior experience.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Thrilled!, December 5, 2005

By	mrs.c (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

We purchased the YSP-1 in August as a companion to our Hitachi Ultravision wall-mounted television. What a fabulous piece of audio equipment!

When we began searching for a replacement for our Infiniti surround system, my husband and I had different concerns. He is an audiophile that demands wide range digital sound with full depth of field and I was ready for aestethic simplicity (no speakers throughout the room and wires everywhere). When we found the YSP-1 we thought it was too good to be true. One speaker instead of five? Wall-mounted? Doesn't take up any floor space? We visited two Yamaha dealers to see it for ourselves. One had the YSP-1 set up in a room environment. The other, on the salesroom floor. In both set-ups it performed consistantly. In both demonstrations however, my husband felt the low-end sound could use enhancement. So, we made the purchase and opted to use the YSP-1 with our existing subwoofer. Installation was fairly simple, provided you have the necessary tools. The most important, and time-consuming part was leveling and centering the speaker under the television. Now that it is installed and in use in our home, I feel the low-end sound is quite adequate and prefer not to use the sub-woofer. My husband though, prefers the earth-shaking action sequences in movies to mimic their intended theatre quality sound. More than movies the sound quality you get when listening to CDs is absolutely stunning. Overall, we both got what we wanted. Expert sound designation and sleek, minimalistic styling (with the added bonus of more floor and wall space).