Yamaha YSP-1 "Digital Sound Projector"

[DJ_V]

I searched for an AVS thread on this new product, but couldn't find anything. I'll start one!

• Single unit housing 42 drivers
• Can deliver five-channel sound in Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic II
• Bounces sound off the walls to create the illusion of discretely-placed speakers
• Subwoofer out connector
• U.S. release in March 2005, with an MSRP of $1500

What do the rest of you home theater enthusiasts think of this product? I know having separate speakers would be better, but apparently this thing works pretty well, according to those who have heard it. It could be a good solution for certain rooms.

External links
http://www.cnet.com/4520-10602_1-5618866-1.html?tag=hot
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-...tor-025818.php
http://www.google.com/search?q=yamah...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[bpape]

Sounds like an expired Bose Patent.

[gcbrink]

M&K has something like that too.
http://www.mksound.com/mp4512.htm

[Ray]

Hi
I had a chance to get a demo of this at CES
It was acually pretty good I would say that it would be a great product to spec into a condo,apartment,bedroom or cabin
Ray

[noodleNT]

I am considering this because it will work well in my appartment where drilling holes and pulling carpet is frowned appon to setup speakers..... don't understand why though.

[curtisf]

I just saw this unit at my local dealer, but did not get a chance to hear it since it wasn't setup. It was smaller than I expected it to be.

[DJ_V]

Originally posted by noodleNT
I am considering this because it will work well in my appartment where drilling holes and pulling carpet is frowned appon to setup speakers

Do you already have a dolby digital amp/receiver? If you did, I don't even think you can use it with the Yamaha. I think you plug the digital output from the DVD right into the Yamaha.

Anyone know for sure?

[fireshoes]

Originally posted by curtisf
I just saw this unit at my local dealer, but did not get a chance to hear it since it wasn't setup. It was smaller than I expected it to be.

Where did you get to see it? I thought it was not coming out until March. The dimensions I saw on it said it was about 40" wide, 7" high, and 4 or 5" deep.

[azhelkov]

YSP1 is now available from B&H for $1300 and OneCall even running $50 promotion. We need a review!!!
Alexander

[curtisf]

According to Yamaha, certain dealers in the country got small shipments. The nationwide release is scheduled for March. I think they are ramping up production, because it is selling so well in other parts of the world. I saw the unit at Mateo HiFi in San Mateo, CA.

[M NEWMAN]

Originally posted by DJ_V
Do you already have a dolby digital amp/receiver? If you did, I don't even think you can use it with the Yamaha. I think you plug the digital output from the DVD right into the Yamaha.

Anyone know for sure?

It takes the place of a reciever in a simple system (has 2 optical, 1 coax and an analog audio input - 4 total). If you use it in unison with an existing rec, then you will need a digital preout, or run your digital audio sources to this instead. This unit works very, very well - can be setup effectively for those annoying corner mount TV locations, or on any wall. The setup GUI is foolproof, almost setting itself up as you walk through the step by step menus. Takes about 5 or 10 minutes and presto!; you got 5.1 from a single speaker and the sub of your choice. This is a very nice setup for the money, as it replaces 5 speakers, a reciever, and takes almost no install time. Sounds pretty friggin good too. We're just starting to handle this product and I'm looking forward to using it in our simpler family room and master bedroom systems. Solves a LOT of problems!

[Karp]

It may sound pretty good (or bad), but it cannot reproduce true surround sound any more than headphones can. Using delays and "bouncing" sound off of walls may give you the illusion of surround sound, but at best will give you the equivilent of the old Dolby Surround format.

[M NEWMAN]

Originally posted by Karp
It may sound pretty good (or bad), but it cannot reproduce true surround sound any more than headphones can. Using delays and "bouncing" sound off of walls may give you the illusion of surround sound, but at best will give you the equivilent of the old Dolby Surround format.

While I generally agree with your premise, the net result of this system is significantly better than plain ol' dolby analog surround. Note that nowhere did I say that it would rival a properly set up 5.1 system, but rather that it solves a lot of installation and budget problems with very, very little compromise, considering...
Don't discount the value of this setup under the conditions it was designed for 'till you've heard it in action.

[Krawdad]

You could do the same thing with technology from this company:

http://www.atcsd.com/

and it actually has some pretty cool science around it. The sound is produced in nearly the same way holograms are created with light.

Cool stuff

[jheoaustin]

I believe YSP-1 is a phased array system like Pioneer Sound Projector. I remember Pioneer one had a calibration system with microphone inside, to measure the the roon reflection to form right reflection for surround effect. Is it same to YSP-1?

[curtisf]

I just received my YSP-1, and my first impression is positive. It took about 10min to setup using the "easy" method. You need to tell it the room type and predefined sizes, but it will allow you to to adjust all of the parameters manually if you have odd shaped rooms. One word to describe this unit is "amazing". The soundstage is wide and the sound does really appear to come from behind you. It is hard to believe that the sound is coming from 40 1.5" speakers with 2watt amps behind each of them! If this thing was priced at $800, it would fly off the shelves.

[M NEWMAN]

Originally posted by curtisf
.....If this thing was priced at $800, it would fly off the shelves.

If people figure out just how well this thing works, it'll fly off the shelves anyway - it's not very expensive for what it is and what it's designed for. Remember, the Pioneer version of this thing sells for $40,000!! The technology was licensed from Yamaha, and the Pioneer only worked for about 1 or 2 hours at the last CEDIA show. That oughta tell you something....

[bamputin]

hm i reckon it'd sound pretty terrible up loud

[jheoaustin]

Originally posted by Karp
It may sound pretty good (or bad), but it cannot reproduce true surround sound any more than headphones can. Using delays and "bouncing" sound off of walls may give you the illusion of surround sound, but at best will give you the equivilent of the old Dolby Surround format.

I had been agreeing on this kind of claims, but now I can't any more. During the CES, I auditioned a technology from Smyth Research, which tries to measure and equalize the response in your very ears with tiny microphones. The reference was your HT's sound, and the headphone was eqaulized using the "personalized" HRTF derived from 2 measurements (from your HT's, and from your headphones). I couldn't tell the difference AT ALL between HT sound and headphone sound in rear/back!!

Actually, this type of phased arrays have more difficulties to generate full surrounds than the headphone - simply far more variables than headphones! But I'd now believe that phased array or maybe even a pair of traditional speakers can generate full surround effect with "personalization".

[Rockhound]

Originally posted by bamputin
hm i reckon it'd sound pretty terrible up loud

Does anyone have an answer to this? I heard it at CES and was amazed at the surround sound reproduction and ordered mine which will be in about a week. I am just hoping that it will keep up with those times that you really want to crank it.

[aorbeta11]

Originally posted by curtisf
If this thing was priced at $800, it would fly off the shelves.

I'm with you on that one. If it was anywhere under $1k I would purchase it without a doubt. Do you have any pics of your installation??

[aorbeta11]

Originally posted by azhelkov
YSP1 is now available from B&H for $1300 and OneCall even running $50 promotion. We need a review!!!
Alexander

Just checked B&H. Clicked on the "Email me a better price" link and they sent me a price of $1100. Still out of stock though....

[brt3]

Originally posted by curtisf
I just received my YSP-1, and my first impression is positive. It took about 10min to setup using the "easy" method. You need to tell it the room type and predefined sizes, but it will allow you to to adjust all of the parameters manually if you have odd shaped rooms. One word to describe this unit is "amazing". The soundstage is wide and the sound does really appear to come from behind you. It is hard to believe that the sound is coming from 40 1.5" speakers with 2watt amps behind each of them! If this thing was priced at $800, it would fly off the shelves.

curtissf,

It would be great if you could post more details about this. Some questions I would have:

1.) How does it work at the extremes of volume settings, both soft and loud?
2.) How natural is dialogue over this speaker and what happens with dialogue pans as an actor is speaking while moving across the screen?
3.) What happens with the highs? Yamaha has a bit of a reputation for "sizzling" highs; how neutral is the tonal balance and what controls are offered to modify response?
4.) What is music listening like (see 3# above)
5.) Finally, what control do you have over the "surround" effect? For example, if you're listening to music and you want to "collapse" the soundfield down to a more "stereo" effect, can this be easily done by a button push (as opposed to going back into a setup menu)?

Thanks (in advance) for your help...

[curtisf]

1.) How does it work at the extremes of volume settings, both soft and loud?
The unit has a "night" mode that works pretty well. As for loudness, at 50% volume, it is really loud for my room and it still sounds pretty good. I listen about 30% volume.

2.) How natural is dialogue over this speaker and what happens with dialogue pans as an actor is speaking while moving across the screen?
The dialogue is pretty clean and will pan across the virtual front speakers. It isn't as natural as my Von Schweikert center, but it is pretty darn good.

3.) What happens with the highs? Yamaha has a bit of a reputation for "sizzling" highs; how neutral is the tonal balance and what controls are offered to modify response?
I haven't noticed the "sizzling" highs yet. The unit allows you to adjust the tonal balance for 8 different "beams".

4.) What is music listening like (see 3# above)
Haven't done much with this, but from what I heard, my main stereo system (with Meadowlark speakers) sounds a lot better.

5.) Finally, what control do you have over the "surround" effect? For example, if you're listening to music and you want to "collapse" the soundfield down to a more "stereo" effect, can this be easily done by a button push (as opposed to going back into a setup menu)?
It is as easy as a button push. There is a "surround" button which cycles through the different DD and DTS modes. There are "beam" buttons which allow you to select the 2, 3, 4 or 5 sound "beam" modes.

BTW, the Yamaha website doesn't list B&H Photo as an authorized dealer, so you might not get the warranty if you buy from them. I got my unit from OneCall which is listed on the Yamaha site.

[brt3]

curtisf,

Thanks for answering my questions; this helps a great deal. I have a Qualia 006; with my equipment on the stand there's almost (but not quite) enough room for the YSP-1. I was thinking of mounting it on the wall above and behind the display, but am not keen on running a bundle of wires in this application. I plan to install the set in a custom cabinet, which should solve this dilemma...

[aorbeta11]

curtisf,
Are you using a sub with your setup?

[curtisf]

I am using a M&K sub with my YSP. I have the xover set to 100MHz.

[Rockhound]

Got mine today! I just got done running through the entire Episode One DVD to test volume levels, and I could get it to clip, but that was at a far higher volume level than I would normally listen.

The surround performance of this thing is just amazing, and it has better dialog performance than most center channels that I've heard.

Audio performace in "2 beam" (2 channel) mode was about on par with a receiver running an inexpensive pair of quality bookshelves.

It's definitely not for a high-end theater room, but for a house like mine where I have to put my system in the family room, and pass the WAF, It is a truly wonderful option.

[hfhlt004]

I got mine yesterday. It is worth the $1300 I paid. I am downsizing from big tower speakers, and this unit sounds very good with a subwoofer. It is great for getting rid of all those speakers and wires in my apartment living room. It fits nicely on my LCD projection TV, since the base is very shallow. I just wish it had a FM tuner and a better manual with some pictures.

[cinemascope]

I would think that this woukd be a no-brainer for bedroom theater and dorms (excepting meatheads that would throttle it)...
I was impressed with what I have read, and I think it might excel in some of these applications.

PS. That M&K thing is laughable, I heard it at CEDIA and had to restrain myself from cracking up in front of some devoted dealers that were trying to justify it's existance.