The Yamaha YAS-109 is a 2.2 setup from 2019. It's the next generation of the Yamaha YAS-108/ATS-1080, adding an Ethernet port, six EQ presets, Alexa built-in voice assistant, and Wi-Fi wireless capabilities. That said, it shares many of the same strengths and weaknesses as its predecessor. Although it has two built-in subwoofers, it still struggles to reproduce a thumpy bass. Also, it has to downmix surround content into stereo to play it, which doesn't sound as immersive. Still, while it can't get very loud, there aren't many compression artifacts at max volume, so your audio is fairly clean and pure at high volumes.
Our Verdict
The Yamaha YAS-109 is acceptable for mixed usage. It has a boomy sound profile, but it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so genres like EDM or sound effects in action films lack thump and rumble. That said, it can reproduce vocals and dialogue fairly clearly. While it doesn't get loud enough to fill a large or crowded room, there aren't many compression artifacts at max volume.
- EQ presets available.
- Good latency performance.
- Poor surround performance.
- No Atmos support.
The Yamaha YAS-109 is alright for dialogue and TV shows. Although it's a 2.2 setup and it lacks a dedicated center channel, it has a fairly neutral mid-range, which results in fairly clear and accurate dialogue. If you want to further improve vocal clarity, it also has a dialogue enhancement feature. Its audio latency also falls within good limits, so you shouldn't experience out of sync audio or visuals.
- EQ presets available.
- Good latency performance.
- No auto-volume mode.
- No room correction.
The Yamaha YAS-109 is okay for music. It has a boomy sound profile and lacks low-bass, which may be disappointing for fans of EDM and hip-hop. That said, it has a fairly neutral mid-range, so vocals and lead instruments are present in your mix. If you prefer a different sound, there are six EQ presets available. While the bar can't get loud, there aren't many compression artifacts at max volume.
- EQ presets available.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatible.
- No room correction.
- Lacks low-bass.
The Yamaha YAS-109 is mediocre for movies. It struggles to reproduce low-bass, so action-packed scenes lack thump and rumble. The bar also doesn't get very loud, although there aren't many compression artifacts at max volume. It has to downmix surround content into stereo to play it, which doesn't sound very immersive, and it doesn't support Atmos.
- EQ presets available.
- Good latency performance.
- Poor surround performance.
- No Atmos support.
- Lacks low-bass.
Changelog
- Updated Dec 11, 2023: Updated the number of channels from 2.0 to 2.2 for consistency with other Yamaha bars.
- Updated Dec 04, 2023: Added market comparison with the Yamaha ATS-1090 in the Audio Format Support - ARC box.
- Updated Sep 05, 2023: Added information about the Yamaha ATS-1090 to the Variants box.
- Updated Feb 23, 2021: Updated HDR10 Passthrough from 'No' to 'Yes'.
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Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Yamaha YAS-109 is a 2.2 setup. It's the next generation of the Yamaha YAS-108/ATS-1080 and has new features like an Ethernet port and EQ presets. It also has a port so you can add a dedicated subwoofer down the line. However, like many 2.2 setups, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, and it doesn't get very loud.
Check out our recommendations for the best soundbars under $200, the best budget soundbars, and the best soundbars for dialogue.
The Yamaha YAS-109 and the Yamaha ATS-1090 are very similar. The YAS-109 can reproduce a better low-frequency extension, so you notice more bass in the mix. However, only the ATS-1090 supports DTS content via Optical, which is commonly found on Blu-rays and streaming platforms alike.
The Yamaha YAS-209 has a better performance than the Yamaha YAS-109. The YAS-209 comes with a dedicated subwoofer that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It's also better-built, and it has a better soundstage.
The Sonos Beam is a better soundbar than the Yahama YAS-109. The Sonos is a 3.0 setup that feels better built and has a more neutral sound profile. Its center channel performance is better and has more sound enhancement features. However, the Yahama has more physical inputs like a Full HDMI In port and supports Bluetooth.
The Yamaha YAS-109 is the next generation of the Yamaha YAS-108/ATS-1080. The YAS-109 has an Ethernet port instead of an AUX port, it supports wireless playback via Wi-Fi, and it also has EQ presets. However, the YAS-108 can get a bit louder with fewer compression artifacts.
Test Results
