One other baffling omission, particularly on a high-end system with encompass audio system that may be positioned virtually anyplace: There’s no room correction.
Restricted Streaming
Yamaha MusicCast by way of Simon Cohen
Yamaha MusicCast by way of Simon Cohen
Music streaming is a combined bag, largely due to Yamaha’s restricted choices. The True X Encompass 90A helps Apple AirPlay, Tidal Join, and Spotify Join, but it surely doesn’t work with Google Solid or Alexa Solid. It really works with DLNA servers, however not like another Yamaha merchandise, there’s no Roon assist.
I discovered that the MusicCast app’s native assist for streaming companies proved to be probably the most dependable high-quality choice, although sadly, it’s a really restricted set: Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer, SiriusXM, and Pandora. Bluetooth can also be an choice, however with solely SBC and AAC codecs, it’s greatest for informal listening.
Nonetheless, listening to lossless, hi-res FLAC tracks from Amazon Music and Qobuz was exhilarating, particularly when utilizing the All listening mode.
Backside line? Yamaha’s True X Encompass 90A can enthrall you with its readability and precision. It provides breathtaking realism to films and reveals, usually revealing particulars that lesser soundbars obscure. A lot of that efficiency interprets to music, too, so long as you don’t thoughts its streaming service limitations. The absolutely wi-fi surrounds present wonderful immersion and lots of flexibility, each by way of placement and use as a secondary sound system.
However Yamaha fees a hefty worth for the True X Encompass 90A, and with a giant funding comes large expectations. The shortage of inputs, the dearth of management over the middle channel stage, and the absence of room correction are critical omissions. Apple Music subscribers who need to get the highest-quality audio also needs to notice the absence of any option to get a lossless or Dolby Atmos sign to the soundbar, with out the usage of an middleman gadget like an Apple TV 4K. That’s lots of compromises.
This makes it laborious to present the True X Encompass 90A an unqualified suggestion. However when you worth its strengths and don’t thoughts its weaknesses, Yamaha’s flagship is an effective, if expensive, sound addition to any TV setup.