Big Picture Big Sound

At CEDIA in Denver earlier this month, Yamaha showed off the newest models in their "Digital Sound Projector" line, the YSP-800 ($799.95) and the brand new YSP-1100 ($1699). These one-box powered speaker systems feature proprietary electronics processing, multiple digital amplifiers and directional speakers which use your room's walls to direct rear channel sound behind your listening position for true surround sound from a single box.

The YSP-800 features 23 amplifiers, 2 woofers and 21 speakers, the larger YSP-1100 includes 42 digital amplifiers, 2 woofers, and 40 individual sound projector drivers for room-filling surround sound. The YSP-800 is designed to match the width of most 32-inch flat panels televisions while the YSP-1100 is a better size match for a 42-inch flat panel. both models come in black or silver finish to match most flat panel TV styles.


Unlike some competing products, the YSP-1100 includes built-in Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II processing as well as built-in amplification. So you need only plug it into the wall and connect your sources (DVD, VCR, digital cable box or audio output of your TV) to the digital or analog inputs and you'll be up and running.

The effect created by the YSP-1100 during the demo was very impressive, with sound coming from the sides and behind the listening position. But it does require that your room have regularly shaped walls on the sides and rear, for the best effect. If you're looking for surround sound without wires running across your room, then Yamaha's Digital Sound Projectors are definitely worth a listen.

Also on display from Yamaha was a new home theater receiver, the RX-V2700 ($1699), which features HDMI switching (3 in/1 out) and HD component video switching (3 in/1 out) supporting up to 1080p resolution. The receiver's integrated Anchor Bay Technologies' ABT1010 scaler engine upconverts analog video sources to 1080i or 720p resolution and outputs them via HDMI, version 1.2a.


The RX-V2700 is rated at 140 Watts/channel with seven channels driven and includes a Compressed Music Enhancer for beefing up the sound quality of your MP3s and/or Windows Media Audio files. And to access those files, the receiver features an Ethernet port on the back, enabling access to Internet radio stations, music files stored on a PC, and the company's premier MusicCAST audio system server (MCX-2000). The receiver also supports XM Radio (including XM HD Surround) via Connect-and-Play technology - just add a compatible XM antenna, sign up for XM service and you're good to go.