Yamaha YAS-108 Review: An Excellent $200 Soundbar

Our Verdict

Yamaha'due south YAS-108 soundbar delivers plenty of features and overall very adept overall sound, all for $220.

For

Full sound from a compact class
Abrupt treble and expert bass
HDMI and 4K passthrough

Confronting

Newer model bachelor

Tom's Guide Verdict

Yamaha'due south YAS-108 soundbar delivers plenty of features and overall very skillful overall audio, all for $220.

Pros

+
Full audio from a compact grade
+
Precipitous treble and adept bass
+
HDMI and 4K passthrough

Cons

-
Newer model bachelor

The Yamaha YAS-108 continues, in many ways, its parent visitor's tradition of producing quality soundbars. Besides packing in HDMI, 4K passthrough, several sound modes, Bluetooth and a clutch of other features, it'southward affordable by soundbar standards: currently $220.

Nonetheless, it's also showing its age, at least in the sense that it's been replaced by the newer YAS-109. This also costs $220, so what exactly do you get for your money with the older soundbar? Our original YAS-108 review continues below, so read on to notice out.

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Yamaha YAS-108 review: Blueprint

While substantially the same in size as the YAS-107 — Yamaha's previous low-cost model — the 35 ten 5.one ten 2.ane-inch YAS-108 updates its look a bit, opting for rounded edges. The case is enclosed in black mesh, giving the unit an unobtrusive manner. Since it doesn't come up with a subwoofer, it really doesn't take upwardly much space or concenter attention.

Despite its size, the soundbar has plenty of power to fill up a medium-size room, thanks to two 2.1-inch woofers and two 1-inch tweeters. Instead of a separate subwoofer, Yamaha integrated two three-inch subwoofers into the unit. They produce enough bass to add resonance to dialogue; if you want more than smash, there'due south a wired connection to add a divide subwoofer.

The YAS-108 has 1 HDMI input and i output, and it tin can passthrough 4K video. You can also connect past optical digital sound or three.5-millimeter analog. The soundbar supports two Bluetooth connections at once, which means that, in addition to using your phone as a music source, you could have an Amazon Echo or Google Assistant speaker always paired and listening for commands.

The YAS-108 offers several ways to create a sound that most pleases your ears — something you won't detect on many soundbars at this price level.

The YAS-108's remote provides plenty of control: In addition to switching inputs and adjusting volume, you can change the bass level and select among several sound modes, such every bit Surround, Clear Vocalism and 3D Surround. Unfortunately, the soundbar'southward indicator lights are on top of the unit, making it difficult to see what style y'all're in while sitting on the couch.

Yamaha YAS-108 review: Performance

The YAS-108 delivers impressive overall sound for the size and cost. It produces crisp treble and a wide sound field. Even without a subwoofer, it generates enough bass to make voices easy to understand, though it won't rattle the flooring.

During the car race scene in Ready Role player Ane, the YAS-108 filled the room with the sounds of tires screeching on the road, King Kong roaring and coins trickling. While watching The Expanse, the dialogue betwixt James Holden and Naomi Nagata was clear, even when Holden was intensely whispering.

During the motorcar race scene in Ready Player One, the YAS-108 filled the room with the sounds of tires screeching on the road, King Kong roaring and coins trickling.

The YAS-108 shines with music equally information technology does with video. On Kittenish Gambino's 'Summertime Magic,' the unit's wide sound field makes the layers of sound like shooting fish in a barrel to distinguish to a higher place the runway's thumping bass. The horns on Miles Davis' "Summertime" were crisp and brilliant, as was Lindsey Buckingham'southward fingerpicked guitar on Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Back Once more."

Yamaha YAS-108 review: Setup

Setting up the YAS-108 is elementary, as it should be for a soundbar. I connected a Roku to the HDMI in and the soundbar to my TV, and I was watching TV in minutes. I also paired via Bluetooth for listening to music without whatever problems.

The YAS-108 offers several ways to create a sound that about pleases your ears — something you won't detect on many soundbars at this cost level. I upped the bass to produce more rumble when watching movies; during music playback I found I wanted less bass in the mix.

The soundbar features several mix-and-match sound modes, such as 3D Surround (one of the few new additions that comes with this model), Surround and Stereo, equally well as Articulate Voice for boosting vocals and Bass Extension for even more low end. I found I liked Surround fashion over 3D Environs when watching movies and Television receiver shows; 3D Surround expanded the audio field but made voices sound sparse and processed.

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Yamaha YAS-108 review: Verdict

The YAS-108 occupies a sweet spot for soundbars: It has a ton of features, and you tin adjust the sound to fit your preferences. If you were considering one of the many $100 soundbars available today, information technology's worth expanding your budget to get the YAS-108. And if you were considering a more expensive model, the YAS-108 should make your short listing too, unless a wireless subwoofer is a requirement.

If yous ain a YAS-107, yous probably don't need to upgrade, only the latest model does correspond an impressive improvement in sound quality over the YAS-106. With sharp treble and decent bass, for the price, the YAS-108 will satisfy about people's needs and exceed expectations.

Credit: Tom'southward Guide

Michael Gowan covers soundbars, TVs, portable speakers and other audio- and video-related topics for Tom's Guide. He'south written about music and technology for more than than xx years for a raft of publications including Wired, Men'due south Journal, PC World and Macworld. When he's not reviewing speakers, he's probably listening to one anyway.