Yamaha True X

An enjoyable, energetic sound from a small package

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As television panels get thinner, the space for proper drive units that can deliver a high-level audio performance decreases. Manufacturers are constantly developing new ways to enhance their TV’s built-in speaker capabilities, but it’s generally best to let the screen handle visuals and delegate audio responsibilities elsewhere.

Dolby Atmos-compatible ‘soundbar plus subwoofer’ packages are not uncommon and present a great way to improve the sound of your favourite shows, movies and games; but, despite increasingly clever virtual surround processing, they can’t produce sounds to the side and behind the seating position in the way a full surround system can. Now, though, bundles that also include a pair of surrounds with the bar and sub are becoming increasingly popular, and one such system is the Yamaha True X – at least in the configuration in which we are testing it.

The Yamaha True X soundbar can be bought on its own as the True X 40A (£540) or as a True X 50A bundle with a subwoofer (£799). It is also available as a surround package that includes a pair of WS-X1A wireless speakers for £1099, which is how we are testing the system.

For reference, some top standalone soundbars such as the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus cost £1299, while the Sony HT-A7000 is priced at £1199. The Samsung Q990C soundbar package, which also contains wireless surrounds and a subwoofer, nominally costs £1399 but has now reached the end of its life so is currently available for much less. It is also worth considering the Sonos Beam Gen 2, which is available as part of an ‘Immersive Set’ that includes the Sub Mini and a pair of Era 100 speakers for a total of £1281.