Yamaha SR-C30A Evaluation: A Chew-Dimension Soundbar That Packs a Punch

For near-field listening, comparable to at a desk, the Yamaha SR-C30A is hard to beat for the value.

Surprisingly for such an itsy-bitsy soundbar, the SR-C30A can fill a decent-sized room with sound. Granted, in its straight stereo mode, it turns into successfully monophonic from greater than about 4 ft away, however change to Customary or 3D Film mode and the SR-C30A delivers a pleasant sense of spaciousness from even six ft away. And the soundbar/subwoofer combo has sufficient energy to ship a satisfyingly loud listening expertise even in a bigger den or lounge.

The place the SR-C30A actually shines, although, is in a near-field atmosphere, e.g. as pc audio system. Yamaha promotes the soundbar as being nice for
“battlestations” and small areas, however maybe its greatest trick is that it’s a rock-solid audio resolution for these with standing desks. Frankly, it sounds higher than most small pc audio system, and the truth that it’s straightforward to tuck below your monitor means the sound follows you whenever you sit or stand. The unit even has a Sport sound mode that’s particularly designed for near-field listening.

In regards to the Yamaha SR-C30A Soundbar

• Worth: $279.95
• Peak x Width x Depth: Soundbar: 2.5 x 23.63 x 3.75 inches; Subwoofer: 13.25 x 6.25 x 14.38 inches
• Weight: Soundbar: 2.9 lbs.; Subwoofer: 12.6 lbs.
• Speaker channels: Soundbar: Two 1.8-inch drivers; Subwoofer: 5.125-inch cone
• Amplification: Soundbar: 40 watts; Subwoofer: 50 watts
• Wi-fi connection: Bluetooth 5.0 (AAC and SBC codecs)
• Wired connection: HDMI ARC, optical in (x2), 3.5mm aux in, USB (for service)
• Sound codecs: Dolby Digital
• Video assist: None

The SR-C30A is, in some ways, simplicity incarnate—one thing you would possibly admire in right now’s more and more related and sophisticated audio/video panorama. Contained in the stubby, L-shaped field is a two-channel soundbar measuring lower than two ft broad and a wi-fi subwoofer that may be stood towards a wall, tucked below a desk, and even laid flat below a sofa in the event you’ve obtained sufficient clearance.

The dedication to simplicity extends to the design of the product, as properly, because it’s outfitted with simply two drivers. That’s one 1.8-inch driver per channel, with no separate tweeter and cone for top frequencies and midrange, respectively.

The soundbar comes with a few energy cables, one optical audio cable, a easy distant management, a wall-mounting template, and a few {hardware} for wall-mounting. You’ll must carry your personal screws to the social gathering if you wish to go that route. You’ll additionally want to purchase an HDMI cable if you wish to depend on an ARC connection to your TV. However apart from that, every little thing you want is included within the field.

What we like

Simple setup

Probably the most difficult factor concerning the Yamaha SR-C30A is the field it is available in. That’s not hyperbole; the transport container is a kind of bizarre L-shaped factor designed to accommodate the capsule-esque soundbar and the marginally boxier subwoofer with out losing a lot house. You might need to hunt and scratch for a minute or two to determine the place to chop the tape and how you can pull out the flaps in order that the field might be opened and the contents thereof might be extricated.

With that out of the best way, it’s a easy matter of inserting the soundbar beneath your display and subwoofer the place you need it (even, doubtlessly, below the couch in case you have greater than 6.5 inches of clearance), connecting your TV with an HDMI ARC cable if relevant or the included optical cable if not, plugging the soundbar and subwoofer into energy, powering the system on, and giving the soundbar and sub a number of seconds to sync up wirelessly. You’ll additionally need to join any cell gadgets through Bluetooth to stream music to the SR-C30A.

It’s straightforward to function

The SR-C30A comes with a simple distant management that handles supply choice (TV, Optical, Bluetooth, Analog), entry to the 4 sound modes (Stereo, Customary, 3D Film, Sport), buttons to toggle Clear Voice and Bass Ext processing, unbiased quantity management buttons for the subwoofer and your complete system, mute, and dim. There’s additionally a management app (Yamaha Sound Bar Distant, not the confusingly equally named Yamaha Sound Bar Controller), that offers you entry to the identical controls, however handily allows you to see which modes are engaged, one thing you may’t inform very properly from a look on the soundbar itself.

It sounds fairly good for its dimension and value

There are variety of decent-sounding soundbars within the under-$300 class, however the SR-C30A units itself aside by together with a sub, which a few of its pocket-sized compatriots lack. Granted, expectations must be saved in test at this value level. Whereas sound is healthier than anticipated, the Yamaha does have its limitations, largely because of its reliance on a single driver per channel, as a substitute of separate tweeters and cones. What this implies in real-world phrases is that the SR-C30A runs out of steam within the larger frequencies. As such, you lose a number of the “air” in music and flicks, and dialogue can usually sound a bit nasal.

That stated, regardless of the fabric there’s a sound mode that works for it. Stereo actually solely works within the very nearfield, and with music at that. Customary is nice for many programming materials, particularly talky TV reveals and with music whenever you’re greater than a pair ft away from the soundbar. 3D Film does job, surprisingly, of including a way of better spaciousness with movies, and likewise manages to revive a little bit of the high-end sparkle that’s lacking from different modes.

Actually, the one time the processing sounds unnatural is when 3D Film mode is mixed with Clear Voice, which makes issues a bit too crisp, edgy, and fatiguing. Oddly, although, there are exceptions to even this rule. When watching Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, the sound was a bit too congested with out Clear Voice turned on. The Loopy 88s battle from Kill Invoice: Vol. 1, alternatively, sounded a lot better with 3D Film on and Clear Voice off. With the latter engaged, the clashing katanas have been too shiny, too piercing, too arduous on the eardrums.

Nonetheless, it by no means took me greater than 10 seconds to determine which mode labored greatest for the fabric I used to be watching or listening to, and after I moved from my den to my desktop PC system, I discovered I needed to do even much less fiddling. Customary mode sounds greatest for many issues, however Sport mode provides one thing I fairly wish to motion video games comparable to Valheim.

The one characteristic of the system that was turned on and left on was the Bass Ext. perform. Yamaha doesn’t clarify this characteristic very properly, however primarily, in our testing, it appears to enhance the combination of the subwoofer with the soundbar whereas additionally including extra low-frequency extension. Nevertheless it really works, it transforms the sound of the SR-C30A and makes the soundbar and sub sound extra like a unified sound system.

What we don’t like

It’s a bit too feature-light

Whereas you need to admire the simplicity of the SR-C30A, Yamaha might have added a number of extra options with out complicating issues an excessive amount of. It doesn’t characteristic any type of DTS audio, for instance, nor assist for digital Dolby Atmos processing. Thoughts you, that kind of processing can solely accomplish that a lot with two audio system to work with, however different 2.1 choices at or beneath this value—just like the Vizio V21t-J8—at the very least embody DTS Digital:X.

The indicator lights are almost ineffective

Relatively than having a text-based show display, the SR-C30A depends on 5 LED lights to let you understand what modes are engaged and which options are turned on and off. You’d in all probability be capable to be taught semaphore extra rapidly and simpler than you may decide to reminiscence what it means when, say, the second, third, and fourth lights on the underside of the ‘bar flash 3 times. (For the document, it means Bass Ext. is engaged, however I needed to look that up within the handbook and I’m nonetheless not 100% assured I’m appropriate.)

Thoughts you, the Sound Bar Distant app makes it far simpler to see what’s turned on and off and which mode you’re in, and it connects actually rapidly through Bluetooth.

There’s no method to modify the brilliant white gentle on the sub

Relying on how the sub is positioned, this might not be an issue—particularly if it’s tucked below the couch. However in my workplace, the perfect place for the sub ended up being alongside the aspect wall, towards the nook, with the motive force dealing with out into the room and the bass-reflex port pointed towards the entrance wall of the room. That meant the brilliant white LED gentle—which shines with the depth of the solar on a partly cloudy day—was at all times in my peripheral imaginative and prescient. I ended up having to cowl it with a bit {of electrical} tape, however the capability to dim or disable the sub gentle the best way you may the show lights on the soundbar would have been appreciated.

Do you have to purchase the Yamaha SR-C30A Soundbar?

Sure, if you wish to save house or have a standing desk

If you happen to’re in search of an ultra-compact soundbar that comes with its personal wi-fi sub, sounds higher than you’d count on, and is sort of foolproof by way of setup and day-to-day operation, there’s quite a bit to like about Yamaha’s little SR-C30A system. Thoughts you, in the event you demand Atmos processing or DTS decoding of any type, the SR-C30A lacks these. And we predict its sound high quality can be even higher if it had separate drivers for top and mid frequencies. However taking a look at its competitors, the Yamaha makes up for these deficiencies with strengths in different areas.

The Bose Sensible Soundbar 600 sounds higher, and it has Atmos, but it surely prices $200+ extra and doesn’t embody a sub. The Bose TV Speaker is nearer by way of value, dimension, and format assist, however once more, it doesn’t include a subwoofer, and the sold-separately sub designed for it prices greater than the TV Speaker itself. The aforementioned Vizio V21t-J8 prices a bit much less and provides DTS Digital:X, however we’ve been listening to quite a few reviews of QC issues with this line as of late, and Amazon buyer opinions are regarding.

Actually, the one really significant competitors the Yamaha has throughout the board comes from Polk Audio with their MagniFi Mini, which boasts a number of extra drivers (together with tweeters for high-frequency sounds), however a barely bigger subwoofer that’s not fairly as versatile by way of placement.

So, it’s straightforward to select nits and level out the options that Yamaha’s SR-C30A lacks, however whenever you tally up what it does—to not point out what it does properly—it’s frankly fairly the discount. Particularly in case you have a standing desk and also you’re bored with having your pc audio system serenade your midriff.

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Costs have been correct on the time this text was printed however could change over time.

Meet the tester

Dennis Burger

Contributor

Initially a civil engineer and land surveyor by commerce, Dennis has made a profession of reviewing audio electronics and residential automation since 2002. He lives in Alabama along with his spouse and their four-legged youngster Bruno, an 80-pound American Staffordshire Terrier who has by no means met a lap he wouldn’t attempt to fill.

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