Inside the Yamaha True-X90A Soundbar: Features, Dolby Atmos Performance, and Who Should Buy It
The Yamaha True-X90A flagship Dolby Atmos sound bar represents Yamaha’s most recent and ambitious soundbar effort (but do not call it a successor to the amazing YSP-5600). Rather than a simple bar that boosts your TV’s audio, Yamaha has engineered a complete home theatre experience with a dedicated soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and fully wireless rear speakers — all designed to deliver 3D surround sound without an AV receiver or separate speakers scattered around the room.
Physically, the True-X90A has a slim main bar that fits neatly under most TVs or can be wall-mounted discreetly, although the number of drivers, and highly ridged cabinet do mean this bar is a little on the heavy side (11kg) and this should be taken into consideration if wall mounting. This unit pairs with a wireless subwoofer that uses Yamaha’s Symmetrical Flare Port® design for cleaner, deeper bass with minimal distortion.
The wireless rear speakers in this system are not just surrounds — they have built-in batteries and can double as extremely capable portable Bluetooth speakers when detached. This gives you multiple use cases without buying separate products. Packaged with the True-X90A are charging cradles for these rear speakers, which makes them a convenient multi-use speaker.
Key Features That Set the True-X90A Apart
- Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and AURO-3D Support.
- The True-X90A interprets the immersive audio formats most commonly used in movies and high-end home theatre. That includes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which bring genuine height and object-based audio to your living room.
- Yamaha also includes AURO-3D, which is not widely found on soundbars and adds an additional dimension to soundstage depth.
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- Beam Speaker Technology
- Yamaha created the original Beam Speaker Technology and have been improving it ever since.
- They used this technology to create the world’s first surround soundbar.
- The YSP-1 in 2004
- Yamaha again rolled out a world’s first with the YSP-5600
- The first soundbar equipped with height speakers compatible with real Dolby ATMOS playback.
- Yamaha’s history with beam speaker arrays has led to this system using 12 DSP-controlled upward-firing speakers to bounce sound off ceilings and create an expansive sound field that feels bigger than the soundbar itself.
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- SURROUND:AI Processing
- Borrowed from Yamaha’s high-end AV receivers, SURROUND:AI analyses the audio activity in real time and optimises surround and height effects for what you are watching. This means movies, shows, and even music can sound more dimensional without manual EQ tweaking.
- MusicCast and Connectivity
- Unlike many premium soundbars that lock you into limited streaming options, this system integrates Yamaha’s MusicCast ecosystem with Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth support.
- Along with services like:
- Spotify
- Tidal
- Amazon Music.
- It also supports HDMI eARC.
- so, you get high-quality TV sound over a single cable. New Paragraph
These features, and more, mean the True-X90A can deliver a convincing cinematic experience if your room can reflect sound properly. The upward-firing beams and wireless rear speakers help create height and surround layers, which in good rooms add noticeable vertical and lateral cues during movies. During scenes with overhead effects — planes flying above, rain, or ambient environmental audio — the sensation is often more convincing than simpler soundbars due to the Beam Speaker Technology and dedicated height speakers.
Bass from the wireless subwoofer has solid impact without overwhelming the mids and highs. Dialogue tends to stay clear thanks to Yamaha’s Clear Voice feature, which brings out speech without pushing other elements aside.
While its home theatre focus stands out, this system is not solely for movies. The combination of beam speakers and Yamaha’s processing expands the soundstage for music playback. Music streamed through MusicCast or AirPlay 2 sounds open and balanced for most genres, though deeply critical hi-fi listening will still favour separate stereo systems.
It is impressive that unlike most, this soundbar doesn’t make music feel like an afterthought. With a track like I’m Dying by VAST you are fully enveloped with in the audio space — a testament to the careful tuning behind the speaker layout.
Setting up the True-X90A takes more thought than plug-and-play soundbars because room acoustics matter. Reflective ceilings help height effects, and placing the wireless rear speakers at ear height with a clear path to the listening area improves surround immersion.
You only need a single HDMI eARC cable to get the best sound from your TV, and many TV remotes will control power and volume directly through HDMI CEC. This does mean you need to keep track of the number of HDMI ports on your TV, and the number of devices you wish to use.
This system is not for everyone, but for the right people, it’s compelling:
· Home theatre lovers who want immersive sound without a separate AV receiver or speaker cables.
· People who value wireless convenience but don’t want to sacrifice performance.
· Owners of mid-sized to larger living rooms where Dolby Atmos and beam dispersion deliver noticeable benefits.
This isn’t ideal for buyers on a tight budget (however the Yamaha True-X50 may work in this area) or those who plan a dedicated theatre room with custom speaker placements, where using passive speakers and a receiver will always win. But for a living room system that blends impressive performance with clean aesthetics, the True-X90A hits the mark.
Compared to other flagship soundbars, this Yamaha system stands out in the most part due to its true height channels, wireless surrounds, and AURO-3D support. Many competing systems rely on virtualisation rather than actual upward-firing drivers to achieve their focus, Dolby Atmos. That makes the True-X90A feel more three-dimensional in many setups, although preferences vary between listeners.
Whilst this is one of the more expensive soundbar systems on the market, flagship performance comes with a premium price tag. However, if you would rather avoid a full AV receiver setup and traditional speakers (and the wiring that comes with them), then this is the package you are looking for as you are essentially paying for AV receiver-like performance in a simplified system — and in that context, it delivers strong value.
After spending time with this system, it is evident that the True-X90a is not for everyone, by the same token, neither is a full blown 9ch receiver with floor standing speakers, or an entry level soundbar. With that being said it is one of the most technically capable and feature rich soundbars on the market today. It blends cinematic immersion, wireless convenience, and versatile connectivity in ways many competitors do not.
If you want rich, enveloping sound from movies and music without a cluttered setup, and you are comfortable with a premium price point, the Yamaha True-X90A deserves thoughtful consideration. It doesn’t just upgrade your TV audio — it redefines what a soundbar-centric home theatre can achieve.
Drop into Complete Audio if you would like a demonstration of the Yamaha True-X90A or would like to discuss your options.
