Review: Yamaha SR-B20A Soundbar

As we head into the Holiday Season, we’re all likely to spend more time at home enjoying a load of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video as well as the cricket and other traditional TV for this time of year.

So much of what we consume with our eyes is enhanced by what we hear and the Yamaha SR-20A Soundbar does a brilliant job of adding great audio to any sized screen.

I’ve had the Yamaha SR-B20A set up in the kids’ rumpus room with a 75″ Samsung TV, which for years has had another split-system soundbar attached to it. In the space of a couple of minutes, the sound quality from the SR-B20A blew the old system out of the water and reduced the hardware needs by 50%.

Firstly, the profile of the Yamaha SR-B20A is such that it will sit on a table or a cupboard easily and provide sound to fill the room with its very clever 3D DTS Virtual:X surround sound technology that makes music, movies, games, or TV sound perfect at any volume, in any room.

The Yamaha SR-B20A can also be mounted cleanly on a wall – weighing only 3.2kg.

In terms of connectivity, there are a number of ports available – but crucially, some wireless technology and the lack of an old-fashioned 3.5mm analogue audio port let the SR-B20A down. An HDMI port of course and two optical audio ports as well as a subwoofer out port are included. There’s no WiFi or AirPlay.

On the plus side, there is Bluetooth 5.0 and an extremely good Yamaha Sound Bar Remote App that allows you to easily adjust sound modes, volume, and more. Plus, an HDMI ARC connection allows you to control your TV and soundbar with just one remote. For the old-school out there, the SR-B20A does come with an old school remote that does make volume and sound adjustments just that little bit quicker.

The all-important sound quality is what really matters and that’s where I have been impressed. The Yamaha SR-B20A punches well above its weight for is RRP of AU$329. I’ve used the bar in both the kids’ rumpus room and in the bar out the back of the house. Perfect in each location!

All four sound modes, are very well specified and make watching TV or listening to your favourite tunes joyful to your ears.

Key Features

Available from Yamaha or JB Hi-Fi for $329.