When it comes to home entertainment systems there are few more renowned names than Yamaha, so when we got the chance to review their YHT 4930UBL Home Theater in a Box System our expectation levels were very high. Not only were they met, but in many aspects of this product, thanks to Yamaha’s innovation, they were greatly exceeded.
Yamaha YHT 4930UBL Home Theater in a Box System
The Yamaha YHT-4930UBL surround sound system is made by one of the world’s pioneering home entertainment systems manufacturers.
It is obviously designed for use with TVs and music systems to produce 5.1-Channel surround sound. Bluetooth technology is used to connect it with other devices. It is also capable of Ultra HD playback of video, and its extra bass system allows for enhanced bass sound but from smaller than normal speakers.
First entered into the market in late 2017 the vast majority of the reviews it has received since then are highly positive.
Who is this product for?
There is certainly going to be a broad spectrum of people who will enjoy the Yamaha YHT 4930UBL Home Theater in a Box System so to try and pinpoint any specific group is difficult. Certainly, individuals and families, who like the idea of watching movies on TV with an awesome sound that is close to the cinema as possible, will love it.
Music lovers who wish the room to be filled with sound and to be able to hear every note, beat and lyric as clearly as possible, will also be fans of this system.
Bear in mind it will need some setting up in terms of connecting together the various parts of the system which includes prepping the ends of the speaker wires. For those who break into a cold sweat at the mere mention of a screwdriver, be assured none of the setup procedure is particularly difficult.
What’s included?
One of the things that impressed us was how well the system was packaged, with each component having its own box. This is sure to minimize the chance of any damage that could occur while in transit.
The parts of the system you should receive are center speaker, 4 satellite speakers, subwoofer, digital receiver, room calibration microphone, and speaker wire to connect everything together. Most importantly you also receive the instruction manual to help you set up and then use the system.
Overview of features
The receiver is at the heart of this Yamaha surround system and it comes with an impressive list of features. Video quality is assured with its ability to pass through 4K Ultra HD pass through. This can operate at 60 frames per second meaning any TV program or movie you watch will be crystal clear.
As for sound, you obviously have 5.1 surround sound with the compact speaker package which includes a center speaker and four satellite speakers plus your bass sound will be clear and strong thanks to the 100-watt subwoofer. As the system is capable of virtual surround the speakers can all be placed at the front of the room rather than the normal surround configuration.
One feature which should make the sound match the room the system is in is Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer (YPAO) which will optimize the sound output and calibrate each speaker accordingly based on the room’s acoustics.
It is not just your TV or DVD player that you can this system for. Thanks to its Bluetooth capabilities you can connect any compatible device such as a tablet or cellphone and play any music you have stored on them
How to use it
We obviously cannot reproduce the instruction manual here but what we will say is you definitely should follow it very carefully so that you are able to set up this Yamaha surround sound system correctly. In terms of positioning your speakers that will depend very much on the room they are in and where you prefer to sit.
Don’t forget the system has the optimizer and speaker calibration system we mentioned in the last section and this means you won’t actually have to do much to hear the optimal sound
Pros
- Comes packaged well
- Easy to set up
- Crystal clear sounds including at high volume
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Built-in microphone optimizes speaker outputs
Cons
- Only 1 subwoofer output connection
Alternative
LG LHD657 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System
For those of you who prefer tower satellite speakers to the small ones that the Yamaha system has, then you might like the LG LHD657 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System.
It also has Bluetooth connectivity so you can play music stored on your mobile devices through it, and as it is region free it can play DVDs from anywhere in the world
Conclusion
Easy to set up and use, it’s built-in optimization and speaker calibration is an excellent feature, and with Bluetooth connectivity, it takes listening to sounds from your mobile devices to another level. Anyone who is looking for an affordable home theater system will be impressed by the sound quality that this one from Yamaha can reproduce.