Following up on the recent release of its premium True X Series soundbar line, Yamaha has introduced two additional and more affordably priced soundbars, the SR-B40A and SR-B30A, both of which include Dolby Atmos.
From Alex Sadeghian, director of consumer audio, Yamaha Corporation of America: “With the significant increase in Dolby Atmos for watching movies, streaming shows, listening to music, and playing games, it’s no longer necessary to have a complicated home theater system to enjoy it. With our new B40 and B30 sound bars, individuals can easily create an immersive listening experience that brings all Dolby Atmos content to life.”
The B30A is a self-contained soundbar that incorporates two built-in subwoofers with a bass-reflex design to provide full-range sound from a single unit.
The B40A steps up the bass performance with an included wireless subwoofer that can be placed anywhere in the room.
Tip: You can add an external wired subwoofer to the B30A at an additional cost.
Settings and controls are provided on both models for users to customize their preferences. There with four sound modes, a separate subwoofer volume control, and additional EQ settings provided via the Yamaha soundbar control app.
Easy setup is supported via a single-cable HDMI connection between the soundbar and TV via eARC/ARC. In addition, HDMI CEC allows users to control basic functions using most TV remotes, such as power on/off, volume, and mute.
Shared Features
- Surround Sound Decoding: Dolby Atmos, Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital (DTS support is not provided).
- Preset Sound Mode Options: Standard, Movie, Game, and Stereo
- Clear Voice: This provides additional support for dialogue clarity.
- Bass Extension: Boosts low-frequency performance
- Connectivity: HDMI eARC/ARC (with HDMI CEC), digital optical input
Tip: No analog audio inputs are provided.
- Controls: Top panel controls are provided on the soundbar, a wireless remote control is provided, and a downloadable Sound Bar Remote app for iOS and Android is available.
- Bluetooth Ver 5.1: This allows streaming from compatible source devices such as tablets and Smartphones. Multipoint connectivity is included.
- Bluetooth Profile: A2DP
- Bluetooth Codecs: SBC, AAC
- Easy Placement: The soundbars can be placed on a tabletop or wall-mounted (built-in keyholes are provided).
Tip: Wi-Fi connectivity and support for Yamaha’s MusicCast platform are not included.
Differences
| Soundbar Model | SR-B40A | SR-B30A |
| MSRP | $399.95 | $279.95 |
| Speaker Drivers | 4 x 1.75-inch cone | 4 x 1.75-inch cone |
| Tweeters | 2 x 1-inch dome | 2 x 1-inch dome |
| Subwoofer | 1 x 6.5-inch external wireless subwoofer with port (bass reflex) | 2 x 3-inch internal cone subwoofers with ports (bass reflex) |
| Subwoofer Output | No | Yes |
| System Power Output | 200 Watts (Front L/R: 50 W × 2-ch, Subwoofer: 100 W) | 120 Watts (Front L/R: 30 W × 2-ch, Built-in subwoofer: 60 W) |
| Dimensions (Soundbar) | 35-⅞ × 2-⅝ × 5-¼ -inches | 35-⅞ × 2-⅝ × 5-¼ inches |
| Dimensions (Subwoofer) | 7-5/8 × 16-1/2 × 16-inches | The subwoofers are inside the soundbar – an additional external subwoofer can be added. |
| Weight (Soundbar) | 6.4 lbs | 8.6 lbs |
| Weight (Subwoofer) | 17.9 lbs | The subwoofers are inside the soundbar – an additional external subwoofer can be added. |
Availability and Price
- The Yamaha SR-B40A will be available on usa.yamaha.com for $399.95 starting in August 2023.
- The Yamaha SR-B30A will be available on usa.yamaha.com for $279.95 starting in September 2023.
Tip: Optional external subwoofers for use with the SR-B30A may include the Yamaha NS-SW050 ($179.95) and NS-SW100 ($199.95), although others may be used.
Tip: Looking for less expensive, smaller soundbars? Consider Yamaha’s SR-B20A and SR-C20A Soundbars which are each under $200.
Related Reading: How To Improve Your TV’s Sound: Don’t Settle For Less
