Since the advent of Plasma and LCD, big screen TVs can fit just about any where you stick it.  However, it’s an entirely different story when it comes to home theater systems.  They generally require more space and for a true surround sound experience take sometime to setup.  As a result sound bars have surged in popularity in the last few years and now the marketplace is littered with a myriad of options.

Yamaha’s YAS-101 is the cheapest of their sound bars, yet still packs an audio punch that is most certainly a notch above any TV’s built-in speaker system.  But the real question is whether it will play complement to your big screen investment.

Housed inside the glossy black box are  two 2-1/2” cone speakers with a dual-driver (3” cones) subwoofer.  It’s all driven by a built-in digital amplifier with a total output of 120w.  On the right side of the box is a bass reflex port to help with the lows, which Yamaha says is shaped like  a trumpet bell to help reduce wind noise and ultimately improve sound quality.

The YAS-101 is far from a feature rich soundbar, though Yamaha was sure to include a few of the standards.  These include compatibility with Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound, a clear voice option to raise the level of the dialogue and a Univolume option that maintains a consistent volume between different channels, scenes or even commercial breaks.  They’ve also tossed in a mini, yet underwhelming remote and an optical Toslink cord.  The front is adorned with your usual buttons, such as volume, power and input and includes a few glowing LED indicator lights.   The rear boasts a system connect port to play nice with other Yamaha gear, two optical inputs, a sub out and 1 coxial digital connection.

The YAS-101, like all soundbars is designed to be placed in front of the TV or mounted just below it on the wall using the built-in “keyholes” – you’ll just want to remove the feet before doing this.  In the event you place the soundbar in front of your TV and cover up your display’s IR port, the YAS-101 is capable of passing on the commands to the TV.  That said, the soundbar is also capable of learning your TV’s remote control power and volume functions with a few key presses.

In the event you’re looking for some added lows, the YAS-101 has a subwoofer input for adding extra oomph to your audio experience.  But as far as I’m concerned Yamaha’s soundbar produces a fair amount of bass, especially considering its rather slender size.  Though, the only way I could experience it, was by cranking the subwoofer volume to maximum.

Sonically the YAS-101 is very capable given its low price tag and size.  However, it most certainly won’t replace a full home theater system for a variety of reasons.  Why?  Its amplitude and spectrum is sound is some what limited.  I had no problems watching TVs and movies, but I most certainly was left yearning for more.   I also wasn’t able to detect, as in hear, any surround sound, virtual or not, so for all intents and purposes it served as a set of stereo speaker to my ears.

I also tested the YAS-101 with a variety of music and was impressed with the playback quality.  In fact, I almost preferred the YAS-101 when I had jams pumping through it.  Bass response was sharp and the room felt full with sound, unlike my TV’s speakers, which are tiny and anything but a practical resolve to listening to tunes.  That said, placing the YAS-101 on a counter, as opposed to wall hanging it, should improve the bass output since its woofer is of the downward firing ilk, giving it something to reflect off of.

For $250 I really can’t complain or wax poetic about Yamaha’s YAS-101.  It’s easy to operate and while it won’t replace a full home theater setup anytime soon, it’s a great add to any TV in a bedroom or a place that can’t support a larger setup.

Bottom line: Good bang for buck, looks nice, but don’t ditch your surround speakers since this won’t be able to match or replace that audio experience.

Editor’s Rating:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Very Good

Pros:

• Good bass response considering its size
• Well built with a black glossy piano finish that gives it a high perceived value
• Easy to setup and use

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Best Buy is offering a new discount price on this Yamaha RX-V367 5.1-channel Receiver!

Looking to lower the price a bit more? Than here’s another Receiver for you! Combine your home theater system together in style with this Yamaha A/V Receiver which not only supports 500 Watts of pure 5.1-Channel surround sound but also full 3D. Plenty of encoders are available as well, includes DTS-HD Master Audio and of course Dolby Digital in all forms. It can also tickle your musical fancy with music enhancers and support for the apple iPod via an optional dock you can get, and even support for Wireless Bluetooth with another dock. It includes plenty of customization options and a remote with all the functionality you need to get it running.

More price drops! $50 off the price reduces this model to only $149.99!

What’s this, another portable speaker system?  Yup.  This product category is heating up faster than a Victoria Secret model in a sauna.  Entering the fray is Yamaha with their PDX-11

This octagon shaped speaker houses a unique two-way speaker system and a large 4-inch woofer, which the company says produces strong bass, solid mids and uniquely high notes thanks to the dedicated tweeter.

Clearly, Yamaha is targeting the urban crowd who is always on the move.  In addition to coming in a variety of colors that range from black to a neon green, the PDX-11 sports a metal handle, a perforated steel grille, 6 AA battery slots (it can also be powered of an AC pack) that provide up to 8 hours of playback, a credit card sized remote and an iPhone dock.  If an iOS device isn’t your thing, you can opt for the 3.5mm stereo input jack.

Keep in mind that the PDX-11 weighs 3.3lbs and measures 8-1/4” x 9-3/8” x 9-3/8”.  So, we wouldn’t exactly call it backpack portable, but nor is Yamaha claiming that it is.

Expect the Yamaha PDX-11 to start showing up at retailers this month for $99.95.

We’ve definitely had a wide range of products get sales hit in the past week. From video cameras to HDTVs at record breaking low prices and even smartphones and tablets. Here’s we’ve compiled a list of the best ones that are still around to take advantage of:

10. Panasonic HDC-TM41H Camcorder – $200

Beach Camera offered this sale on eBay and regardless of the nice price docking here it’s still around. This portable camcorder from Panasonic has everything you need for taking videos everywhere and of course comes in at 1080p. It has 16GBs of internal memory to take advantage of along with slots for SD cards which allow for much more. It even boasts an impressive 135 minute recording battery life to boot.

9. Yamaha RX-V471 5.1-Channel Receiver with Free Apple TV – $330

Now this is certainly an impressive one. Not only do we get a sweet discount deal on this powerful 5.1-Channel receiver system but it even comes with a free Apple TV (Which is a $98 value by itself!) This receiver has full support for the latest technologies like 3D and ARC while also presenting us with 4 HDMI inputs, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD encoders and an included iPod dock for pumping your music through your system.

8. Dell Ultrasharp U2412M 24-Inch Monitor – $320

Now this may seem like a high price from Dell, but this is no ordinary monitor. First off an $80 Coupon (XD5W7S1JRP52C8) bring this Dell LED Display down to this price. The monitor itself features IPS technology bringing out truly realistic and stunning visuals along with an incredible viewing angle which makes it easy to look at from anywhere in the room. And you also get a wonderful 16:10 resolution of 1920 by 1200 which gives you more than enough room for multitasking to be very easy, both vertically and horizontally.

7. Canon Powershot ELPH 100 HS 12MP Digital Cameras – $130

Crutchfield’s coupon savings still apply on this super portable Canon Digital Camera. Using code: 3A825 will save you $20 off an already low price mark. This camera can take large 12-Megapixel shots with ease and also contains a 4x Optical zoom while each and every image is graced by its DIGIC 4 image processor which brings out the best of quality. It also has a 3.0-Inch touch display and is capable of taking full 1080p High Definition videos.

6. Blackberry Playbook 7-Inch 16GB Tablet – $299

Yes you heard right, this powerful and brand new Blackberry Playbook tablet has had its price reduced even more, and even now you’re able to take advantage of it. This tablet comes with a colorful HD 7-Inch display and utilizes the BlackBerry OS which allows for some great multitasking and Internet browsing freedom. It’s powered by a 1Ghz Dual Core CPU and has 1GB of RAM, which sounds more like PC specs than a tablet. This one also comes with 16GBs of Internal memory which can be expanded with SD cards.

5. Apple MC526LL/A iPod Nano 16GB (Current Gen) – $150

The price hit has come down for these super sleek and powerful iPod Nanos. You can grab any color you like at this new low price from Amazon. The newest Nano features a size similar to a shuffle, but includes a multi-touch display for controlling your music cravings. 16GBs of internal storage come from this model for plenty of music listening on the go and when gesture based controls are combined with its display its never been easier to listen to exactly what you want to hear.

4. Apple Macbook Air MC968LL/A 11.6-Inch – $950

Believe it or not you can still catch this super low price for the popular and super thin Macbook Air. This model comes complete with a super compact 11.6-Inch screen and comes powered by a speedy Intel core i5 processor and 2GBs of RAM. It also contains a 64GB solid state drive which gives it even more speed and impressing performance and includes support for Bluetooth 4.0, integrated HD Facetime webcam and a brand new Thunderbolt port.

3. Curtis LCD4686A 46-Inch LCD TV – $445

And here it is, if you’ve wanted to get your hands on a large TV for any room now’s your chance to make some awesome savings! This large 46-Inch Curtis TV has a full 1080p High Definition resolution and a 5,000:1 contrast ratio for deep colors. It also includes a wide variety of inputs which make it home theater friendly and these include HDMI, VGA, HD Component and several analog composites to fit all of your needs with ease.

2. Vlingo Voice Assistant for iPhone – FREE

We’re sure you’ve heard the saying If it’s free its for me, and iTunes has surely delivered on that by offering the powerful and flexible Vlingo Voice app for just that. This app allows you to speak your commands to your iPhone, which it will follow to a T and make life much easier on the go. You can tell it to do things such as texting your friend Mike, or updating your Facebook status or even ask it to locate a place of interest for you and a map will display. Eitherway it’s definitely worth checking out as it will cost you nothing!

1. HTC Droid Incredible 2 for Verizon Wireless – $0.01

Speaking of free, why not check out this new and improved Droid Incredible 2 for a price that may as well be free. With a contract deal you can experience the latest smartphone technology packed into this little phone. With a large 4.0-Inch HD display it graces you with the latest Android has to offer as well as SRS WOW HD sound to complete the experience. It includes an 8MP cameras as well and plenty of connectivity from Bluetooth to GPS and WiFI so you’re never left behind.

TigerDirect via eBay has a huge sale price available for this Yamaha PDX-60BL Docking Speaker System!

Get the most out of your iPod/iPhone when it comes to playing all your music out loud! With this very intuitive Yamaha Docking system you can connect pretty much any iPod device you can think of and provide it with the rich and clean sound this large speaker provides. But it definitely goes further then just playing out your content, this speaker can be set up anywhere for use even without the iPod connected directly to it. That’s thanks to the included Wireless Charging cradle, which as the name implies is able to charge your iPods battery while providing a direct wireless link to the main speaker module, thus playing all your tunes to your hearts’ content. The sound itself is rich and full off bass, breathing some new life to your portable music, and thanks to the included remote combined with that wireless usage its never been easier to experience it all anywhere.

This is a bad ass deal for this iPod Dock – it usually costs $200.  However, TigerDirect via Ebay has it for $89.97, which include delivery.

B&H Photo has an exciting discount available for this Yamaha RX-V471 5.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver with Free Apple TV!

Get ready to power up your entire living room at a new and discounted price! Now you can combine all of your equipment together and provide the best quality experience possible thanks to this Yamaha RX-V471 receiver. This 5.1-Channel receiver is just what you needed to not only pump out some serious sound waves but to pass the picture through and optimize the HD from all angles. First off, 4 HDMI inputs are present, fully supporting 3D and ARC and thereby providing for every experience possible. Second, with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio encoders powering your sound you will get the best surround sound experience no matter what you listen to or watch. Also with plenty of connectivity to devices such as iPods and the boasted Bluetooth connectivity combined with its compressed music enhancer you will retain the best music around. For a limited time you can even get a free Apple TV with your purchase ($98 value!)

Get a free Apple TV when you buy this home theater receiver for $329.95.  Delivery is included in this deal

Newegg has some big savings to share on this Yamaha RX-V867 7.2-channel Receiver!

Power up your home theater system by merging together the finer components while giving yourself the headroom for some truly stunning equipment. This powerful receiver has everything you need for connecting even the latest home theater devices including support for HDMI 1.4 and full 3D. It is powered by a myriad of different audio technologies including Dolby Digital and DTS-HD Master Audio for the best experience out of the 7.2-Channel outputs, and yes you heard us right. With 7.2 you can connect 2 subwoofers for double the power and bass for a truly stunning audio experience. Though it gets even better, you can also connect things like iPods and MP3 players and because of the built-in compressed music enhancer you can restore the detail in every track and listen to your favorites like never before. Did we mention that it’s also a breeze to set up and use? With features like this and a huge price drop this is definitely a great consideration for the home theater living room.

Last we saw this home theater receiver it was retailing for $800.  Now Newegg is hocking it for just $400 after using coupon code EMCKAKB24.  S&H is free.

Update: Checkout our Yamaha YAS-101 review.

Sound bars aren’t exactly a home theater solution, at least not for the true audiophile.  However, if you’re tight on budget and space then it’s a reasonable and practical solution.  They’re especially ideal for bedrooms, which in our opinion is the last place that should be jam packed with speakers.

Yamaha is promising that their latest sound bar, the YAS-101 Front Surround System, is a game changer.  Through the magic of digital sound processing, and some Yamaha tech called Air Surround Xtreme, they say they can deliver “7.1 channels of highly accurate surround sound, with precise positioning to more distinctly deliver dialog, sound effects and music soundtracks that immerse the listener in movies, sporting events, concerts or any other programming.”  Probably a bit of a long shot, but we’ll reserve our judgement until we test it.  There is however a dual-driver speaker design with a powerful built-in 60-watt subwoofer, support for Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound formats and Yamaha’s UniVolume function which eliminates the volume spikes found in commercials.

Since many a sound bar sit in front of the TV, Yamaha has gone to great lengths to ensure that you can still control your TV.  In addition to being able to pass IR commands to the connected TV (patent pending), it can be programmed to work with any (we think) TV or Blu-ray player’s remote to adjust volume and power the sound bar on.

To connect the YAS-101 to an HDTV, Yamaha has provided a single cable and included two optical inputs, 1 coaxial input, as well as a subwoofer output.

No word on a release date, but you can expect the Yamaha YAS-101 Front Surround System to retail for $300.

Newegg is offering some huge savings on this Yamaha YMC-500BL NeoHD 5.1-Channel Media Controller for only $299.99 – $185 Coupon (EMCKDJF75) + Free Shipping = $114.99!

Bring all of your important HD components together for seamless playback of all your media while taking full advantage of your HD audio and video capabilities! This Yamaha YMC-500BL 5.1-Channel Receiver is designed to simplify your connectivity experience in all regards. With this you can easily connect all of your home theater equipment together and instantly set up the perfect HD picture and sound experience without any hassle. The NeoHD also supports many surround sound technologies including Dolby TrueHD and DTS Digital Surround for the best in realism and a compressed music enhancer to bring new life to your iPod or MP3 player.

Newegg has a hefty coupon discount available on this Yamaha YMC-500BL NeoHD 5.1-Channel A/V Reciever for only $299.99 – $180 Coupon (YAMAHA501) + Free Shipping = $119.99!

Bring all of your home theater equipment together with this feature packed receiver at a steal of a price! The Yamaha NeoHD 5.1-Channel receiver does it all and with style and ease. It’s designed to simplify your setup so you can just sit back, relax and enjoy 5.1-Channel surround sound on everything in the room. It also has many different sound settings based on preference and content to get just the right sound out of every movie and show and with Dolby TrueHD and DTS Digital Surround encoders you can experience true lossless sound and the compressed music enhancer brings life back into to your lossy Mp3 collection.

Newegg is offering some extra savings on this YAMAHA RX-V667BL 7.2-Channel Receiver priced down to only $419.99 – $60 Coupon (EMCKFHD65) + Free Shipping = $359.99!

Super charge the power output of your entire home theater system with this fully functional receiver with a new low price! This Receiver from Yamaha gives you support for every format you need, and boasts 6 HDMI 1.4 inputs with full 3D support. It enhances all of your audio with several key features including many integrated sound systems such as Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master audio and many more as well as the ability to connect 2 separate subwoofers for deep bass sound. It is designed to further enhance compressed music as well, so you can connect many different sources and even MP3 players to bring all your songs to life like never before. It connects you further with Sirius Satellite Radio support so you can enjoy all your favorite High Definition channels for entertainment of all types.

Newegg is offering up some huge coupon savings on this YAMAHA YMC-700 NeoHD 5.1-channel Wi-Fi Media Controller for only $499.99 – $320 Coupon (EMCKFJF28) + Free Shipping = $179.99!Get the most of your home theater equipment with superior quality and connectivity! The Yamaha NeoHD Media Controller is the perfect device to enhance all of your HD sound and video equipment quickly and easily. It utilizes several HDMI inputs which allows you to connect to your TV with a single line, and once it’s connected you have many enhancements available to you. It utilizes Dolby TrueHD and DTS Digital Surround codecs for superior sound quality as well as compressed music enhancers to get the best out of your MP3 collection. It even offers Wi-Fi connectivity for connecting to Rhapsody and streaming all of your favorite music on demand.

Adorama Via Amazon has a discount on this Yamaha YMC-S21BL 5.1-Channel NeoHD Home Theater System for just $299 + $48.55 Shipping = $347.55!

Simplify your home theater experience while giving yourself powerful surround sound that fits anywhere! The Yahama neoHD system is a super compact 5.1-channel surround sound system which delivers full surround from only 2 speakers. It is super easy to use and features a very simplified GUI with minimal remote design so you can quickly bring all of your favorite media to life, and to make it even better the Unit also acts as an IR junction to detect all of your remotes all in one place to give you full control easier than ever. It easily connects to your DVD/Blu-Ray players, Game systems and other HD devices and connects them all to your HDTV with a single line so all of your components are accessible at a touch of a button. It also has connectivity with iPods with optional iPod dock was well as Bluetooth connectivity.

Newegg has a coupon deal on this Yamaha RX-V467 5.1-channel Receiver!

Power up your entire home theater experience with this Receiver at a low price! The Yamaha RX-V467 Receiver features full 5.1-channel audio support so you can push your surround sound system with style and power. It is the center point for your entire living room with 4 HDMI 1.4 full 3D inputs to connect all of your devices to your HDTV from a single line source and also has Bluetooth wireless connectivity to stream all sorts of music wirelessly from computers and mobile phones. It has integrated support for every audio standard you need including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD High-Resolution audio decoders.

The deal comes to $229.99 – $15 Coupon (YAMAHA4515) + Free Shipping = $214.99!

Get it fast, offer expires at end of day 4/8/2011!

Newegg is offering a coupon discount on this Yamaha neoHD YMC-500 A/V Receiver!

Simplify your high quality media experience without paying a huge premium! The Yamaha neoHD Receiver features a new innovation in simplicity when it comes to controlling all of your High Definition content. It streamlines your audio experience to give you the best high quality 5.1-channel surround and can also create a virtual 7.1-channel environment with a touch of a button, to add that extra power to you home theater system. Dolby TruHD and DTS Digital Surround complete the audio experience by offering you the greatest digital controllers available and with a multitude of audio and video connections it will fit right in with your system without any hassle. It also includes a rear USB port to play media files directly off USB memory sticks and MP3 players.

The price comes to $299.99 – $170 Coupon (EMCYTZT376) + Free Shipping = $129.99!

Tigerdirect is offering a huge coupon on this Yamaha YHT-693BL 5.1-channel Home Theater System!

If you need the perfect all-in-one solution to bring the best High Definition audio to supplement your High Quality TV then here you are! This Yamaha YHT-693BL Home Theater System gives you everything you need for the perfect audio system. It comes with 6 Speakers (5 Satellites and 1 Subwoofer) as well as an A/V Receiver designed for them and a remote control. These speakers supply you with the loud booming power you need for your Home Theater experience with the huge 625 watts of power! It also connects straight to your iPod with the built in docking system to hear your music like you never have before! It also gives you full connectivity to all of your High Definition devices with the 5 HDMI 1.4 (Supports 3D) Outputs.

This huge deal comes to $599.95 – $200 Coupon (IZA23827) + Free Shipping = $399.95!

Newegg is offering a coupon on this Yamaha RX-V367 5.1-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver!

If you’ve needed a full fledged media hub to supply you with the best connectivity to all of your devices while provided the best quality of sound at the same time without breaking the bank? The Yamaha RX-V367 Receiver is for you! This Receiver features 4 full powered HDMI 1.4 3D ports to give you connectivity to everything you need with every features of HDMi including 1080p and 3D! Not only that you can also connect your iPod and give it the superior sound you have been looking for! To give you the most accurate sound the RX-V367 features Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS and the Compressed Music enhancer to make all of your MP3s and other lossy files sound better than ever before! To make it even better it offers the convenience of the one-touch SCENE button which automatically enables the device currently in use and begins playback immediately without having to worry about the complications of manually switching between sources to find the one in use!

The Price comes to $179.99 – $17 Coupon (YAMAHA31517) + Free Shipping = $162.99!

Get it fast! Offer expires 3/23!

Newegg is offering this YAMAHA RX-V367 5.1-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver for a new low price!

If you’re looking for a master system to control all of your high quality HD equipment then here it is! The Yamaha RX-V367 is the boss that can make all of your HD scream with perfect quality! This device is a working control hub and features a large variety of inputs to connect to any of your equipment, and offering full support for the new HDMI 1.4 standard to support all 3D features that have been introduced with it! This will spread your high quality signal easily to all of your devices so you can enjoy high quality video and music with perfection. You can even connect your iPod and hear your music in even more quality than you imaged before!

The RX-V367 is highly compatible and very easy to use, with a one-touch SCENE button to switch your video source and begin playing your media without any other interaction at all. Features full bluetooth to interface with phones and computers that support the format and stream your media there as well!

The price comes to $179.99 – $17 Coupon (EMCKGJJ92) + Free Shipping = $162.99!