We purchased the Yamaha YAS-207BL soundbar so that our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and review it. Read on for our full product review.

Yamaha is an old brand in consumer electronics, but there’s nothing old about the YAS207BL soundbar and subwoofer combo. This audio setup packs a solid punch, far more than we’d normally expect from such a svelte chassis. But the pair also brings a nice array of modern features, including DTS surround, Bluetooth connectivity, and even an app to control it all. All of this doesn’t come with the hefty price tag of more premium brands, though. Solid sound, a decent array of modern features, and a perfectly palatable price make for a great home audio equation.

If you look at all the soundbars that have been available in the past few years, you’ll notice that a lot of work has gone into the components that manufacturers have put into making these soundbars look futuristic. Think things like metal grilles, glowing gradient lights, and futuristic LED displays. For better or worse, Yamaha has gone for a much more traditional home theater look with the YAS-207BL.

When it’s lying flat on a table, it’s essentially a rounded rectangle of black mesh with a thin hexagon of matte black plastic on the bottom. The bottom is also where you’ll find the capacitive touch buttons and a row of green LED indicator lights. While we would have liked to see something a little more interesting, like the sleek look of a Sonos speaker or the more industrial route taken by brands like Vizio, this is entirely inoffensive.