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Yamaha True X Surround 90A review: two minute review
The Yamaha True X Surround 90A is a 5.1.2-channel soundbar system enters into a competitive world of soundbar surround solutions that’s been dominated by the likes of Samsung, JBL and Sonos for the past few years. While it’s an impressive system, its price and a few little setbacks hold it back from beating the best soundbars.
Sound performance of the Surround 90A is excellent overall. It delivers exceptional power and detail, rendering surround effects with real clarity and mapping sound with pinpoint accuracy. And for music, it delivers a wide soundstage with plenty of clarity and balance. It’s a shame though that while speech is mostly good, it can get lost at times, and the Surround 90A’s compact rear speakers can struggle in the overall mix against the other powerful soundbar and sub. Still, it’s mostly impressive.
The Surround 90A is a premium-looking soundbar, with a metal finish and fabric grille giving it a premium feel. It’s on the weighty side, but feels well-built as a result. While its subwoofer performs well, it’s a shame Yamaha couldn’t take cues from Samsung’s impressive small but mighty subwoofer on the Samsung HW-Q990F to keep the size down. The rear speakers feel premium enough, but a bigger, better-performing pair of speakers would have been more desirable.
Initial setup of the Surround 90A can be confusing at first, with the pairing of the rear speakers and HDMI settings feeling a bit cumbersome in comparison to seamless setup from Samsung or JBL. Once you’re set up, however, controlling the Surround 90A and adjusting settings is simple and intuitive, and inputting commands feels smooth.
The Surround 90A’s biggest setback however is its price. At $3,499 for the full system, or $2,799 for just the soundbar and subwoofer, the Surround 90A is significantly pricier than rival soundbars such as the Samsung HW-Q990F, JBL 1300Mk2 or even a full Sonos system consisting of a Sonos Arc Ultra, Sonos Sub 4 and two Sonos Era 100 speakers – and while it does outshine some of these soundbars in performance, it doesn’t do so enough to justify the large price gap.
Yamaha True X Surround 90A review: Prices & release date
- Released in November 2025
- US price: $3,499 (full system), $2,700 (soundbar & sub only)
- UK price: £2,199, but very limited availability
The Yamaha True X Surround 90A is the brand’s 2025 flagship soundbar surround system, sitting above the In the US, it is available as the full system with the optional rear speakers, priced at $3,499, or as just the soundbar and sub, priced at $2,799.
It’s also available in the UK for £2,199, but I’ve been told it’s only available through retailer Sevenoaks, and only in its physical retail store. (That’s singular – there’s one store.)
Since its release in late 2025, prices have remained the same. This does put it at the premium end of the soundbar system market.
Yamaha True X Surround 90A review: Specs
|
Dimensions |
Soundbar: 1180 x 85 x 143mm (46.4 x 3.3 x 5.6in), Subwoofer: 241 x 378 x 414 mm (9.4 x 14.8 x 16.2in), Rear speakers: 88 x 220 x 88 (3.4 x 8.6 x 3.4in) |
|
Speaker channels |
5.1.2 |
|
Connections |
1x HDMI eARC, 1x HDMI in, 1x digital optical output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Auro-3D |
|
Dolby Atmos / DTS:X |
Yes / Yes |
|
Sub included |
Yes |
|
Rears included |
Yes (standard in UK, optional is US) |
Yamaha True X Surround 90A review: Features
- Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro 3D support
- Control via MusicCast app
- 4K HDMI passthrough, but no 120Hz support
The Yamaha True X Surround 90A offers 5.1.2 channels, a step-down compared to similarly priced rivals such as the Samsung HW-Q990F, which delivers 9.1.4 channels. The soundbar unit itself consists of 19 drivers, however, with seven making up the front left and right and center channels and the remaining 12(!) making up the height channels. Yes, that’s six speakers per height channel.
The rear speakers come with two front facing drivers each (note no up-firing drivers on these) backed by two passive radiators and finally, the subwoofer uses a 17cm main driver.
In terms of connections, the True X Surround 90A has an HDMI eARC port and HDMI In that supports 4K and both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ passthrough but unfortunately not 120Hz for gaming (again something the HW-Q990F has), optical out and USB which is used for updates only.
The Surround 90A supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for movies and music and is the first soundbar to support Audo-3D, an Atmos alternative. Auro-3D actually gets its own button on the supplied remote, listed as “3D Music”, a sound mode which uses Auro-3D as an upmixer for stereo content.
Other sound modes include Straight, Surround:AI and All. There is also a Stereo sound mode option for those looking for a more traditional sound profile for stereo tracks.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both supported for music streaming, including direct support for streaming services including Spotify, Amazon Music HD, Deezer and QuBoz. Other streaming services such as Tidal can be linked and controlled via the MusicCast app. There’s also AirPlay 2 support, but no Google Cast.
Speaking of the MusicCast app, this is where EQ and volume adjustments for each speaker can be made, as well as features such as Clear Voice and Bass Extension can be activated.
One thing that is missing is a room calibration feature, something I’d have expected on a soundbar of this price. Again, it’s something the Samsung HW-Q990F and Sonos setups offer, and would have been a nice addition to a premium soundbar.
Yamaha True X Surround 90A review: Performance
- Exceptional accuracy and detail
- Impressive power and control
- Rear speakers can struggle in the mix
While the Surround 90A may not have the features of its rivals, it certainly has the performance. The Surround 90A makes full use of every one of its 5.1.2 channels to deliver a brilliant overall sonic experience.
The Surround 90A’s real strength first comes in its positional accuracy. Watching The Mask, as the titular character tears around in the form of a tornado, the sound is accurately mapped to each channel, moving around the soundbar in-sync with the movie. Other sound effects such as ricocheting bullets and a runaway cartoon clock are delivered with accurate directionality by the Surround 90A’s units.
Watching The Batman, the screeching of tyres and blaring car horns of passing traffic during the Batmobile chase again follow across the front and rear channels with real precision. While the ‘Straight’ sound mode delivers a solid overall experience, the AI skeptic in me was surprised to find that I liked using the Surround:AI mode, which created an even more specific positional feel, with a greater soundstage.
Power is another one of the Surround 90A’s strengths. The bass response from the subwoofer is impactful and powerful, accurately delivering the rumble of the Batmobile’s engine in The Batman. Bass also feels very tightly controlled, as each tone change of the Batmobile’s thunderous engine was crystal clear and tightly rendered by the Surround 90A subwoofer.
The Surround 90A’s soundstage is wide and immersive. Watching the Darkstar flight test sequence in Top Gun: Maverick, the sound of the wind whipping past the cockpit and the creaking of the metal plates made me feel like I was inside the cockpit myself.
Dolby Atmos effects are well presented, as the sound of jets flying overhead is authentically delivered. Height channels can actually be adjusted in the MusicCast app, which allows you to find the sweet spot for your room, despite the lack of auto room calibration.
I found speech to be delivered well overall, especially when it came to vocals in music. Watching The Sound of Music, Julie Andrew’s vocals in songs like Do Re Mi or My Favorite Things are crystal clear, powerful and beautifully rendered.
I found in some scenes that voices could get a bit lost, though. The Batmobile chase from The Batman has limited speech, but I found with soundbars such as the Samsung HW-Q990F, it was still clear. With the Surround 90A, this dialogue was harder to pick up in the mix.
Another setback was the rear speakers. While they delivered solid detail throughout my testing, not having an up-firing speaker on each speaker felt like a missed opportunity. It meant Atmos height effects weren’t as clear as I’d found on HW-Q990F or Sonos setups with Era 300 rear speakers. I also found the rear speakers needed a volume boost in the MusicCast app and even then, they sometimes got lost in the mix.
Moving onto music, the Surround 90A is excellent. First playing Bad Bunny’s Baile INoLVIDABLE in Dolby Atmos, the Surround 90A delivers a wide soundstage with precise detail. The percussion, horns and vocals are all delivered with real clarity and plenty of room-filling power.
Switching to stereo tracks such as Dir en Grey’s Un Deux, the crashing drums, powerful guitars and bass and Kyo’s soaring vocals all have plenty of punch. Activating the 3D Music sound setting adds another layer to the track, widening the soundstage and creating a dome-like effect and making everything feel bigger.
The Surround 90A is great with more delicate genres too such as jazz. All throughout the bass from the subwoofer is delivered with excellent, precise timing.
- Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Yamaha True X Surround 90A review: Design
- Premium materials and finish
- Solidly built
- Bulky subwoofer
The Surround 90A’s main soundbar unit measures in at 1180 x 85 x 143mm (46.4 x 3.3 x 5.6in) making it an average size for a large soundbar nowadays. The subwoofer itself is on the bulkier side at 241 x 378 x 414 mm (9.4 x 14.8 x 16.2in) and despite the power and control it delivers, the HW-Q990F proves that a smaller sub can still deliver equally impressive performance.
Finally, the rear speakers, called the WS-X30A, which can be used as individual Bluetooth speakers, measure in at 88 x 220 x 88 (3.4 x 8.6 x 3.4in).
The main soundbar itself is made with a burnished, black metal that is weighty, clocking in at 11kg (24.3lbs). It has a clear front LED display where current sources can be easily read and a fabric grille. All these combine to make for a premium looking soundbar that feels its price tag.
The subwoofer is made of a more traditional plastic finish and clocking it at 12.7kg (28lbs) plus its bulky dimensions, it’s not the easiest to store out of sight.
The rear speakers themselves have a nice fabric material that again feels premium, and are of a portable size if you’re inclined to use them as Bluetooth speakers elsewhere.
- Design & build score 4 / 5
Yamaha True X Surround 90A review: Setup & usability
Image 1 of 2
- MusicCast app for control
- Initial setup can be fiddly
- HDMI settings needed to be adjusted
I found the initial setup of the Surround 90A to be a mixed bag. While turning on the soundbar and connecting it to the subwoofer was simple enough, connecting and setting the rear speakers was a bit trickier.
They have to be put into pairing mode after holding the connect button for three seconds, this button is then pressed again to select whether said speaker is the left or right rear, and then it needs to be registered in a menu which is accessed on the TV itself.
Once this was done, I also found the TV source (HDMI eARC) wasn’t working. Diving into the same settings menu, I discovered I had to turn on HDMI Control and Pass-through in the HDMI settings menu.
The LG G5 I used for testing and the connected Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player then worked through the soundbar. This was not the same plug-in-and-play approach I found with the Samsung HW-Q990F.
Once everything is connected, you can either use the supplied remote control for basic operation – changing sound mode, volume, source – or the partner MusicCast app.
Once the soundbar was paired, control through the MusicCast app was intuitive, where EQ and volume levels including height channels could be easily changed. Even streaming music and connecting an associated streaming app was easy.
- Setup & usability score: 3.5 / 5
Yamaha True X Surround 90A review: Value
- Pricey compared to competition
- Missing some features expected at this price
- Good overall performance
The Surround 90A’s biggest downfall is its price tag. At $3,499 for the full system, it’s a premium priced soundbar system and much pricier than rival soundbars such as the Samsung HW-Q990F ($1,699), JBL Bar 1300Mk2 ($1,699) and even a Sonos setup of the Sonos Arc Ultra, Sonos Sub 4 and two Sonos Era 100 speakers, totaling $1,976.
While the Surround 90A’s overall performance is impressive, with great power, control and accuracy for both movies and music, it doesn’t justify the performance gap with bars like the Samsung HW-Q990F, which I found had better height channels thanks to its more robust rear speakers.
While it is brilliant for music, it’ll be tough to justify the price gap between it and a full Sonos system, especially if said Sonos system features Sonos Era 300s as rears.
Should I buy the Yamaha True X Surround 90A?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|
Features |
Wi-Fi streaming and Auro-3D support, but 4K HDMI passthrough is limited to 60Hz |
4 / 5 |
|
Performance |
Impressive power, accuracy and detail but voices are occasionally quiet and rear speakers can struggle for scale. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Design |
Very premium, solidly built and sleek design but subwoofer is rather bulky. |
4 / 5 |
|
Setup & usability |
Intuitive control app but initial setup can be fiddly and HDMI settings need to be adjusted. |
3.5 / 5 |
|
Value |
Much pricier than rivals and despite impressive performance, not strong enough to justify price gap. |
3 / 5 |
Buy it if
Don’t buy it if
Also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Yamaha True X Surround 90A |
JBL Bar 1300MK2 |
Samsung HW-Q990F |
LG S95AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$3,499 (full system), $2,700 (soundbar + sub) / £2,199 |
$1,699.95 / £1,299.99 / AU$2,299.95 |
$1,999 / £1,699 / AU$2,099 |
$1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AU$2,610) |
|
Dimensions |
Soundbar: 1180 x 85 x 143mm (46.4 x 3.3 x 5.6in), Subwoofer: 241 x 378 x 414 mm (9.4 x 14.8 x 16.2in), Rear speakers: 88 x 220 x 88 (3.4 x 8.6 x 3.4in) |
Soundbar: 40.6 x 2.3 x 5.4 inches / 1030 x 58 x 136mm; subwoofer: 12.4 x 10.9 x 10.8 inches / 315 x 277 x 275mm; surround speakers: 8 x 2.3 x 5.4 inches / 202 x 58 x 136mm |
Soundbar: 48.5 x 2.8 x 5.4 inches / 1232 x 70.8 x 138 mm; subwoofer: 9.8 x 10.0 x 9.8 inches / 249 x 251.8 x 249 mm; surround speakers: 5.1 x 8.0 x 5.5 inches / 129.5 x 201.3 x 140.4mm |
Soundbar: 49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 inches / 1250 x 63.5 x 134.6mm; subwoofer: 7.9 x 16 x 15.9 inches / 200 x 406 x 404mm; surround speakers: 6.3 x 8.8 x 5.6 inches / 160 x 223.5 x 142mm |
|
Speaker channels |
5.1.2 |
11.1.4 |
11.1.4 |
9.1.5 |
|
Connections |
1x HDMI eARC, 1x HDMI in, 1x digital optical output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Auro-3D |
1x HDMI eARC, 3x HDMI in, digital optical, USB (playback US-only), Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 (surround speakers use 5.4) |
1x HDMI eARC, 2x HDMI 2.1 in, digital optical, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 |
1x HDMI eARC, 1x HDMI in, digital optical, USB |
|
Dolby Atmos / DTS:X |
Yes / Yes |
Yes / Yes |
Yes / Yes |
Yes / Yes |
|
Sub included |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Rear speakers included |
Yes (UK as standard, optional version in the US |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
How I tested the Yamaha True X Surround 90A?
- Tested in TechRadar’s TV testing lab
- Tested with movies, including 4K Blu-ray, and music streamed over Wi-Fi
- Tested over a week
The Yamaha True X Surround 90A was connect to the LG G5 OLED TV and Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player for the duration of my testing.
I first started with some casual listening to establish the best sound modes for critical viewing. For movies, I landed on Standard and Surround: AI and for music, I used 3D Music.
Once I began my critical testing, I used reference scenes from movies I use to test sound on the best TVs and other soundbars. These include The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick and The Sound of Music, among a few other discs.
For music testing, I used Tidal for both Stereo and Atmos music. I listened to q wide variety of genres including Metal, Jazz, R’n’B and Pop.
- First reviewed: January 2025
- Read more about how we test
Read the full article here
