If you've ever put time and energy into upgrading your home entertainment setup, you'll know just how large a good sound system can be with multiple subwoofers and additional speakers that all need a home.
But elevating your sound doesn't have to be so demanding of your small space, as the Yamaha True X Bar 40A, discounted by $100 right now, produces gorgeous, room-filling sound while taking up a modest amount of space.
It's one of the best soundbars I've tested, with surprisingly advanced tech considering its low price, and I recommend it emphatically to anybody who's limited on space but wants to enjoy high-quality audio for TV shows, movies, and music at home.
The Compact Yamaha True X Bar 40A Fills Your Living Room With Great Audio
At 40 inches wide and only 2.5 inches tall, the Yamaha True X Bar 40A is a fantastic option for small spaces, with deep, impactful audio that you'd normally expect from a much bigger setup.
Instead of dotting speakers around the room, compact soundbars work by packing different kinds of speakers within the device, including subwoofers for beneath-the-feet rumbles, and up-firing speakers that send soundwaves around your head to create a surround sound experience.
I tested this Yamaha soundbar only two months ago, and was blown away by its impressive sound, especially at this price point. It has two subwoofers and two up-firing speakers – a rare amount at this entry-level price point – and they really work.
During Princess Mononoke's dramatic scenes, the orchestral score boomed throughout the room whilst I could still make out subtle details within the sound effects – and the direction they were coming from matched what was happening on screen.
And during Arrested Development, a fast-paced sitcom with voices coming from every direction, it was almost as if I'd been dropped in the middle of the scene. I wasn't expecting this affordable soundbar to have such precise sound balance – dialogue was beautifully clear, background noises were present but never distracting, and the bass never overpowered the smaller sounds.
Usually, you're looking at spending much more for this audio quality in a single soundbar (like the Sonos Beam, which is more compact but costs $499).
Also, for only $20 more than the 40A, you can get the upgraded Yamaha True X Bar 50A, which is the same soundbar with an added subwoofer. Very small spaces may not be able to fit an external subwoofer, but if you can squeeze it under a coffee table or next to the sofa, you can enjoy much deeper bass that shook my room during testing.
The Yamaha True X Bar 40A is also a Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbar, meaning it can produce realistic surround sound without relying on separate speakers in the room. It sounded delightful during testing, especially when watching Avengers: Infinity Way, a personal favorite of mine, and being able to hear the action scenes surround my ears took me back to when I first watched it in the cinema.
But not only does the soundbar deliver audio above its size and price, but it's also a breeze to set up. Out of the box, it's ready to use in about two minutes, as all you have to do is plug in the power and HDMI cables.
There's also an app if you want to further refine your sound settings. You can choose between Stereo, Standard, Movie, and Game sound modes, amplify vocals using Clear Voice, and adjust the bass to your liking.
Clear Voice works great, too, and if you're somebody who often needs subtitles to make out muffled voices, this is a savior. I've tested soundbars where this feature is a dud (like in the Sonos Arc Ultra, where it makes voices sound less authentic), so it was a nice surprise to see it work so well.
Music also sounded fantastic, which honestly came as no surprise considering Yamaha's long-lasting history in producing music equipment. It's a strong all-rounder, whether you're upgrading your movie room or music room, that will take up just a slim amount of space on your TV stand.
The Yamaha True X Bar 40A is available for $399.95 at Yamaha.
More to Shop
Here are a few more compact soundbars, that will fill your room with inspiring sound without taking up limited space.
All prices correct at time of publication.
For only $20 more, the Yamaha True X Bar 50A takes everything up a notch. It's the same soundbar as the 40A but with an added external subwoofer, that takes control of the bass and low-end frequencies, sending vibrations through the room while the soundbar focuses on the mids and highs for a more comprehensive sound balance. The subwoofer is big, though, and if you're short on space you might have to get creative with where you place it – perhaps under the coffee table or tucked next to the TV stand.
Read more in my full Yamaha True X Bar 50A review.
It doesn't sound quite as good as the Yamaha, but it's $150 less and only 37 inches wide (three inches slimmer than the Yamaha). I use this at home as I'm limited on space and didn't want to spend too much, and I'm yet to test a better budget soundbar that actually sounds good.
Read more in my full Fire TV Soundbar Plus review.
We're still working on our review for the Sonos Beam, but it's the model that's been recommended to us time and time again by experts. It's only 25 inches wide – one of the smallest on the market – and if the sound quality of the Sonos Arc Ultra is anything to go by, it will undoubtedly sound awesome.
Next, find out how to hide a soundbar in a living room without compromising on sound.
