Yamaha today introduced the YAS-706 sound bar with wireless subwoofer that delivers breathtaking sound performance, along with the convenience and versatility of MusicCast wireless multiroom audio streaming.

The YAS-706 is optimized to provide a clear, detailed and enveloping listening experience for TV and movie watchers, with realistic sound that draws them into the action. It is equally adept at reproducing music, delivering crisp highs, well-balanced mids and impactful bass that authentically recreates studio and live concert listening experiences.

Measuring less than 3" tall, the sound bar fits neatly in front of TVs without blocking the screen image and can be rotated for wall-mounting, presenting a low-profile in either orientation. Its understated yet high-end appearance features soft rounded edges on a stylish black cabinet with dark accents that perfectly complement today's TVs.

Through MusicCast, users are able to effortlessly stream music from mobile devices and computers as well as from services such as Pandora®, Spotify and Napster (formerly Rhapsody®). Additionally, the system allows access to external sources – such as a TV set-top box connected by HDMI® – so that the sound or music from the TV can be heard on MusicCast devices in other rooms.

With control provided by a simple iOS or Android™ smartphone or tablet app, MusicCast delivers music to supporting speakers and AV products throughout the house over a Wi-Fi network. The fast growing family of Yamaha MusicCast products now includes AV receivers, amps and preamps, other sound bars and compact wireless speakers.

"The Yamaha YAS-706 sound bar is an important new addition to the MusicCast line and the perfect way for a customer to get started with a MusicCast whole home audio system," said Bob Goedken, general manager, AV division, Yamaha Corporation of America. "Its phenomenal sound quality upgrades a typical ‘night in front of the TV' to an amazing ‘night at the movies' in your own home, while its powerful streaming capabilities make it easy to play your favorite music through it right from your smartphone. And with MusicCast, you can add wireless speakers in other rooms and listen to everything throughout your home, even your TV sound."

In addition to Wi-Fi, the YAS-706 also has built-in support for Bluetooth® and Apple® AirPlay®. When the Bluetooth connection is used as an input to the sound bar, the sound can be redistributed to other MusicCast speakers throughout the home. Alternatively, the Bluetooth connection can be set up to output audio, allowing it to stream to Bluetooth headphones, which can be convenient for late-night viewing without disturbing others in the home.

The center of the sound bar features separate amps for treble, midrange and bass supported by two midrange drivers, two built-in subwoofers and four tweeters. Depending on how it is mounted (wall or tabletop), the sound bar automatically determines which set of tweeters to activate for the best listening experience. The amp and driver design produces a full range of sound with exceptionally realistic clarity and presence. The subwoofer drivers inside the sound bar work in conjunction with the wireless subwoofer to produce deep, chest-thumping bass.

The YAS-706 employs Yamaha proprietary AIR SURROUND XTREME technology, using signal processing to simulate 7.1-channel surround and rear surround effects. While other virtual surround processing technologies create a spacious but "muddy" sound, this technology delivers more accurate sound directionality — dialogue comes from the front while sound effects move as intended through the sound field. The YAS-706 also supports both Dolby® and DTS surround sound technologies, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-Master Audio™.

The sound bar offers two HDMI 2.0 inputs, with HDCP 2.2 content protection, allowing crystal clear video signals including 4K Ultra HD with high dynamic range (HDR) to pass through to the display from an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc™ player or 4K media streamer. The use of HDMI connections assures the surround processors maximize multichannel sound performance, unlike sound bars with only an optical input that may receive a signal down-mixed to stereo from a TV output.

Pricing and Availability The Yamaha YAS-706 will be available in early December at a $999.95 MSRP. To learn more about the YAS-706, please visit http://4wrd.it/YAMAHASOUNDBAR.