zoogelsnof's Full Review: Jamo YSP-1000S Main / Stereo Speaker
Seriously like freakin’ wow. I don’t mean wow in a classic, “man, that’s awesome way” I mean, wow in a, “there is no way to describe its awesomeness in words and so my jaw drops slightly and a brief gasp of air escapes that sounds something like wow”
Why I bought it
I’m an audiophile, I like sound, I love good sound, and I die for great sound, but I hate complicated set-ups and wire jobs, so in fact don’t have very good sound on my television.. When the YSP-1 came out, the first version of this, I almost bought it because the concept of it was so amazing, but the better angels of my nature took over and said, “the first version will not be very good, it’s new technology, wait” so I waited. And once I saw the second version came out, I read a few reviews, and then bought it a couple of hours later, convinced it was everything I hoped it would be.
Whats in the Box:
The YSP-1000, the instruction manual, microphone, quick-start guide, remote, batteries, all necessary wires and cables to connect the unit to your TV and one auxiliary device (TIVO, DVD player, etc) and 4 velcro pads to secure it to a surface.
Installation
Installation was a snap. It took me about 3 hours to get my TIVO, DVD player, and TV all hooked up and working properly. The instruction manual is clear, the diagrams are good, and it’s easy to figure out where everything goes. Just follow the wire/cords as written on the diagrams. However, don’t just try to hook it up without reading the manual, that cost me about an hour at the start.
Setting up the surround components is a snap, the unit calibrates itself. You just attach an included microphone and put it in the middle of your room, and then you push an, “auto-calibrate” button, and it plays sounds to itself, measures audio levels, and determines the shape and composition of the room, setting itself up largely perfectly.
There are also 4 included Velcro pads so that you can secure the unit to a surface, the unit is very heavy, and very front-heavy, so if I did not have these pads, the odds somebody would bump it and make it fall off the top of my TV where it sits would be high, but the pads are very strong, and hold it very tightly, so I don’t need to have that concern.
The setup took awhile, just in terms of following directions, but there were no, “wow, I have no idea what I’m doing wrong or why this doesn’t work moments” just a lot of, “ohhh the diagram says this goes over HERE not over THERE…whoops.”
Ease of Use
It’s way easier to use than anything I’ve ever used before for operating my TV, my DVD player, and my TIVO. All things connect to the box, and the box connects to the TV for video output. Just push one button on the included remote and it switches between TV and DVD and TIVO without any of that messy switching around between Video 1 and Video 3 that I had become so accustomed to. The remote is clearly laid out, backlit and easy to use. The design of it is impressive, the thing is really well planned. It made me realize how bad the design of most other remotes, because this one is just so intuitive. The YSP-1000 has several different audio modes that actually do change the quality of the sound (one for sports, three for movies that are all the same, and three for music, of which two are the same) which all seem approapriate…it can be made to sound like a concert hall, or increase the crowd noise at a football game, etc.
Sound Quality
It’s amazing. It’s simply amazing. I’m sitting on my couch, the speaker is in front of me, and I hear sound from all directions. It’s that simple. From every direction I am hit with every type of sound, occasionally punctuated by heavy bass from my subwoofer (not included) And the sound is good, the sound is better than good, the sound is the best thing I’ve ever heard in my home, without the slightest question. At my parents home in Los Angeles my father has a $5,000 sound system involving 7 speakers and a giant sub, and this sounds better than that, without question, because you don’t need to be careful where you sit. With a traditional surround system, there is a, “sweet spot” where all the sound comes together, but sit anywhere else that is not directly at that sweet spot, and sound quality and surround start to degrade. This is not a problem with this unit.
I should note, I also bought the recommended sub, and this is absolutely essential to getting the full value from this unit. It’s only $150, so just plunk down the money and fetch it. I can’t be any…more specific about the sound, it’s just all good, there are no weak spots, the bass is good, voices are good, highs are good, gunshots scare me, hell, the damn Law and Order theme music sounds amazing (the two downbeats are really solid now). It’s just awesome. I put in CD’s, sit back, close my eyes, and just listen. I can’t talk enough about how amazing this thing sounds.
Overall
If you can afford it, buy it, it’s that simple. I love it, I don’t know how I ever lived without it, and I will never live without it again. Buy one. Buy it now. Ship it overnight. Take a day off work to install it. No messy wires to run all over the house, and amazing sound, does life get any better?
The synopsis of what it is from Yamaha’s website: The YSP-1000 contains 42 digital amplifiers to power 42 sound drivers, delivering remarkable multi-channel enjoyment from a single, elegant component. (http://www.yamaha.com/yec/YSP1/idx_ysp1000.htm)
Digital sound projector with built-in 120-watt digital amplifier for producing full-bodied multichannel sound Projects sound beams from 42 integrated ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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