Automatic Setup - Yamaha YSP-1100 Features

You don't necessarily need a subwoofer installation. The end result worked, but I got
with the YSP-1100, but your system will a much better sound when I did a manual
sound much better with it. OK, I changed my configuration and switched to a calibrated
mind – you do need a subwoofer. A single Stereo + 3Beam mode. Keep this in mind as
composite (for OSD or legacy devices) you set up your own system and remember
or component video output (best quality) that you can set up the Beams manually and
sends video to your display. simply run the Sound Optimizer portion of
the auto setup independently.

Automatic Setup

The Sound Optimizer portion of the
Auto Setup configures the distance delay as
Automatic setup isn't too difficult and
well as the volume and EQ settings for each
involves a couple of easy steps, depending
of the beams in order to correctly blend the
upon whether you are running a full setup
level and tone of all channels.
or just applying the Sound Optimization
to an existing Beam configuration. To run
Manual Setup
the Auto setup simply plug in the included
optimizer microphone (the input is on the If you're a tweaker you probably won't
left side of the enclosure), place the mic on be using a YSP-1100 in your main room.
the included cardboard stand and position If, however, you're like me and have a
it at the listening position (try to ensure it secondary reference system, or you are a
is at ear height). At this point you can either custom installer, then the Manual Setup is
press and hold the "Auto Setup" button on likely going to occupy some of your time
the remote for 5 seconds or enter the Auto during the setup process – at least if you
setup using the on-screen menu system. want the best results. I found the manual
The Auto setup is not without its potential setup process to be a very handy tool for
hang-ups, but as with all room optimizations fine tuning the settings – and for ensuring
systems, not every room configuration can that the system doesn't make incorrect
be accounted for. For example, in one of my assumptions about your room or setup.
reference rooms I ran the Automatic Setup The Manual Setup menu is composed
twice and both times it thought my corner- of four main areas with corresponding
positioned YSP-1100 was set up for parallel submenus: Sound, Beam, Input, and Display
Editor's Note: Reflective Rooms
Many people aren't aware of whether their rooms are considered "reflective" or
not. A quick and easy method for determining this would be to get into the listening
position and clap your hands loudly. If it takes longer than 1 second for the decay of
that sound to go away, you can pretty much assume that your room is a bit reflective.
Items that contribute to this are: sparse furniture, wood floors, high flat ceilings and
oversized rooms. If you can read this entire paragraph while the echo of the clap
reverberates through your listening room, well then you better go get a throw rug
and some drapes!

ears (imagine that!) but the last three will
need to be a combination of measuring and
trial and error. This, of course assumes you
weren't satisfied with the Auto Setup which
configures all of this for you.
menus mark the top level and, unlike some
menu systems I've seen, are well-named for
their functions. I'll point out some of the
areas I think should be highlighted below.
Sound Menu
Input Menu
The Sound menu is where you have
The Input menu gives the user manual
access to Tone controls, Subwoofer settings,
control over input assignments, modes,
Mute level (either full or -20dB), and Audio
and trims. You can also rename the inputs.
Delay (0-160ms in 1ms steps). The Room
I was pleased to see level trims included
EQ submenu also present here does not,
in this menu. What is not present are
as some will think on initial glance, provide
any options for upconversion – this unit
automatic room EQ. Instead, it sets the
doesn't even convert composite video to
mounting position of the YSP-1100 (shelf
component. This means that you'll need
or wall) and whether the room is "Normal"
to run both component video to your
or "High Echo". If you don't have much
television as well as composite should you
furniture and have wood floors, you may
happen to have legacy equipment or use
want to select "Hi Echo".
more than two devices with component
video outputs. Another thing to note is that
the YSP-1100 does not allow the on-screen
display to function over component video
(the signal paths are completely separate
and isolated). While this may actually yield
higher quality component video it also
serves as a potential hassle for setting up
the unit or making adjustments.
The final menu controls the front panel
Beam Menu
dimmer. It actually allows you to have an
auto-dim mode and set the brightness.
In the Beam Menu you are presented
Alternatively you can leave it on full brightness
with Settings Parameters (corner or center
or turn it off. This is also where you select
wall placement and height) and the Beam
meters or feet for the measurements and
Adjustment menu. Here you'll have access
to horizontal and vertical angle adjustments settings menus.
as well as the beam travel height, focal
Remote Control
length and treble gain. But what exactly
that means will ultimately determine if any I'm going to keep this brief. It's efficient,
easy to program and seems to have
of this info is useful to you. First of all, the
everything one would need to run the
system gives you pink noise for Horizontal
and Vertical Angle adjustments, as well as for system – including basic functions for
focal length, but not for the other submenu controlling a TV, DVD player or other legacy
device. The big thing it lacks is backlighting
items. This means that the first two can be
done from the listening position using your – which I think should definitely be included.
Direct input buttons center, but no longer directionally coming
are included – a plus, from the exact center of the speakers
(actually a nice effect).
and all of the buttons
"You Will Always Win" is another acoustic
seem to be well within
piece (the basic and successful format for
reach – at least for
this album) that really came though with
my fingers. I liked the
solid main vocals and well-blended backing
easy sliding switch on
harmonies. I flipped this disc into surround
the right side which
mode – I just couldn't resist – and settled
flips the remote from
back to hear the differences between
YSP-mode to TV/AV
authentic surround and the Stereo + 3Beam
(so that the number
mode. Wow. Immediately I could hear the
buttons can control
natural room reverb on my right and left.
auxiliary functions
Jesse Siebenberg's backing vocals too, on
in addition to the
a more open and airy sound and the mix
IntelliBeam controls.)
suddenly felt "right". I felt as though the
It's a decent remote
sound was now truly in three dimensions
that gets a good rating
instead of two and the Yamaha seemed to
and could use some
really excel at bringing through this new
minor improvement.
type of "boundary-free" surround sound.
Just a couple more songs... "Lowlands"
Listening Tests - Music
is tied for my favorite track on this album
As always music is an important part
and I have heard it now on several different
of what we do here at Audioholics. It was loudspeaker systems in several different
important, to me at least, to see how rooms – numerous times. The YSP-1100 put
well the Yamaha YSP-1100 would handle forth a very different experience, but one
that again was convincing and completely
surround music as well as stereo. With a
without boundaries. Violins were in the
unique system such as this I was curious and
room and vocals had good separation. The
quickly fired up several different discs and
banjo had that solid fingering sound and
tracks with which I was very familiar.
the bass wasn't missing the lower midrange
tonality that I experienced on other systems.
High Resolution
If you want a more defined surround field
96 kHz/24-bit PCM Stereo:
then direct radiating speakers will deliver
Jonathan McEuen One Step Ahead
that to you, but the immersive feel of the
(corner placement)
Yamaha was something to behold.
On this album
(which also has
surround sound
High Resolution
tracks) I wanted to
96 kHz/24-bit PCM Stereo:
see how well high
Jonathan McEuen One Step Ahead
resolution stereo
(parallel placement)
played back on
Wow, with an immense soundstage this
the Digital Sound
album really takes off. There seemed to
Projector. The
be a slight mid-bass emphasis that is more
first track "Two of
noticeable without a sub than with one
Us" is a beautiful
(and you really have to have a sub with this
song and I felt that the quality of sound
system – have we beaten that into your
reproduction was very good. Vocals lacked
head yet?) "Two of Us" had a realistic guitar
any boxiness that plagues certain systems.
sound and vocals, while a tad bit sibilant,
The soundstage was pretty narrow, but this
had a natural quality. If McIntosh can use a
was a two-piece acoustic session. In any case,
hundred and ten drivers in a single cabinet
engaging Stereo +3Beam mode widened the
and charge $40k, I suppose it's possible for
stage significantly and recessed the vocals Yamaha to get $1,600 worth of excellent
ever so slightly so that they were front and sound out of 42!