Tower Speaker Reviews

Subwoofer: Soavo-900SW
Connections: Stereo line and LFE inputs; stereo speaker- level in & out
Enclosure Type: Ported
Woofer (size in inches, type): 10, Fiber Blend Paper
Power Rating (watts): 600
Crossover Bypass: Yes
Available Finishes: Dark Brown, Brown Birch, Natural Birch, Black
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 17 x 16.1 x 18.2
Weight (pounds): 70.6
Price: $1,300

These listings are based on the manufacturer's stated specs; the HT Labs box below indicates the gear's performance on our test bench.

Speaker: Soavo-1
Type: Three-way tower speaker
Tweeter (size in 1, aluminum dome
Midrange (size in inches, type) 5, Advanced Polymer-Injected Mica Diaphragm
Bass/Midrange None
Woofer (size in inches, type): 6.5, Advanced Polymer-Injected Mica Diaphragm (2)
Nominal Impedance (ohms): 6
Recommended Amp Power: 50–200 watts
Available Finishes: Dark Brown, Brown Birch, Natural Birch, Black
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 41.3 x 13.75 x 19.3
Weight (pounds): 59.5
Price: $1,800/each

Speaker: Soavo-900C
Type: Two-way center speaker
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 1, aluminum dome
Midrange (size in nches, type): None
Bass/Midrange (size in inches, type): 5, Advanced Polymer-Injected Mica Diaphragm (2)
Woofer (size in inches, type): None
Nominal Impedance (ohms): 6
Recommended Amp Power: 40–200 watts
Available Finishes: Dark Brown, Brown Birch, Natural Birch, Black
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 6.6 x 19.6 x 10.6
Weight (pounds): 18.15
Price: $1,000/each

Speaker: Soavo-900M
Type: Two-way bookshelf speaker
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 1, aluminum dome
Midrange (size in inches, type): None
Bass/Midrange (size in inches, type): 5, Advanced Polymer-Injected Mica Diaphragm
Woofer (size in inches, type): None
Nominal Impedance (ohms): 6
Recommended Amp Power: 30–120 watts
Available Finishes: Dark Brown, Brown Birch, Natural Birch, Black
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 13.75 x 8.7 x 9.3
Weight (pounds): 13.4
Price: $1,000/each

Ratings: Yamaha Soavo Speaker System

Build Quality: 90 Good
• Robust build quality
• Real wood veneers look like vinyl
• Cabinets are paneled with wood veneer inside as well as out

Value: 87 Average
• The Soavo's price/performance ratio could be better
• For this kind of money, I'd expect a little more output capability

Features: 92 Good
• All-new driver designs
• Machined wood port tubes

Performance: 90 Good
• Excellent imaging
• Reticent midrange is disappointing
• The Soavos aren't at their best with loud rock or hard-hitting movies

Ergonomics: 93 Good
• Remote-controlled sub eases setup hassles and offers a range of preset listening modes
• The Soavo-1 comes with its outrigger feet already mounted

Overall Rating: 90 Good
We applaud Yamaha's return to audiophile speaker manufacturing, but the Soavo isn't a complete success. It lacks the muscle to put across home theater oomph with conviction, but the system does have the refinement that will please acoustic music aficionados.

General Information
Soavo-1 Loudspeaker, $1,800/each
Soavo 900C Center-Channel Speaker, $1,000
Soavo 900M Surround Speaker, $1,000/each
Soavo 900SW Subwoofer, $1,300
Yamaha
(714) 522-9011
www.yamaha.com