The Yamaha YAS 109 is the successor of the budget soundbar YAS 108 and has newly added features with a slightly improved sound quality over its predecessor. It is a 2.1 entry-level soundbar and provides tons of value to its users, giving them the most bang for their buck. Like its predecessor, the Yamaha YAS 109 will benefit a lot with the integration of an external powered subwoofer.
If you are planning to get an active subwoofer for your YAS 109 soundbar then look no further. We are planning to share with you a list of the best subwoofers which you can choose to go for and partner with your Yamaha YAS 109. First, we will need to find out about your subwoofer requirements and learn more about the sonic characteristics of this Yamaha soundbar including its limitations. Without further ado, let us start.
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Sonic Characteristics of Yamaha YAS 109 Soundbar
One of the most notable new features will be the built-in Alexa voice control as it will give you easier control over the Yamaha YAS 109 soundbar. Like the previous iteration, the YAS 109 has dual built-in 3″ (75mm) subwoofers but would not be powerful enough to deliver subterranean bass frequencies. For an entry-level soundbar, it sure doesn’t look like one and will be fitting in most living rooms. The compact size of the Yamaha YAS 109 should allow the soundbar to fit nicely below your LED television. The Yamaha soundbar supports 4K HDR Video passthrough, providing you with ultra-high-resolution cinematic visuals.
We find it performs better in stereo mode as the imaging is more focused and the overall sound reproduction is fuller. The virtual 3D surround sound doesn’t really give us a sense of immersion and the sound quality becomes leaner. The dialogues on both formats are clear which is great for listeners who watch TV shows/movies that are dialogue-heavy. There is an emphasized bass performance and the Yamaha YAS 109 lacks deep bass reproductions which are understandable. Adding a powered subwoofer will improve the overall bass performance especially when it comes to subsonic bass delivery.
More Details at Amazon – Yamaha YAS-109 SoundBar with Built-In Subwoofers
Yamaha YAS 109 is more suited for small size listening rooms and is capable of projecting a decent size soundstage. It is still enjoyable to listen for casual music listeners but it performs better in a home theater environment especially with the support from an active subwoofer. This is a step-up when compared to TV speakers and the plethora of features that come with the YAS 109 are useful. If you really want to improve your home cinematic experience, adding an active sub into the mix will be a must. Now let us start considering some of the potential requirements which might affect your subwoofer choice.
Yamaha YAS 108 Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2.1 channel Soundbar
- Drive Units: Two 1″ (25mm) Dome Tweeters, Two 2″ (55mm) Midrange Woofers, Two 3″ (75mm) Subwoofers
- Wireless: Bluetooth, WiFi
- Inputs: HDMI ARC, Optical input, RCA input
- Outputs: Subwoofer output, HDMI output
- Built-in Amplifier Power: 120 Watts total power
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 890mm x 53mm x 131mm | 35″ x 2.1″ x 5.2″
- Weight: 3.4kg (7.5lbs)
Main Subwoofer Requirements
Work out a budget you are comfortable with and do give it some headroom just in case you need to increase it for a potential subwoofer that you really want. The Yamaha YAS 109 is an entry-level soundbar and we will suggest going with entry-level subwoofers or slightly higher-end models. This is a soundbar meant for home theater use and a ported subwoofer will be a more suitable match for the YAS 109. If you find the current bass performance a bit boomy for your taste and want a tighter bass delivery, then probably a sealed subwoofer will be more suited. Is your spouse sharing the use of the subwoofer? You might want to seek their opinions and get more requirements from them.
You should also see how much available space you can allocate, the usual subwoofer placement is at the corner of the room but you could also place it near you like beside/behind the sofa. If you are facing space constraints, you might want to go for subwoofers that are compact in size or designed to fit into tight spaces. For listeners who watch a lot of action-packed movies, you should get a subwoofer with the capability to at least go below 30Hz bass extension, and it will be even better if the sub could produce low frequencies below 20Hz. These are some of the requirements you might want to seriously consider and you should also think of other potential requirements of your own. As mentioned, you can also discuss with others who are sharing the subwoofer with you.
Best Subwoofers to pair with Yamaha YAS 109
The SVS PB-1000 is one of the best subwoofers to pair with the Yamaha YAS 109 soundbar. This is an entry-level ported subwoofer with a modest price tag and can provide solid bass performance. PB-1000 is a 10″ ported subwoofer with 300 Watts RMS and up to 720 Watts of Peak power. It has a frequency response of 19Hz-270Hz (+/-3dB) which is simply incredible for an entry-level ported sub at this price point. The SVS PB-1000 is well-received by many of its satisfied HT owners and will deliver subsonic bass frequencies without compromising accuracy. A suitable subwoofer match for the Yamaha YAS 109.
More Details at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 10″ Ported Subwoofer (Black Ash)
The Yamaha HS8S is one of the best studio subwoofers to go with the Yamaha YAS 109 and is an excellent choice for listeners who want highly accurate and realistic bass performance. This is a compact 8″ down-firing subwoofer with a front-firing bass port. It may have a small footprint but the HS8S is able to deliver bass frequencies down to 22Hz. Furthermore, the bass delivery is taut and with precision, and has just the right amount of impact. The Yamaha HS8S is suitable for small HT rooms and/or nearfield listening, the high-quality low ends will complement the Yamaha YAS 109 really well.
More Information at Amazon – Yamaha HS8S Subwoofer
The Klipsch R-12SW is an ideal subwoofer choice for listeners who want an affordable subwoofer but without compromising the bass performance as well as its quality. The R-12SW is one of the most well-regarded budget subwoofers and has hundreds of positive ratings to back it up. It is certainly a worthy match for your Yamaha YAS 109 soundbar. This is a 12″ front-firing subwoofer and has up to 400 Watts of dynamic power which is pretty powerful for an entry-level ported sub at this price range. It can reproduce deep bass cleanly and powerful enough to fill a small listening room.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-12SW Sub
For listeners who want a budget subwoofer with a small footprint, the Yamaha NS-SW050 will be an ideal choice for you. Furthermore, NS-SW050 is made by the same company as the YAS 109 soundbar, and so we can expect similarities in their sound signatures which will allow them to work together seamlessly and provide us with cohesive overall sound reproduction. The compact subwoofer has up to 100 Watts of dynamic power and delivers very deep bass frequencies (down to 28Hz) with tight control. The Yamaha NS-SW050 is worth your time for an audition and will pair well with your Yamaha YAS 109.
More Details at Amazon – Yamaha NS-SW050 8″ 100W Powered Subwoofer
If you prefer to go for sealed subwoofers that could dig deep and deliver subsonic bass performance without breaking the bank. The SVS SB-1000 Pro will be an exemplary sealed sub to go for and match with your Yamaha YAS 109. It is a 12″ sealed subwoofer with an impressive frequency response of 20Hz-270Hz (+/-3dB) and uses the Sledge STA-325D amplifier which drives up to 820+ Watts (Peak) of power. The SVS SB-1000 Pro is an agile sub that can land a hard punch and has fast transients, delivering articulate and tight bass frequencies. This sealed subwoofer will fare well in music playbacks.
More Details at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Sub
Not sure to go for ported or sealed subwoofers? Then perhaps hybrid subwoofers will be the answer for you. You can check out HSU Research VTF-2 MK5, it is a powerful hybrid subwoofer with two operating modes where you can switch between ported or sealed. With 1 port open, the VTF-2 MK5 can reach down to 16Hz bass extension and it is sanely priced as well. The SVS PB-1000 Pro will be another amazing subwoofer choice with two operating modes which are standard and sealed. This 12″ ported subwoofer has a modest price tag and could deliver down to 17Hz. Both subwoofers are a great match with the Yamaha YAS 109 soundbar.
More Details at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro Ported Sub
To Conclude
We will highly suggest auditioning the subwoofer which fits your requirements the most. It is wise to hear them out and see if you like the bass quality. It will be even better if you could audition the potential subwoofers in your own home theater room together with your Yamaha YAS 109 soundbar as this will give you a more accurate test result. Feel free to use this subwoofer list as a reference but we recommend at least audition one or two subs on the list first before comparing them with other subwoofer models.
