Yamaha TSX-140 Desktop Audio System - A Good All-Rounder

Looks Earthy and Organic

Yamaha has made serious inroads in the bedside and desktop speaker product segment with its new range of docking speakers. We have had the chance to give the TSX-80 and TSX-130 a try and they both stood out in their own ways with respect to their specifications and features. The TSX-130 model impressed us most with good performance that was balanced with good features, implementation and price. Now we have gotten our hands on the TSX-140 model that's supposed to be Yamaha's newest desktop docking speaker system. It doesn't replace the TSX-130, but you could say it's a different implementation of it.

Design and Features

Keeping in line with the overall theme of drawing inspiration from older classics, the Yamaha TSX-140 also has a retro look. With an option of three earth tones (brick, black and grey), the docking speaker set does give off a natural vibe and Yamaha claims that traditional clay vessels and pigments were the inspiration behind the form and design.

But the main components that drive the Yamaha TSX-140 are the twin 8cm drivers that power the speakers along with a 15W + 15W digital amplifier and bass-reflex ports. The entire package is labeled as "Concert Quality Sound" which Yamaha attempts to achieve via its propriety Music Enhancer software. Seeing that we have had both the TSX-80 and TSX-130 in our lab for testing with diametrically opposite results, we will definitely pay close attention to the TSX-140's audio quality; more on that on the following page.

Besides familiar hardware specs within the TSX-140, even the overall functionality of mimics that of the TSX-130 with CD, radio, USB and auxiliary input as various sources of audio. It's pretty much a mini desktop audio system presented in a different form and design.

To provide visual feedback, the TSX-140 has LED indicators which reflect the function that has been selected. These lights are equipped with a brightness sensor so they can automatically adjust brightness levels depending on ambient light. The LEDs are rather small and unobtrusive, so we're actually not sure why Yamaha spent the effort and added extra cost to the already expensive dock for this function.

Of course the main focus on the front panel are the three rotary controls that give intuitive access to source selection, volume, radio presets and EQ functions, of  which the latter was not present on the TSX-80. The EQ, bass and treble functions are however tied into the preset knob where the first few selections are radio presets and further spinning the knob would engage each of the respective functions one at a time. This is a little annoying as opposed to having these controls up-front. However, this is probably a small complaint as most people would only need to fiddle with these functions upon initial setup.

The built-in CD player plays standard audio discs as well as those storing tracks in MP3 and WMA formats. Obviously standard docked playing is available for iPods and iPhones. But fear not, if you have other MP3 devices or a thumb drive full of audio, you can plug them in with the help of a USB connector on the top panel.

Rounding up the list of features is the FM radio receiver with five preset channels and a 3.5mm auxiliary input for other audio sources. For those who need to sync your iPod devices with iTunes but still want to blast some music, the TSX-140 supports sync functionality. You'll need to hook up your PC to the rear of the audio system via a mini- USB cable and engage the SYNC button on the front panel. Last but not least, Yamaha’s IntelliAlarm technology also makes its way to the TSX-140 to increase its functionality and ensure that dulcet tones wake you up every morning.

The Yamaha TSX-140 is also bundled with a simple remote unit for easy control when you're not quite situated within an arm's length of it. However it is a pain to use because of the amount of physical effort required to press the buttons. In fact, if you remove the Yamaha logo and the smooth finish on the top facing of the remote, it would look like any other cheap remote bundled in simpler products. The Pioneer XW-NAS5 iPod audio system faced similar issues too. This certainly felt like a cost cutting effort on Yamaha's part since the older TSX-130 was equipped with a perfectly fine remote with its traditional design.

The Spectrum of Sound

As stated earlier we have had both the TSX-80 and the TSX-130 in our labs before and reviewed them thoroughly. Both gave differing results. While the TSX-80 did not impress, the TSX-130 came through our trials with flying colors. But that was more than a year ago when the market space, expectations and options differed from today. So although Yamaha TSX-140 is billed as their top of the line desktop docking audio system from the same series and shares many traits with the TSX-130, it has its work cut out for it.

The Yamaha TSX-140 has been equipped with the hardware to surmount the hurdles that its other counterparts were unable to clear. We were especially keen to see if the bass reflex ports helped buck up the low end spectrum, which was particularly underwhelming on the smaller TSX-80.

Test Setup

Traditionally, we tested speakers over four categories - CD, MP3, movies and games. But seeing that the Yamaha TSX-140 isn't a pair of proper speakers per se, and users likely won't be using it for movies and games, we’ll be restricting our tests to CD and MP3 testing suites. Basically, we want to look out for the TSX-140’s musical sensibilities. Hence, we’ll be playing a variety of different tracks to see how the speakers would perform across different genres such as acoustic, jazz, orchestral, trance and movie sound tracks.

While different users may have certain preferences for particular sonic palates, we try to remain as neutral and balanced as possible when reviewing audio devices. With that in mind, we chose test materials that span across a diverse range of audio variety. We used an Apple iPod Classic (160GB) to playback the relevant audio tracks compiled from our CD and MP3 Testing suite.

CD Audio Track Testing:
 

• Pod Race Scene from Phantom Menace
• Tyrannosaurus Rex Sound Effects from Jurassic Park
• Theme from Jurassic Park
• Apollo 13 Lift-off Sound Effects
• Theme from Cutthroat Island
• Fanfare for Louis, performed by the Dallas Wind Symphony

MP3 Audio Track Testing:
 

• Hotel California - Eagles
• Sail on Soothsayer - Buckethead
• Melt My Heart to Stone - Adele
• Elements of Life - Tiesto

Performance and Report Card

MP3 Tracks Test Suite

While the pros and cons of MP3 audio tracks are debatable, there is no doubting the fact that it is one of the most popular formats today. Ensuring good MP3 playback should be one of the TSX-140's core competencies, which is meant to function as a bedside or desktop docking station.

Subjecting the speakers to our regular battery of tests, we found that they came close to justifying Yamaha’s claim of "Concert Quality Sound". It retains the clarity of sound that we experienced with both the TSX-80, while improving on the boxy bass of the latter with the help of the bass reflex ports.

Adele’s Melt My Heart To Stone was crisp and clean with the guitars ringing out nicely. The singer’s voice also soared above the mix and took center stage for the track. All the different components of the song are brought together to render a highly, pleasant audio experience. Continuing in the same vein, the performance on Hotel California by The Eagles was also admirable. Slow rock, jazz and smooth tracks seem right up this docking stations alley.

It goes without saying though that a consumer would expect to use the device to listen to a wide variety of music spanning multiple genres. For this reason, we played out Sail on Soothsayer by Buckethead, which offers a steep challenge to speakers when they try and render the distorted guitar strumming. The TSX-140 did a commendable job with the notes chiming above the rhythm tracks.

Finally, to thoroughly test out the bass capabilities of the speakers, we used the techno classic Elements of Life by Tiesto. The descending bass lines on the song were faithfully represented. However, we found the low end performance to have a particular airy tone to them, which is a drawback of utilizing bass reflex port technologies. In general, we would say this docking station delivers great sound quality you have come to expect from Yamaha products of this kind.

CD Tracks Test Suite

Seeing that Movie and Game testing will not be possible with the TSX-140, we round up our tests with a thorough listening of CD quality tracks. While the dock can actually play direct from a CD source, we used a 160 GB iPod Classic to stream the CD-quality audio files which we've stored.

Starting out with the sound effect heavy tracks such as the T-Rex SFX from Jurassic Park and the Lift Off Sequence from Apollo 13, we got a chance to experience the bass reflex ports in full swing. We have mentioned the presence of a slight, airy quality to the tone when listening to MP3s which was somewhat off putting. The same characteristic however added to the atmosphere of these two tracks and increased the overall impression both sound effects made on the listener.

Our CD audio test materials also features a good selection of orchestral tracks in the form of Fanfare for Louis, Theme for Cutthroat Island and Theme for Jurassic Park. These tracks gave the TSX-140’s hardware a good workout. It is hard to accurately represent the flow of orchestral melodies and retain the timbre of the notes. Seeing that the TSX-140 already performed commendably with soft rock and light jazz during our MP3 Testing, it was no surprise that the stringed instruments sounded sweet and melodious. As with most Yamaha products, the treble and high frequencies are this docking station’s forte.

Ending our tests with the Pod Racing Scene from The Phantom Menace, we tried to gauge the quality and breadth of the soundstage. For a rectangular form factor, the TSX-140 does a good job of painting a wide soundscape. It is pleasurable to listen to and meets expectations.

** Updated on 1st November 2011 from a re-test of the product**

Living Up to Its Billing?

The TSX-140, like its companions from the Yamaha docking speaker lineup, is meant primarily for your bedside based on the fact that it is equipped with IntelliAlarm. But seeing that it is also fitted with a CD player, FM Radio capabilities and good hardware it does make a case for being used in different settings. From our tests we found that it has good audio reproduction from its excellent set of speakers. It's certainly good enough to act a a desktop audio system or even serve a small room. The detailed score card on the previous page and the summary audio performance scores below speak for themselves.

Decent sized 80mm drivers and a digital amplifier drive its audio output while bass reflex port technology ensures that the bass is atmospheric and greatly improved as compared to smaller models from the series. While it does have a slight airy quality to it, the characteristic can be a boon when listening to atmospheric, ambient tracks. At the same time the docking speakers display the best qualities of Yamaha speakers by providing clear, resonant highs and trebles. And with simple equalizer controls integrated, anyone can adjust the dock's sonic output quality to their liking. Just don't count on its remote to be a good sidekick.

But does the TSX-140’s performance and features justify the S$639 price tag that Yamaha is slapped on it? The price point is not in the same ballpark as some renowned models like the Bose SoundDock 10 and Bowers & Wilkin Zeppelin, both of which represent the pinnacle of current docking speaker solutions. While they cost nearly twice as much and offer even better performance, S$639 of the Yamaha TSX-140 is no small change either and you would be justified to expect bang for your buck.

On the whole the Yamaha TSX-140 hits all the marks expected of a docking speaker system and then some more. Its unique design will be a conversation starter and the ceramic clay finish is bound to lend an earthy, organic and natural feel to its surroundings. It also boasts the required hardware specs to be classified as a premium compact desktop audio system. Not to mention the array of features that extends its usability beyond just a docking speaker. While the inclusion of a CD player is a nice touch, we feel that it would only be attractive to those who already own a significant CD collection that hasn't yet been converted to other forms of storage. USB connectivity and auxiliary input ensure the dock stays versatile for most needs. And rounding up the list is FM Radio and IntelliAlarm functionality.

But the price of the Yamaha TSX-140 prevented it from completely winning us over. Procuring one would a serious outlay for anyone and we feel that the audio performance, which was no doubt quite good, does not merit a S$639 valuation. The docking speakers work well in small spaces but will definitely struggle to fill a larger space with sound. Due to the rectangular nature of the design, you can also expect significant distortion of the soundstage if the listener was walking around; say in a party environment where the TSX-140 was being used to play music. The TSX-140 also faces competition from our Tech Awards 2011 winner, the Philips Fidelio Primo DS9000 that lists for only S$699 and offers performance equivalent to the top dogs. It is however a pure docking speaker solution only.

Don't get us wrong though, the Yamaha TSX-140 is still a very good product - especially if you are in need of an all-round versatile desktop audio system. However, if your needs are more defined, there are others that can offer better for not much more. In any case, as long as you're gunning for a standalone desktop audio system solution above the S$500 mark, the Yamaha TSX-140 should be on your evaluation shortlist. If only it retails a tad lower than its current list tag or if it featured wireless playback options, its price could be just right for its capabilities.

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