The decoding circuitry performs Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, DTS Digital Surround, DTS-ES (DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 and DTS-ES Discrete 6.1), DTS Neo:6 and DTS 96/24 decoding with extreme accuracy, as well as all digital sound field processing. A THX Select mode is provided as an extra listening option.

Achieves surround sound with clarity and sound imaging unlike any other two-speaker system. You can hear clear dialogue from the front, with distinctly separate surround sounds and smooth movement around the sound field.

7.1ch technology: Articulate Sound Source Expressions from Various Directions: ”The AIR SURROUND XTREME has employed a newly developed virtual 7.1ch technology that can independently recreate the surround-channel and surround-back-channel in stereo.  The result of it is the clearly and amazingly identifiable sound sources from various directions”.

Position Mode: Sideways Shift of the Most Effective Listening Point: ”This mode is capable of shifting the most effective listening spot on the row while keeping the sound field of multi-channel program. The amazing ability to shift the best listening point by a mere balance adjustment has enabled to provide an idealistic surround effect, even when listening not exactly in between two speakers”.

Wide Mode: Widening of Surround Effective Area: ”The “Wide Mode” is for two to three people listening laterally. Our original technology, “multi-points cross talks canceling” process has enabled to create a comfortable surround feeling in much larger area, adding a further value to the AIR SURROUND XTREME for the enjoyment with more than two people”.

The Yamaha LSI provides synchronization of images and sound, which is called lip-sync. Most home theater LSIs do not have the necessary speed and precision to handle this, but the YSS-930 is able to do it accurately. What’s more, by using the Audio Delay mode, lip-sync parameters can be adjusted whenever necessary.

Conventional multichannel audio reproduction systems base their sound on Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, using matrix and steering technologies to create surround sound effects. Yamaha CINEMA DSP is much more advanced, actually creating richly realized independent sound fields that envelop you in an unmatched surround sound experience. With dialogue, music and effects from ideally located in these separate sound fields, you will hear sound with accurate placement, smooth movement, exceptional clarity and richness, and startlingly realistic presence. It will seem as if the walls of your room have disappeared and you are in the middle of your own immense theater! The decoding circuitry performs Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, DTS Digital Surround, DTS-ES (DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 and DTS-ES Discrete 6.1), DTS Neo:6 and DTS 96/24 decoding with extreme accuracy, as well as all digital sound field processing.

Yamaha latest evolution of CINEMA DSP utilizes four Quad CINEMA DSP engines and permits lossless decoding of 192kHz signals, while providing 3D processing that gives the sound field an extra vertical dimension. In its full 11-channel configuration setting it adds two presence and two rear presence speakers, offering the enjoyment of a completely new sound stage.

Yamaha employs sophisticated digital signal processing with exclusive algorithms to enable playback that improves the performance of compressed music formats, including MP3 and WMA. With the Compressed Music Enhancer, highs and especially lows are richer and smoother, bringing music back to life to be as close to the original as possible.

When using front and center speakers positioned below the screen, dialogue may not be heard with maximum clarity. The Dialogue Lift function causes part of the front and center channel sound to be output from the presence speakers, so you hear the dialogue more clearly.

During low-volume listening, such as late at night, dynamic range suffers and you may miss some sounds. The Night Listening Enhancer offers two modes, Cinema and Music, with three-level select ability, which will ensure that you don't miss movie dialogue or quiet passages, or lose overall surround spaciousness. It works for all surround programs, including Dolby Pro Logic IIx.

Tri-Field CINEMA DSP projects three sound fields into the home theater: a Presence sound field in the front and two Surround sound fields in the left surround and right surround, resulting in a powerfully realistic three-dimensional soundscape. And now Yamaha also offers Quad-Field CINEMA DSP. It adds an additional surround back sound field to the Tri-Field system, in order to enjoy the new 6.1-channel formats, Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES.

SILENT CINEMA makes it possible to hear large-scale surround sound through ordinary headphones! This is a variation of CINEMA DSP technology that Yamaha developed to let you listen in private to movies and other multi-channel sources for hours without listening fatigue. Virtual CINEMA DSP lets you enjoy the effects of CINEMA DSP surround sound without using surround speakers (handy for use in custom installations where some rooms don't have surround speakers). It can be used with the front / center / presence speakers or even with just the two front left and right speakers.

These receivers provide a choice of nine subwoofer crossover frequencies: 40, 60, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 160 and 200 Hz. In addition to providing a wider range than other amplifiers, the steps from 80 to 120 Hz are only 10 Hz apart for more precise selection. This choice of crossovers lets you "fine-tune" the audio system by selecting the optimum frequency to maximize receiver / speaker efficiency and also ensures best performance from a wider variety of speakers (small to large).

Another feature for optimum bass sound. If bass is weak or muddy, switching the phase of the subwoofer will often improve performance.

UniVolume is a Yamaha-developed technology that maintains a consistent volume level between different channels, programs, commercials and input sources. For instance, when watching TV while using UniVolume, the volume of commercials will not be louder than the program being viewed. The same is true when switching sources to watch a DVD or Blu-ray movie or to listen to music on CD. This is particularly helpful for late night watching and listening when spikes in volume can disturb others in the house or apartment building.