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Sound xR

Lineup

  • Sound xR Image

    Yamaha Sound xR Image

    Sound xR Image is an object-based sound image control system that precisely controls the location and direction of sound images within a space. It delivers immersive audio experiences across a wide range of applications, including theater, opera, concerts, installations, and events.

  • Sound xR Enhance

    Yamaha Sound xR Enhance

    Sound xR Enhance is a sound field control system that enriches and optimizes the resonance of sound by utilizing the unique acoustic characteristics inherent to a building’s space. Unlike methods that artificially add reverb to the sound source itself to create a different impression, it preserves the natural sound of instruments and vocals while controlling the reverberation and perceived volume of sound within the space, providing an acoustic environment suited to its purpose.

  • Sound xR Coreöppna i nytt fönster

    Yamaha Sound xR core

    Sound xR Core is a virtual spatial audio processing engine for earphones/headphones. Within the application domain of xReality – a collective term for VR/AR/MR/SR – it enables interactive, high-fidelity sound localization and soundscape design.

Features

Immersive Experiences for Everyone

“Sound xR” is the collective name for Yamaha Group’s immersive audio solutions, born from a shared vision. That vision is the desire to deliver immersive experiences that stir people’s emotions and draw them into the space to everyone around the world. Alongside developing and manufacturing musical instruments and audio equipment, Yamaha possesses over 50 years of spatial acoustics consulting experience. Through developing technologies like “Active Field Control (AFC)” for sound field control in physical spaces such as halls and theaters, and the comprehensive “ViReal” technology that achieves three-dimensional sound with overwhelming realism, Yamaha has accumulated extensive research on the ideal form of acoustic spaces in both real and virtual environments, building a strong track record. Combining the technologies and expertise cultivated by NEXO, with its speaker systems boasting exceptional acoustic performance, and Steinberg, which handles cutting-edge projects with renowned creators worldwide, the entire Yamaha Group has redefined the form that immersive audio should take. Sound xR pursues new possibilities for emotion born from connecting people, environments, and places.

Why Sound xR?

Scalability

Sound xR aims to make immersive audio accessible to everyone involved in spatial production, not just for a lucky few. For physical-world acoustic design, Yamaha and NEXO’s extensive speaker lineup can be appropriately combined to build the optimal system tailored to the project’s scale and budget.

Yamaha Sound xR: Scalability

Seamless Workflow

Building immersive audio involves extensive software tasks, from meticulous content creation to speaker acoustic simulation. Sound xR reduces this workload by optimizing and loading the necessary work files for system construction at each step – from studio to physical-world venues – enabling a seamless workflow.

Yamaha Sound xR: Seamless Workflow

From Onsite to Offsite

What if you could experience a concert hall performance with the same sound quality in a room on the other side of the globe? The ripple effect and reach of such an emotional experience would be immeasurable. Sound xR aims to break down the barriers between physical and virtual spaces, creating a world where more people can enjoy high-quality audio experiences regardless of location.

Yamaha Sound xR: From Onsite to Offsite

Sound xR Experiences

Sound xR supports the ideas and requests of creators, engineers, and event owners pursuing high-quality spatial production with its nuanced sound expression and reproduction capabilities. Here we introduce some examples where Sound xR has been used. With Sound xR, the future of immersive audio is limitless.

History

The vision and technology of Sound xR trace their origins to Yamaha's acoustic consulting activities, which began in 1969. For over half a century since, we have pursued research and proposals aimed at discovering the ideal relationship between sound, people, and space—a challenge that continues to this day.

  • Yamaha Sound xR: History

1969: A Quest Began for Ideal Relationship Between Sound, People and Space

In 1969 Yamaha launched acoustic consulting activities with the goal of finding an ideal relationship between performers, audience, and space. That quest has led to a deep understanding of acoustic technology in general, including structural acoustics, electronic acoustics, and noise control.

1969: A Quest Began for Ideal Relationship Between Sound, People and Space

1985: The Root of “Active Field Control (AFC)” Immersive Audio Platform Introduced

In 1985 Yamaha introduced “Assisted Acoustics” system, the root of revolutionary immersive audio technology “Active Field Control (AFC)”, in response to growing venue diversification and a need to accommodate a wider array of events. The ability to adjust the acoustics of a space to suit different types of performance has enhanced the value of any venue. AFC provided a cost-effective push-button alternative to mechanical means of modifying room acoustics.

1985: The Root of “Active Field Control (AFC)” Immersive Audio Platform Introduced

2003: The First “AFC” Branded Yamaha Processor Released

In 2003 Yamaha released the first core processor of electro-acoustic technology system “AFC1” that enabled natural changes to major auditory impressions, such as reverberance, loudness and spaciousness within a sound field of a performing arts venue, theatre, church or school auditorium.

2003: The First “AFC” Branded Yamaha Processor Released

2017: Comprehensive Spatial Audio Technologies “ViReal®”

While having been involved in the extensive research, design, and implementation of spatial audio for many years, in 2017 Yamaha announced “ViReal®”, comprehensive spatial audio technologies for the recording, editing, and playback of sound. The technologies led to development of “Sound xR Core” virtual spatial audio processing engine for headphones, and “AFC Image” object-based sound image control system. 

2017: Comprehensive Spatial Audio Technologies “ViReal®”

2021: AFC Solutions Expanded to Cover Production

AFC has been gradually refined over the years, and in 2021 the solutions were expanded to include “AFC Enhance” for ambience control during production and “AFC Image” for sound image control. Through close collaboration with NEXO and Steinberg, it was possible to create a total solution that extends all the way from production to playback.

2021: AFC Solutions Expanded to Cover Production

2025: “Sound xR” Becomes the New Platform for Yamaha Group’s Immersive Audio Solutions

In 2025 Yamaha, together with NEXO and Steinberg, brought all its immersive technologies under the new brand name “Sound xR” with DME processors as a heart of the solutions for physical spaces. The Sound xR will offer scalable and flexible system solutions driven by the vision of ‘Immersive Experiences for Everyone’.

2025: “Sound xR” Becomes the New Platform for Yamaha Group’s Immersive Audio Solutions

Experience Centers

  • Experience Centers

Experience Sound xR solutions at the ‘Sound xR Immersive Hub’. Currently operational locations are listed below. For details, please contact Yamaha’s sales subsidiaries in each area or NEXO distributors.

Yamaha Corporation Headquarter (10-1 Nakazawacho, Chuo Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 430-0904, Japan)

Yamaha Music Yokohama Minato Mirai (5-1-2 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0012, Japan)

Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse [CNSMDP] (209, avenue Jean Jaurès 75019 Paris, France)

Yamaha Music Asia (No. 7 Tai Seng Drive #01-01, Singapore 535218, Singapore)

Training

Dive deeper into Sound xR. We offer online training courses for Sound xR Image. By taking online trainings through Audioversity Online, you can earn a certificate of completion and AVIXA CTS credits, qualifying you to work as an Sound xR Image Certified Supporter. For those seeking further specialization, please attend hands-on training at our Experience Centers. No online training is available for Sound xR Enhance. For details, please contact Yamaha’s sales subsidiaries in your region or NEXO distributors.

*The training content is scheduled for release in February 2026.

  • Training Program: Yamaha Audioversity Online

Relaterad information

Case Studies

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* Specifications are subject to change without notice. The colors and finishes shown may vary from those on the actual products.

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