Yamaha YDS-150 Digital Saxophone, THR-II Guitar Amp Selected for Red Dot and iF Design Awards

Yamaha Wins Multiple World-Renowned German Design Awards

- YDS-150 Chosen for Red Dot: Best of the Best -

Yamaha Corporation announces that two of its designs were selected to receive both the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2021 and the iF Design Award (Product Design): namely, the YDS-150 digital saxophone and the THR-II guitar amp. The YDS-150 in particular was chosen to receive Red Dot: Best of the Best, the most prestigious of the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2021 awards, while the THR-II follows in the footsteps of the first-generation model of THR series amps, which won the Red Dot Design Award in 2012 and the iF Design Award in 2013.

The Red Dot Design Award is a German design award hosted by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen that is highly respected around the world and comprises three categories: Product Design, Brands & Communication Design, and Design Concept. This latest win brings Yamaha's total number of Red Dot Design Awards to 26 since it began submitting entries in 1997. Following in the footsteps of the SB-7 SILENT Brass™ system (1997), SVC-200 Silent Cello™ (2000), and Revstar electric guitar (2017), the selection of the YDS-150 for the Red Dot: Best of the Best award brings the total number of top awards received to four.

The iF Design Award, hosted by iF International Forum Design GmbH, has been recognized as an arbiter of quality for exceptional design for 68 years. The iF label is renowned worldwide for outstanding design services, and the iF Design Award is one of the most important design prizes in the world. Since 1999, Yamaha has received iF Design Awards for 17 of its designs, and these two new awards now bring the total to 19.

The YDS-150 is a revolutionary new wind instrument designed to allow anyone to experience the joy of performing, anytime, anywhere. The instrument retains the full expressiveness of the saxophone, yet it can be as quiet as you want, making it more convenient and easier to play. Sound can be produced by simply blowing into the mouthpiece, while volume and tone can be carefully modulated using the intensity of the breath, resulting in a wind instrument which can cater to the expressive needs of both beginners and experienced players alike. The YDS-150 also features an Integrated Bell Acoustic System that combines acoustic saxophone construction with digital technologies to deliver the natural feel and resonance of an acoustic saxophone to the player's fingers and body for a more enjoyable playing experience, as if the instrument were an extension of the player's body.

The THR-II is the second-generation model of THR series amps first released in 2011 to meet the needs of guitarists wanting to simply enjoy playing anytime, anywhere, even when away from the stage or studio. In order to respond to the demands of today's guitarists, the THR-II offers even more realistic tube-amp tones and the top model is a fully wireless guitar amp that requires absolutely no cables. The controls maintain a traditional feel that allows intuitive operation and the new-retro design features speaker grill lighting inspired by vintage tube amps for a truly satisfying guitar playing experience.

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Red Dot Design Award Official Website: