Just before CEDIA 2015, Yamaha got out in front of the new product news cycle by announcing its MusicCast wireless whole-house audio technology platform.
Enhancing the platform, which is available in a growing number of Yamaha A/V receivers, soundbars, wireless speakers and other components, the large audio manufacturer has announced two new MusicCast products: the WXA-50 Amplifier and the WXC-50 Preamplifier.
The company says the latest MusicCast products support dealers' abilities to address a wider variety of system installation scenarios.
“Yamaha fully appreciates that many of our customers already have speakers, A/V receivers and Hi-Fi equipment that they love, yet they want to enhance their overall wireless audio listening experience,” notes Bob Goedken, general manager, A/V division, Yamaha. “The WXA-50 and WXC-50 not only allow them to seamlessly and effortlessly integrate their legacy equipment with our popular MusicCast system, but also with suuperior sonic fidelity that will bring them hours of music listening enjoyment.”
Like other MusicCast products, the WXA-50 and WXC-50 enable users to stream services such as Pandora, Spotify and Rhapsody, and pull music from their local networks.
The WXA-50 Amplifier can be used with any traditional pair of passive loudspeakers to create an instant audio zone within a MusicCast system. Dealers can also utilize the WXC-50 Preamplifier with any existing amplifier or A/V receiver to create a MusicCast audio zone.
Both products incorporate ESS digital-to-analog converters (DAC) and “advanced circuit designs to deliver clear, detailed music reproduction.” The products also incorporate Yamaha's proprietary Compressed Music Enhancer, Volume Adaptive EQ and Advanced Bass Extension technologies to help maximize the sound quality the products produce.
Yamaha also points out the amp and preamp employ solid-metal chassis with retro industrial designs, and it states the products support a variety of sources and audio formats, including Bluetooth, TV, DVD, Blu-ray disc, CD, vinyl, Apple Lossless (ALAC) digital music files up to 24-bit/96kHz, and other file types such as FLAC, AIFF and WAV up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Other features built into the WXA-50 and WXC-50 include connectivity options such as Ethernet, trigger and remote inputs, and an auxiliary bus mode.
In addition, the products also support DSD files up to 5.6MHz, and Yamaha says the 1RU components can fit side-by-side in a 19-inch rack bay.
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