URC, a global manufacturer of control and automation products and systems is aggressively embracing today's era of wireless whole-house audio through new efforts with Yamaha and HEOS. 

Building on its control of Yamaha products, URC now offers control drivers for Yamaha's MusicCast whole-house audio platform. MusicCast is available in products throughout Yamaha's product line, including A/V receivers, soundbars, dedicated multizone streamers, and even turntables.

The new driver enables the advanced control of MusicCast-enabled products using URC's Total Control 2.0 series of control products. The newly announced MusicCast compatibility builds upon the New York-based control company's long-standing relationship with Yamaha.

“The new URC driver significantly expands the flexibility and range of solutions available to custom integrators with Yamaha home audio products,” says Robert Goedken, general manager, A/V division, Yamaha Corporation of America.

“Our MusicCast line unites state-of-the-art home entertainment with high-performance multi-room audio, and now it can all be easily controlled as part of the leading URC whole-home automation system.”

URC's partnership with HEOS goes beyond the availability of Total Control 2.0 control drivers, as authorized URC dealers can now purchase HEOS products directly from URC, including products such as the HEOS Bar, HEOS Home Cinema, HEOS Drive, HEOS 7, HEOS 5, HEOS amp and HEOS Link. 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with URC as this further solidifies our commitment to the Custom Integration channel,” states Kevin Zarow, vice president of CI/AVS, Sound United.

“Through the URC dealer portal, HEOS dealers will now have a simple and efficient one-stop-shop for whole-house audio, robust networking and best-in-class control.” 

MusicCast Drivers Empower Homeowners 

Integrators can use the Yamaha Total Control 2.0 driver with a single Yamaha product or they can use it as part of a complete whole-house audio system. 

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The driver provides two-way control for MusicCast streaming services, including Pandora, Deezer, TIDAL and Internet radio, and it also provides comprehensive control of standalone Yamaha A/V receivers.

The new Yamaha driver is now available for free at the URC dealer portal. Once it is downloaded, dealers can import the driver into the URC Accelerator software to use in place of any Yamaha A/V receiver drivers residing in the Accelerator software. 

URC Total Control 2.0 Module Delivers Two-Way Control
 

According to URC, the HEOS line of wireless whole-house audio products offers integrators an audio platform that features customizable user interface capabilities, third-party integration, and control options via URC devices and the HEOS mobile app.

“We are very pleased to partner with Sound United to make the HEOS lineup of wireless, multiroom audio products available to all URC Total Control dealers,” notes Charles Parrelli, director of sales, URC.

“The combination of their [HEOS] best-in-class components and URC's comprehensive, seamless user interface will provide custom integrators with a compelling distributed audio solution, which will be perfect for a broad cross-section of their clients.” 

The HEOS Total Control 2.0 module provides two-way communications with all HEOS products located on a local network and allows users to browse built-in HEOS music services and control their volume levels of HEOS components. 

“Consumers and delaers love the new HEOS interface. The rich Total Control 2.0 graphics paired with the overall speed and performance of the module are really impressing people, and we couldn't be more excited to bring it to market,” adds Lars Granoe, vice president of product development, URC.