YAMAHA’S NEW RECEIVERS MAKE WIRELESS SURROUND SOUND EASY
In what’s something of an audio bomb blast, Yamaha has announced three new AV receivers with MusicCast Surround, wireless technology.
The new 4K enabled models are the 5.1 channel RX-V485, and the two 7-channel models called the RX-V585 and RX-V685.
Each gives users the option of wiring up three surround speakers to the back of the receivers using cables and the two rear speakers using the MusicCast technology.
The new receivers will also accept a wireless subwoofer.
Yamaha says it knows that wired speakers are still the most reliable and best sounding way to go when building an AV system.
But Yamaha also points out this option isn’t open to some people. Fair enough. Many consumers want a home cinema system, but simply don’t like exposed speaker cables cluttering up their living room.
Then, of course, others consider running cables through the ceiling, walls or under the floor and put it in the 'all too hard basket'.
Receivers and speakers with MusicCast wireless technology may well be the neat solution this lot of challenged home cinema wannabees are after.
Additional MusicCast enabled products can be added along the way to provide music via Wi-Fi from almost any audio source to every part of a home.
To support the new receivers, Yamaha will also release two new speakers called the MusicCast 20 and MusicCast 50.
All of the new models have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect. And they support Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Tidal, Deezer, Napster and thousands of free Internet radio stations accessible via the free MusicCast app.
They all also feature voice control via Amazon Alexa enabled devices including the Echo and Echo Dot smart speakers through the use of free MusicCast skills available on the Alexa Skills App.
All the new receivers are 4K/60 frames per second capable, and each will pass through HDR video in the HDR 10, Dolby Vision and Hybrid Log Gamma formats with BT-2020 wide colour gamut compatibility.
Each of the trio supports HD Audio Decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master and DTS:XTM. The RX-V585 and V685 also support object-based Dolby Atmos and DTS:XTM decoding to add height effects through overhead speaker channels.
Yamaha will also release the MusicCast SUB100 powered subwoofer in a swank piano-gloss finish.
Pricing is yet to be finalised, but all models will be budget priced.
For more information visit Yamaha.
Posted in: Home Theatre
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