At CES 2026, Onkyo is marking its 80th anniversary with the introduction of the Muse Series, a new line of compact network streaming integrated amplifiers designed for two-channel systems. This is a crowded category, and Onkyo knows it—competition from Eversolo, Marantz, Bluesound, and WiiM has raised expectations around features, usability, and value. The Muse Series is Onkyo’s answer to that reality, not a throwback exercise, but a modern product line aimed squarely at today’s streaming-centric listener.
The Muse Series consists of two models—the Y-50 and Y-40—both all-in-one network integrated amplifiers built around fully digital signal paths and Axign Class D amplification. The Y-50 delivers 250 watts per channel into 4 ohms, while the Y-40 outputs 150 watts per channel into the same load. Both are compact units, measuring just under four inches tall, designed to drive real speakers without requiring a rack full of separates.
Both Muse models share the same physical footprint—3.9 x 13.8 x 12.6 inches (WxHxD)—and are available in black or silver finishes. Visual details are restrained, with an oversized volume knob and heat vents patterned with the traditional Japanese San Kuzushi motif.
A defining element of the Muse Series is its 5.46-inch color LCD display, which shows album art, track metadata, and an analog-style VU meter. It’s a functional screen rather than a gimmick, intended to reduce reliance on a phone or tablet once playback is underway. Control is handled via the Onkyo Controller app, with support for Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Chromecast, and AirPlay 2, along with Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Onkyo Muse Y-50 Network Integrated Amplifier
The Muse Y-50 is the flagship of the series and the more serious option for users with demanding speakers or larger rooms. It’s built around a fully digital signal path and an Axign Class D amplifier stage using high-current MOSFET outputs, delivering 250 watts per channel into 4 ohms. That puts it comfortably in territory where speaker matching is less of a concern.
The front panel is dominated by a 5.46-inch color LCD, which displays album art, track metadata, and an analog-style VU meter. This isn’t just cosmetic—it reduces reliance on a phone or tablet once playback is underway, something many streaming amps still struggle with.
Connectivity is comprehensive. The Y-50 includes three analog RCA inputs, a coaxial digital input, HDMI ARC for TV and gaming audio, and a built-in MM/MC phono stage. Ethernet and Wi-Fi are standard, as is support for Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Chromecast, and AirPlay 2. A subwoofer pre-out and upgraded speaker terminals round out the back panel.
Onkyo also includes Onkyo Room EQ, allowing basic room calibration—an increasingly expected feature at this price point and one that helps the Y-50 compete more directly with feature-rich rivals.
Onkyo Muse Y-40 Network Integrated Amplifier
The Muse Y-40 shares the same overall design language and user interface but scales things back where it counts. Power output drops to 150 watts per channel into 4 ohms, which is still more than sufficient for most stand-mount speakers and many modest floorstanders.
Like the Y-50, the Y-40 uses a fully digital circuit design with Axign Class D amplification and includes the same 5.46-inch color LCD display with metadata and VU metering. Streaming support is identical, with access to Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Chromecast, and AirPlay 2 via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, all controlled through the Onkyo Controller app.
Input options remain practical: three analog RCA inputs, coaxial digital, HDMI ARC, and a phono input (MM/MC). Bluetooth is included for convenience playback, and the unit can be paired with a subwoofer to build a compact but flexible two-channel system.
Where the Y-40 differs is intent. It’s designed for smaller rooms, simpler systems, and buyers who want a clean, streaming-first integrated amplifier without paying for power they’ll never use.
The Bottom Line
Onkyo’s Muse Y-40 and Y-50 look like a serious, modern swing at the network integrated amp category—and not just because the front panel has a big screen. The real story is the comprehensive streaming support (Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Chromecast, plus Apple AirPlay 2) wrapped into a compact chassis that can credibly serve as the hub for a real two-channel system.
Add an MM/MC phono stage—still not a strong suit for a lot of the value-led competition (and yes, the WiiM’s phono input is… fine… if you enjoy “fine”)—and Onkyo is clearly aiming at buyers who want one box that covers streaming, TV via HDMI ARC, and vinyl without feeling like a compromise.
The catch is price. Both Muse models cost more than their WiiM and Eversolo rivals, so Onkyo doesn’t get to win on value by default. The $999 Y-40 lands closer to the Marantz M1—a unit we genuinely like sonically—and Onkyo’s edge here is connectivity breadth (including that MM/MC support) rather than a cute minimalism play. Meanwhile, the $1,499 Y-50 is where the argument gets tougher: at that money, it can’t just be “more watts on a spec sheet.”
It needs to be more powerful in practice and clearly better sounding to justify stepping above the alternatives—especially when Marantz M1 and WiiM Amp Ultra already earned 2025 Editors’ Choice nods in this category. If the Y-50 delivers on real-world drive and sound quality, it’ll have a case. If not, it’s just an expensive way to get a nice VU meter.
Price & Availability
The Onkyo Muse Series will be available in May 2026.
- Muse Y-40 Network Integrated Amplifier: $999 USD
- Muse Y-50 Network Integrated Amplifier: $1,499 USD
Both models will be offered in black or silver finishes and share the same compact chassis dimensions: 3.9 x 13.8 s 12.6 inches (W x H x D). Onkyo is showcasing the Muse Series at CES 2026 ahead of retail availability.
Related Reading:
- Best Streaming Amplifiers: Editors’ Choice
- Best Music Streamers: Editors’ Choice
- Network Amps, Wireless Headphones, Lossless Spotify – And Hollywood Still Pretending It’s Relevant – Editor’s Round-Up
- Klipsch Unveils Red Oak Forte IV And Heresy IV, Onkyo Icon Series Brings The Heat At Audio Advice Live 2025
- The Latest Announcements From CES 2026
