MusicCast Surround Enables Wireless Rear Speakers and Sub from A/V Receiver
Yamaha is introducing three new RX-V 85 Series 4K A/V receivers all featuring a new wireless technology called MusicCast Surround for cord-free rear speaker setup. The new line-up includes the the 5.1-channel RX-V485, 7.2-channel RX-V585 and RX-V685 A/V receivers, MusicCast 20 and MusicCast 50 wireless speakers, and MusicCast SUB 100 wireless subwoofer.
MusicCast Surround allows a user to build an A/V receiver-based 5.1-channel surround sound system with wired speakers for the front channels (Front Left, Center, Front Right) and wireless speakers for the surrounds (Surround Left, Surround Right). It also supports the option of using a wireless subwoofer. Of course, wired surround speakers are still supported for those who prefer a traditional setup or a speaker configuration with more than 5.1-channels.
MusicCast Surround builds on the Yamaha MusicCast wireless multi-room audio system which enables audio streaming over a Wi-Fi network to MusicCast-enabled products throughout the house. In comparison, when the MusicCast Surround mode is employed, a direct Wi-Fi connection is made between an RX-V 85 series AV receiver and the MusicCast 20 or MusicCast 50 wireless speakers so that the surround audio streams do not have to pass through the user’s home router.
The compact MusicCast 20 and high-performance MusicCast 50 wireless speakers can both be used as standalone audio systems, or with existing MusicCast components for multi-room audio linking, or used as wireless surround speakers with MusicCast Surround-enabled AV receivers. Two MusicCast 20 speakers can be paired in stereo mode. A single MusicCast 50 delivers stereo sound by itself, while using two MusicCast 50 speakers yields even higher output and a wider sound field.
In a MusicCast Surround configuration, only a single MusicCast 50 is needed to produce two surround channels, but two units may be used for better performance. The MusicCast 50 delivers the highest performance of any MusicCast speaker, and features a lower profile than competing models in its performance class to fit more discreetly in more places at home.
The two models come with more top-panel controls than previous MusicCast speakers, adding an alarm-clock button and three presets for your favorite music channels when used as standalone wireless speakers.
The new MusicCast SUB 100, which sports a stylish piano-gloss finish, can be paired wirelessly with the new AV receivers as an alternative to a wired subwoofer, allowing for easy placement anywhere in the room. It can also be paired with either a single or two MusicCast 20 or MusicCast 50 speakers for 1.1-channel and 2.1-channel systems.
RX-V 85 Series 4K AV Receivers all support 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. The receivers also pass through high dynamic range (HDR) video in the HDR 10, Dolby Vision and Hybrid Log-Gamma formats with BT.2020 wide color gamut (WCG) compatibility, delivering a wider, more realistic palette of colors, greater brightness and contrast, and details previously not visible in the darkest and lightest portions of a scene. The RX-V685 offers dual HDMI outputs for rooms incorporating both a flat-screen TV and a video projector.
All three receivers support HD Audio decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio sound tracks, while the RX-V585 and RX-V685 also support object-based Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding, which adds height effects through overhead speaker channels. All feature Yamaha-exclusive sound technologies, such as YPAO auto-calibration and Cinema DSP, which transforms the dynamics of the listening environment to recreate the acoustic experience of being in a movie theater or even famous music venues like the Bottom Line, Roxy Theater or European cathedrals.
All of the new models come fully-loaded with wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect. They support numerous built-in streaming services, including Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM Internet Radio, TIDAL, Deezer, Napster and thousands of free internet radio stations, all accessible via the free MusicCast app. They also all feature voice control via Amazon Alexa-equipped devices, such as the Echo and Echo Dot smart speakers, through the use of free MusicCast skills available on the Alexa Skills Store.
Pricing and Availability
RX-V 85 4K AV receivers will be available in May 2018:
- RX-V485 – $449.95
- RX-V585 – $549.95
- RX-V685 – $649.95
MusicCast speakers will be available in July 2018 in black or white:
- MusicCast 20 – $229.95
- MusicCast 50 – $499.95
MusicCast subwoofer will be available in September 2018 in a piano black finish:
- MusicCast SUB 100 – $549.95
