Yamaha just announced the RX-S601 slimline network 5.1-channel A/V receiver with MusicCast wireless multiroom audio capabilities. Standing at 4-3/8-inches, a mere two-thirds the height of the average AV receiver (between 6-1/2 and 7-1/2-inches), the RX-S601 is the ideal entertainment hub for small apartments, dens and offices, or any other limited space environment.
MusicCast is the company’s wireless multiroom audio platform that works with existing Wi-Fi networks to stream all audio content from virtually any source throughout the home. This includes connected external components, such as TV set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc players and turntables. The RX-S601 is one of 20 Yamaha MusicCast products across the AV receiver, wireless speaker, sound bar, Hi-Fi component and powered monitor speaker categories that will be available by the end of 2015.
Among the wealth of features the RX-S601 offers music and movie fans are high-resolution audio playback of DSD, WAV, FLAC and AIFF files (up to 192 kHz/ 24-bit) and 4K Ultra HD pass-through with HDCP 2.2 support. With built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the RX-S601 is compatible with Pandora and Spotify music services, AirPlay, Internet radio and can playback content stored on mobile devices and DLNA-compatible components in the home.
Like all Yamaha MusicCast products, the RX-S601 supports Bluetooth both as an input and an output — an industry first. Now users can stream Bluetooth audio from a mobile phone or tablet to the RX-S601 and also simultaneously stream from the AV receiver to other Bluetooth devices, such as speakers in other rooms, portable devices and Bluetooth headphones. As a result, users can watch YouTube or Vevo content on their smartphones or tablets and listen to the audio over their home entertainment speakers, or catch every moment of the game even when leaving the TV room to get a snack in the kitchen or flip the burgers on their backyard grill. This wide Bluetooth access also enables visitors to share their music easily without their hosts needing to give out passwords and compromise their Wi-Fi network privacy.
The RX-S601 features Burr-Brown 192 kHz / 24-bit digital-to-analog converters and Yamaha CINEMA DSP 3D processing to deliver maximum audio performance for music, movies and TV viewing. It also offers HD Audio format decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, as well as Yamaha’s own CINEMA DSP 3D with 17 DSP programs and Compressed Music Enhancer to deliver lifelike audio reproduction and surround sound that can be adjusted to users’ tastes. The Yamaha proprietary YPAO technology provides automatic speaker setup to calibrate and optimize the system for the best possible playback quality.
The RX-S601 can be controlled by Yamaha’s top-rated, intuitive and graphically appealing AV Controller App, as well as the easy to use MusicCast App, for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets to browse and play content in one or multiple rooms throughout the home.
Pricing and Availability
The Yamaha slimline RX-S601 A/V receiver will be available October 25, 2015 for $649.95.
