SONOS has long dominated the multi-room audio space with its popular line of speakers. One of the main drawbacks for consumers has been the arguably high price point in comparison to the competition. Other audio manufacturers have been using this against SONOS by undercutting on pricing in hopes of finding a niche in this space.
Today, Yamaha has announced a pair of new additions to its family of multi-room speakers. The WX-010 MusicCast speaker and YSP-2700 soundbar focus on features and a modern design. Full details below.
The smaller WX-010 is a natural competitor to SONOS’ PLAY:1. It offers both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity plus Bluetooth, which is an added bonus over its rival. This allows listeners to bring in outside music that may not be supported by the free app.
It has a built-in 3.5-inch woofer and one-inch tweeter alongside dual passive bass radiators. Users can pair two of the speakers together to create a stereo sound system, if needed. Although the entire line is more budget-friendly as a whole than SONOS, the WX-010 comes in at $200, which is the same price as the PLAY:1. It is set to go on sale in August.
Switching over to the YSP-2700 soundbar, which brings a full 7.1-channel setup thanks to a mix of virtual and built-in speakers. One of the biggest selling points of this product is the inclusion of three HDMI inputs and one output. This allows for easy source switching with one remote instead of bring a third-party receiver into the mix. It has support for HDCP 2.2 and 4K passthrough, so you’ll be able to take advantage of the latest content. One major feature worth nothing is the inclusion of AirPlay on the soundbar, a welcome addition for Apple users.
There are a total of 16 speakers in the YSP-2700. Each of which is powered by a two-watt amplification system. The goal here is to create a sound field that ensconces the viewer without the need for additional speakers on the side or in the rear. The system ships with a microphone to help calibrate each listening area as needed.
The YSP-2700 is priced at $1,200 and will ship in September.
In the meantime, be sure to check this sale on certified refurbished SONOS products, including the popular PLAYBAR.
[9to5-press-release]
Yamaha WX-010 Wireless MusicCast Speaker Delivers Big Sound in a Small Space
BUENA PARK, Calif. (July 5, 2016) – Yamaha today introduced its WX-010MusicCast wireless speaker, further enhancing the company’s MusicCast wireless multiroom audio lineup by adding a small footprint speaker that fills a room with sound without taking up a lot of space.
Like its bigger brother, the WX-030, the WX-010 ($199.99 MSRP) offers users the ability to start a MusicCast system from a single speaker and expand when they are ready, one speaker or component at a time. It joins an existing lineup of more than 30 MusicCast products.
MusicCast was designed to bring music and other audio content to every room in the home either via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet network connections. All that is needed is the speaker and an Android™ or iOS mobile device equipped with the free MusicCast app. The WX-010 can be easily linked to a host of Yamaha MusicCast-enabled products – AV receivers, wireless speakers, sound bars, Hi-Fi components and streaming amplifiers – to further expand the multiroom listening experience.
The WX-010 draws upon the company’s advanced audio engineering expertise to achieve a high-level of sound performance from a diminutive form factor (4-3/4″ W x 6-3/4″ H x 5-1/8″ D). It employs an ingenious driver configuration with a 3.5-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter on the front, complemented by dual opposing passive radiators on each side. The 2-way speaker design offers exceptional clarity and tonal balance, while the dual radiators help deliver a rich, full sound with surprisingly deep bass.
“This is a very important new addition to the MusicCast line,” said Bob Goedken, general manager, AV division, Yamaha Corporation of America. “It gives MusicCast users a way to bring music to small rooms and spaces where shelf or counter space is limited. It’s also our most affordable MusicCast model, which makes it easy for anyone to start building a powerful multiroom audio system at home.”
The system provides users access to music libraries on their mobile devices as well as to thousands of free Internet radio stations and a host of popular streaming audio services, including Pandora®, Spotify, Rhapsody® and SiriusXM Internet Radio. Alternatively, the speaker’s built-in DLNA® support lets users tap music libraries from wirelessly connected computers and network attached storage (NAS) devices. Audio enthusiasts will be able to listen to the latest high-res audio files — including Apple® Lossless (ALAC) up to 96 kHz / 24-bit, as well as FLAC, AIFF and WAV files up to 192 kHz / 24-bit – or link to a Yamaha MusicCast receiver to share a vinyl collection with everyone in the home.
The WX-010 offers a way to access streaming content beyond its built-in music services by using a Bluetooth® connection with a mobile device. A Bluetooth stream can be redistributed via Wi-Fi to other MusicCast devices in the home. This is also a handy way to allow party guests to share their music playlists without having to provide them with a Wi-Fi security password. The Bluetooth feature also allows the WX-010 to be taken “off the grid” outside of a Wi-Fi coverage area, if desired.
The speaker has an elegant design that perfectly complements any home décor and features touch-sensitive buttons on the top panel for easy operation of power, volume and play/pause controls. It is equipped with a ¼”-20 threaded hole on the back panel that enables it to be wall mounted using commercially available brackets.
Two WX-010 MusicCast wireless speakers can be paired in stereo mode using the MusicCast app for more authentic music reproduction with a wider listening area.
Pricing and Availability
The Yamaha WX-010 MusicCast wireless speaker ($199.95 MSRP) is available in black and white and will be available in late August.
[/9to5-press-release]
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