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System Integration for the Connected Home

Yamaha Adds WXA-50 Amp, WXC-50 Preamp to MusicCast

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Yamaha announces the WXA-50 amplifier and the WXC-50 preamp-- a pair of additions to the MusicCast wireless streaming portfolio the company says will "supercharge" legacy speaker and home audio systems.

Yamaha MusiccastThe WXA-50 amplifier allows customer to easily connect any pair of traditional wired speakers to a wifi network, thus enabling direct control via MusicCast app. One can also use it with other MusicCast speakers, soundbars or receivers for wireless multiroom audio playback.

Meanwhile the WXC-50 preamplifier connects to AV receivers or stereo amplifiers to add streaming audio capabilities. Like the WXA-50, it also enables wireless multiroom playback when used with other MusicCast products.

The two units are DLNA compatible and wifi-enabled, and as such offer Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect connectivity. Also included is native support for high resolution ALAC, FLAC, AIFF and WAV files up to 24-bit/192kHz and playback of single-device DSD streams up to 5.6MHz.

Both models feature the same ESS Technology digital-to-analog converter (DAC) found in high-end Yamaha AVRs and proprietary sound processing technologies (including Compressed Music Enhancer, Volume Adaptive EQ and Advanced Bass Extension Processing) inside a solid metal chassis fitting in a 1U rack. Other installer-friendly features include a wired ethernet port, trigger and remote input, and an auxiliary bus mode.

"Yamaha fully appreciates that many of our customers already have speakers, AV receivers and Hi-Fi equipment that they love, yet they want to enhance their overall wireless audio listening experience," the company says. "The WXA-50 and WXC-50 not only allow them to seamlessly and effortlessly integrate their legacy equipment with our popular MusicCast system, but also with superior sonic fidelity that will bring them hours of music listening enjoyment."

The WXA-50 and WSC-50 ship from August 2016.

Go Yamaha WXA-50 Amplifier and WXC-50 Preamplifier Bring MusicCast Wireless Streaming to Existing Speakers and Audio Equipment