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Yamaha releases MusicCAST2 digital audio streamer

Yamaha may be better known for its AV receivers and home theater systems, but the company was one of the early entrants in the digital-audio-receiver category, with audiophile-centric products like the Yamaha MCX-1000 MusicCast server. MusicCAST 2 is the second iteration of Yamaha's digital-audio-streaming platform, and it enters a product category that is now much more mature, with several recommendable products such as the Sonos BU150, Logitech Squeezebox Duet, and Apple TV.

The easiest way to get into Yamaha's MusicCAST2 platform is the ZonePack Solution ($1,100), which consists of a Network Music Commander ($500) and two Amplified Network Music Players ($400 each). The Network Music Commander is a touch-pad-style remote with a color LCD-screen that gives you full control over your digital music; it's very similar to Sonos' Controller. The Amplified Network Music Players allow you to simply connect a pair of speakers to enable music streaming to any room within your Wi-Fi network. … Read more

Review: Yamaha RX-V665BL lacks sound quality

We've been critical of some Yamaha receivers in the past for not offering as many features as the competition, but we've always been impressed by their sound quality. That's why when we previewed the Yamaha RX-V665BL, we were a bit worried that the weight was substantially lower than last year's RX-V663. Was Yamaha cutting back on some of the internal components that made the RX-V663 sound great?

While we don't know exactly why the RX-V665BL weighs less, our extensive listening tests found that the RX-V665BL didn't have the sonic prowess we usually find on … Read more

Yamaha Pocketrak CX recorder review and photos

Portable audio recorders are useful tools for capturing live music or lectures, and creating podcasts. Unfortunately, the best-sounding recorders tend to be bulky, and they can get pretty complicated.

The Yamaha Pocketrak CX ($299) is a powerful handheld audio recorder that keeps things simple. The little recorder fits in your shirt pocket, runs off a single AA battery, and keeps confusing buttons and settings to a minimum.

Of course, simplicity doesn't come without sacrifice. If you're the type who wants to record bird calls with a phantom-powered boom mic and sophisticated onboard compression, this isn't the right … Read more

Dolby Pro Logic IIz adds vertical dimension to surround sound

Dolby has a new surround format: Pro Logic IIz.

Here we go again. Another new format with more speakers, but this time, the "surround" speakers are in the front of the room, three or four feet above the left-and right-main speakers. These height channels are designed to provide a greater sense of envelopment than previous generations of Dolby or DTS surround.

Pro Logic IIz incorporates all of the features and capabilities of Pro Logic IIx.

"Expanding on established Dolby Pro Logic II matrix-decoding innovations, Dolby Pro Logic IIz identifies and decodes spatial cues that occur naturally in all content--stereo and 5.1 broadcast, music CDs, DVDs, 5.1 and 7.1 Blu-ray Discs, and video games," the Dolby site further explains. "Dolby Pro Logic IIz processes low-level, uncorrelated information--such as ambiance and some amorphous effects like rain or wind--and directs it to the front height speakers."

You don't have to buy new, specially encoded discs to experience Pro Logic IIz, but do you really want to buy another pair of speakers, wall-mount them, and run a pair of speaker wires up your wall, to the sides of your TV?

Dolby doesn't require the height speakers to be identical to the main-left or -right speakers. Some Pro Logic IIz systems will use a total of nine speakers (five front, four rear), plus one or more subwoofers.

Onkyo's TX-SR607 ($599 MSRP) is the first receiver to feature Pro Logic IIz; the company will soon offer additional models equipped with the new Dolby processor, to be announced later this year.

Then again, Yamaha's higher-end receivers have had height, aka "Presence," channels for years. Those extra speakers supplement the sound from the front speakers with ambient effects produced by Yamaha's proprietary Cinema DSP, which provides various multichannel configurations up to 11 channels. Obviously, Dolby's Pro Logic IIz uses different technology, though the end result may be similar. … Read more

Yamaha's 2009 home theater systems

We almost missed it in the deluge of press releases from Sony's 2009 line show, but Yamaha also rolled out its line of home theater systems (HTIBs) this week. Unlike most HTIBs that feature a lightweight AV receiver and custom speakers, Yamaha's systems include a component-grade receiver, speaker system, and subwoofer. Let's take a look at the line:

Key features of the Yamaha YHT-391BL:

5.1 home theater system Includes component-grade 100-watt AV receiver ( Yamaha HTR-6230BL) Four two-way satellite speakers, each with a 2.5-inch woofer and 0.5-inch tweeter 100-watt subwoofer with an 8-inch driver ( Yamaha YST-SW012) $400 list price

Key features of the Yamaha YHT-491BL:

5.1 home theater system Includes component-grade 100-watt AV receiver ( Yamaha HTR-6230BL) Includes NS-SP7800M speaker package (minus the sub), featuring two tall-boy speakers 100-watt subwoofer with an 8-inch driver ( Yamaha YST-SW012) $550 list price

… Read more