Yamaha Enhances Home Audio Products with AirPlay 2, New Music Streaming and Voice Control Capabilities
(April 16, 2019) Yamaha is bringing music and entertainment fans closer to their favorite artists by giving them access to even more streaming and voice control capabilities with a series of upcoming firmware and app updates. Beginning this month, 17 current home audio products, including a sound bar, wireless speakers and AV receivers, will start offering Apple AirPlay 2 support and expanded Spotify Connect capabilities. Additionally, starting tomorrow, over 70 Yamaha audio products will gain support for Actions on Google through an update to the Yamaha MusicCast CONTROLLER app.
These new capabilities join a growing family of built-in services – including Spotify, Deezer, and TIDAL– as well as an impressive lineup of features such as high-resolution audio support, voice control via an Alexa device, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Firmware updates will also add eARC (enhanced audio return channel) functionality to 25 of its industry-leading AV receivers.
The upcoming firmware updates include:
- Support for Apple AirPlay 2, adding the ability to stream Apple Music and other streaming services from your iPhone, iPad, HomePod and Mac to multiple Yamaha devices and other AirPlay 2-enabled speakers – simultaneously, perfectly in sync and throughout your home. And, with Siri on your iPhone, iPad, HomePod and AirPods, you can control what's playing in every part of your home with just your voice.
- Actions on Google, enabling voice control of compatible Yamaha devices via the Google Assistant. Now you can use your Google Home, Android or iOS devices with the Google Assistant app from the App Store to control your Yamaha home theater with voice commands, link rooms hands-free, adjust volumes and more.
- Ability to use Spotify Connect with free Spotify accounts (previously only available for paid subscription-based accounts)
- Addition of eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) feature to 2017 and 2018 AV receivers, supporting uncompressed audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, and object-based surround such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Access to Qobuz will be available through the Yamaha MusicCast CONTROLLER app, which allows playback on either a single device or on multiple MusicCast devices throughout the home. MusicCast also allows whole home audio playback of the music stored on your mobile devices, and – for sound bars and AV receivers – externally connected audio sources such as TV sound.
Release schedule
The firmware updates and MusicCast CONTROLLER app updates will start on April 16. Those who have registered their products will also receive email notifications when new updates are available. Users will be automatically prompted to install the firmware via the MusicCast CONTROLLER app. The schedule is as follows:
AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect updates
Beginning in late April and released by models: MusicCast 20 and MusicCast 50 wireless speakers, MusicCast BAR 400, RX-A3080, RX-A2080, RX-A1080, RX-A880, RX-A780, RX-A680, RX-V685, RX-V585, RX-V485, RX-S602, HTR-4072 AV receiver, and CX-A5200 AV preamp/processor, XDA-QS5400RK MusicCast Multi-Room Streaming Amplifier.
Second half of 2019: MusicCast VINYL 500 turntable
Actions on Google
April 16: All MusicCast models introduced since 2015 through an update to the MusicCast CONTROLLER app.
eARC
Beginning in late April and released by models: RX-A3080, RX-A2080, RX-A1080, RX-A880, RX-A780, RX-A680, RX-V685, RX-V585, RX-V485, RX-V385, RX-S602, HTR-4072, HTR-3072, RX-A3070, RX-A2070, RX-A1070, RX-A870, RX-A770, RX-A670, RX-V683, RX-V583, RX-V483, RX-V383, HTR-3071 AV receiver, and CX-A5200 AV preamp/processor.
For more information about Yamaha MusicCast, please visit: