Yamaha MusicCAST2 shares iPods, iTunes
updated 08:40 am EDT, Fri June 19, 2009
Yamaha MusicCAST2
Yamaha on Friday upgraded its multi-room audio system with the MusicCAST2. Similar to a Sonos system, the combination dock and touchscreen controller pipes Internet and network-attached audio over the local Ethernet or Wi-Fi network to as many as 32 different receivers. The controller supports sharing iTunes libraries thanks to TwonkyMedia's service; the central cradle also supports media from USB devices, including iPods, and has internal Bluetooth to receive audio from cellphones. It also directly supports RealNetworks' Rhapsody and generic Internet radio.
File format support includes unprotected AAC and WMA as well as FLAC and WAV.
The base MusicCAST2 system hinges on a $500 MCX-RC100 Network Music Commander but also requires at least one, separately purchased receiver. The MCX-P200 at $400 has no internal amp and is intended for complete home theaters that just need the extra source; it has an IR port to serve as a central hub for remote controlling multiple devices. The MCX-A300 costs the same but drops the IR port in favor of an amp for bookshelf speakers or other systems that aren't necessarily fully powered.
Availability hasn't been discussed but should come very soon.
