Audio Video News

Yamaha today announced a new soundbar that will be its first to feature a wireless surround speaker option in addition to supporting the company’s MusicCast multiroom platform.

Due out in September, the MusicCast Bar 400 ($500) has Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround processing onboard and can be transformed into a 5.1-channel system with discrete rear surround channels with the addition of a pair of Wi-Fi-enabled MusicCast 20 ($230) or MusicCast 50 ($500) speakers. Onboard Dolby Virtual:X processing simulates a three-dimensional sound field without any additional speakers.

The MusicCast 400 supports Bluetooth streaming, Apple’s AirPlay wireless platform, and hi-res audio up to 24 bits/192 kHz in addition to providing access to Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Tidal, and other music streaming services.

Other highlights include Yamaha’s Clear proprietary voice dialogue-enhancement technology and Compressed Music Enhancer, which is said to improve the sound quality of MP3 and other compressed music formats.

Connectivity options include optical and analog audio inputs, an HDMI input, and an HDMI output with an Audio Return Channel (ARC).

For more information, visit usa.yamaha.com.