A Closer Look at the Yamaha Expand Range WXC-50 and WXA-50

A pair of amplifiers, the WXC-50 and WXA-50 from Yamaha is compatible with systems such as MusicCast. These amplifiers both arrived in almost the same chassis that gives both of them a distinct similarity.

Yamaha’s WXC-50 and WXA Overview

Since the end of 2015, Yamaha has offered their new multi-room audio system across a range of products – from standalone speakers to AV receivers.

Now, Yamaha has unveiled their two new products allowing customers to integrate its multi-room solution with a larger range of audio equipment, which they’ve already own.

The WXA–50 Wireless Streaming Amplifier and the WXC-50 Wireless Streaming Preamplifier allow existing audio equipment to easily add MusicCast streaming abilities.

This WXA-50 is used with wired speakers including bookshelf, tower, and outdoor speakers without needing any other equipment – thanks to its built-in power amp. If you are already using an A/V receiver, the WXA-50 preamp adds both multi-room playback and streaming capabilities.

Features of the Yamaha WXC-50 and WXA-50

WXA–50 and WXC–50 both have metal chassis and use the same ESS Sabre DACs. Both have MusicCast Wi-Fi streaming as standard and both come with 48-bit control for digital volume control.

WXC-50 and WXA can be mounted vertically to minimize the device footprint. These models support AirPlay, as well as Sirius XM, Napster, Spotify, Juke, and Pandora. Supported audio formats are FLAC/ AIFF/ WAV 24-bit/192 kHz and DSD 5.6MHZ.

Setting up MusicCast

In order to play digital files off a USB stick, download and install the MusicCast mobile app. The user interface for navigating the USB files is friendlier through the app compared to the punching buttons on the chassis.

MusicCast is definitely not a Bluetooth system. It utilizes a Wi-Fi connection. In order to install it, press the “Connect” button found on the front of the chassis. Press it for 5 seconds until the connection light appears. After that, you will have to open the app and obey the prompts found on the screen. On the setting screen, wait for the appearance of the MusicCast option being one of the available options within the local connections in Wi-Fi lists. That’s it, you should be up and running.