Yamaha has added a new, lower-priced speaker to its MusicCast line of wireless, multi-room audio products. The WX-010 ($199.99) is a two-way design with a 3.5-inch woofer and one-inch tweeter on front and dual opposing passive radiators on each side. Via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet, you can add the WX-010 to your home network and wirelessly stream audio from mobile devices using the free MusicCast app. Bluetooth support is also included. The WX-010 will be available in late August.

From Yamaha
Yamaha has introduced its WX-010 MusicCast wireless speaker, further enhancing the company's MusicCast wireless multiroom audio lineup by adding a small footprint speaker that fills a room with sound without taking up a lot of space.

Like its bigger brother, the WX-030, the WX-010 ($199.99 MSRP) offers users the ability to start a MusicCast system from a single speaker and expand when they are ready, one speaker or component at a time. It joins an existing lineup of more than 30 MusicCast products.

MusicCast was designed to bring music and other audio content to every room in the home either via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet network connections. All that is needed is the speaker and an Android or iOS mobile device equipped with the free MusicCast app. The WX-010 can be easily linked to a host of Yamaha MusicCast-enabled products--AV receivers, wireless speakers, soundbars, Hi-Fi components and streaming amplifiers--to further expand the multiroom listening experience.

The WX-010 draws upon the company's advanced audio engineering expertise to achieve a high-level of sound performance from a diminutive form factor (4-3/4" W x 6-3/4" H x 5-1/8" D). It employs an ingenious driver configuration with a 3.5-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter on the front, complemented by dual opposing passive radiators on each side. The two-way speaker design offers exceptional clarity and tonal balance, while the dual radiators help deliver a rich, full sound with surprisingly deep bass.

"This is a very important new addition to the MusicCast line," said Bob Goedken, general manager, AV division, Yamaha Corporation of America. "It gives MusicCast users a way to bring music to small rooms and spaces where shelf or counter space is limited. It's also our most affordable MusicCast model, which makes it easy for anyone to start building a powerful multiroom audio system at home."

The system provides users access to music libraries on their mobile devices, as well as to thousands of free Internet radio stations and a host of popular streaming audio services, including Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody and SiriusXM Internet Radio. Alternatively, the speaker's built-in DLNA support lets users tap music libraries from wirelessly connected computers and network attached storage (NAS) devices. Audio enthusiasts will be able to listen to the latest high-res audio files -- including Apple Lossless (ALAC) up to 96-kHz/24-bit, as well as FLAC, AIFF and WAV files up to 192-kHz/24-bit--or link to a Yamaha MusicCast receiver to share a vinyl collection with everyone in the home.

The WX-010 offers a way to access streaming content beyond its built-in music services by using a Bluetooth connection with a mobile device. A Bluetooth stream can be redistributed via Wi-Fi to other MusicCast devices in the home. This is also a handy way to allow party guests to share their music playlists without having to provide them with a Wi-Fi security password. The Bluetooth feature also allows the WX-010 to be taken "off the grid" outside of a Wi-Fi coverage area, if desired.

The speaker has an elegant design that perfectly complements any home décor and features touch-sensitive buttons on the top panel for easy operation of power, volume and play/pause controls. It is equipped with a ¼"-20 threaded hole on the back panel that enables it to be wall mounted using commercially available brackets.

Two WX-010 MusicCast wireless speakers can be paired in stereo mode using the MusicCast app for more authentic music reproduction with a wider listening area.

Pricing and Availability
The Yamaha WX-010 MusicCast wireless speaker ($199.95 MSRP) is available in black and white and will be available in late August.

Additional Resources
• Yamaha Launches New Aventage RX-A 60 Receivers at HomeTheaterReview.com.
• Yamaha to Add Amp and Preamp to Its MusicCast Lineup at HomeTheaterReview.com.