Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Get your multiroom on: Yamaha’s first MusicCast wireless speaker lands today

By

After a big reveal in August, the first standalone speaker as part of the burgeoning Yamaha MusicCast wireless multiroom audio system has arrived. Yamaha’s new MusicCast wireless speaker, the WX-030 became available for retail today. The new multiroom system has been riding in new Yamaha receivers since its unveiling last summer, but this is the first piece in a round of standalone components that will ultimately be able to be linked with multiple other MusicCast products to create a house-wide listening experience.

Amazon

Like other multiroom setups, the speaker can be controlled using a free app for iOS and Android devices, and it also works with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to stream music from mobile devices, computers, and more, including services like Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody, and SiriusXM Internet Radio.

But unlike most multiroom speaker setups, Yamaha doesn’t stop there: Those who pick up (or already own) a new Yamaha receiver can also send anything connected to the system — from your favorite vinyl, to the Superbowl — to any MusicCast component. That’s what really makes this system special, and an affordable new speaker ready to compete with Sonos, and multiple other multiroom components should start the party off right.

With its 2-way speaker design, large passive radiator, and advanced digital sound processing technology, sound quality for the WX-030 is said to be clear and “room-filling,” according to Yamaha. As part of the MusicCast family, the speaker also supports high-resolution audio at up to 24bit/192kHz, and is compatible with a variety of music files. And if you’re sourcing from an MP3 or streaming service, it’s also designed to restore clarity via onboard DSP.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

The speaker has a few other tricks up its sleeve, too. While connected to your Wi-Fi network, the MusicCast speaker can re-stream Bluetooth content from a phone or other device to other linked MusicCast speakers and components, making it easy to transmit audio to Bluetooth speakers or headphones, as well as allowing guests to set the playlist from their smartphones. If desired, however, the WX-030 can also be used with Bluetooth independent of Wi-Fi. It’s even possible to opt for a wired network connection using a standard Ethernet jack.

Towards the end of 2015, a software update will also let two WX-030s be paired in stereo, and many more big changes are coming. Yamaha plans to unveil the remainder of the first 20 MusicCast-enabled products by the year’s end, stretching from the aforementioned AV receivers to audiophile-grade monitors, sound bars, and more. Meanwhile, the MusicCast app will lead the way, providing access to content, enabling users to control how music or other audio is played, and allow for deeper personalization.

For now, music lovers can pick up the WX-030 speaker today, available in black or white for $249.95.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Stephanie Topacio Long
Stephanie Topacio Long
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
This waterproof Treblab Bluetooth speaker is down to its lowest-ever price of $30
The Treblab FX100 Bluetooth speaker on a white background.

Amazon is an excellent source of budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker deals, and here's an eye-catching example: the Treblab FX100 at its lowest-ever price of $30, following a 50% discount on its sticker price of $60. We're not sure how much time is remaining before the stocks that are up for sale run out though, so if you want to pocket the savings of $30 when buying this Bluetooth speaker, we highly recommend proceeding with your purchase as soon as you can.

Why you should buy the Treblab FX100 Bluetooth speaker
The Treblab FX100 is a fantastic option for its affordable price, as it comes with many of the features you'd find among the best Bluetooth speakers. First and foremost, its rugged design makes it great for backyard parties, beach gatherings, and travel adventures. It will be able to withstand the rough and tumble of being used outdoors as it's waterproof, dustproof, weatherproof, and shockproof, with an IPX7 rating. The Treblab FX100 even comes with a carabiner, so you can attach it to your backpack or anywhere else for hands-free music.

Read more
Klipsch updates its iconic Klipschorn and La Scala Heritage loudspeakers
Klipsch Klipschorn AK7.

Klipsch has announced a new generation of its top two Heritage speaker models: the massive Klipschorn AK7 and its smaller sibling, the La Scala AL6. The two classic designs get a variety of reworked acoustic components and can be ordered in three colors -- the existing American Walnut and Black Ash, and a new option for 2025: American Auburn. For the first time, Klipsch is giving buyers the option to customize the sound of these speakers via external active crossover units, which can bypass the speakers' internal passive crossovers.

The Klipschorn AK7 are priced at $17,998 per pair, while the La Scala AL6 go for $14,998 per pair. The Heritage active crossovers are $3,499 each (one per pair). All can be ordered starting today at authorized Klipsch Heritage retailers.

Read more
Frequent fliers love this gadget, but I used it to modernize my old CD player
The Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 plugged into a CD player.

The Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 is a tiny plug-in dongle that mostly solves the rather specific problem of getting Bluetooth headphones working with in-flight entertainment on a plane. But it does something else (arguably equally as specific) too, and that’s how I’ve fallen for this clever little gadget.
What is the AirFly Pro 2?

The original AirFly came out in 2018 and was initially designed to add Bluetooth connectivity to old in-flight entertainment systems, so you can use your own wireless headphones on an airplane instead of the poor quality wired ones supplied by the airline. It has since grown to also enable Bluetooth connectivity to other devices like car stereos and  games consoles, and even connect more than one pair of headphones.

Read more