Yamaha has announced the release of its svelte new AV receiver, the RX-S600. The 5.1-channel network-ready device is claimed to be 35 percent smaller than the average AV receiver, while still offering excellent power efficiency thanks to Yamaha’s “Total Purity” design concept.
The receiver offers a slew of input options including HDMI with ARC, Mobile High Definition link (MHL), direct USB smartphone and tablet connection, and Airplay and DLNA via a wireless router.
Aside from on-board access to Pandora and other Internet radio apps, the RX-S600 is also on the list of new Yamaha receivers equipped with a microchip that will offer access to Spotify’s new premium streaming service, Spotify Connect. The recently revealed chip allows those who sign-up for the service full access to user playlists and streaming directly from the receiver, without the need for connecting a smartphone or tablet.
Other notable features for Yamaha’s skinny new wunderkind include the company’s proprietary YPAO speaker calibration system, multiple DTS and Dolby digital surround formats, an AV control app for Android, iOS and Kindle Fire, 4K UHD and 3D passthrough, and Burr-Brown DACs that support up to 192Khz/24 bit HD audio files.
The RX-S600 will be priced at relatively modest $650, and will be available sometime this month.We expect to see the RX-S600 at the CEDIA convention later this month and will be back with a closer look.
