Yamaha WXC-50 MusicCast Wireless Streaming Preamplifier

Product Information

Highlights

Yamaha's powerful preamp tech
High-performance design with premium audio components
Versatile control and connectivity options
Access to your music library, Pandora®, Spotify, Rhapsody® and more
MusicCast app for Apple® iOS and Android™ devices
Conveniently slim, can be placed horizontally or vertically
Includes Pure Direct for reduced S/N ratio
Dimensions: 8.38” W x 1.63” H x 9.63” D (antenna down)
Weight: 3.17 lbs
Warranty: 2 years
World Wide Stereo 60-day guarantee and expert product support

Preamplify, Wirelessly

Own a Yamaha amp and want wireless connectivity? Have a garage band and need a preamp? Our Yamaha WXC-50 MusicCast Wireless Streaming Preamplifier is the right choice. Made by the amp brand of choice, this small but elegant unit is perfect for your vinyl collection -- or your live performances. Plus, it’s an integral part of your modern wireless home.

What’s in a Name?

Ever notice that so many rockers’ instruments are made by Yamaha? This is no coincidence. Specializing in providing professional-grade audio for generations, Yamaha makes some of the best instruments and sound systems on the planet. Now, with this powerful Yamaha preamp, put some of that experience to work in your own stereo setup or home theater.

The Power of a Preamp

A typical amplifier is designed to amplify signals from the “line level” -- the input signal strength from things like CD and DVD players. However, other signals, like those of instruments, the human voice, and vinyl records are much weaker. Preamps are essentially miniature amplifiers designed to boost input signals to your main amp’s line level. It's worth noting that the WXC-50 is designed to connect to Yamaha amplifiers.

Amplify Your Wifi

Ever notice Yamaha’s A-S series amps don’t have wireless features? That’s because wireless signals need to be preamplified. Your WXC-50 features full wifi and Bluetooth functionality, supporting a variety of codecs like AAC and WAV. And with AirPlay, you don’t even need a router to enjoy wireless music. Enjoy streaming your music wirelessly from anywhere in your house, courtesy of Yamaha amplification magic.

The Next Audio Technology

Bring wireless music to every room with the MusicCast app, available on Google Play or the Apple Store. Access all your audio, from anywhere in the house, with one simple app for your smartphone or tablet, and have your sound follow you. Experience the next generation in music control.

Amazingly Hi-Def Audio

Show your HD audio files some love with a preamp that can play them natively. With your digital HD audio codecs, the WXC-50 does just that. Match your soundscape to your sound with 10 cinematic DSP modes -- including three presets for “movies”, another three for “music”, and four for “entertainment”. Show your MP3s some love with its Compressed Music Enhancer, an algorithm that restores sonic subtlety lost in the MP3 compression. Listen to all your files in a near-hi-def experience.

Understated Minimalism

With an easy-to-operate, richly-textured aluminum front panel, the WXC-50 exemplifies Yamaha’s classy, cleanly minimalist design. The silver hairline finish contrasts elegantly to the cool black body. Plus, at just 1⅝” tall, it’ll fit even your tightest spaces.

Specifications

Inputs

Pure Direct Yes
Total Harmonic Distortion (20 Hz-20 kHz) 0.003% (pre out)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 112 dB (Opt / Net / USB / Bluetooth® in) / 98 dB (aux in)
Audio In / Out 1 / 1
Digital In / Out 1 (optical) / 1 (optical, coaxial)
USB Input 1
Ethernet 1
Pre Out 1
Subwoofer Out 1
Remote In / Out 1 / 0
Control (Trigger) In / Out 1 / 1
Standby Power Consumption 1.92 W

Network section

DLNA Version 1.5
File Format MP3, WMA, MPEG4, AAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, DSD
Wi-Fi Yes
AirPlay Yes
Bluetooth Yes (SBC / AAC)

Dimensions (W x H x D)

8-3/8” x 2” x 9-5/8” (with antenna: 8-3/8” x 4-7/8” x 9-5/8”)
8-3/8" x 1-5/8" x 9-5/8" (without antenna and feet)

Weight

3.17 lbs.

What's in the Box

What's In the Box:

(1) WXC50DS MusicCast Steaming Preamplifier
Remote Control
Power Cord
Owner's Manual
Warranty Card

Documents

Warranty

Spec Sheet

Reviews

Customer Reviews for Yamaha WXC-50 MusicCast Wireless Streaming Preamplifier

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Rated 4 out of 5

Nice way to extend life of old receiver

I had an older Aventage RX-A1020. Most of the streaming functions had quit working after Yamaha quit providing updates - Airplay, Sirius Radio, & Net Radio all ceased to work. The receiver still worked great. The WCX-50 allowed me to add those services back to that receiver plus adding Spotify Connect & some other music services, including MusicCast. I ended up purchasing a second one to replace an Airport Express in my garage. Sound quality was improved over the Airport Express plus MusicCast gave me more versatility over Airplay 2.

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August 21, 2020

Genealto

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Yamaha

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Rated 5 out of 5

Nice way to upgrade an older stereo system.

I have a Yamaha mini stereo system which I use with the WXC-50. It is about 12 years old, but I did not want to replace this system because it still works good.

With the WXC-50, I can now listen to digital radio stations and use my smartphone to change stations and other functions. I can also now listen to music from my smartphone on my stereo system via Bluetooth. The wi-fi connection works fine for me (no connection problems). The WXC-50 also contains various additional inputs and outputs. I do not use most of them but its nice to know they are there if need them.

The only problem is that there is no way that I know of to share the same set of digital radio stations between two MusiCast devices. I have a Yamaha MusiCast stereo receiver in another room but could not tell the Musicast software (on my phone) to use the same stations for the WXC-50 as I had programmed in for the receiver. Hopefully, Yamaha will fix this issue in a future software upgrade.

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April 25, 2020

Lower East Sider

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Yamaha

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Rated 3 out of 5

As a streamer, it's great, but missing some obvious features

As a network streamer, it's solid, but it needs work. When navigating the server, THERE'S NO SEARCH! Every time you want to play an album/track you MUST traverse through artist and album. Several panes need simple (but serious) organizational restructuring. Also, there's a very noticeable hum when using the optical input at higher volumes (just past 9 o'clock) that isn't present when you bypass the preamp. Lastly, built-in DAC on my CD player actually sounds better, though not by much. The convenience of this streamer outweighs the slightly better sound of my CD transport.

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April 4, 2020

Ordinary Guy

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Yamaha

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Rated 4 out of 5

Dual Purpose

This is obviously a network streamer, but can be used for a not-so-obvious scenario: The WXC-50 digitizes analog input, so if you route the surround left and surround right preamp output of your AVR to the AUX input of the WXC-50, you can cast wirelessly to a pair of MusicCast speakers with any brand AVR with the appropriate preamp out jacks.

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February 27, 2020

JT

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Yamaha

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Rated 5 out of 5

Very easy to set up and use right away.

I have just hooked this up to my system. I have an older model Yamaha integrated amp and a Synology NAS holding all of my ripped cd's. We have a password protected wi-fi that the NAS is connected to. Setting this unit up was a breeze. Just make all of your hardware connections (I used hard wire ethernet for the NAS and WXC-50, and didn't have to enter the network password), download the MusicCast app to your phone or tablet and turn it on, turn on the WXC-50, hold the connect button in for 5 seconds, and you're done. I have my music stored by directories A-Z, but the MusicCast app allowed me to view my music any way I chose, including Artist and Album.

The sound from the unit is very good. I am very pleased with this unit.