Yamaha’s MusicCast Vinyl 500 Wi-Fi Turntable (mannequin TT-N503) is an almost good marriage of good-ol’ analog and the very best of as we speak’s digital know-how. The Vinyl 500 is the primary turntable that may stream vinyl data to each Yamaha MusicCast wi-fi audio system and Bluetooth audio system and headphones.
This gorgeously elegant turntable will also be included into any conventional Hi-Fi system, whether or not or not there’s a phono pre-amp in your ensemble. And better of all, its versatile design is appropriate for each the vinyl novice and the seasoned audiophile.
It begins with a stable turntable design
Yamaha’s analog-to-digital magic trick begins with a high-quality turntable design, together with a substantive base constructed from MDF (medium density fiberboard) that’s complemented by adjustable, vibration-dampening ft. MDF is valued for its rigidity and vibration-dampening properties, which is important for good turntable efficiency.
The Yamaha comes normal with a die-cast aluminum platter and a straight tonearm outfitted with an Audio-Technica MM (shifting magnet) cartridge. This is a belt-drive design with an remoted DC synchronous motor that’s bodily remoted from the platter that spins the document. During setup, you merely slip your finger by one of many holes within the platter and slide the belt over the motor pully.
Yamaha’s MusicCast Vinyl 500 is a belt-drive turntable. You slip the belt onto the motor by a gap within the platter.
Belt-drive turntables are coveted for his or her capacity to cut back vibration. Direct-drive turntables, just like the Cambridge Audio Alva TT I reviewed in March, emphasize larger torque and faster begin/cease instances. As a basic rule, high-end direct-drive turntables price significantly greater than good belt-drive fashions (The Alva TT prices a cool grand greater than this Yamaha mannequin).
So one of many traits of the Vinyl 500 that basically impressed me was how shortly this turntable was in a position to begin and cease—its efficiency on this space was a lot nearer to direct-drive turntables than it was to belt-drive fashions. That’s certain to enchantment to first-time vinyl fanatics.
Add networking and MusicCast
You’ll get essentially the most profit from the the Vinyl 500 should you additionally personal different audio system and wi-fi elements based mostly on Yamaha’s MusicCast multi-room audio know-how. Yamaha presents a broad array of appropriate audio system, soundbars, and A/V receivers that do. The Vinyl 500 can act as each a supply to stream vinyl and as a MusicCast preamp to obtain streamed music from any MusicCast supported service.
On the {hardware} aspect, there’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The Vinyl 500 connects to Yamaha’s MusicCast app identical to some other MusicCast community participant or speaker. For this overview, Yamaha additionally despatched me two MusicCast 20 audio system.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGYou arrange the Vinyl 500 as you’ll some other MusicCast-enabled system or speaker. Once added the Vinyl 500 reveals up as a “phono” supply to the room assigned.
Setting up the Vinyl 500 and the MusicCast 20 audio system was a comparatively easy expertise, though I did want to use firmware updates to every unit. What I discovered significantly perturbing was the truth that the Yamaha 500’s firmware replace couldn’t be carried out by way of the MusicCast app. And I couldn’t use the unit with MusicCast till the firmware replace was accomplished. I needed to carry out the replace with button-press combos on the turntable itself. There was no clear indicator of the firmware replace’s progress, which non-technical customers will discover complicated. Yamaha’s on-screen prompts mentioned that when this firmware was accomplished, all future firmware updates could possibly be carried out by way of the app. I hope that by the point you learn this, Yamaha may have carried out that replace on the manufacturing unit to make issues much less complicated for all.
With the firmware updates accomplished, I added the Vinyl 500 as a supply and assigned it to a room in my residence (on this case, the lounge). Once assigned to a room, I might combine the Vinyl 500 into a complete MusicCast ecosystem. If you’re not acquainted with MusicCast, you’ll discover a great primer here. The Vinyl 500 can be appropriate with Apple’s AirPlay ecosystem.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe Vinyl 500’s preliminary firmware replace was cumbersome. Yamaha guarantees that future firmware updates will occur by way of the MusicCast app.
A world of music potentialities
For functions of this overview, I examined the Yamaha in a wide range of completely different setups. For a minimalist setup you may pair the Yamaha turntable with a pair of MusicCast-enabled audio system and name it a day. Think about it: You can have solely the Vinyl 500, two MusicCast audio system, and play your vinyl and music out of your favourite music-steaming service or native music server anyplace in your own home. This setup with a pair of MusicCast 20 audio system labored flawlessly for me.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGYamaha despatched me the Vinyl 500 with two of its MusicCast 20 audio system.
If you have already got a stand-alone Hi-Fi sound system, simply use the Yamaha’s line output and its built-in phono preamp to plug into that present setup. I related the Yamaha to my Anthem AVM 60 pream/processor arrange the MusicCast 20 audio system as a stereo pair in one other room.
If you could have a high-end setup, you should use the Yamaha’s phono out to hook up with an outboard phono preamp. You ought to be conscious, nonetheless, that should you use the Vinyl 500’s phono outputs, you’ll lose MusicCast performance. MusicCast solely works when the turntable’s line outs are energetic.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGI might hyperlink rooms to stream vinyl round the home, or use the Vinyl 500 as a MusicCast streamer to stream from music companies, corresponding to Tidal.
I actually appreciated the Vinyl 500’s high-tech muscle once I had data enjoying from my important analog setup and streaming to 3 completely different rooms: the lounge, kitchen, and household room. It was so cool to know that I might arrange a multi-room audio system while not having a single wire run. I ought to observe, nonetheless, which you can solely stream vinyl by linking rooms—you can’t choose the Vinyl 500 as a supply from one other room.
I gave the setup some easy challenges, too: I performed one MusicCast 20 speaker related to Wi-Fi and the second with an ethernet cable in two completely different rooms. There wasn’t any trace of latency. I then upped the ante by shifting each audio system to completely different rooms. I set them up as a stereo pair with one related wirelessly and the second hardwired. No delay between the 2 right here, both. When I engaged the principle listening room too with its analog connection, I heard zero latency between the Hi-Fi system and the distant room. Walking round the home, the analog and digital setups remained in good sync.
But issues don’t cease there. The Vinyl 500 additionally has a Bluetooth radio onboard, too. Connect a pair of Bluetooth wi-fi headphones and you’ll stream your vinyl on to your favourite pair of wi-fi cans. The Yamaha helps the SBC and AAC codecs, however you received’t discover hi-definition codecs corresponding to aptX HD or LDAC right here.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe Vinyl 500 has phono pre-outs, so you may join the turntable with an exterior phono preamp. It additionally has a line output, which connects to the unit’s inside phono preamp.
I do wish to point out one utterly weird habits when the Vinyl 500 is related with its line outputs with MusicCast: As you’d count on, the Vinyl 500 reveals up as a supply (phono) within the room you assign it to. When I chosen the Vinyl 500 as a supply, the MusicCast app communicated with the Vinyl 500 and stopped its motor from enjoying a document. I might replicate this habits each time. One would assume that urgent the phono enter on the app would then begin the Vinyl 500 enjoying once more. Nope. I wanted to go as much as the turntable and manually begin the document enjoying once more. I introduced this anomaly to Yamaha’s consideration.
Listening checks
As I discussed beforehand, I attempted the Yamaha Vinyl 500 in a number of configurations. For functions of vital listening, I related the Yamaha Vinyl 500 by way of its line out to an Anthem AVM 60. Speakers had been Revel Ultima2 Salons powered by two Benchmark AHB2 power amplifiers in a bridged mono configuration.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe Yamaha MusicCast Vinyl 500, all arrange and able to go.
I examined each Yamaha’s inside preamp and in addition related and examined the phono output with a Cambridge Audio Alva Duo phono preamp. The Yamaha’s inside preamp is first rate for the informal listener. However enjoying the Yamaha Vinyl 500 by way of the Cambridge Audio Alva Duo elevated the turntable’s efficiency in seemingly each side. Unfortunately, you lose MusicCast performance on this latter configuration. The midrange—particularly vocals—had comparatively better element, definition, and air with the Cambridge Audio Alva Duo. I most popular the highest finish too, feeling that it has extra air. Therefore, should you’re connecting the Yamaha to a revealing Hi-Fi setup, you’d do properly so as to add an exterior phono preamp to raise the Yamaha’s efficiency. Note that if you wish to have interaction MusicCast, you merely flick a change on the unit’s rear panel to direct the audio again to the unit’s line output.
My observations under mirror my setup with the Cambridge Audio Alva Duo.
The Yamaha proved itself to be a stable midrange performer. Playing the Eagles Live, the Yamaha impressed me with its musicality. The Vinyl 500 compelled me to place down my observe pad to sit down again, calm down and luxuriate in classics like “The Long Run,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Life’s Been Good.” I don’t all the time get that feeling with each piece of audio gear I overview. The Yamaha’s efficiency with dynamics, vocals, and devices was excellent.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGSetting up the turntable and its counterweight was simple as pie
Turning to orchestral works, I spun up John Williams’ rating for Star Wars: The Force Awakens on 180g vinyl. The Yamaha had no drawback conveying the breadth and depth of full orchestral works. Trumpets on the principle Star Wars title had been easy and properly prolonged. Drums burst forth with ample weight and dynamics. But the Yamaha Vinyl 500 relished tender actions, too, capturing the brilliance of the strings and flutes on “The Scavenger” and “Rey’s Theme.”
YamahaA rear view of the Yamaha Vinyl 500 turntable.
Conclusion
If you’ve longed to pair the analog luxurious of a turntable with the digital energy of a multi-room audio system, you want to take into account Yamaha’s MusicCast Vinyl 500 turntable. It will allow you to stream your data to any room in your house or to any pair of Bluetooth headphones. And when paired with a high-quality exterior phono preamp, the Vinyl 500 will fulfill the audiophile in you, too. There is not any simpler method so as to add vinyl to your listening expertise.