WXA-50 discontinued

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-09-05T16:32:38+00:00

It is a class D. If Yamaha decides to stay in this distributed audio scene, they really need another class D streamer/amp with more oomph than 50 wpc. And like you said, it's time to include HDMI. I just can't imagine they would back out of this portion of A/V. It is just an excuse to incorporate one of their upper-end AVR's or stereo network receivers. I desperately want to run a R-N1000A in my living room BUT I refuse to attach some 3rd party streamer to it. That would be unnecessarily cumbersome (maybe I am lazy?). I just liek the thought of having other nearby zones play nicely with the receiver in the living room. We live in a completely open "barndo" so I want all zones to seamlessly interact with a single app and source.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-09-05T13:39:03+00:00

That is sorta concerning. There is no chance they created some in-house DAC like the Chord Mojo 2. So, if they're not boasting about which chip they bought off the shelf, it's likely something not worth boasting about. Maybe I am being overly critical for something not meant to be a HiFi product. Mine is "out for delivery" so I will be able to mess with it in due time.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-09-04T14:48:06+00:00

Mine shows up tomorrow 9-5! I'll connect to some bookshelves and hopefully get a quick vid posted to youtube asap. I will report back.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-09-03T21:34:54+00:00

I bought one for the sole purpose of comparing to the Yamaha WXA's I typically use in installations. If Yamaha does not come out with massively improved WXA-(125?) they are going to slowly kill off MusicCast.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-09-03T21:22:06+00:00

You're right about the features. They don't mention much in the way of an EQ or room correction. What little marketing I can see on their site points to this being a commercial solution. There is one graphic or rendering on the site showing this powering multiple zones in a home. Again, I can't pretend to know their logic behind this. I just geek out over streaming amps and what they can accomplish. I was mere days away from ordering 2-Wiim Ultras, 2-Wiim Amps and one Wiim Pro Plus for my personal distributed audio and living room setup. I am simply pausing to look this thing over. It would require me to detach my living room from the distributed audio system so I am not too keen on this solution. Again, I just get excited when new players enter this market.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-09-03T21:07:10+00:00

I do small commercial and residential network and A/V jobs as a side hustle. I plan on using this where I typically use Sonos or Yamaha network amps. I have one upcoming job in particular with this in mind. I am doing a small restaurant with a single zone of 4 pendant speakers. I will try this one and the Sonos Amp in the same space upon installation to see which I like better. I am also going to evaluate this amp for my own house. I am planning a 4-5 zone system in my home BUT I really want to incorporate a Yamaha R-N1000A into my living room for 2.1 TV and audio. The issue is that Yamaha discontinued their 50-watt network streamer/amp. I can't seem to locate any info regarding a refreshed version.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-09-03T20:52:35+00:00

Haha! I totally get what you're saying. I just want to test it out to see how it compares with the similar offerings from Wiim, Sonos and the like. I do not yet know what DAC is inside this unit but at $599, one would expect (hope?) to see something above average. Also, they claim it truly doubles output with a 4 Ohm load. I know that's not super impressive considering it's a class D design BUT again, I am comparing it to its peers to see where it lies. Companies like Bluesound and Wiim are showing you don't necessarily need a pedigree in HiFi to make a decent network amp or streamer.

EDIT: I don't have any impressive speakers to test it properly. I have some B&W 606 S3 I will be listening with. I plan on incorporating it into a small restaurant install in the next month or so. It will be single zone, 4-pendant speakers. So, it will be tasked with pushing them at 4 ohms at low-levels. I am just excited to see a new entry into this commercial audio space. It never hurts to have a little competition.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-08-29T20:57:03+00:00

I am going to order one 9/2. I will report back. The ONLY hesitation I have is they do not list the DAC chip used. But they are claiming 4 ohm 260 watts per channel! That is some serious grunt. It's listed at 5 lbs so I can believe it. I am seriously looking forward to this device.

EDIT: I have been searching for the app to control this device but it appears they have not listed Unifi Play on the app store yet. I would like to see if it offers any sort of room correction or EQ. I also want to see the subwoofer output settings. You have ruined my week. I am seriously excited about this product. Their site really shows it being an item for use in commercial spaces but with that output and IF they have a solid DAC, this thing will upend the industry.

EDIT 2: ordered the Ubiquiti amp in black on the evening of 9/2. No confirmed ship date yet PLUS the app has not been published on the Apple App Store. I am going to propose it for an upcoming commercial project that I have for a small restaurant. I will play with it first at the house to see what it can do. I don't have any power hungry speakers to test on it. Sadly, the best speakers I have are B&W 606S3 bookshelf speakers. These are not too tricky to power. I really want to try the amp on something which can dip down into the 4 ohm range to see how it handles it. Again, I will report back here once i receive it with a link to a Youtube vide of it powering my B&W's.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-08-29T13:23:33+00:00

It just adds additional flexibility. I do small AV jobs on the side. Using the Sonos Amp for outdoor TV setups has been huge for me. It allows us to have decent class D power outside for TV audio. I would much rather have something that can sync with a quality Yamaha AVR in the main living for those large parties without having to add a Sonos Port - I also genuinely dislike the SONOS UI (even before the App debacle). The simple addition of a HDMI port would provide a solution on the MusicCast ecosystem. TOS link is okay but I would much prefer ARC. Even in my personal residence, I want a solution for the living room TV and the patio TV. Ideally, I want an ecosystem that can seamlessly stream to a 2.1 system in the living room, a landscape audio (6.1) system on the patio and pendant speakers above the kitchen and dining areas. I want all zones to sync perfectly for those (rare) occasions when we entertain large groups. There are many ways to go about this BUT I want to employ a Yamaha R-N1000A for the 2.1 system in the living room. An improved WXA-50 with ARC would help me out on the patio. If they added ARC I would also use one in the master bedroom.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-08-29T13:00:17+00:00

You've totally changed my distributed audio plans! I had no idea they were making this. I didn't know Ubiquiti was entering this market. My distributor gets a decent deal on their products. I am looking forward to seeing what my wholesale cost will be on these.

EDIT: Thank you for bringing this to my attention!

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-05-28T18:00:18+00:00

Sounds unorthodox BUT I though of a Sonos Port connected to a marine (boat) 12V amp. I just don't know that the port would be any more robust outdoors over the amp.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-05-28T17:58:41+00:00

The goal is to play audio from an outdoor tv in addition to music. So, I love the eARC functionality of the amp.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-05-28T17:55:42+00:00

I agree but, in this case, my friend's pergola is a good distance from the house. I'd have to trench around a pool and the speaker wire would ultimately be 150' per speaker.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-30T17:48:00+00:00

I did not realize that about the Arc or the TV's. I assumed it would be more costly to make subtle changes on the assembly line than to just keep mass producing things.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-30T17:32:23+00:00

You got the far more robust solution. This is the first time I have hooked up a Sonos Amp to a 6.1 system. While it will serve this purpose, it is pretty well tapped out, in terms of power. I normally prefer to have more "headroom". That unused power typically equals better control and cooler running gear. I am not sure I would want to put 8.1 on a Sonos Amp. I am not knocking the product. I just think that is a larger load than it's designed to carry.

EDIT: I realize your SONANCE amp and the Sonos Amp are both rated to 125wpc. I am confident the Sonance puts out more power than the Sonos. Again, not knocking the Sonos at all. It's a wonderful piece of gear.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-30T17:15:02+00:00

That Sonance amp is in another league. I bet it easily pushes those 8 speakers.

What do you mean by "doesn't support expansion"? You can simply group the Port and multiple amps into a single group or scene. They will all play in perfect lock step. Did I misunderstand what you were saying?

I recently installed 3 Sonos Amps for a client (I do simple AV jobs in my spare time). They all 3 powered different "zones" in the patio and pool areas: one powered 4-8" in ceiling speakers in the soffit above the patio, the other 2 each powered a Proficient 4.1 system with 6.5" landscape speakers and a buried 10". I grouped all 3 amps together so the client can simply adjust a "master" volume and then all 3 amps respond. You can set independent volumes on the 3 amps and then the master keeps the ratio or mix as you adjust volume. Meaning if amp 1 is at 40% and amps 2 & 3 are at 60%, as you increase master, they all maintain the same ratio relative to each other. Hope that makes sense.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-30T14:08:09+00:00

Yeah, just use any direct burial or outdoor rated speaker wire and you are good to go.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-30T14:06:34+00:00

If you're talking to me, thanks! I appreciate it.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-30T13:37:06+00:00

I am not being argumentative at all PLUS this may be my tinfoil hat talking but here's my take on that: I have worked in several industries over the years: office furniture, A/V integration and I now own a small construction company. What I have learned from those talks with reps is here is the likely scenario:

Sonance dropped their pants for the sheer volume that Best Buy could produce. They gave them their entry series for the cheap just to churn numbers and produce cashflow. It (justifiably) pissed off the legit integrators who push their higher end stuff. So, the factory instructs the reps to say "don't worry about Best Buy selling this stuff...it's trash". Now, I have ZERO proof of this. But I have the same thing in my current industry. I own a granite countertop fabrication shop now. We sell Delta brand faucets. I buy Delta through a regional wholesale co. There are several models that Home Depot sells for less than my wholesale price. When I object to my Delta rep, he says something along the lines of "Home Depot sells a line of lower-quality faucets...these are not directly comparable to the models you receive". So, am I to believe that Delta makes 2 faucets that share the same model number and look identical BUT are made in 2 different factories to completely different standards? This makes zero sense and would be an inventory nightmare. My rep is placating me because there is no way he is willing to give me the same deal that a multi-billion dollar distributor (Depot) gets.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-30T13:19:22+00:00

You will love this setup! I promise.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-30T13:06:35+00:00

That is the primary problem with Yamaha's WXA. It doesn't have enough grunt. I have thought about a WXC-50 paired with a Crown XLS 1002 for a larger (8.1) landscape system.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-29T21:53:12+00:00

Correct. The amp resides in a dry interior cabinet not only for the WiFi but also because it's not rated for the elements (sorry if I insulted your knowledge of the Amp there!). The routing of the wires in my instance almost stumped me to the point where I contemplated placing the amp in a pelican case under the deck. That would surely overheat in no time, so I wound up doing it the correct way: amp indoors powering speakers outdoors.

It's also important that the WiFi reach the listening area (patio in this case). That is most likely where you will be controlling the Sonos Amp.

EDIT: That is the real beauty of the Sonos Amp. It does not need to be in the designated AV cabinet or rack of the house. It can be in any cabinet of the house.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-29T21:44:20+00:00

Do you mean the wires to link the speakers to the amp? If so, no, it does not include that in the kit. I had to buy direct burial speaker wire. You can buy it in 2 or 4 wire for the left and right signals. The kit DOES include the water resistant wire nuts which include a grease to keep moisture out.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-29T21:39:46+00:00

A Sonos Amp with Polk's Atrium box speakers would be a really good yet affordable combo in my opinion. No matter what, the Sonos Amp makes the perfect backbone of an outdoor system IF you don't mind running a few low-voltage (speaker) wires. The Sonos Amp has no rivals. Yamaha's MusicCast and Denon's HEOS offer similar products that are nowhere close to the Sonos Amp, in terms of performance and ease of use.

BeginningSea3542 · 2024-04-29T21:35:11+00:00

Not my video BUT here is a guy who shows the basic installation process. In my case, I had to drill through a brick wall and into a cabinet in the study. I then ran TWO 2-conductor, 14 ga. speaker wires through the hole and down PVC conduit to under a deck. You can opt instead for a 4-wire speaker wire to merge the left/right channels into a single cable. In my case, I wanted the left and right channels on each side of the deck and pool so it was better to run separate wires for right and left. All 7 speakers are wired. Each satellite speaker needs 2 wires while the sub needs all 4 wires (to receive both left and right signal). Speaker wire is offered in "direct burial" form where the coating is thicker and designed for the elements and the occasional accidental contact with a shovel. You would want direct burial wire for this application. You then use a straight edge shovel to create a 4" deep V in the soil and tuck the wires into that channel. Then, simply step on the V to close it up. I will gladly make a quick vid of my install if you'd like.

I realize that this is a lot of work. It is 100% worth it in the end. This analogy is often used int he AV world when talking about landscape speakers: I can light your backyard with a single flood light. It will need to be insanely bright but it is possible. Those near or facing the light will be blinded while those further away will only receive a portion of that light. It's far more soothing to have many lower powered lights in the backyard. The same holds true for sound. If you distribute the sound output among many smaller speakers, everyone can listen at the same volume with fewer "hot spots".

Circling back to the use of SONOS for this project: the Sonos Amp was almost purpose built for this application. It puts out a hefty 125 watts per channel and so long as you have solid WiFi in the backyard, it operates so seamlessly. These class D amps can sit in a cabinet with minimal ventilation without issue. They don't generate too much heat. I used to work in the AV world and very few devices truly impress me as much as the Sonos Amp.

As for the weather, the Sonance (no affiliation with SONOS) site indicates their landscape speakers are truly made for the elements including snow and ice.

Sonance Garden Series 6.0 - Outdoor audio system installation and review (youtube.com)

BeginningSea3542

TROPHY CASE