Last updated on March 9, 2021
image source: Yamaha
Cheaper than the Sonos One and more versatile than the Apple HomePod: The WLAN streaming speaker Yamaha MusicCast 20 with AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth is worth a look. GIGA will tell you where you can buy it cheap.
<Original article:
Yamaha MusicCast 20: Streaming speaker price curve
Yamaha MusicCast 20 and MusicCast 50 were introduced in mid-2018. The MusicCast 20’s recommended retail price is 229 euros, but the compact box can always be found in stores for under 200 euros. For months, the best price ranged between 160 and 180 Euros. In terms of price, the Yamaha MusicCast is thus usually somewhat cheaper than comparable speakers like the Sonos One SL (around 195 Euro), the Apple HomePod (around 300 Euro) or the Bose Home Speaker 300 (round 200 Euro). Our estimation: In the medium term the price for the MusicCast 20 should settle at just under 160 Euro.
Yamaha MusicCast 20: This is what the compact WLAN speaker can do
The MusicCast 20 manufacturer video offers a rough overview:
Yamaha MusicCast 20 WLAN speaker compatible with Amazon Alexa
Price may be higher now. Price from 09.11.2020 19:29
Here are the most important technical features of the Yamaha MusicCast 20:
Dimensions 150 x 186 x 130 mm
Wi-Fi at 2.4 and 5 GHz
Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth
Support for numerous streaming services like Spotify, Deezer, Tidal or Qobuz.
40 Watt max. output power; Woofer 25 Watt + Tweeter 15 Watt
Preset buttons for playing favorites
Pairing for Stereo (2 devices required)
Ethernet port for direct connection to router
No microphone available
Alexa voice control via connected echo loudspeaker and Alexa-Skill possible
Wake-up function <Users especially appreciate the naturally tuned sound, which is not so much in the bass as the Sonos One or the Apple HomePod do. With the in-house "MusicCast" multi-room system, the small Yamaha speaker offers essentially the same features that Sonos scores with customers. It can be used as a single speaker (e.g. in the kitchen), but can also be used as a Yamaha-TV-Soundbar add back channels for movie effects.
Two Yamaha MusicCast 20 as rear speaker (Picture: Manufacturer)
As always with multi-room systems, however, the same applies here: You have to choose a manufacturer and stick with it, because the systems of different brands are not compatible with each other. Via AirPlay 2, a certain cooperation is possible, at least in the Apple world, for example when playing music synchronously in different rooms on different AirPlay 2 speakers.
Read the original article here.
