Yamaha's Spring 2010 line-up - bargain 3D-ready receivers, DAB micros and more

We’re just on the bullet train heading back to Narita airport, so finally have time to publish the full details of the Spring 2010 products Yamaha has been showing us at its HQ in Japan over the last few days.

Home cinema amplifiers

As mentioned in our original (and exclusive) news story, Yamaha’s tackling the affordable end of the market with its first 2010 receivers, and is also making a big effort to make them less fiddly and frightening than other products of this type.

For example, each receiver has a set of shortcut buttons on the front panel (pictured above) and simplified connection arrangements on the back (see below for the RX-V367).

These aren’t low-tech receivers, though, as each has advanced features like automatic speaker calibration and 3D-compatible HDMI connections.

RX-V367
Price - £200
Available – Imminently
Finish – black (above) / titanium (below)

RX-V367 spec overview:

5.1
100W per channel RMS
192kHz/24-bit Burr Brown DACs
3D-compatible (via firmware update) HDMI repeater (4in/1out)
SCENE buttons for quick access to sources and saved settings
YPAO automatic speaker calibration
CINEMA DSP with 17 programmes
Compressed music enhancer
FM tuner

RX-V467

Price - £300
Available – late May / early June
Finish – black / titanium (pictured above)

Key Specs:

5.1
105W per channel RMS
HD audio decoding
192kHz/24-bit Burr Brown DACs
3D-compatible (via firmware update) HDMI with Audio Return Channel (4in/1out)
YPAO automatic speaker calibration
CINEMA DSP with 17 programmes
Compressed music enhancer
FM tuner
Optional Bluetooth receiver – YBA-10
Optional iPod/iPhone dock YDS-12


RX-V567
Price - £400
Available – late May / early June
Finish – black (pictured above)/ titanium

7.1
90W per channel RMS
HD audio decoding
192kHz/24-bit Burr Brown DACs
Assignable amplifiers for bi-amping
3D-compatible (via firmware update) HDMI with Audio Return Channel (4in/1out)
Video upscaling to 1080p
YPAO automatic speaker calibration
CINEMA DSP with 17 programmes
Compressed music enhancer
FM tuner
Optional Bluetooth receiver – YBA-10
Optional iPod/iPhone dock YDS-12


Home cinema speakers

To complement these bargain-priced amps, Yamaha is also launching a very affordable 5.1 speaker package - the NS-P285. This is likely to be made available bundled with the RX-V367 as well as on its own.

NS-P285
Price - £180
Available – from late June
Finish – semi-gloss black

5.1 (four identical satellites, dedicated centre, subwoofer)
Compact, wall-mountable design
Impedance – 6 ohms
Satellite power handling – 80W
Satellite sensitivity – 81dB
Centre power handling – 100W
Centre sensitivity – 84dB
Subwoofer power – 100W dynamic, 50W RMS
Subwoofer driver – 16cm
Advanced YSP for ‘awesome deep bass’


Desktop Audio (DTA)

Yamaha is aiming to build on the success of its PDX players from last year with a new micro system and bedside unit. Styling is paramount, with a wide range of colours available, but high tech goodies like wireless, AirWired connections for iPods and iPhones also feature.

MCR-040
Price - £220
Available – Imminently
Finish – 10 colours available - including white (pictured above), blue, green, orange, pink, red, turquoise, brown and black

iPod/CD/USB and DAB/FM
15W per channel
Wide choice of colours
Detachable stereo speakers
YST technology for improved bass and stereo imaging


MCR-140
Price – £275
Available – late May / early June
Finish – 10 colours available (Green finish pictured above)

As MCR-040, but with AirWired dock for iPod and iPhone. This is a new version of Yamaha’s proprietary wireless technology, which allows for uncompressed, latency-free transmission of music when an Apple player is connected to the wireless dongle.


TSX-80
Price - £200
Available – late May / early June
Finish – light blue (pictured below) / ivory / purple (pictured above)

Key specs:
2.1
16W total power
iPod/iPhone dock with radio and alarm
Touch Smart controls illuminate buttons relating to the source or menu you’re using
LED clock shines through coloured front panel
IntelliAlarm gradually fades music in to avoid sudden wake-up


Outdoor speakers

It’s nearly BBQ time, and Yamaha wants to make sure you can listen to your music while you cremate your steaks. Hence the introduction of three pairs of stereo speakers that can be mounted anywhere, are aesthetically designed to blend in, and are weather resistant.


NS-AW392
Price – £150
Available – late May / early June
Finish – black (pictured above), white
Key specs:
Drivers – 13cm waterproof woofer and 1.9cm tweeter
Nominal power – 40W
Maximum power – 120W
Sensitivity – 86dB
Impedance – 6 ohms
Weight – 1.8kg


NS-AW592
Price – £200
Available – late May / early June
Finish – black, white (pictured above)
Key specs:
Drivers – 16cm waterproof woofer and 2.5cm tweeter
Nominal power – 50W
Maximum power – 150W
Sensitivity – 88dB
Impedance – 6 ohms
Weight – 2.4kg

And that's it for now. We've seen - and heard - plenty more Yamaha products still to come in 2010. Watch this space for news updates, plus reviews of the kit above from next month onwards.