Yamaha WXC-70A silver

Does your amplifier work perfectly well but know nothing about streaming? This 22 cm-wide unit adds online music services, MusicCast multiroom, TV sound via HDMI and microphone-based acoustic calibration. With it, Yamaha returns to the compact network player ten years after the WXC-50. For conversion and room correction, it adopts solutions developed for its home cinema amplifiers.

Two output modes to suit the connected equipment

A switch on the back selects how the WXC-70A works with the rest of the system. In Player mode, the analogue output stays at a fixed level. The WXC-70A then behaves as a pure digital source, like a CD player, leaving the integrated amplifier in control of the volume. This mode suits a system whose preamplifier you want to keep as it is, but it disables the preamplification functions, including YPAO correction. In Pre Amp mode, the WXC-70A controls the volume itself and can connect directly to a power amplifier or a pair of active speakers, with room correction enabled. Yamaha presents it alongside its A-S3200 integrated amplifier, but any amplifier with a line input will do.

ESS Sabre conversion and DAC on Pure Ground circuitry

Digital-to-analogue conversion relies on an ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M chip, which processes signals at up to 384 kHz in 32 bits. Yamaha surrounds it with circuitry called D.O.P.G. (DAC on Pure Ground), a principle borrowed from its high-end AV amplifiers. The converter’s power supply is positioned very close to it, stray current has its own return path, and the digital and analogue areas of the board are separated. Before conversion, an ASRC stage reconstructs the signal clock to reduce jitter, the small timing irregularities that each source introduces in its own way. Yamaha specifies a signal-to-noise ratio of 112 dB on the digital inputs and distortion of 0.003% between 20 Hz and 20 kHz on the preamplifier output.

TV sound through a single HDMI connection

The HDMI input supports eARC and ARC. A single cable between the TV and the WXC-70A is all it takes to send sound from programmes, apps and devices connected to the TV through the hi-fi system. Thanks to CEC, the TV remote controls power and volume, without having to switch between remotes. The Dialogue Level setting boosts voices without affecting the rest of the soundtrack, making it easier to follow a film or the news at a moderate volume. Sound is reproduced in stereo through a pair of analogue outputs. A subwoofer output lets you add a subwoofer to reinforce the bass, for both films and music.

YPAO calibration and parametric equaliser

The supplied microphone, with its 6 m cable, is placed at the listening position. YPAO measures the room’s response, then calculates equalisation with 64-bit precision. The R.S.C. (Reflected Sound Control) function takes into account early reflections from nearby walls, which blur instrument placement and the clarity of the stereo image. YPAO Volume adjusts the tonal balance according to the listening level. At low volumes, the ear is less sensitive to bass and treble, and this correction compensates for the loss, making it especially useful for late-night listening. A parametric equaliser (PEQ) then lets you fine-tune the result manually. As these settings work in Pre Amp mode, they are particularly useful with active speakers or a power amplifier, which often have no tone controls.

Streaming services, Roon and MusicCast multiroom

The WXC-70A connects over Wi-Fi 6 on the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, or via an Ethernet cable. It receives AirPlay 2 and Google Cast from a phone or computer, and can be controlled from the Spotify, TIDAL and Qobuz apps using their Connect functions. It is Roon Ready certified, plays Internet radio and podcasts, and accesses libraries shared on a NAS or computer. It plays all common formats, from MP3 to DSD, including FLAC, ALAC, WAV and AIFF. In WAV, FLAC, AIFF and ALAC, tracks play without pauses between them (gapless playback), which matters on a live album or an opera. The MusicCast app brings sources and settings together, and links the WXC-70A to other compatible devices from the brand. A Yamaha soundbar or home cinema amplifier can then play the same music in another room, or a different programme. Bluetooth 5.3 completes the package, with SBC and AAC codecs.

A compact aluminium enclosure ready for home automation

Measuring 22 cm wide, 7.3 cm high and 26.7 cm deep and weighing 1.9 kg, the WXC-70A fits on a shelf next to the amplifier or beneath a TV. Its thick aluminium enclosure, with rounded contours, is rigidly built to limit vibrations. It is available in black and silver. On the front, there is an OLED display showing the source and volume, an aluminium volume knob and a few buttons for power, input selection and playback. For controlled installations, the rear panel adds a 12 V trigger output, which switches on other devices at the same time, and a wired infrared remote control input. The WXC-70A is Control4 compatible and can be configured from a web browser, making the installer’s job easier. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be disabled separately, preventing a nearby device from changing the source by mistake.

Technical specifications

Network connectivity and audio streaming

• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth: SBC, AAC codecs
• Compatible protocols and services: AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect
• Roon Ready certification
• Internet radio
• MusicCast multiroom audio streaming

Supported audio formats

• MP3, WMA, MPEG-4 AAC, WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, DSD

Audio inputs

• 1 × RCA analog input
• 1 × optical input
• 1 × HDMI eARC / ARC / CEC input
• 1 × USB-A port: audio playback, firmware updates

Audio outputs

• 1 × RCA analog preamp output
• 1 × optical output
• 1 × coaxial output
• 1 × subwoofer output

Audio processing and features

• YPAO acoustic calibration
  • YPAO R.S.C.: reflected sound control
  • YPAO Volume
• Parametric equalizer (PEQ)
• Operating modes: player, preamplifier
• ESS SABRE ES9039Q2M digital-to-analog converter (DAC)
• Audio processing up to 384 kHz / 32 bits

Control and integration

• 1 × 12 V trigger output
• 1 × remote control input
• Infrared (IR) input
• Control4 compatibility
• Configuration via a web browser
• MusicCast control app

Display and power consumption

• Front-panel OLED display
• Standby power consumption: 2 W

Included accessories

• Remote control
• 2 AAA batteries
• Power cable: 2 m
• YPAO calibration microphone: 6 m
• Quick start guide
• Safety guide

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions (W × H × D): 220 × 73 × 267 mm
• Weight: 1.9 kg