After introducing its revolutionary MusicCast Surround sound system, Yamaha is launching a new generation of speakers that relies on wireless sound transmission. We are talking about the Yamaha Musiccast 20, a wireless loudspeaker that offers great versatility. Besides being able to use it as an independent speaker, we have the possibility to pair it with an AV receiver or a compatible sound bar. Or if you prefer, turn it into a surround speaker to set up a home theater surround sound system.

Yamaha Musiccast 20, compact and minimalist

The Yamaha Musiccast is the first model to be part of the new Yamaha speaker range. If we look at the aesthetics, we see that it is a very compact loudspeaker that adopts an attractive structure that could be defined as cylindrical. It is currently available in two tones, black and white, and as can be seen in the images, it has an eminently minimalist design.

In addition, this speaker has a cover that as a grid covers almost the entire exterior, giving it a very elegant appearance. The official dimensions of this Yamaha Musiccast 20 loudspeaker are 150 x 186 x 130 mm and weighs around 2.2 kilograms. With these physical characteristics we will have no trouble moving it from one room to another, or even if necessary, take it with us out of the house. Simply as a decorative object is going to integrate perfectly into any environment.

Ethernet connector and USB port

If we take a look at the unit from below, we’ll see an Ethernet connector and a USB port (which incidentally does not appear in the datasheet) that will probably load the unit’s firmware in the event of problems. In the back we have the entrance for the power supply and an anchorage in case we want to hang it on the wall.

Control panel

Although as we will see later the intention is that you can control this Yamaha Musiccast 20 loudspeaker from your smartphone or tablet, on the top there is a series of touch controls to perform the most basic actions, such as turning on the device, turning up and down the volume, start or pause the playback or activate the alarm. There are also LEDs to know if it is connected by WiFi or Bluetooth. This speaker has three preset controls so you can access your favorite music with a single touch. It also has the alarm function, making it the perfect companion to have on the night table. As we can see it does not lack any detail.

Speaker Features

In terms of internal equipment, this Yamaha loudspeaker mounts a 3.5-inch (9 cm) woofer and a 1.125-inch (3 cm) tweeter. Two passive radiators are used to improve bass response. In total there are 40 W of power, divided into 15W for the treble and 25W for the bass, with an average consumption that remains at 10 watts.

Supported formats are MP3, WMA, MPEG-4 AAC up to 48 kHz and 16 bits), ALAC (up to 96 kHz / 24-bit), and FLAC, WAV, AIFF files up to 192 kHz and 24 bits).

Yamaha Musiccast Wireless Connectivity

With dual-band WiFi (2.4 / 5 GHz), Yamaha Musiccast 20 can connect wirelessly to your mobile devices. The wireless connection will make it possible for you to enjoy your favourite music in the quickest and easiest way. Another novelty is that we will be able to transmit via Bluetooth the music we are listening to a wireless headset, as a streaming.

With these technologies, we can access this Yamaha Musiccast from our smartphone or tablet, and send to the speaker your playlists and favorite songs. To do this we just need to install the MusicCast CONTROLLER application, a new multiroom solution from Yamaha so you can share music in all rooms with different devices.

Compatible with AirPlay, Spotify Connect and Alexa

As if this were not enough, it is also compatible with AirPlay, so users of Apple devices can connect their iPhone, to listen to their favorite singers through platforms such as YouTube. It also supports Spotify Connect, a new feature in the Spotify app that allows users to send as much music as they want to this excellent speaker. To complete the circle, the Yamaha Musiccast 20 offers full compatibility with Amazon’s range of voice control devices. All you have to do is ask.

As we said at the beginning, the best thing about this loudspeaker is that we can put it to different uses. On the one hand, we can use it independently in any room. Another option is to pair it with another Yamaha Musiccast for stereo sound. We also have the possibility of placing it in the back of the room, and connect it wirelessly to a MusicCast AV receiver, so that it works as a surround speaker to mount a 2.1 or 5.1 system.

If you prefer another brand, you also have the Sonos One, a mid-range wireless speaker that comes ready to play different content in different rooms of the house, from the same source.

Nest has announced that its smart thermostat Nest Thermostat E can finally be preordered also in Italy. In addition to Italy, this smart home product that makes home heating smart will also arrive in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In fact, this product for home automation is not absolutely new, indeed, Nest presented it even in 2017. It took, therefore, a long time before it arrived in Italy and other European countries but, now, those who aim to make their homes smart will have a new product to evaluate.

In reality, there are a few small differences compared to the 2017 model and they mostly concern aesthetics. The new thermostat, for example, has a new support much more practical to use. The display has also been refined to make it more pleasant.

The real strength of this smart product, however, is its ease of installation. Interested parties, in fact, can easily integrate it into their homes using all the existing sockets. This means that there will be no need to get your hands on the already persistent system to adapt it to the new thermostat.

The new thermostat communicates directly with Heat Link E, a small device that connects directly with the heating system, wirelessly. The installation, therefore, can be completed in a short time and by anyone.

Nest Thermostat E has many features that allow you to optimize the heating of the house in order to reduce energy consumption and the bill. For example, the thermostat is able to lower the temperature when no one is in the house. The thermostat is also able to learn people’s habits and adapt accordingly. Obviously, there is also the possibility of remote control through a dedicated application.

This product can be preordered on the official website or at major electronics chains such as Unieuro, Media World, and many others.