About MusicCast

MusicCast is a streaming and multi-room audio system built into many Yamaha products, including AV receivers, sound bars, wireless speakers and a turntable. Designed to work with your Wi-Fi® router, MusicCast lets you stream all of your music and other audio content to every room in your home with easy control from the MusicCast app, an Alexa device or third-party control system, such as Control4, Crestron, ELAN, RTI, or URC.

Certain MusicCast products support MusicCast Surround and/or MusicCast Stereo capabilities, which allow for wireless multi-speaker configurations within a single room for surround or stereo sound. MusicCast Surround allows compatible MusicCast speakers to be used as wireless rear surround sound speakers to create a 5.1-ch. home theater system when used with a compatible AV receiver or sound bar. MusicCast Stereo allows for stereo or 2.1-ch. stereo configurations using compatible MusicCast speakers.

True Sound. As the world's largest musical instrument manufacturer and leader in both professional and home audio solutions, Yamaha is as passionate about sound quality as you are. This passion is reflected throughout our product line – from sound performance of individual products to the underlying technologies, such as high-resolution audio streaming, supported by MusicCast.

Flexibility. MusicCast products support not only Wi-Fi, but also other wireless technologies like Bluetooth®, Spotify Connect and AirPlay®. Devices can also be wired to Ethernet. Plus, many MusicCast models offer HDMI®, optical, analog and/or phono inputs that can be selected as a source for listening throughout your home. Wired or wireless, streaming or traditional content, home theater or whole home audio — MusicCast supports it all.

Select MusicCast models can be configured to work together in wireless multi-speaker configurations within a single room. MusicCast Surround allows compatible MusicCast speakers to be used as wireless surrounds for a 5.1-ch. or 5.1.2-ch. home theater system when used with a compatible AV receiver or sound bar. MusicCast Stereo allows for stereo or 2.1-ch. configurations using compatible MusicCast speakers.

See a list of compatible models.

Yamaha was one of the first AV manufacturers to introduce a wireless multi-room audio system, similarly named MusicCAST, back in 2003. This was followed by MusicCAST2 in 2009, and then MusicCast in August 2015. Models released from August 2015 to present are compatible with one another. Select newer models also support MusicCast Surround/Stereo which are only compatible with other models that also support MusicCast Surround/Stereo.

Check a model's compatibility here.

MusicCast Surround was introduced in April 2018. It allows select AV receivers and the MusicCast BAR 400 sound bar to use select MusicCast speakers as wireless surround sound speakers. This can be configured in the MusicCast app. The MusicCast Surround capability is ideal for situations where it's a hassle or not possible to run wire from the front of the room to the back of the room for rear speakers.

When using compatible AV receivers, MusicCast Surround allows you to build a 5.1-ch. surround sound system with wired speakers for the front channels (Front Left, Center, Front Right) and select MusicCast wireless speakers for the surrounds (Surround Left, Surround Right). It also supports the option of using a MusicCast wireless subwoofer.

MusicCast Surround-compatible 7-channel and 9-channel AV receivers with Dolby Atmos/DTS:X allow you to build a 5.1.2-ch. system with wired speakers for the front and front height channels, and select MusicCast wireless speakers for the surrounds. Rear height and/or Surround Back speakers are not supported.

When using the MusicCast BAR 400, MusicCast Surround allows you to use select MusicCast speakers to add surround sound wirelessly. The MusicCast BAR 400 comes with a wireless subwoofer included in the box. Speakers for rear surround sound are available separately.

See step-by-step instructions on how to set up a MusicCast Surround system.

If your model is not compatible with MusicCast Surround, remember that MusicCast products in general support a wide variety of surround sound experiences. For those who want the ultimate home theater, MusicCast AV receivers support many multi-channel configurations and technologies, including Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X, depending on the model. For those looking for a simple installation, select MusicCast sound bars use Yamaha digital sound projector (DSP) technology to deliver true 5.1-ch. or even Dolby Atmos/DTS:X surround sound without the need for wiring surround sound speakers.

MusicCast Stereo was introduced in April 2018. It allows select MusicCast speakers to be configured for stereo or 2.1-ch. stereo setups using the MusicCast app. Depending on the speaker model, this can be accomplished with one or two speakers, and, if desired, the MusicCast SUB 100 subwoofer. MusicCast Stereo setups are configured using the MusicCast app.

See step-by-step instructions for setting up a MusicCast Stereo system.

Older MusicCast speaker models, such as the WX-030 and WX-010, support stereo pairing using a special setup process, but do not support 2.1-ch. stereo configurations. Always be sure to update any firmware to the latest versions.

See how to pair older MusicCast speakers.

Watch a video on how to pair older speakers.

MusicCast Setup

  • One or more Yamaha MusicCast products
  • Wi-Fi router
  • Free MusicCast app on an Apple® or Android mobile device(iOS 10.0 or Android 4.1 or higher)

The MusicCast app makes it easy to add a MusicCast device to the system. From the Settings menu, select "Add New Device", then follow the simple steps, which include pressing and holding the device's "CONNECT" button for a few seconds.

All MusicCast products are Wi-Fi CERTIFIED® and capable of operating on a 2.4 GHz. MusicCast products offering MusicCast Surround/Stereo compatibility also support 5 GHz.

When setting up a MusicCast system, it is generally advisable to select an SSID designated as 2.4 GHz since lower frequencies offer more reach through walls, floors and doors. For MusicCast models that support 5 GHz, this choice may provide cleaner channel availability in environments with especially heavy wireless congestion.

MusicCast Surround/Stereo configurations automatically make use of a separate 5 GHz connection that does not pass through the router, allowing for the best performance between devices within a single room.

No. Connection of MusicCast devices to your home Wi-Fi router can be made wirelessly following a few simple steps in the app and by using the "CONNECT" button on the device. MusicCast devices do offer the option of using a wired Ethernet connection if preferred.

No. MusicCast devices can be connected directly to your Wi-Fi router without using any special adaptor.

MusicCast makes use of standard Wi-Fi 802.11 wireless technology. Wi-Fi extenders and boosters are already widely available in the market and may be used to improve Wi-Fi coverage in your home.

What does MusicCast support?

All MusicCast devices support Apple® Lossless (ALAC) up to 96 kHz / 24-bit as well as WAV, FLAC, and AIFF up to 192 kHz / 24 bit. MusicCast AV receivers, Hi-Fi components and powered monitor speakers support DSD up to 5.6 MHz.

Select MusicCast devices support even higher-resolution audio up to 384 kHz / 32-bit and DSD up to 11.2 MHz for single-room streaming. See individual product specifications for details.

When multiple MusicCast devices are "linked" for playback, Master room playback is at the native sampling rate and other rooms down-convert to 48 kHz. Playback of DSD content is not supported by MusicCast devices when they are linked together.

Streaming services vary by country and model. In the United States, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, Amazon Music HD, SiriusXM Internet Radio, SiriusXM Music for Business, Qobuz, Deezer, TIDAL, Napster and free internet radio can be accessed from the MusicCast app on most current MusicCast devices. Apple Music can be accessed using AirPlay 2 or AirPlay. For a list of streaming service availability for your MusicCast product, see here.

Using Bluetooth, MusicCast supports content from any streaming service available from your smartphone or tablet.

Yes, all MusicCast devices support playback of high-resolution audio up to 192 kHz / 24 bit.

Multi-channel content (5.1-ch, 7.1-ch, etc.) is down-mixed to 2-channel sound for playback in other rooms without affecting the master room.

Many current MusicCast models support AirPlay 2, which allows you to stream audio from an iOS device or from iTunes on a Mac® or PC to either a single MusicCast device or to multiple MusicCast devices simultaneously. This gives you access to Apple Music on a MusicCast system and can even be controlled using Siri.

Other MusicCast devices support the first-generation AirPlay which allows you to stream audio from an iOS device to a single MusicCast device or from iTunes on a Mac® or PC to multiple MusicCast devices simultaneously. For these models, you may also use a Bluetooth connection or external input (HDMI, optical, analog) to stream to multiple MusicCast devices simultaneously.

Select MusicCast products support AirPlay 2®. See here for a list of AirPlay® and AirPlay 2® compatible products.

For more information on AirPlay2, see the Apple website here.

The MusicCast app supports playback of songs stored on smartphones and tablets that are not DRM (Digital Rights Management) protected. The app also supports playback of music libraries stored on a computer through UPnP (Universal Plug and Play), which is already available on most Windows and Mac computers or is easy to add. Additionally, it is possible to stream to MusicCast devices from iTunes on a computer using AirPlay.

Yes. All MusicCast devices support Bluetooth except the XDA-QS5400RK. A Bluetooth input source can be used with multiple linked MusicCast devices, so music can be played in multiple rooms simultaneously. The MusicCast app provides basic volume, play/pause and track skip control of Bluetooth input devices during playback.

Bluetooth wireless technology inherently has some latency. When Bluetooth is used as an input into the MusicCast system, all of the MusicCast devices will play in sync with each other, but there will be some latency between the transmitting device and the receiving (master) MusicCast device. This is typically not noticeable for audio-only content, but may result in a visible "lip sync" delay when playing back video content on a smartphone/tablet with audio streamed to a MusicCast system.

Most MusicCast devices support Bluetooth transmission as an output steam to a Bluetooth-enable speaker or headphones. Bluetooth devices must be SCMS-T / A2DP profile compatible. Note that if you are using Bluetooth as an input, you will not be able to transmit content at the same time.

[Set up procedure]

  1. Set the Bluetooth connection for the Bluetooth device (wireless headphones, etc.) to pairing status.
  2. Tap the mark circled red in the playback display of "MusicCast CONTROLLER"
  3. Tap "Bluetooth Transmission".
  4. Select the Bluetooth device (wireless headphones, etc.).
  5. Tap "Done".
MusicCast devices support Bluetooth transmission as an output

Bluetooth wireless technology inherently has some latency. When a MusicCast device is set up to output a Bluetooth stream to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones, the playback will be slightly delayed relative to the MusicCast devices. This will be noticeable if both device types are played in the same or nearby room, but may be less noticeable if the devices are separated in different spaces. Also there are many applications where it may be desirable to stream to a Bluetooth device and simply mute the MusicCast device volume, such as nighttime listening via Bluetooth headphones or streaming to a water-resistant Bluetooth speaker in a bathroom.

Yes. All MusicCast devices support playback from network-connected computers and NAS devices that use the UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) networking protocol.

Yes. External inputs can be selected for playback and shared in linked mode with multiple MusicCast devices. When an external input is selected, the MusicCast app provides options for how to handle audio syncing under the sound settings menu (located in the app next to the volume slider on the Now Playing screen). The Audio Sync mode prioritizes syncing audio between multiple MusicCast devices while the TV Lip Sync mode prioritizes syncing audio between the AV receiver or sound bar and the TV.

MusicCast App FAQs

Up to 32 MusicCast devices can be added to the MusicCast app (version 2.7 or higher). All MusicCast models allow for groups of up to 10 to be linked together for simultaneous playback. Multiple link groups are supported.

For MusicCast Surround/Stereo configurations, which combine multiple devices into a single "room" within the app, each device counts against the total only for the Master room. Client rooms (linked to the Master) are counted as one device even if they are composed of multiple devices in a MusicCast Surround/Stereo configuration.

MusicCast models introduced in 2018 (e.g., MusicCast Surround/Stereo models) are capable of supporting linked groups of up to 10 wirelessly-connected or 20 Ethernet-connected devices. A blend of wireless and wired devices of up to 20 is allowed, but performance may vary.

Yes. In the MusicCast app, you can activate the Zone function from the settings menu. The MusicCast app will allow users to select inputs and provide basic volume controls on secondary zones.

MusicCast and Alexa

Alexa is Amazon's cloud-based voice service. You can talk to Alexa to play music, hear the news, check weather, control smart home devices and more. Alexa is built into many Amazon products, including all of its Echo devices, Fire TV devices and Alexa-enabled devices from other companies.

All MusicCast models can be controlled with Alexa using the MusicCast Smart Home skill and/or the MusicCast skill. It is necessary to have the latest firmware loaded on your MusicCast products and to have the latest version of the MusicCast app on a compatible smart device.

All Alexa-enabled products with a microphone should be able to voice-control MusicCast products. This includes Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus, Echo Show, Echo Spot, Echo Look, Amazon Tap, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Fire HD Tablets – as well as on many devices from other companies.

To get started with Alexa on MusicCast, you'll need to have your Echo and MusicCast products installed with Wi-Fi® access and both the Alexa app and MusicCast app need to be loaded on your smart device.

For step-by-step instructions on setting it up, click here.

The MusicCast Smart Home skill supports the most common, everyday voice commands you would use to control a single MusicCast AV receiver, sound bar, wireless speaker or Hi-Fi component, Hi-Fi system. These basic commands include power on/off, volume control, play/pause/skip/previous, mute/unmute and input selection. This skill supports simple, Alexa-standardized commands such as "Alexa, volume up in the Kitchen." The MusicCast Smart Home skill also lets you play Amazon Music, Pandora, Deezer, Gimme Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and SiriusXM streaming services that you have set up on your Alexa account through easy commands: "Alexa, play Gimme Radio in the Living Room."

The MusicCast skill goes beyond the basics, giving you enhanced control of unique MusicCast functions such as room linking, multiple room control, playback of MusicCast Favorites/Playlists and more. The commands are customized for MusicCast such as, "Alexa, ask MusicCast to link the Kitchen with the Living Room."

Alexa Commands

  • Alexa, turn on the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, turn off the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, play in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, pause in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, resume in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, stop the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, next in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, previous in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, set volume to [30] in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, volume up in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, volume down in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, mute the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, unmute the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, switch input to [HDMI1] in the [Room Name].
Control streaming services you have connected through your Alexa app: Amazon Music, Pandora, Deezer, Gimme Radio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and SiriusXM.
  • Alexa, start over.
  • Alexa, previous.
  • Alexa, rewind. (30 seconds if not specified)
  • Alexa, fast forward. (30 seconds if not specified)
  • Alexa, shuffle.
  • Alexa, thumbs up.
  • Alexa, loop on.
  • Alexa, play music in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, play [Song Name] in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, play [Artist name] on [Streaming Service] in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, play music in the [Room Name] (plays your default service).
  • Alexa, pause.
  • Alexa, resume.
  • Alexa, next.
Power on/off
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn on the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn off the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn off all rooms.
Play/Pause/Stop
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to play in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to pause in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to stop in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to stop all rooms.
Play MusicCast Favorites/Playlists/Recents
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to play [Favorite x] in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to play [Playlist x] in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to play Recents in the [Room Name].
Volume control
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to set volume to [30] in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to set group volume to [30] in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn up the volume in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn down the volume in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn up the group volume in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn down the group volume in the [Room Name].
Mute/Unmute
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to mute the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to unmute the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to mute all rooms.
Next/Previous (Skip/Back)
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to skip song in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to play previous song in the [Room Name].
Repeat/Shuffle
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to shuffle all songs in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn shuffle off in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to repeat one song in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to repeat all songs in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn off repeat in the [Room Name].
Input Selection
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to switch input to [HDMI1] in the [Room Name].
Room Linking/Unlinking
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to link the [Room Name] with the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to unlink the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to link the [Room Name] with all rooms.
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to unlink all rooms.
Sleep Timer
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to set sleep timer for [30, 60, 90, 120] minutes in the [Room Name].
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to cancel the sleep timer in the [Room Name].
Now Playing
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast what's playing in the [Room Name].
Disklavier ENSPIRE Controls
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to play the piano.
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to stop the piano.
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to skip the piano.
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to play previous song on the piano.
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to play [song name] on the piano.
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to play the piano in Acoustic mode.
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to play the piano in Quiet mode.
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn up the volume on the piano.
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn down the volume on the piano.
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn on the piano.
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn off the piano.
User Information
  • Alexa, ask MusicCast for my user id.

Providing a range of 0-100 allows you to have greater control of the volume level you really want. This is especially helpful for audio systems where a small adjustment makes a noticeable difference, such as when a high-power AV receiver is used with high-sensitivity speakers.

For products made 2018 and after: The MusicCast Smart Home skill allows easy control of your streaming services linked to your Amazon Alexa account. You can ask for specific music just as you would with your Dot or Echo: "Alexa, play Journey in the living room".

For products made before 2018: Set up Playlists and Favorites in the MusicCast app and recall those using Alexa voice commands using the MusicCast Skill. Or, use an Echo/Dot as a source for a MusicCast product connected via Bluetooth (all MusicCast products support a Bluetooth input). When an Echo is used as a source, you can request a specific artist, album or song just as you would when using it as a standalone device. MusicCast lets you redistribute a Bluetooth stream to multiple MusicCast products for simultaneous playback if desired.

MusicCast Skill: English (US, UK, Canada, Australia), Japanese, German (Germany, Austria)
MusicCast Smart Home Skill: English (US, UK, Canada, Australia), Japanese, German (Germany, Austria), French, Italian, Spanish (Spain)

MusicCast and Google Assistant

Yes, all MusicCast products can be controlled with Google Assistant using "MusicCast Smart Home Action." MusicCast Smart Home Actions are a set of voice commands that can be enabled through MusicCast app.

Your favorite smart home assistant can now control your music experiences as well. Enjoy the convenience of playing your favorite tunes, adjusting the volume and streaming your favorite services with simple voice commands for MusicCast.

All MusicCast models can be controlled with Google Assistant. It is necessary to have the latest firmware loaded on your MusicCast products and to have the latest version of the MusicCast app on a compatible smart device.

All Google Nest and Google Home products with a microphone should be able to voice-control MusicCast products.

You'll need to have your Google Nest or Home device and MusicCast products installed with Wi-Fi® access and both Google Assistant and the MusicCast app need to be loaded on your smart device.

For step-by-step instructions on setting it up, click here.

At this time, English and French are supported. Availability of voice command control via Google Assistant varies by region.

GOOGLE COMMANDS

Power on/off
  • Hey Google, turn on the Kitchen. Hey Google, turn off all.
Volume up/down
  • Hey Google, turn up the volume in the Kitchen. Hey Google, turn down volume by 20 in the Kitchen.
Volume Settings
  • Hey Google, set the volume to 50% in the Kitchen.
Play/Pause/Stop
  • Hey Google, play in the Kitchen.
Next/Previous
  • Hey Google, play next song in the Kitchen.
Mute/Unmute
  • Hey Google, mute the Kitchen.
Input Selection
  • Hey Google, switch the kitchen to Spotify.
Room Linking/Unlinking
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to link the [Room Name] with the [Room Name].
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to unlink the [Room Name].
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to link the [Room Name] with all rooms.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to unlink all rooms.
Sleep Timer
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to set sleep timer for [30, 60, 90, 120] minutes in the [Room Name].
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to cancel the sleep timer in the [Room Name].
Now Playing
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast what's playing in the [Room Name].
Disklavier ENSPIRE Controls
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to play the piano.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to stop the piano.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to skip the piano.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to play previous song on the piano.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to play [song name] on the piano.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to play the piano in Acoustic mode.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to play the piano in Quiet mode.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to turn volume up on the piano.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to turn volume down on the piano.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to turn on the piano.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast to turn off the piano.
User Information
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast for my user id.
  • Ok Google, ask MusicCast for available rooms.