Yamaha WXC-50
Contents
The Yamaha WXC-50 is a familiar one to us. This very affordable streamer is basically a pre-amp streamer with some extra inputs. Very useful for those who want to put together something nice, but do not want to invest too much money. Actually, all you need is a pair of active speakers. Very nice device for 449 Euro.
Regular readers of Alpha Audio know that the Yamaha WXC-50 is a streamer and preamplifier that has been around for a few years. It has already passed by a few times. What we haven’t always touched on is that there are two different dacs in the streamer. And the importer pointed this fact out to us again. So behind the variable output, the preamp, and behind the fixed line-out output are different DAC chips. That’s a pretty curious design in a 449 Euro DAC. Sound-wise, the variable output is clearly better, so we use it in the test.
The playback
We hear a streamer that can only be built like this by Yamaha: very neutral in playback, clear, but not sharp. A typical Yamaha sound and we appreciate that. There is not ‘just’ something built into a box, time and effort has been spent to give this WXC-50 the Yamaha sound genes. You can hear from every Yamaha product that they also make musical instruments, it simply ‘fits’.
When listening, you don’t get much from the acoustics of the recording room. The soundstage is somewhat flat and is close to the speakers. This streamer does nothing wrong and for the price tag, the performance is more than good enough. In the under 500 Euro category, this remains a strong candidate.
Specifications Yamaha WXC-50
| Price | 449 Euro |
| DAC | PCM5101A + ESS 9006 |
| Outputs | Variable + fixed RCA, sub-out |
| Inputs | RCA, optical, Ethernet, USB |
| Airplay | Yes |
| UPNP | Yes |
| Other | Bluetooth |
| ROON | No |
| Own app | Yes + web interface (automation) |
| Power supply | Internal |
The Primo is interesting…I’ve been using a Pi2design Mercury (CM4 rpi based streamer) with Volumio to really good effect. The software has some adjustability via pluggins that can improve the sound further – particularly Sound shield which can quiet the cpu and lower its functions while playing music. Then also a lps (all the typical things like cabling etc that you guys have covered with great care). Crazy how small and well-placed tweaks can go a long way.
And now of course, that Eversolo DMP is looking to be yet another paradigm shift in this arena and similar price range. Would love your impressions of that one!
Hello John. It seems the Eversolo is the new WiiM. All of the internet is praising it. We’ll see if we can get a review sample (at some point).
Thank you Marrjin! That would be great. Yes, everyone is going kind of crazy over it. But I know you guys would render a very balanced comparo. So many out there now 🙏🏼
Pardon me, misspelled: Martijn
I have toes for thumbs 😂 🙏🏼
Very nice comparison, and I know you can’t compare all streamers in this price category. However I must admit I was a little disappointed to first see my streamer in the list to be tested (cambridge CXN v2) and then noticed it wasn’t present anymore when I sat down to listen to the shootout. Still curious how it would have compared, just like the Innuos ZENmini MK3 which I also have (or the more recent model the Innuos Pulsemini). Maybe in a future test after all you like doing mega tests :-). Like the recent excellent bookshelf speaker test. In any case succes in future shootouts!
Cambridge never send us the unit. Innuos doesnt have samples at the moment. But we get the Zen pretty soon!
Hey Rico!
You know you can switch languages with the language-flag in the menu? :-).
The Node n130 is somewhere in the middle, I think. The Volumio wins, we know for a fact. I don’t know the Node X yet. Maybe I will get a sample.
aaah ok i see the flag now.. thank you for the respons. I get the X in a few days and will compare it with the N130.
Hello Alpha
Would have like 2 see the bluesound node n130 between these streamers. Curious how it would compare.
I ordered the new node X, hopefully 🤞 it has the same powerboard, so I could change it and hook up the sBooster. Pretty interesting product, new DAC an pretty 🤩
Hoi Rico, ben benieuwd hoe de X bevalt en hoe deze zich verhoudt tot de N130? Mvg Guus
Dag Guus. Ik zie nu pas je bericht. Ik ben erg tevreden over de nieuwe node X. Helaas had ik de N130 al verkocht voordat ik de X binnen had. Maar dit is duidelijk beter. Heb wel gelijk een externe voeding aangesloten en alleen zo beluisterd via Roon.