AV Processor Yamaha CX-A5200 Black

The Yamaha CX-A5200 AV processor analyzes the characteristics of the audio signal in real time and adjusts it according to the reference values contained in the database. Processing affects the dynamic range, dialogue, sound effects, background music and channel balance, due to which, according to the developers, it improves the intelligibility of voices and creates a full-fledged sound, including in scenes with serious musical inserts.

The Yamaha CX-A5200 preamplifier supports Amazon Alexa voice assistants, has seven HDMI inputs with HDCP 2.2 and three HDMI outputs. It recognizes the BT.2020 palette, three HDR formats (HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG), and Dolby Vision and DTS:X surround audio formats in 7.2.4 variations. Yamaha has updated the CInema DSP HD algorithms to improve vertical source positioning. The preamp is also equipped with YPAO (Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer), which adjusts the sound to a specific room, and RSC (Reflected Sound Control), which controls early sound reflections.

Externally, the Yamaha CX-A5200 processor is easy to confuse with the older AV receivers of the AVENTAGE line, to which it is not inferior in size or weight. Intrigued by this fact, we immediately looked inside, expecting to find a lot of free space there - after all, this happens when, in order to reduce costs, an AV processor is designed in the body of one of the existing AV receivers. But nothing of the kind - the Yamaha CX-A5200 processor is packed quite tightly. I was surprised by a rather large toroidal transformer in a solid metal casing, mounted in the center immediately behind the front panel. I was surprised by its size - with the declared power consumption of 65 W, this transformer was clearly chosen with a multiple margin. The component's digital blocks and the DAC subsystem, along with the pre-amp stages, are powered by separate power supplies located on either side of the power transformer. The main place inside the case of the Yamaha CX-A5200 is occupied by a rack of electronic boards, mounted at the rear wall of the case.

The similarity with the modern AV-receiver of the AVENTAGE series is also emphasized by the design of the facade made of aluminum. The front panel is cut horizontally into two unequal parts. The top is covered with a dark plastic overlay, under which a large information display is hidden. The central place in the lower half is occupied by a door covering a niche in which many processor control keys and operational switching connectors are concentrated, including a USB port for connecting drives and portable equipment, an HDMI connector for connecting to a video camera, game console or smartphone, an input for the YPAO RSC 3D automatic calibration system measurement microphone, as well as a headphone output on the jack connector and a standard analog AV input on three RCA jacks. When the door is closed, only two solid metal handles remain visible - the larger one on the right controls the volume, and with the help of the left one switches the inputs. In addition, the button for transferring the processor to Standby mode and the Pure Direct button remain available on the facade. A minimum of visible controls gives the component the solidity necessary for a top model.

A glance at the patch panel immediately reveals the AV processor in the Yamaha CX-A5200 - the place of numerous acoustic terminals of a cinema receiver is given here to a multitude of XLR connectors, forming a balanced 11.2 analog output. There is also an unbalanced 11.2 output on RCA connectors, which allows you to easily use various power amplifiers in terms of switching equipment. The HDMI interface is represented by seven input ports and three output ports. All ports are version 2.0a, which allows you to work with high-definition video in all current formats, including 4K with a picture refresh rate of 60p. But that's not all. The processor's HDMI ports support the HDCP version 2.2 media protection protocol used in the new UltraHD Blu-ray disc standard. This means that the Yamaha CX-A5200 is completely ready to work with players of such discs.

Speaking about the switching capabilities of the processor, let's mention the presence of a multi-channel analog 5.1 input, a Phono input for connecting a turntable, as well as inputs and outputs for component video - all this is rarely found in modern AV technology.

But the main "feature" of the novelty, of course, was the support for new formats of cinema soundtracks Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Unlike all previous standards, in which specific soundtrack channels (six or eight) were digitized, the new formats are object-oriented and support up to 128 soundtrack channels. Of course, this is now fully implemented in professional solutions used in large commercial cinemas. The "home" version is adapted for work in living rooms and relies on "per-channel" high-resolution Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats. The Yamaha CX-A5200 allows you to implement a 7.2.4 surround sound system, where the standard seven surround speakers and two active subwoofers are complemented by two pairs of ceiling speakers - Front Presence and Rear Presence.
An interesting feature of the Yamaha CX-A5200 was not only the support for both speakers actually mounted on the ceiling, and those installed on top of the front and rear pair and working on reflection from the ceiling, but also without the use of real speakers for the "ceiling" channels when they work. emulated by existing acoustics. Such rich possibilities open up the widest field for creativity in the process of configuring and setting up equipment in a particular cinema. True, no emulation can fully replace the work of real acoustic systems. Especially if you have at your disposal a set of a Yamaha CX-A5200 processor and a Yamaha MX-A5200 power amplifier, which is equipped with eleven channels of amplification - this is definitely an occasion to think about realizing the potential of this bundle one hundred percent, which means building a complete system. surround sound 7.2.4

Two 32-bit ESS Saber PRO Premier DACs are responsible for signal processing, both Bluetooth devices and devices connected via AirPLay can be sources. There is also support for the proprietary MusicCast multi-room system with streaming services Pandora, Spotify, SiriusXM, Deezer, Tidal and Napster. There are XLR inputs and outputs on board, and support for smart home systems from Control4, ELAN Home Systems, RTI and others is indicated.

All Yamaha products equipped with MusicCast support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This ensures the interaction of components within the system - to create it, you can use an existing Wi-Fi router, or connect equipment directly to each other. The system is also easy to set up: all you need to do is download the MusicCast app to your smartphone or tablet. You then connect compatible audio components to an existing network and pair them with your smart device. This is quite simple and, if desired, you can constantly increase the number of components in the system. MusicCast allows you to listen to music in any room where the appropriate Yamaha equipment is installed, and control its work with the help of a single application.

MusicCast was developed from the ground up by Yamaha to provide a stable and reliable multi-room system with state-of-the-art functionality. As we have already mentioned, one of the most interesting features of MusicCast is that it can include any compatible Yamaha components. That is, you can simply build a system from the components you have instead of purchasing a set of new equipment, and will not be tied to any particular set.

MusicCast technology is integrated into many Yamaha products, including soundbars, AV receivers, wireless speakers and hi-fi systems. This means that you do not need to purchase any particular set of equipment to create a multi-room system, and it can be assembled from compatible components available. And even if you have not thought about building a multi-room audio system, but you have several Yamaha devices with MusicCast at your disposal, you can try to put it together just for fun. Easy integration within a single network is a prerequisite for a modern multiroom system, as is support for the latest high-resolution audio formats, as well as convenient control. MusicCast has all of the above advantages, as well as excellent flexibility in use, and this makes it very attractive.

All MusicCast components have built-in Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz, 802.11 b/g/n) and support DLNA 1.5, so they can access network storage devices, as well as receive a signal directly using Bluetooth and AirPlay. This also means that you can listen to music from a source connected to one of the MusicCast components through any other. For example, you are listening to TV through a Yamaha soundbar, and then you need to move to another room, and if you have MusicCast active speakers installed in it, you can continue listening to the sound of the TV program.

Due to the fact that MusicCast components are equipped with built-in Bluetooth modules (2.1, EDR / A2DP, AVRCP), various devices - speakers or headphones - equipped with BT can be connected to the multi-room system. By connecting them with MusicCast, you can transfer music signal from any of the system components to them. MusicCast supports digital audio up to 192kHz (PCM) as well as DSD up to 5.6MHz. There is compatibility with all common formats, including WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, FLAC, and it is possible to use Spotify, Napster, Juke, Net Radio services to expand the system's capabilities.

Characteristics:

• Device Type: AV Processor
• Sample Rate: Audio DAC 384KHz
• Audio DAC bit depth: 32 bit
• Support: eARC / on firmware /
• Support: Full HD
• Support: Ultra HD (4K)
• Upscaling: up to Full HD
• Upscaling: up to 4K
• HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision
• Support: 3D, Multi Zone
• Number of channels: 11.2
• Signal to noise ratio: 95 dB
• Frequency range: 10 - 100000 Hz
• Tuner and playback: AM/FM radio
• USB stick
• network streaming audio
• internet radio
• Playable formats: MP3, WMA, MPEG-4, AAC, ALAC, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, DSD
• Interfaces: AirPlay 2
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• LAN
• RS-232
• remote control negotiation
• Decoders:
• Dolby Atmos
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Digital Plus
• Dolby TrueHD
• Dolby Digital EX
• DTS
• DTS Express
• DTS 96/24
• DTS-HD High Resolution Audio
• DTS-HD Master Audio
• DTS ES Matrix 6.1
• DTS ES Discrete 6.1
• DTS Neo:6
• DTS X
• XLR (balanced): 2 pcs
• RCA: 7 pairs
• Coaxial S/P-DIF: 3 pcs
• Optical: 3 pcs
• HDMI: 7 pcs
• HDMI version: v 2.1
• Composite: 4 pcs
• Component: 2 pcs
• Phono
• multichannel
• Control input (IR)
• HDMI: 3 pcs
• Preamplifier (Pre-Amp): / 11.2 RCA, 11.2 XLR /
• Control output (IR)
• Trigger output: 2 pcs
• Output: headphone
• USB port
• Linear
• Power Consumption: 65W
• Standby consumption: 2.5 W
• Learning remote control: remote control
• Smartphone control
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 435x474x193 mm
• Weight: 15.2 kg