Yamaha TT-N503 Black Turntable

Having a turntable next to a digital source in one system is not unusual. When CDs came along, many music lovers simply added a digital player to their analog sets, although some said goodbye to vinyl forever - like old revelers do, recklessly swapping an old wife for a young one. We know how it ends.

Then, for many years, analog recording remained one of the indispensable attributes of the High End - in one crystal castle with lamps, horn acoustics and other cult objects. But this era has passed, the vinyl renaissance has begun: the production of budget turntables and remake records has resumed. Moreover, they are bought by young people who have never dealt with mechanical sound recording before. This has become a steady trend, and it is clear that it will be forever - like a fashion for mechanical watches, less accurate and more expensive, but causing pleasant emotions for many.

What does all this historical digression have to do with the protagonist of this publication, the Yamaha MusicCast VINYL 500 player? The most direct, because its appearance is a sign of the next era: the turntable becomes a natural element of the modern system, becomes its own in a new world populated by wireless speakers, network players, streaming services and mobile applications. Not just standing side by side, but tightly integrated into the network. Before Yamaha, as far as I know, no one has dared to do this.

This is the MusicCast 50, the most powerful model in Yamaha's growing family of wireless speakers. In fact, this technology is also supported by many soundbars, AV receivers of the company, so if you wish (and if possible), you can equip not only an apartment, but also a large house with a multi-room based on it. And if, say, the Yamaha WX-010 model, which we wrote about earlier this year, is ideal for the kitchen or bedroom, then the MusicCast 50 with an output power of 70 watts is already capable of voicing a small living room. By the way, thanks to the lacquered top panel, it matches the design of the MusicCast VINYL 500 very well, and the oval shape makes it look “soft” and cozy.
This speaker can become the main music center in the house: you can connect two external analog sources to it (one to a 3.5 mm jack, the second to a pair of RCA) and one digital (optical Toslink), for example, a TV. And since it is able to work in virtual surround mode, it may well replace the soundbar. Two speakers can be combined into a stereo system and also with virtual surround sound.

Network capabilities are exactly the same as the MusicCast VINYL 500: there is wired Ethernet, Bluetooth v4.2 + EDR (A2DP, AVRCP profiles, SBC, AAC codecs), Wi-Fi 2.4 / 5 GHz and AirPlay 2 support.

Full control, like the MusicCast VINYL 500, with the proprietary MusicCast CONTROLLER mobile app. And all this is extremely simple. For example, to connect devices to a wireless network, you just need to turn on the power to them, and then follow the instructions of the application. And with a wired connection, it's even easier.

Characteristics:

• Drive method: Belt drive
• Rotation speed: 33 1/3 rpm, 45 rpm
• Rotation speed change: ±2%
• Knock ratio: 0.2%
• Support plate: Die-cast aluminum
• Diameter: 30cm
• Statically balanced straight arm
• Effective arm length: 223.5 mm
• Needle pressure adjustment range: 0-4g
• Acceptable cartridge weight: 15.5 - 19 g (including head frame)
• Reach: 19 mm
• Cartridge type: MM
• Output voltage: 2.5 mV (1 kHz, 3.54 cm/s)
• Needle pressure: 3.5±0.5g
• Cartridge weight: 5.0 ±0.3 g
• Cartridge height: 17.0 ±0.7 mm
• Head frame weight: 10g (including screws, nuts and wires)
• Analog audio output: (RCA unbalanced)
• PHONO OUT: ×1
• LINE OUT: ×1
• NETWORK (Wired): ×1 (100Base-TX/10Base-T)
• Bluetooth: yes
• Sink function: yes
• Supported codec: SBC, AAC
• Supported profile: A2DP, AVRCP
• Bluetooth Version: Ver. 4.2
• Wireless signal output: Bluetooth class 2
• AirPlay Support: Yes
• Internet Radio: Yes
• Wireless network: Yes
• Wireless standards: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac*
• RF band: 2.4GHz, 5GHz
• WPS: (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)
• PIN code: yes
• Security method WEP, WPA2-PSK (AES): Mixed mode
• Audio: Network, Bluetooth)
• Output level (1 kHz, 0 dB, Fs 44.1 kHz): 2.0 ±0.3 V
• Signal to noise ratio: (IHF-A network)
• (infinity to zero, Fs 44.1 kHz): 10 dB or more
• Dynamic Range (1 kHz, -60 dB, Fs 44.1 kHz): 100 dB or more
• THD (1kHz, 0dB, Fs 44.1kHz): 0.003% or less
• Fs 44.1 kHz: 2 Hz–20 kHz (+0/–3 dB)
• Fs 48 kHz: 2 Hz–24 kHz (+0/–3 dB)
• Fs 96 kHz: 2 Hz–48 kHz (+0/–3 dB)
• Fs 192 kHz: 2 Hz–96 kHz (+0/–6 dB)
• PHONO OUT (1 kHz, 3.54 cm/s): 2.5 mV ±3 dBV
• LINE OUT: 450 mV (-7 dBV)
• Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted, 20 kHz LPF): 67 dB or more
• Adapter Power: AC
• Input: 100-240VAC 50/60Hz
• Output: 12V/1A
• Power Consumption: 6W
• Eco standby: 0.3W
• Network Standby On/Bluetooth Standby Off
• Wired: 1.4W
• Wireless (Wi-Fi): 1.8W
• Network Standby On/Bluetooth Standby On
• Wired: 1.6 W
• Wireless (Wi-Fi): 1.8W
• Weight: 5.7 kg
• Dimensions (width × height × depth): 450 × 136 × 368 mm (including legs and protrusions)