A total of 17 current home audio products launched in 2018, including sound bars, wireless speakers and AV receivers, will offer Apple AirPlay 2 support and expanded Spotify Connect capabilities
…which means the ability to use Spotify Connect with free Spotify accounts (previously it was only available for paid subscription-based accounts)
Additionally, all Yamaha MusicCast products will gain support for Actions on Google through an update to the Yamaha MusicCast app.
Firmware updates will also add eARC (enhanced audio return channel) functionality to its AV receivers.
Plus users now have the option to use their favourite voice assistant, whether it’s Siri, Google or Alexa.
The firmware updates and MusicCast app update will start in April and continue through summer. Users will be automatically prompted to install the firmware via the MusicCast app. The schedule is as follows:
AIRPLAY 2 AND SPOTIFY CONNECT UPDATES
Beginning in late April and released by model/series: MusicCast 20 and MusicCast 50 wireless speakers, MusicCast BAR 400 sound bar, RX-Ax80 Series AV receivers, RX-Vx85 Series AV receivers, RX-S602 slimline AV receiver, ATS-4080 sound bar and CX-A5200 AV preamp/processor, XDA-QS5400 MusicCast Multi-Room Streaming Amplifier
Summer: MusicCast VINYL 500 turntable
ACTIONS ON GOOGLE
April 16: All MusicCast models introduced since 2015 through an update to the MusicCast app.
eARC
Beginning in late April and released by model/series: RX-Ax80 Series AV receivers, RX-Ax70 Series AV receivers, RX-Vx85 Series AV receivers, RX-Vx83 Series AV receivers, RX-S602 Slimline AV receiver and CX-A5200 AV preamp/processor.
You can reach Yamaha at uk.yamaha.com
[Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Group, The Audiophile Man: Hi-Fi & Music here: www.facebook.com/groups/theaudiophileman for exclusive postings, exclusive editorial and more!]
7 Comments
Lawrence Pearce
27th November 2020 at 6:08 pmMy Yamaha RX-V483 has just received a software update to v2.85 via the internet. There is no mention of this on Yamaha’s website and the update is not available to download. It would be interesting to know what the update if for – but if it’s any clue it wiped all the favourites from my internet radio stations!
Paul Rigby
30th November 2020 at 3:24 pmThanks for the info, Lawrence – that was news to me.
Phil
3rd December 2020 at 2:53 amMy aventage rx-a3070 just uodated the firmware today 12/02/2020 and similar as above, no mention of this on the website and what it did
Carin
1st January 2021 at 4:50 amHi. My RX-V685 auto updated it’s firmware to v1.8 via wifi but stops at S4 verifying with an error 020000. I tried updating via USB but get the same error. Any idea on how to fix this or get the v1.6 version. It seems that the version is the problem.
Paul Rigby
6th January 2021 at 10:43 amHi Carin – let me have a word with Yamaha and I’ll see what I can dredge up. Might be a while so please be patient.
Paul Rigby
13th January 2021 at 1:10 pmHi Carin – okey dokey, I talked to Yamaha about your update issue and it’s come back to me with some info. It’s a bit involved and includes a diagram (not great quality but hopefully usable) which I don’t think I can post here. What I will do instead is create a post…just for you 🙂 Although hopefully it will help others in the same spot. So, bear with me while I sort a few other things and I’ll publish the post ASAP.
Paul Rigby
19th January 2021 at 3:32 pmHi Carin – the post relating to your issue is now up – let me know if Yamaha’s advice helps at all.