Yamaha wants to add a little heat to your summer home theater setup -- and power, of course. The company just announced a pair of Aventage components, designed for those with systems that go to "11."
The company says that the CX-A5000 11.2-channel AV preamplifier and the MX-A5000 11-channel power amplifier will start shipping sometime in August.
The CX-A5000 preamp has two ESS Technology SABRE32 Ultra DACs, Cinema DSP HD3 with 33 DSP programs, Ultra HD 4K pass-through and upscaling, and MHL support. It also packs in plenty of networking options, including support for Apple AirPlay and Yamaha's AV Controller app. There are also options for streaming web-based audio right to the preamp, via Pandora, Rhapsody and SiriusXM.
If you're looking for something that plays nice with other components and rooms, the CX-A5000 has eight HDMI inputs and two outputs, with 3D and Audio Return Channel. There's also an HDMI zone switching feature for switching the AV to other zones in the house. The preamp can provide zone control for up to four zones and has a Party Mode.
Other features on the CX-A5000 include YPAO R.S.C. (Reflected Sound Control) sound optimization, a trigger control, and a full LED backlight learning and preset remote.
The MX-A5000, on the other hand, can crank up to 170 watts per channel, with a large, custom toroidal transformer and three-stage Darlington circuit. Other features include 27,000μF custom block capacitors, noise-resistant XLR balanced connections, and bi-amping options.
"Our new preamp and amp are seamlessly matched to offer an entirely new home entertainment experience that will surprise even the most selective customer," said Bob Goedken, general manager of Yamaha Corporation of America's AV division. "Like other models in this ultra-performance line, these embody our obsessive attention to detail and granular approach to design. The result is overwhelming power and the absolute purest, best-sounding audio and video reproduction possible."
The CX-A5000 preamplifier and MX-A5000 amplifier are currently available for pre-order, with plans to ship sometime in August. Each component is priced separately, with an MSRP of $2999.95.
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