102 MACWORLD AUGUST 2019
PLAYLIST REVIEW: YAMAHA MUSICCAST VINYL 500 WI-FI TURNTABLEA rear view of the Yamaha Vinyl 500 turntable.
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Yamaha MusicCast
Vinyl 500 turntable
PROS- High-quality belt-drive
turntable with MusicCast
network streaming built in. - Dual outputs: Built-in phono
preamp for line-level out,
plus direct phono output
for connecting to an
external phono preamp.
CONS - Selecting the Vinyl 500 as
a source in the MusicCast
app stops playback. - Doesn’t support any
high-end Bluetooth codecs
(aptX, aptX HD, or LDAC).
PRICE
$699
COMPANY
Yamaha
My observations below reflect my
setup with the Cambridge Audio Alva Duo.
The Yamaha proved itself to be a solid
midrange performer. Playing the Eagles
Live, the Yamaha impressed me with its
musicality. The Vinyl 500
compelled me to put down my
note pad to sit back, relax, and
enjoy classics like “The Long
Run,” “New Kid in Town,” and
“Life’s Been Good.” I don’t always
get that feeling with every piece
of audio gear I review. The
Yamaha’s performance with
dynamics, vocals, and instruments
was very good.
Turning to orchestral works, I
spun up John Williams’ score for
Star Wars: The Force Awakens on
180g vinyl. The Yamaha had no
problem conveying the breadth
and depth of full orchestral works.
Trumpets on the main Star Wars
title were smooth and well extended. Drums
burst forth with ample weight and dynamics.
But the Yamaha Vinyl 500 relished tender
movements, too, capturing the brilliance of
the strings and flutes on “The Scavenger”
and “Rey’s Theme.”BOTTOM LINE
If you’ve longed to pair the
analog luxury of a turntable with
the digital power of a multiroom
audio system, you need to
consider Yamaha’s MusicCast
Vinyl 500 turntable. It will let you
stream your records to any room
in your home or to any pair of
Bluetooth headphones. And
when paired with a high-quality
external phono preamp, the
Vinyl 500 will satisfy the
audiophile in you, too. There is
no easier way to add vinyl to
your listening experience. ■