Yamaha MusicCAST2 MCX-P200BL Network Music Player 1 - Each, Black

• Pre-amp output for external amplifier
• IR outputs for controlling other connected devices such as amplifier/receiver
• iPod/Bluetooth compatibility
• Subwoofer output for added bass
• Play any available network music content

I have 3 Yamaha receivers right now and have owned and sold a couple in the past. I like their receivers and was hoping to play my digital music collection through a Yamaha system. So far they have no come up with a product that meets my requirements.

My requirements are pretty basic. Some of them are met but not all.

1. Ethernet interface (met)

2. Optional wireless interface (met)

3. Play WMA lossless without transcoding (not met)

4. Have a front panel display for selecting music and showing what is being played (not met)*

5. Display more detailed ID3 information on a built-in or TV screen with album art in color (not met)*

6. SPDI/F (optical or coax) output to my Yamaha receiver (not met)

7. Controlled by my Yamaha receiver remote (not met)

8. Priced competitively like many current Yamaha receivers (not met)

Items 4 and 5 are kind of met by the remote (MCX-RC100) but at the extra cost. The MCX-P200 alone is costing more than my current Yamaha receiver that supports HD audio and 4 HDMI 1.3 inputs!

For the combined price of the MCX-P200 and MCX-RC100, one can get the Logical equivalent for much less and with the digital output plus the better format support.

To be fair, I would have to assume the DAC in the MCX-P200/MCX-A300 is the same as the one in my Yamaha receiver but neither supports multi-channel audio other than the stereo plus sub. By the way, how would one wire the MCX-P200 subwoofer output to the existing subwoofer that is connected to the Yamaha receiver?

I prefer not to use the remote for this purpose. I like the media player with a front panel display such as the old Turtle Beach Audiostation or Roku's SoundBridge SB-1000.

Currently, I am using a Dell slim desktop with a Roland USB soundcard as HTPC to play music. It is cheap and functional. The Windows 7 Media Center works well for this purpose. I am still waiting for Yamaha to come up with a media player that meets my requirements.

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