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Yamaha’s new audio mixer for gamers has a simpler interface and cheaper price
Yamaha has a new audio mixer for gamers and streamers. Nearly three years after the launch of the company’s first gaming-specific soundboard, the company’s new ZG02 adds a dedicated USB-C port for consoles, a more streamlined profile and a lower price.
Yamaha takes on Teenage Engineering with its colorful SEQTRAK groovebox
The SEQTRAK groovebox from Yamaha borrows a lot from Teenage Engineering's OP series, fused with classic sounds from the company's classic synths.
Yamaha’s flagship noise-canceling wireless earbuds arrive in the US for $280
After launching earlier this summer, Yamaha’s flagship TW-E7B true wireless earbuds are now available in the US.
ICYMI: We listen to Yamaha’s latest headphones with 3D sound
Engadget's tech reviews from this week include the Analogue Pocket, the Yamaha YH-L700A headphones and 'Halo: Infinite.'
Yamaha YH-L700A review: When premium features aren’t enough
Yamaha attempted to cater to both cinephiles and music nerds with a range of attractive features, but there are too many caveats for a $500 set of headphones.
Yamaha's latest true wireless earbuds are its smallest yet
Yamaha's TW-E3B earbuds are smaller, lighter and, most importantly, cheaper than its previous true wireless option.
Yamaha announces new receivers ready for 8K, 4K/120 and the Xbox Series X
Yamaha's Aventage receivers are coming home this summer with prices starting at $1,300, but features like 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz support won't be available at launch.
Denon, Marantz and Yamaha address 4K, 8K and 120Hz gaming issues
Playing Xbox Series X games in 8K, or 4K at 120Hz refresh rates is causing problems with some receivers from Yamaha, Denon and Marantz.
ICYMI: We take Yamaha’s new digital saxophone for a spin
Engadget's tech reviews from this week include Rode's Vlogger Kit, Yamaha's new digital saxophone and more.
Yamaha's YDS-150 digital sax puts practicality over performance
A saxophone that looks cool, no matter how it sounds.
Yamaha's THR30IIA is a wireless amp for acoustic guitar players
Yamaha is expanding its THR ‘desktop’ amplifier lineup to add a dedicated model for acoustic guitar players.
AI breathes new life into a classic ‘80s synth
A website uses AI to generate usable patches for Yamaha's classic DX7 synthesizer.
Yamaha’s Remote Cheerer app lets fans root for their teams at home
The app will help fans cheer on their favorite sports teams from the comfort of their homes.
The best outdoor speakers
By Brent Butterworth This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to outdoor speakers. Outdoor speakers bring the music, radio, and podcasts we most love to one of the places we most love: the backyard. We think the OSD Audio AP650 is your best choice in an outdoor speaker because it is built to tolerate harsh weather and ward off invasion by dust and bugs, it mounts easily in all sorts of situations, and it can play loudly even when connected to a small, low-powered amplifier. The OSD Audio AP650 is the best value we've found in an outdoor speaker. Its clarity beats anything we've heard from other models priced under $200 per pair, and it has a full, powerful sound that can easily fill a typical suburban backyard. It has enough bass for R&B, hip-hop, and rock music, and its relatively high sensitivity lets it deliver loud volumes when paired with a small amplifier. Because it's a fully sealed design, there's no concern about water, dust, or bugs getting in. It's also better made than most affordable outdoor speakers, with a thicker enclosure and a sturdy, powder-coated mounting bracket. If you want decent outdoor sound but want to spend a little less, the Yamaha NS-AW294 is ideal—as long as you don't live in a place where blustery rainstorms are common, because the ported design may allow water to get in and damage the speaker. The NS-AW294 doesn't sound as clear as our top pick, but it does have a decent amount of bass and can play pretty loud.
Yamaha’s tiny wireless guitar amp gets everything right but the price
With the original THR line of guitar amps, Yamaha basically invented a new product category: the connected desktop amplifier. It filled a need that honestly many guitar players didn't even realize they had. These amplifiers are small enough to sit on a table or desk, they sound great even at low volumes and they're stylish enough that you won't feel compelled to hide them when company comes over. You don't have to search long or hard to find people singing their praises. I bought one a couple years ago and have zero regrets. But the THR amps weren't without flaws. And in the nine years since they were introduced, the competition has caught up. The highly revered Roland Katana line made a play for the space with the Air. And the iconic Vox brand introduced Adio. So Yamaha announced the THR II in September with new features, new amp models and a rich new app in the hopes of not only keeping pace but also showing the competition it's still the benchmark for tiny amps.
Sony's self-driving 'Sociable Cart' delivers mixed-reality inside, ads outside
Sony's Sociable Cart SC-1 -- the autonomous vehicle-cum-party bus designed for theme parks and golf courses -- has finally landed. Launching in Japan's Kanucha Bay Resort in Nago City, and the Botanical Garden in Okinawa City, the pilot scheme kicks off with a night-time "Moonlight Cruise", where passengers will be treated to magical night-time scenery and supernatural starry skies, all shown on the cart's internal high-resolution display. Another experience, "Night Aquarium," is set to follow soon.
Yamaha's latest EV concepts include two city scooters
Yamaha clearly wants to make a name for itself in electric two-wheelers. It's coming to the Tokyo Motorshow on October 24th with four brand new EV concepts, three of which are built for intercity jaunts. The centerpieces are the E01 (pictured at left) and E02 (right) urban scooters. The E01 is equivalent to a 125cc gas-powered machine and is meant to be larger and comfier than your typical scooter to help with longer trips. It accordingly touts "plenty of range," although Yamaha hasn't said what that would be. The E02, meanwhile, is a 50cc-equivalent scooter with a compact body and a removable battery. It's more for weaving through dense downtown areas than cross-town journeys.
Relive Yamaha's synth history without leaving the couch
From the '70s onward, synthesizers have been just as integral to pop music as electric guitars. Yamaha (along with a handful of other brands like Roland, Korg and Sequential) has served as an industry innovator, and in turn has helped shape the sonic characteristics of various genres. To celebrate Yamaha's latest flagship synth, MONTAGE White, the brand has created a virtual museum of sorts, which recaps 45 years of iconic designs.
Yamaha updates its THR desktop guitar amps for the first time in years
The pressure waves from a cranked 100-watt tube amp could kill any insects or small rodents in close proximity. Even low-powered, solid state practice amplifiers can be too loud for apartment dwellers. To get around extreme noise issues, Yamaha's THR line of "desktop" guitar amps aim to recreate rich, tube-like tones at reasonable volumes while also including advanced digital features. But the THR10 came out way back in 2011 and is long overdue for an update. So the company is launching the THR-II series, which keeps everything that made the original great (like its tiny footprint) and adds a host of new amp models and features like Bluetooth.
The best AV receiver
By Chris Heinonen This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to AV receivers. After reviewing 16 models this year, we're confident that the Yamaha RX-V685 is the best AV receiver for people looking to build or upgrade to a home theater system compatible with the latest standards at a reasonable price. It offers excellent sound quality for surround or stereo and can support true wireless surround sound using wireless rear speakers. It includes five HDMI inputs compatible with current HDR standards plus built-in Bluetooth, AirPlay, and support for the major music streaming services. The Yamaha RX-V685 home theater receiver offers excellent sound quality, producing a wider soundstage and better midrange/treble detail than most of the competition. And if you can't run wires around your room, it can output true wireless surround sound using Yamaha MusicCast rear speakers. This 7.2-channel receiver also supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks if you want to add the extra channels, or it can create a powered second zone for stereo speakers instead. Its five HDMI 2.0 inputs are enough for most systems, and its dual HDMI outputs are ideal if you use both a TV and projector. Yamaha's built-in room correction feature effectively measures your speakers and makes adjustments automatically, and there's an optional app for easier setup. The RX-V685 supports Spotify Connect, Internet radio, Bluetooth, AirPlay, and other streaming services. A firmware update later this year will provide support for eARC and AirPlay 2. The Denon AVR-S740H doesn't sound quite as good as the Yamaha RX-V685, but its on-screen setup is the best we've seen, which makes it a great choice for someone who is new to the home theater setup process. Like our top pick, this 7.2-channel receiver offers solid room correction, Dolby Atmos/DTS:X decoding, HDR passthrough, good streaming music support, and five rear-panel HDMI 2.0 inputs (and it adds a front-panel HDMI input). If you're looking for a basic five-channel home theater receiver, the Yamaha RX-V485 offers more features than you'll find on most budget AV receivers for only a small step up in price. It offers many of the features of our main pick, including the option to use wireless surround speakers and built-in Wi-Fi to stream audio directly from Spotify and other online sources. But the RX-V485 has fewer HDMI inputs, its room correction isn't as good as the version on our main pick, it doesn't have a phono input, and it doesn't support Dolby Atmos or a second powered audio zone. If you have a large system that needs more than five HDMI inputs and/or you want to run multiple subwoofers that need to be individually calibrated in the room correction system, the Denon AVR-X3500H has you covered. It uses Audyssey XT32, the most advanced room correction system we tested this year (and the system with the best overall audio quality). With more HDMI inputs, this receiver can accommodate larger systems, and it has pre-outs if you want to add external amplification (and thus more speakers) down the road.
