The Yamaha WXA 50 is a unique wireless integrated amplifier that utilizes its MusicCast functionality and other streaming features to provide exceptional sonic performance to its users. If you are planning to build a multi-room network, the WXA 50 is definitely for you as you can add audio in up to 9 additional rooms using Yamaha’s MusicCast feature. Are you currently planning to get some new speakers to pair with this amplifier? If you answer yes then look no further and please do continue to read on.
We will be listing out the best speakers to partner with your Yamaha WXA 50 later on but first, we need to learn more about this wireless streaming amp. By learning more about its strengths, sonic characteristics, and weaknesses, we can then find the right speakers to pair up with WXA 50. You can even use this information to look for speakers on your own in the future.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Yamaha WXA 50
It is quite rare to see such a modern-looking Yamaha amplifier, the compact size of the Yamaha WXA 50 also makes it easier to be placed in listening rooms with space constraints. The sleek design will blend in nicely with house interiors without standing out and aesthetically should match well with most modern speakers too. The Yamaha WXA 50 has decent power output for its size and price, it is rated 55 Watts at 8 Ohms per channel and 105 Watts at 4 Ohms per channel which almost doubles the wattage and that is a good sign. The frequency response will be 20Hz to 20kHz. This integrated amp should be able to drive most bookshelf speakers and if you are worried about not having enough bass reproduction, you can always use the subwoofer output to connect to an active sub.
For listeners who are critical about music details, you can activate the Pure Direct mode for higher sonic purity when playing your favorite tunes. It is no surprise that the Yamaha WXA 50 does not have a phono input since it is a digital streaming amplifier. It does have a built-in premium ESS D/A converter (192 kHz/24-bit) enabling you to listen to high-resolution music files. The plethora of features such as Bluetooth, Wireless, AirPlay, MusicCast, etc., allows you to stream/play your favorite tunes from multiple devices and listen to them in multiple listening rooms. That is the convenience and value that the Yamaha WXA 50 provides its users.
More Details at Amazon – Yamaha WXA-50 MusicCast Wireless Streaming Amplifier
The soundstage that the Yamaha WXA 50 can manage is wider than expected and the stereo imaging is really good as well. It is able to accurately separate individual musicians on stage with definition and to remain composed throughout the playthrough but can be a bit too polite at times. This does make it easier to listen to the WXA 50 for long hours without worrying about listener fatigue as it doesn’t sound overly harsh or cringe when playing at high volumes. This doesn’t mean it has no clarity, as subtle details are quite audible.
There are plenty of muscles as it is able to produce bass with weight and scale, not to mention, tight control over the low frequency. We will suggest adding an active subwoofer into the mix for more output, presence, and deep bass reproduction. The overall sonic character of the Yamaha WXA 50 is neutral which does provide a very balanced music presentation. It does lack some energy and liveliness but the sense of timing still makes it very engaging at times. The Yamaha WXA 50 is a wonderful all-rounded integrated amplifier, you can use it for desktop nearfield listening, 2.1 home theater/stereo use, or as a music streaming network device.
The WXA 50 MusicCast amp does really well with what it was designed to do and has good sound quality to boot. We can also match speakers with different sonic personalities to fine-tune the overall sound reproduction and by adding an active subwoofer, we can make Yamaha WXA 50 sound punchier. We will now start listing out the best speakers which you can match with this Yamaha amp based on what we have gathered. We will also go for speakers that are close to the price point of Yamaha WXA 50.
Yamaha WXA 50 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 55 Watts per channel at 8 Ohms, 70 Watts per channel at 6 Ohms, 105 Watts per channel at 4 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- DAC: ESS
- Wireless: Bluetooth (SBC / AAC), Apple Airplay, WiFi, MusicCast
- Inputs: 1 USB input, 1 Analog input, 1 Optical input, Network port
- Outputs: 1 Subwoofer output, 1 Analog output
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 215mm x 51mm x 251mm (8.5″ × 2″ × 9.8″)
- Weight: 1.94kg (4.28lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Yamaha WXA 50
The Q Acoustics Concept 20 is definitely one of the best speakers to pair with your Yamaha WXA 50. The Concept 20 has garnered lots of accolades ever since its debut and it is still highly sought-after by audiophiles. This is a pair of musical-sounding bookshelf speakers with refinement and the ability to produce details with clarity. It is highly recommended to go for their matching speaker stands. The impeccable timing and articulate music presentation suit the Yamaha WXA 50 really well. The soundstage that the Q Acoustics Concept 20 delivers is impressive too, it is wide and spacious.
More Information at Amazon – Q Acoustics Concept 20
The KEF Q350 is another excellent speaker choice for your Yamaha WXA 50. They look aesthetically well-matched and will look great in any listening room. The Q350 is able to dig deep into the bass extension and reproduce them out with weight as well as scale. The level of details that these stand-mounters can unravel is equally impressive and providing rich details in an open soundstage. Cranking up the volume, the KEF Q350 doesn’t sound strained and more importantly never sounding harsh. The sonic characteristics of these speakers are quite similar to the Yamaha WXA 50 which makes them a suitable match.
More Information at Amazon – KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers
If you are looking for a lively pair of floor-standing speakers that can go loud and provide more energy when playing your favorite tunes, you might want to check out Klipsch Synergy Black Label F-200. The high efficiency of the F-200 enables your Yamaha WXA 50 to drive them with ease. The bright-sounding nature of these Klipsch floor-standing speakers is able to deliver crystal clear sound quality and expressive midrange reproduction. Furthermore, they are rather affordable and highly rated. Integrating a subwoofer into the mix will be optional for this case. We will recommend hearing them out first and see if you like what you hear.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch Synergy Black Label F-200
If you want more warmth to be added to your overall sound reproduction, the Wharfedale Diamond 225 will be an ideal choice for you. It is an entry-level bookshelf speaker with an affordable price tag but the sonic performance that comes with it is incredible. The Wharfedale Diamond 225 has the ability to smoothly and cleanly deliver music presentations that are rich with details but never sounding clinical. The hint of warmth makes it so easy to listen to these speakers and the full-bodied bass are quite impressive as well. We will suggest connecting an active subwoofer to your Yamaha WXA 50 so to help with producing very deep bass which the Diamond 225 does lack.
More Information at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 225
The Mission LX-2 MKII is another amazing entry-level bookshelf speaker that you might want to match with your Yamaha WXA 50 integrated amplifier. The timing and agility of the Mission LX-2 MKII are simply exceptional, it engages us no matter what music we are playing. There are also plenty of musical nuances that can be heard which makes them even more incredible. The bass is tight and punchy but we still find adding a subwoofer into the mix will improve the overall bass performance quite significantly. They can be a bit bright-sounding but at this price point, we can’t really nitpick. You should definitely take the opportunity to have a listen as they are worth your time.
More Information at Amazon – Mission LX-2 MKII Black
The types of subwoofer you should get will depend on your requirement. If music is your main entertainment, you should choose a sealed cabinet type of subwoofer as they are more agile, have tighter bass control, and can render bass frequency more accurately. If watching movies or gaming is your main entertainment, then the ported cabinet subwoofer will be a better choice as they have higher max SPL, more bass output, and efficiency. Bass fanatics should also go with ported cabinet subwoofers. You can check out SVS SB-1000 Pro (sealed) and SVS PB-1000 Pro (ported) for a start. Bigger listening rooms might need larger and more powerful subwoofers.
More Information at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Subwoofer
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro Ported Subwoofer
To Conclude
We wouldn’t recommend choosing floor-standing speakers to pair with the Yamaha WXA 50 because it does not have enough power output. It is also rare to find affordable floor-standers with high speaker sensitivity like Klipsch Synergy Black Label F-200. Still, which speakers you will choose is entirely up to you as long you like what you are hearing then so be it. We will suggest auditioning some of the listed speakers or you can use this list as references when comparing with other speaker brands or models.
