Yamaha is introducing a third generation of its AVENTAGE series CX-A5200 AV preamplifier, as well as the latest version of its flagship 11-channel MX-A5200 power amplifier. The company says it is incorporating the ‘power of Surround:AI artificial intelligence’ and its ‘most advanced audio technologies’ in the new preamp.
The CX-A5200 will have custom-installation capabilities, including integration with home-control platforms, balanced XLR connectors, and ‘professional-grade’ digital-to-analog converters (DACs).
“AVENTAGE represents the ultimate in home theater, and now with Surround:AI, our new artificial intelligence sound processing built into these Flagship AV separates, Yamaha stands alone at the pinnacle of ultra-high-performance components,” said Robert Goedken, general manager, AV division, Yamaha Corporation of America. “The new CX-A5200 and MX-A5200 represent the highest expression of the AVENTAGE concept, which combines fine craftsmanship, innovative technologies and a multitude of no-compromise design, engineering and construction refinements to produce the purest sound with unrivaled sonic realism.”
Yamaha Surround:AI in the CX-A5200 includes surround sound via intelligent DSP technology. It can automatically optimize surround-sound performance for each scene in a movie or any piece of content. Surround:AI analyzes a scene’s audio characteristics, focusing on soundtrack elements such as dynamic range, amount of dialog, the degree of sound effects, background music, and channel balance. Surround:AI will then compare a scene’s audio characteristics to a reference database of movie scenes and process its sound to optimize performance.
Surround:AI is designed to make dialog more intelligible in scenes with a lot of background noise, and will deliver ‘full-bodied’ sound for scenes with immersive sound effects, as well as ensuring that consumers will hear softly spoken dialog and low background sounds. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding with up to 7.2.4-channel processing with up to four height channels are available, and vertical dimension effects are enhanced with a Cinema DSP HD3 processing feature.
Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer (YPAO) uses 64-bit EQ calculations for room analysis, and R.S.C. (Reflected Sound Control) promises to reduce the adverse impact of early sound reflections. Other features include two ESS SABRE PRO Premier DACs (ES9026 PRO), delivering 32-bit performance and an improved signal-to-noise ratio for clarity and detail. Balanced XLR connections are available on both the CX-A5200 to the MX-A5200 amplifier.
The CX-A5200 includes a host of HDMI inputs and outputs for second room AV, and with HDR 10, Dolby Vision and HLG capability, while Domotz and Ihiji solutions can remotely monitor the systems allowing real-time diagnosis by integrators.
The preamp includes the Yamaha home-grown MusicCast wireless platform with multiple streaming services supported, and certain features and commands are enabled with Alexa devices.
The MX-A5200 11-channel amplifier achieves 150 watts per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz – 20kHz, 0.06% THD, 2 channels driven), and includes a large high-output toroidal transformer and two specially developed high-capacity block capacitors to provide ‘massive power with generous headroom’. A Bridge Tied Load (BTL) option boosts output to the front-left and front-right channels to ‘enhance fidelity and volume’, and the MX-A5200 can be configured to bi-amplify up to five speakers to improve accuracy and bass response.
Pricing and Availability
The AVENTAGE separates will be available at the following MSRPs:
CX-A5200 AV preamplifier ($2,699.95; September availability)
MX-A5200 amplifier ($2,899.95; December availability)
Let us know below if you’re planning to install either of these beasts at home…
Martin, a seasoned journalist and AV expert, has written for several notable print magazines. He’s served in key roles at Lucasfilm’s THX Division, NEC’s digital cinema division, and has even consulted for DreamWorks. Despite his illustrious career, Martin remains rooted in his passion for cinema and acting, with notable appearances in several Spielberg films, Doctor Who, and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. He currently resides in San Francisco.
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