Yamaha MusicCAST Digital Audio Server (MCX2000)
Imagine three people, each in a different room of the same house, each
enjoying their favorite songs, and each accessing the same digital music library
— simultaneously. That's what it's like to use Yamaha's MusicCAST home music
network system. With the MCX-2000 digital music server, you can connect up to
fifteen clients, including up to five wireless clients, so you can select and
listen to music from virtually any room in your house.
The server's 160GB hard drive can store up to 200 hours of uncompressed
audio, or over 83 days of MP3s.
Details
- 160GB hard drive stores:
2000 hours at 160 Kbps
200 hours in PCM (uncompressed CD-quality) audio format
- plays audio CDs, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3 CDs
- built-in CD-RW drive
- automatic CD identification through Gracenote CDDB®
- built-in LCD screen
- plays SHOUTcast and other Internet radio stations that use WMA
- built-in FM tuner
- built-in WiFi® capability
- XM Satellite Radio Ready (requires XM subscription and special antenna)
- Ethernet port for connection to wired home network
- optical digital audio input and output
- stereo RCA input and output
- S-video and composite video output
- on-screen display capability (requires TV with A/V input)
- headphone jack
- remote control
- weight: 14.5 lbs.
- 17-1/8"W x 3-3/4"H x 16-1/16"D
- warranty: 2 years
Features
Product Overview: The Yamaha MusicCAST MCX-2000 Digital Audio Server
has many functions. It can playback audio from a variety of sources, record
music onto its built-in 160 GB hard disk drive, archive recorded music after
adding information about each song, burn CDs of your favorite music, and stream
music via wired or wireless networks to up to 15 "clients." In
addition to the hard disk drive, the server has a built-in FM tuner, a CD disc
drive, and a wireless remote control. The MCX-2000 has no built-in
amplification, so it will need to be connected to a stereo or A/V receiver,
amplifier, powered speaker system, or the MCX-A10 or MCX-CA15 MusicCAST clients.
Display/OSD: The music server has a 2-3/16" x 1-1/8" backlit
LCD screen which shows you the current status of the unit or menu choices. You
can also use the built-in video output (composite and S-Video) to view the
unit's on-screen display on a TV or monitor.
Audio Playback: Audio can be played back from a wide variety of
sources, both internal and external. Internally, you can play a CD or MP3 CD
from the built-in CD drive, tune in a station on the FM tuner, or play music
recorded on the built-in hard disk drive. Externally, you can play audio from a
component connected through the analog or optical digital inputs, or, if you add
an optional XM Mini Tuner, Mini Tuner Home Kit, and an XM subscription, you can
enjoy XM Satellite Radio. Since you can connect the music server to your PC, you
can play music stored on your Windows computer. If your computer is connected to
the Internet, you can enjoy music from Internet radio stations.
Audio Recording: The MCX-2000 includes a large-capacity 160 GB Hard
Disk Drive which can store up to 200 hours of music in linear PCM format
(16-bit/44.1kHz) or up to 2000 hours in MP3 format (160 kbps bit rate). When
recording in the MP3 format, you can choose a fixed bit rate of 160, 256, or 320
kbps. You can record from music CDs, MP3 CDs, FM Radio, or from an external
source such as a cassette deck or Minidisc recorder.
Music Archiving: When recording audio sources, you can add information
of each song, such as song title, artist name, album name and genre, and store
it to the music archive in the built-in hard disk drive. You can then use this
information to search for specific songs to play. The MCX-2000's special song
database (based on Gracenote CDDB) automatically stores this information if your
songs are from popular music CDs. You can manually enter text information using
the on-screen character palette or by plugging a PS/2 keyboard into the front
panel. Other features include Bookmarking for marking your favorite tunes for
quick access, and Playlists for creating custom song lists appropriate to
specific occasions.
CD Recording: You can use the MCX-2000 to arrange your favorite
archived songs in any order and burn them onto a blank CD. You can also use the
CD drive to duplicate existing music CDs.
Music Streaming: Once songs are stored on the hard drive, you can
stream them to up to 15 "clients" via the MusicCAST network. You can
play the same music to each client simultaneously (broadcast) or deliver
different songs to different clients at the same time. The server can be
controlled locally, or remotely at each client.
Timer Playback: You can program when your favorite music or radio
station plays using the Timer Playback feature. After selecting the playlist or
radio preset you want to hear, you can program the MCX-2000 to start and stop
playback at a specific time and day. Up to 10 timer programs can be programmed
on the server.
Remote Control: The supplied remote control can control the MCX-2000
Digital Music Server and multiple brands of TVs. The server can also be
controlled by a compatible, RS-232C-equipped Yamaha A/V receiver for
synchronizing power on/off timing and selecting surround modes.
MusicCAST Network
Network Configuration: You can create your MusicCAST Network using
wired clients, wireless clients, or a combination of both, up to a maximum of 15
(with no more than 5 wireless clients). For each wired client, you will need the
Yamaha MCX-C15 in-wall audio controller (item # 022MCXC15) and the MCX-CA15
in-wall amplifier (022MCXCA15), available separately, or together in one package
(022MCXC15P). For each wireless client, you will need the MCX-A10 in-wall
wireless audio controller with a built-in amp (item # 022MCXA10). Note: Speakers
are not included with any of the clients.
Wireless Clients: In a wireless MusicCAST Network, the MCX-2000 can
stream music to up to 5 MCX-A10 clients within a range of 30 meters
(approximately 100 feet) from the server using IEEE 802.11b/g technology. The
server is equipped with an adjustable wireless LAN antenna on the rear panel.
Wired Clients: In a wired MusicCAST Network, the MCX-2000 can stream
music to MCX-C15 in-wall clients via a network hub and CAT-5 network cables.
PC Connection: If you have a music collection stored on a Windows PC,
you can listen to those songs through the MCX-2000. Connecting the music server
to a home network via will allow the MCX-2000 to have access to the songs stored
on your PC. In addition, if you have Internet access on your PC, you can listen
to Internet Radio stations, automatically get the latest song data from the
online CDDB database, and regularly get accurate time signals from a public time
server. Note: PC must be running Windows XP. Broadband Internet
connection recommended.
DiXiM Media Server Software: The MCX-2000 comes with DiXiM Media
Server software for your computer to allow it to share stored content. The
required operating environment is as follows:
- Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional
Edition (Japanese or English version)
- CPU: Celeron 1 GHz or Pentium 1 GHz or higher
- Memory: More than 256 MB
- Hard Disk: More than 300 MB
Network Setup: The MCX-2000's menu includes an Easy Setup option which
allows you to properly set up your system by simply answering a series of
questions. The Easy Setup menus appear only on the unit's on-screen display, not
the front panel display, so connection to a TV is required. The Easy Setup will
automatically set up the parameters for each connected client. Manual setup is
also available if needed.
Specifications
Audio Performance:
- Frequency Response: 20 to 20,000 Hz, ± 0.5 dB
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio:
- Playback: 100 dB
- Recording: 92 dB
- Total Harmonic Distortion (1 kHz):
- Playback: 0.004%
- Recording: 0.006%
- Dynamic Range:
- Playback: 100 dB
- Recording: 92 dB
Analog Output Level: 2.0 volts RMS (± 0.5 volts)
Hard Disk Drive Storage Capacity: 160 GB
Network:
- LAN Interface: Ethernet 10/100 Base-T
- Wireless Network Interface: IEEE 802.11b/g
Inputs and Outputs
Rear Panel:
- Video Input: Composite and S-Video jacks
- LAN: RJ-45 jack for LAN (Ethernet) port. It has a green LED
LINK/DATA indicator which lights up with the wired connection is working
properly, and flashes when data traffic over the network is detected. It has
a yellow LED 10/100 indicator which lights up when the Ethernet port is
configured for 100 Mbps, and stays unlit for 10 Mbps.
- XM: Proprietary connection for optional XM Connect & Play
antenna/tuner (item # 220CNP1000).
- Remote: Female 3.5mm minijack. This terminal is designed for
professional expansion purposes, and not for consumer use.
- RS-232C Port: RS-232C port for connecting to a compatible Yamaha
A/V receiver to synchronize power on/off or automatically selecting a
surround program on the A/V receiver to match the genre of the selected song
on the music server.
- Audio Input: RCA analog and Toslink optical digital input jacks for
connecting external audio devices such as cassette decks or Minidisc
players.
- Audio Output: RCA analog and Toslink optical digital output jacks
for sending signals from the server to an external device, such as a
receiver or amplifier.
- FM Antenna: Threaded female "F" connector for supplied or
optional FM antenna
Front Panel:
- PS/2 Keyboard: Port for connecting a generic PS/2 keyboard designed
for PC. The keyboard can be used in place of the supplied wireless remote,
and to edit song information (titles, artist names, genres) quickly.
- Headphone: 3.5mm female minijack headphone output with level
control
In the box
- Digital Audio Server
- Wireless remote control
- 2 "AA" batteries
- 6.5' AC power cord
- 6.5' Ethernet cable (with RJ-45 connectors on each end)
- 5' Composite video cable
- 3.25' Stereo audio patch cable
- 2' Optical digital cable (Toslink connectors on each end)
- FM wire antenna
- MCX-2000 Application Software and Client Manual Disc
- Installation Guide for "DiXiM Media Server" Software sheet
- Owner's Manual
- Setup Guide
- Warranty sheet
- End-User License Agreement
- Product Registration sheet
- XM Connect & Play offer sheet
- Manufacturer Warranty
