yamaha

OK, I have to admit I've been somewhat selfish with Yamaha's Tenori-On music sequencer ever since it arrived at my desk a few weeks back. Can you blame me, really? The thing meets all my requirements for gadget coveting--it's shiny, futuristic, noisy, and expensive.

I still have a few drum machines at home I want to connect the Tenori-On to before finishing up my full review. In the meantime, I suppose I can share some of the shots we took of the Tenori-On in our CNET photo studio. View the Yamaha Tenori-On photo gallery.

When CNET reviewed the Yamaha YSP-3000 Digital Sound Projector, we singled out its "limited video capabilities" as one of the main shortfalls of the virtual surround speaker system.

Yamaha must have listened, because the company has just unveiled an upgraded version that addresses that very issue. The YSP-3050 adds to the mix the conversion of analog to digital video, but it's essentially otherwise identical to its predecessor. That's not a bad thing, either: we've found that the Yamaha YSP line remains the best choice for delivering convincing virtual surround-effects from a single speaker, and its all-in-one design precludes the need to purchase a separate AV receiver.

According to the specs page on Yamaha's site, the YSP-3050 has a component and composite video input, in addition to its two HDMI ins. … Read more

I don't easily give in to the gadget striptease of unboxing videos, but it felt a little like Christmas morning when Yamaha's futuristic Tenori-On music instrument landed on my desk today. Besides, with only 60 Tenori-On instruments on sale in the U.S. (only 17 left at the time of this writing), I figure this video might allow deprived electronic musicians to work through their anguish.

Expect a full review of the Tenori-On to make its way on CNET next week. By the looks of my video, I'll need some time to figure this thing out.

For … Read more

Yamaha's elusive Tenori-On music sequencer officially goes on sale today in the U.S. Yamaha is asking $1,200 for the Tenori-On, which isn't a bad deal when held up to comparable devices such as the Akai MPC1000.

With only 60 units in stock, and a rabid throng of electronic musicians champing at the bit for these things, we expect Yamaha will sell through its supply by the time you read this. For the rest of you, there's always the T-shirt.

If you like the idea of an "Ambilight" TV but aren't ready to replace your wall-mounted LCD just yet, there may be an alternative--especially if you're in the market for some new home theater speakers.

Yamaha and Koizumi have partnered for a new pair that feature three 25-watt halogen lamps behind each speaker. When positioned on either side of the TV, the speakers can shine their lights against the wall and effectively create a type of backlighting without having to buy one of those pricey Philips sets with built-in LEDs. Better still, the brightness can be … Read more

If a computer could morph into a piano, or vice-versa, it might well resemble a Yamaha like this one.

We've been watching the development of this futuristic set of ivories for awhile now, ever since it made the leap from made the leap from a self-contained digital instrument to a networked system that can stream music live. And now the "Disklavier" has literally cut the cord in the latest stage of its evolution by adding Wi-Fi connectivity.

The piano can download tunes from a computer to its own hard drive or transmit files to a PC so … Read more

Yamaha has announced five new receivers for 2008, ranging from the budget $230 RX-V363 to the $1,000 RX-V863, which features HD Radio and three HDMI inputs. As is usual, Yamaha's receivers certainly don't impress from the spec sheet, as they offer fewer features than Sony's new budget receivers and even last year's Onkyo receivers. On the other hand, Yamaha loyalists are quick to chime in that spec sheets aren't everything, and that Yamaha offers more refined sound at these price points. We can't comment on that until we have get them in for review, but with that in mind, let's check out specs.

Yamaha RX-V363

Key features of the Yamaha RX-V363:

Yamaha skipped the big January Consumer Electronics Show, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have plenty of new products to announce. The company unveiled the latest quartet of updates to its "YHT" line of home-theater-in-a-box systems for 2008. Unlike the smaller, sexier models offered by the likes of Sony and Samsung Electronics, Yamaha's component-based home theater systems focus on practicality and value. Each of the four are 5.1 systems that include five satellite speakers, a subwoofer, and a full-size AV receiver (with two HDMI inputs) that can handle the Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS surround modes found on standard DVDs. Buyers will need to supply their own DVD player for all but the YHT-690, which includes one in the package. Likewise, Yamaha is stressing its optional YDS-10 iPod dock and YBA-10 Bluetooth adapter--though third-party versions of each can be connected to the available audio inputs on any of the systems. Specific features on each of the models are as follows:… Read more

Going wireless doesn't have to mean going digital. If you want to declare your analog loyalty to the great outdoors, then my product reviews this week are just the ticket. First off, we have the Ion iPTUSB portable turntable, which includes a built-in speaker, USB output, and a line-in recording jack.

If the iPTUSB's mono speaker speaker isn't enough to get your portable party started, then you may want to consider augmenting it with Yamaha's latest NX-B02 portable speaker tower. Together, you've got the classiest little retro-modern sound system in town.

Have any other picnic-worthy … Read more