impressive clarity. Listening to them is a stirring experience.
Repurposing an older home theater receiver
To power the speakers, I had a solution already on hand. Way back in 2006, I bought a Yamaha RX-V1600 receiver for my home theater setup. It served me perfectly until this year, when I made the jump to a 4K TV; the receiver couldn't pass 4K signals through to the TV, so it was time to make a switch. However, I had a feeling I'd find a use for that old receiver, so I made sure to hold onto it. Connecting the Klipsch speakers made me realize how much my Yamaha still rocks. It puts out more than enough power for the AW-650s, which are incredibly efficient. I'm so pleased I'm able to give that receiver a second life.
Streaming my tunes
The last piece of my garage- sound puzzle was determining what I'd use for a music source. I'd gotten used to streaming music with Spotify, but my old receiver predated Bluetooth by a few years. Luckily, I know the right people - one of our
A perfect preamp
Yamaha's WXC-50 streaming preamp is one versatile piece of gear. It streams apps, offers Bluetooth, and has a USB input. It mounts vertically or horizontally, and offers a host of outputs, including optical and coaxial digital, and analog RCA. And if you don't have an old receiver lying around, Yamaha also offers an amplified version (#022WXA50DS, $499.99).
Yamaha WXC-50 streaming preamplifier #022WXC50DS $349.99
More great tips and options
For another good garage-audio option, check out crutchfield.com/GarageSystem . And for more suggestions on ways to use outdoor speakers, take a look at our system planning guide at crutchfield.com/OutdoorGuide .
Sweet sounds from Klipsch
I can't recommend these speakers highly enough - and for outdoor applications, too! They look great, sound great, and are tightly sealed against the elements.
Klipsch AW-650 outdoor speakers #714AW650 $599 pair
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. ADVERTENCIA: Cncer y Dao Reproductivo - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. home A/V merchandisers suggested I use a Yamaha WXC-50 streaming preamp. This proved to be a perfect suggestion. The preamp connects to my Wi-Fi network (I added a Netgear AC750 range extender, $74.99, to ensure a steady Wi-Fi signal) and plugs into my receiver with a pair of RCA cables. I control it with the Yamaha MusicCast app, and it gives me exactly what I need. With it, I can access Spotify and SiriusXM, which are the two streaming sources I listen to most. The WXC-50 also has Bluetooth, so I can stream other apps like Qobuz, and a USB input for playing high-res music files from a thumb drive. The WXC-50 is also a reason why the system sounds so good. It features one of Yamaha's best digital-to- analog converters, plus an array of audio controls, so it delivers the best possible sound. Even lower-bitrate streaming sources sound really good. So, the old-Yamaha-new- Yamaha pairing? It's absolutely fantastic. Now I'm pretty much going to live in my garage.
I'm often in the garage working on my car, whether it's changing my oil or my speakers.
33
Mat)DCma
grew up in his dad's auto shop, so it's really no surprise he feels most at home when he's out in the garage.
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