Yamaha and Rotel are two renowned and well respected brands in the audio industry that produces high quality speakers, headphones, soundbars, subwoofers and amplifiers.
In this article, we will cover a general overview of both brands, looking specifically at sound quality, durability, price and so on. Of course, each brand has different devices at different price points, however, we will compare them as closely as we can.
Yamaha is known for its wide range of high-quality audio products for a variety of applications, while Cambridge Audio is a well-regarded brand in the audio industry known for its high-quality home theater systems and audio equipment.
Pros and Cons of Yamaha:
- Pros: Known for producing a wide range of audio and video products, including speakers, headphones, and home theater systems. Many of their products are well-regarded for their sound quality and value for money.
- Cons: Users have sometimes reported issues with their Yamaha receivers not producing any signal.
Pros and Cons of Cambridge:
- Pros: Known for producing a wide range of audio products, including speakers, amplifiers, and CD players. Many of their products are well-regarded for their sound quality and value for money.
- Cons: Some users have reported issues with durability and reliability of some of their products.
Quick History
Yamaha Quick History
Yamaha is a Japanese brand that was established by Torakusu Yamaha in the year 1887. It produced the first Yamaha piano in the 1900s, which eventually laid a solid foundation for the many products that followed.
Yamaha is one of the largest audio product manufacturers with a reputation that sees their products used in international competitions and by renowned musical maestros. The Yamaha brand has a wide range of products that cut across professional audio equipment, digital and acoustic musical instruments, home audio products, and many others.
Cambridge Quick History
Cambridge Audio is a British company that manufactures high-end audio equipment. It was formed in the early ’60s by a group of young technology graduates in Cambridge, England and started out as a division of Cambridge Consultants.
Their line of devices includes earphones, amplifiers, CD players, speakers, and many others.
Sound Quality
Yamaha Sound Quality
Yamaha audio equipment is known for producing clear and rich bass delivery and overall exceptional quality sound.
Yamaha speakers have multiple sound modes with an incredible ability to deliver soft but loud sound delivery. This is because of their high dynamic range, which includes a great deep bass and an extended high.
Cambridge Sound Quality
As expected of a high-end brand, the sound quality is very excellent. The expert layering and detail of the sound ensure that all tonal ranges can play simultaneously without being muddled.
The deep bass stays in the background without overpowering the clear mid-tones and sparkling treble. All these are masterfully compounded to deliver sound with exceptional accuracy and vivid musicality, no matter what you’re listening to.
Features
Yamaha Features
Yamaha has one of the most diverse selections of audio products with diverse features, which might make the feature hard to generalize. However, here are some across their audio devices.
- Wireless connectivity including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Music Cast (for multi-room connection).
- Voice command features such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
- HDR10+, HDMI, 8K/60Hz, and 4K120Hz
- Online streaming support for Spotify, Apple AirPlay, etc
- Virtual surround
Cambridge Features
Cambridge Audio devices have several features incorporated for maximum enjoyment. Some of the features are shown below:
- Personalized EQ settings – set up with the Melomania App
- Unique High-Performance Audio Mode – for hi-fi quality sound
- Up to 350W per channel in the amplifiers
- Passive noise cancellation with Transparency mode – to interact with your environment.
- Qualcomm cVc™ (clear voice capture)
- Voice control feature for Siri (iOS) and Google Assistant (Android)
- aptX™, AAC, SBC Bluetooth codecs support
Build Quality
Yamaha Build Quality
Yamaha products use modern groundbreaking technology to deliver high-end audio products. Their products are known for delivering premium performance and last a pretty long time.
Yamaha products come with impressive aesthetic delivery and long-lasting function. This is because they pay attention to the use of high-quality materials in the production of their devices.
Cambridge Build Quality
Cambridge Audio devices are fabricated from the best materials for maximum comfort and exceptional durability. Some of the materials used include comfortable silicone earbud tips, all enclosed in a solid steel, aluminum, or plastic chassis.
In addition to the sturdy structure, some devices are water resistant, like the Melomania Touch wireless earphones which have an IPX4 rating.
Ease of Use
Yamaha Ease Of Use
Yamaha offers an array of easy-to-use audio equipment. This includes wireless-enabled streaming speakers such as the Yamaha MusicCast WX-030. Yamaha products include devices with buttons that are easy to operate and remote control for use across the room.
Cambridge Ease Of Use
Wireless remote and app control are some of the features that make Cambridge Audio devices user-friendly. Clearly labeled controls and an integrated voice assistant also allow for effortless use.
Cost
Yamaha Cost
Yamaha has an array of products that are more affordable than most other brands. For example, the Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo receiver is a high-quality receiver that costs around $200 to $300 but offers more features than other products in the price range.
The price tag you will get for most Yamaha products is listed below.
- High-quality receivers from $200 to $1500
Speakers:
- Centre channel speakers – $70 and upwards
- Indoor/outdoor speaker – $100 and upwards
- Ceiling speakers start at $130, and
- Bookshelf speakers from $120
Cambridge Cost
The quality of Cambridge Audio devices lives up to its high-end name, but so does the price. They are quite expensive, though some of their devices can be very cheap. The price ranges for some device categories are given below:
Speakers: $100 – $1000
Amplifiers: $300 – $6500
Earphones: from $80
Players (CD/network): $400 – $5500
Subwoofers: from $300
Space Requirements
Yamaha Space Requirements
Most Yamaha products, particularly soundbars and Bluetooth speakers, are a great fit for any room. The portable size and sleek design of most of these devices make them fit easily into small spaces without demanding too much space.
Cambridge Space Requirements
Cambridge Audio devices vary in size from tiny earphones to large amplifiers. The CXA81 Stereo Amplifier measures 148 x 430 x 365mm (HWD) and weighs 19.1kg, while the smaller ES30 outdoor speaker measures 330 x 202 x 198mm (HWD) and weighs 3.4kg.
This means that you will probably find a good device that fits your space requirements.
Remote Controls
Yamaha Remote Controls
Most Yamaha audio devices come with a handheld remote control for simple control of the device. But, beyond the physical remotes, Yamaha designed a virtual remote for almost all the audio products from the brand. This includes headphone control, multimedia music control, MusicCast Controller, and AV Controller.
This virtual remote can be downloaded from the app store for Android, iPhone/iPad, and PC use.
Cambridge Remote Controls
Cambridge Audio devices can be remotely controlled via the mobile app, wireless remote, and voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant. These options can be used for basic and advanced functions such as audio tuning or pause/play.
Connectivity Options
Yamaha Connectivity Options
Here are the main connectivity options compatible with most Yamaha speakers:
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi
- RCA
- HDMI
Cambridge Connectivity Options
The wide range of connectivity options found in Cambridge Audio devices allows connection to other speakers and various other devices.
These options include digital optical, coaxial, and USB Audio, hi-res Bluetooth, XLR sockets, stereo RCA inputs, and several other options.
Power Range
Yamaha Power Range
The power range for an average floor-standing Yamaha speaker is around 100 watts to 200 watts. However, a Yamaha bookshelf speaker has a power range of 200-600 watts.
Cambridge Power Range
Powerful delivery is one of the easily noticeable features of Cambridge Audio devices. The Azur 851W Power Amplifier delivers a massive 800W at up to 350W per channel. The power range of Cambridge Audio devices ranges from 300W to 1200W.
Frequency Response
Yamaha Frequency Response
Yamaha audio equipment have a general frequency range of about 28 Hz-25kHz.
Cambridge Frequency Response
Cambridge Audio devices have excellent frequency response ranges, which range from as low as 5Hz all the way up to 80KHz.
The Melomania Touch has a frequency range of 20Hz – 20kHz. The ES30 outdoor speaker frequency response ranges from 55Hz – 20kHz.
Conclusion
Yamaha is one of the oldest audio companies in the world today, but they have only grown better over the years. They have a range of diversified products, including musical instruments and professional and personal audio products. On the other hand, Cambridge Audio is a brand for serious audiophiles, delivering excellent value and performance. The brand gives great value for money.
Related Articles
Sonos Vs Yamaha
Harman Kardon Vs Yamaha
Bose Vs Yamaha
Yamaha Vs Krk
Rotel Vs Cambridge Audio