Yamaha AP-U70 CAVIT External Audio Soundboard with Integrated Amplifier

by Yamaha

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.4 x 12 x 11.1 inches ; 12.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 15 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00005I9PT
• Item model number: APU70
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

If you're serious about getting the highest quality sound from your computer, Yamaha's AP-U70 personal amplifier is something to behold. Using a superfast USB audio connection, the AP-U70 delivers a solid 20 watts per channel, a seven-band graphic equalizer, and Dolby Digital and DTS (Digital Theater Systems) Virtual 5.1-channel decoding that simulates multichannel surround sound from stereo speakers.

Hookup options abound. Besides USB, the unit offers three sets of stereo RCA analog inputs, two optical digital-audio inputs, one coaxial digital-audio input, stereo RCA analog outputs, a subwoofer output, one optical digital-audio output, connections for a pair of speakers, and a convenient front-panel headphone jack that also simulates surround effects in stereo headphones.

Although you can hook it up to your PC or Mac using just analog audio cables, you'll surely want to take advantage of the advanced features available through the AP-U70's USB port. Downloading the System Application software with the supplied CD-ROM lets you adjust DSP parameters, Virtual 3-D effects, dynamic range, equalization, and more right on your computer. (The supplied remote is handy, if perhaps superfluous alongside the computer controls.)

The AP-U70 is well made and great looking, with a dramatic, sloping vertical chassis and elegant matte-silver faceplate. Four input selector buttons reside at the top of the control panel, a small display window sits in the middle, and the jumbo volume knob and headphone jack are at the bottom. The vertical chassis configuration takes up a relatively small amount of space, but keep in mind that this unit plus speakers will require a rethinking of you desktop arrangement.

Hooking up the AP-U70 with Yamaha's optional NS-U50 speakers is a staggering lesson in how bad most computer sound is. Even though the outboard speakers that come with our Mac G4 Cube are pretty good, the Yamaha system blows them away. Music CDs and MP3 downloads gain tremendous clarity, detail, and body, though we suggest adding a subwoofer for the ultimate in digital music thrills. And though we're not often impressed by virtual surround simulation, we must admit that the AP-U70's DSP modes (Virtual Dolby Digital, DTS Virtual 5.1, Movie, Hall, Jazz Club, and Church) greatly improve the experience with DVD movies and games.

Yamaha's AP-U70 is a wonderful product. It's well made, makes a huge sonic improvement over standard computer sound, offers a bevy of features and connection options, and comes with a solid, two-year warranty. It isn't inexpensive, yet still represents a very good value. If you're willing to go all the way with equally good speakers and a subwoofer, expect a whole new level of sonic excellence at your work or play station. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

• Excellent design and construction
• Effective DSP and Virtual Surround modes
• Terrific connectivity options
• USB connection and software access to advanced settings
• 2-year warranty

Cons:

• Will consume desktop space with required speakers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good sound, not so good price performance, September 20, 2002

By 

"lronbot_00" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yamaha AP-U70 CAVIT External Audio Soundboard with Integrated Amplifier (Electronics)

The AP-U70 is the middle of the road in the Yamaha CAVIT range. The major attraction for me was the shear number of inputs (2 optical, 1 coax, 3 aux) making it a great addition to any computer/multi-media centre. Another advantage is the USB connection. Works with PC and Mac. Recording in 24 bit 48kHz.

There are a few cons to the CAVIT range, power output is one. 20W per channel is a little on the small side (but is ok for general listening). You need to have a nice set of magnetically shielded speakers to get. Some of the effects seem a bit cheesy / useless (Church = echo chamber).

Price. It's a bit steep for the features, but I'm having fun with mine. Now that I'm used to the sound from my CAVIT/speaker combo I don't think I can go back to my creative/"amplified speakers" set.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great idea, fantastic performance, still a little pricey..., September 4, 2004

By 

Joseph Laedtke (Ripon, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yamaha AP-U70 CAVIT External Audio Soundboard with Integrated Amplifier (Electronics)

There's a caveat here: I was able to purchase this unit after it had been discontinued, and so the price was well below the $350 MSRP. Even at the $200-ish price point, it's still a little pricey, but I suppose when you really pick things apart, you get what you pay for...

First of all, you get a nice little amplifier. The amp in the AP-U70 is a smidge under-powered, but anyone looking for something to run their floor-standing home theatre speakers can look elsewhere (and should have a long time ago). It's an amp-on-a-chip design, but still maintains a really smooth, natural sound. Driving a pair of Koss Dyna Mites, the Yamaha can fill a room with effortless sound, and is painstakingly accurate for such a smallish piece of equipment which really never claims to be audiophile grade.

Second, you get some interesting DSP options. Other reviewers may lament them, but I beg to differ. While the "Church" setting is totally inappropriate for, say, pop, it's rich and breathtaking on choral pieces. I personally was never a fan for adding room acoustics to recordings that didn't originally contain them, but it makes for an interesting listen once in a while.

Third, you get a fairly decent USB A/D - D/A converter. The Yamaha lets you play audio through it, true enough, but also supports a number of options for recording to your computer from one of it's numerous inputs. This alone should be a boon to any hobbyist or someone looking to do a little more than just basic audio I/O with their machines, and is particularly valuable for use with GarageBand on a Mac (and with the price of a basic M-Audio A/D converter being around $150, the Yamaha offers a number of advantages for a little more than $30 more).

My only real gripe is the fact that the software is necessary for controlling more advanced features (note that the unit is still 100% functional without the software), and running on a Mac which is incapable of booting in OS 9 (which the software requires...you can't just run it in Classic) means not being able to futz with the more advanced settings of the DSP and EQ (but, in fairness, there isn't a huge need to do that, anyway).

It certainly isn't the cheapest piece of computer audio gear you'll find, but it's the only device I know of that allows you to use an upscale set of speakers on your computer while keeping your desk free of big, bulky receivers or amplifiers...it's elegant, simple, and does the job exceedingly well. It's a shame Yamaha has stopped marketing these (as far as I can tell).