MUSICIANS WHO NEED a compact P.A. will want to take a close look at — and a good listen to — Yamaha's bundle of its EMX620 powered mixer and AS108 2-way speakers. This reasonably priced system is robust enough to handle a variety of input sources, including vocals, guitars, electric basses, and keyboards; and the mixer comes equipped with such staples as digital reverb, a limiter, phantom power, and a graphic EQ.
The EMX620/AS108 bundle will appeal to performers with modest amplification needs — primarily solos and duos — and can function as both a rehearsal system and a small-club P.A. Those weary of lugging gear (who isn't?) will appreciate the system's easy portability.
PHYSICAL PARTICULARS
The 28-pound EMX620 is a rectangular box about one foot square and about knee high when carried by its sliding handle. The common and durable rough, fuzzy, black fabric that invites cats to sharpen their claws covers the unit, and the corners are reinforced with bolted-on guards of coated composite or metallic material to ensure longevity.
Rubbery plastic feet on a rectangular and a square side of the box let you situate (and pack) it vertically, though its default orientation is horizontal — at least that's how the controls read. The long rear panel of ventilated metal includes the power switch and the ¼-inch speaker outputs.
The long front panel is where the action is. The EMX620 has six input channels, each with a rotary Level control, Effect and Monitor pots, and high- and low-shelving EQ (±15 dB centered at 100 Hz and 10 kHz). Channels 1 through 4 accept low-impedance XLR mic or high-impedance balanced ¼-inch TRS inputs (though only one can be used at a time), offer a 30 dB pad, and can be switched to transmit 15V phantom power to condenser microphones through the XLR jacks.
Channel 5's two unbalanced ¼-inch-high impedance (600•) line inputs can be used simultaneously; channel 6's two unbalanced ¼-inch ultrahigh impedance (1 M•) line inputs can be used simultaneously too. Additional I/O include pairs of RCA Tape In and Rec Out (pregraphic EQ and Master level) jacks, line-level Main and Monitor outputs, a headphone jack, single Aux In and Effect Out jacks, and a reverb footswitch jack. There are level controls for Tape In and Aux In. One thing conspicuously missing was a ground reversal switch.
The EMX620's built-in protection circuit shuts the unit down when the inputs are overloaded (as in times of excessive feedback) or when the impedance load is insufficient.
Finished in a rugged ACX texture coating, the AS108 speakers can be bracket-mounted or pole-mounted (stands must be purchased separately), and have spring-loaded handles. Each speaker has an 8-inch long-throw woofer with a rubber surround and a 1-inch compression driver affixed to a 60-by-40-degree horn. There are dual ¼-inch connectors for input and pass-through connections.
IN THE HALLS
The EMX620 has a built-in digital reverb processor with three programs: Vocal, L Hall, and S Hall. The Effects knob sends channel signal to the internal reverb and to the ¼-inch Effects Out jack, so the same amount of send level can be fed to an external processor. The main output bus and the monitor bus have Effect Rtn knobs — a nice touch — and a mono return from an outboard processor can be fed into the ¼-inch Aux input so it doesn't use up one of the six input channels.
The master section's 7-band graphic EQ (with sliders centered at 125, 250, and 500 Hz; and 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz) modifies the overall sound going to the main outputs. The master section has a Master output level knob, a 5-segment LED ladder ranging from -10 to +6 dB, and a Limiter LED that lights when the limiter function is engaged.
TEST RUN
I loaded the EMX620 and the AS108 speakers into my 1997 Honda Civic sedan and headed to John Stout's Dream Authority Music, a small performance space and studio in Brattleboro, Vermont, on the third story of the Silo House. Stout and I carried the P.A. head and speakers (the latter conveniently designed with snapback retractable metal handles) up three flights of steep, narrow spiral stairs. This was truly a test of the unit's portability. I carried each piece of the trio of P.A. components individually in one hand while using the other to grip a rope banister as I climbed. The components aren't light, but persons of modest strength should be able to transport the whole unit in a maximum of three trips.
We daisy-chained the speakers according to the instructions (the unit permits parallel and daisy-chain/serial configurations) and plugged in our equipment: a solidbody electric bass, a condenser mic, a dynamic mic, and an outboard-preamplified acoustic guitar. Although the EMX620's phantom power worked beautifully on the condenser mic, it would not power my Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum preamp, and I had to rely on batteries. That's probably because the Fishman needs 48V, and the EMX620 delivers 15V.
Within a short time, Stout and I found sound levels that worked. We agreed that it was a good rehearsal amp for a bass and acoustic guitar combo and would be appropriate and adequate for small venues.
The EMX620 delivers as much as 100W into an 8• load and as much as 200W into a 4• load, as in the case of the AS108s. Through the AS108s, the bass sounded respectable, powerful, and punchy without overwhelming the ear, and the preamplified guitar rang through crisply and cleanly. The system seems well suited to handle full-range instruments such as electronic keyboards.
The mixer's onboard reverbs were a boon. They are pleasant, forgiving, and acceptable, but they are workaday house reverbs, not specialized recording reverbs. Dialed in lightly, they are appropriate for the level of the unit. However, they cannot be tweaked as separate outboard units can.
We did not attempt to overload the system to test the automatic shutdown. As in any circumstance involving amplified guitars and unmuted strings, I experienced open-string feedback, but the channel pad let me check the crescendo immediately. Mic feedback wasn't a problem. The limiter function imposed a ceiling on signal level, preventing clipping — a definite plus. The onboard shelving EQ permitted some shaping of the sound, but we did not find a need to experiment extensively with it.
GOOD FOR YOU?
The Yamaha EMX620/AS108 bundle is a compact but robust entry-level P.A. system suitable for a one- or two-person act using some combination of acoustic stringed instruments, bass, keyboards, and vocals. Setup and breakdown are simple and straightforward. There's just enough I/O flexibility, routing options, EQ control, and other features to provide a pro sound, and the onboard reverbs are acceptable to the ear and appropriate to the unit.
If so inclined, you could put a steel-stringed dreadnought guitar, a banjo, an accordion, and a voice or two through it at the same time, use both onboard and outboard effects, record the performance through the record out, and probably end up with a good result.
The EMX620 powered mixer costs $499 and a pair of AS108 speakers are $349; the bundle lists for $839. However, Yamaha is aggressively pricing the bundle with its dealers, making it possible for it to “street” at about $499, which is quite reasonable. Price means nothing on its own — the most important thing is that the EMX620/AS108 bundle sounds good.
EMX620/AS108 SPECS
EMX620
Inputs (4) XLR; (6) ¼" TRS line; (2) ¼" instrument; (1) ¼" aux; (2) RCA tape
Outputs (1) ¼" main; (1) ¼" monitor; (1) ¼" effect; (1) ¼" phones; (2) RCA record; (2) ¼" speaker
Maximum Output Power 135W/8•; 200W/4•
Frequency Response 20 Hz-20 kHz
THD <0.5% @ 20 Hz-20 kHz, 100W output into 4• (speaker outputs); <0.3% @ 20 Hz-20 kHz, +14 dB output into 10 k• (main, monitor, effect outputs)
Channel EQ 2-band shelving (100 Hz and 10 kHz)
Master EQ 7-band graphic
Effects digital reverb (vocal, large hall, small hall)
Limiter compressor
Phantom Power 15V
Dimensions 19.6" (W) × 10.8" (H) × 10.8" (D)
Weight 28.6 lb.
AS108
Low-frequency driver 8" laminated long throw
High-frequency driver 1" compression (with 60 × 40° horn)
Maximum power handling 140W program, 280W peak
Sensitivity 88 dB
Dimensions 10.31" (W) × 16.75" (H) × 13.62" (D)
Weight 27 lb.
