Anyone Have thoughts about yorkville pa equipment

timsmcm · #1 09-10-2011, 06:19 PM

I am about to build a new setup for my band and was wondering if any of you chaps or ladies knew anything about this stuff? I was looking at the unity u15b speaks and some of their unity usc1 subs. Trying to start off with a setup that will work in situations of 50 to 300 or maybe larger persons in some places that are hollow with horrible acoustics so maybe a little more power is needed. I thought I would start off with two main speakers and two subs and build from that later.

Zooberwerx · #2 09-10-2011, 07:19 PM

Always impressed me as providing more bang for the buck. Sounds good, well-built, and a generous warranty. Locally, Alpha Music (TBer walterw's base of operation) carries a lot of Yorkville gear. As for me, I have two of the el-cheapo Performance (= entry level irrespective of brand) 18" subs which have served me well.

Riis

Russell L · #3 09-11-2011, 08:17 AM

Can't say much, but a friend of mine bought two Yorkville mains that we've gigged with for awhile now. Each has two 15s and a horn. They seem to sound fine to me, far as I can tell.

projectMalamute · #4 09-11-2011, 08:41 AM

I've used the elite series 2x15" + 2" horn box a handful of times. Sounds great, gets loud.

Rockmusician · #5 09-11-2011, 08:43 AM

My old keyboard player had two Korg Tritons that he played through a Yorkville amp. It sounded great and was very reliable.

BassikLee · #6 09-11-2011, 08:50 AM

Being that I am a Yorkie dealer, take this with the aforementioned grain of salt. That said, the Yorkville PA gear that I have had, sold, still have, has all been EXCELLENT. If you are looking at the Unity line, I would strongly suggest getting the powered stuff. My the time you add in a crossover/processor/dsp (whichever you choose), and amps to drive the boxes, you will have spent LOTS more than just buying the powered ones from the start.

john m · #7 09-11-2011, 08:56 AM

I used to do several outdoor concerts in the summer.
Most of them were town sponsored with no pa support.

I had a "medium" sized pa with 18" subs and 12's on top.

One town had Yorkies with 2-15's and a horn on each side.
When we did that gig, I'd use my rack, mixer, and monitors, and the town's Yorkies. They worked great, and the town worker dragged out the speakers from the wings of the band shell. Our FOH stuff stayed in the trailer.

There was plenty of sound with the Yorkies powered with a
Crown amp (about 600w @ 4 ohms). Drums and bass also went through pa.

Good bang for the buck.

john m

ggunn · #8 09-11-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timsmcm

I am about to build a new setup for my band and was wondering if any of you chaps or ladies knew anything about this stuff? I was looking at the unity u15b speaks and some of their unity usc1 subs. Trying to start off with a setup that will work in situations of 50 to 300 or maybe larger persons in some places that are hollow with horrible acoustics so maybe a little more power is needed. I thought I would start off with two main speakers and two subs and build from that later.

I have used a lot of Yorkville gear over the years; there is an equipment rental shop here in Austin (Rock N Roll Rentals - Home) that is stocked up with Yorkville gear and I have availed myself of their services many times. My opinion is that Yorkville gear is solid dependable mid level equipment. It always has sounded decent and has given me no trouble in the field.

My only quibble with them is a design issue with their mixing desks; the monitor sends (at least on some of them) are post channel EQ.

TimmyP · #9 09-11-2011, 01:52 PM

The U15 and U215 sound quite good. An additional benefit is that they array much better than most speakers (for those times when you need wider coverage). Owners of their bigger subs seem to like them - I've not mixed on them, so I can't offer an opinion.

MNAirHead · #10 09-11-2011, 02:43 PM

In my home I have been using Yorkville studio monitors for the stereo.. chrystal clear, small and dependable.

T

walker rosewood · #11 09-11-2011, 04:31 PM

I've mixed on the Unity series with one sub and top per side. They are crystal clear and have good coverage. They're fairly easy to transport and set up. Low end is "umphy" enough. Although you do need two people to get the tops on the support poles, and they don't fit tight enough so the tops can sort of wobble around. The only other thing I'd mention is it's easy to clip them. However, the built in processing is supposed to keep them from ever blowing or distorting. They are great for a small club, but not much more. Yorkville on the whole is a great company.

ggunn · #12 09-11-2011, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walker rosewood

I've mixed on the Unity series with one sub and top per side. They are crystal clear and have good coverage. They're fairly easy to transport and set up. Low end is "umphy" enough. Although you do need two people to get the tops on the support poles, and they don't fit tight enough so the tops can sort of wobble around. The only other thing I'd mention is it's easy to clip them. However, the built in processing is supposed to keep them from ever blowing or distorting. They are great for a small club, but not much more. Yorkville on the whole is a great company.

Many of their speaker cabs have a snowmobile headlight inside wired in series with the tweeter. It will pop sacrificially before the tweeter blows. It's a little strange to see it lighting up the inside of the cabinet when you push a lot of volume through one of these cabs.

Ben Clarke · #13 09-11-2011, 06:52 PM

The Unity series are among the best portable PA cabs I've heard. I concur that the powered series are the way to go. The DSP is ecxellent. The U15P subs are amazing. Has to be the best reasonably priced 1x15" sub on the planet - outperfoms the vast majority of 18"s in every way.

Their microphones are all built in Asia at the same factories that make a lot of second-tier (and some surprisingly expensive) mic brands. Some are really pretty great, some are absolute dreck.

AndyLES · #14 09-11-2011, 06:52 PM

Band I run sound for has a PA that originally consisted of Mackie tops and Yorkville subs. Frankly, I thought all of the components were crap: bad sound and zero headroom.

Save up the dough and get QSCs (the K series). The band switched to these and it's been smooth sailing ever since.

walterw · #15 09-11-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyLES

Band I run sound for has a PA that originally consisted of Mackie tops and Yorkville subs. Frankly, I thought all of the components were crap: bad sound and zero headroom.

which yorkie subs?

a pair of yx18s is a lot different than a pair of ls1208s!

i love my yorkville stuff, for passive mid-price bar-band PA it's hard to beat. i've been using a pair of E15s over 4 ls608s for a few years now; it does the job nicely for my 4-piece rock cover band, even outdoors.

if the OP is looking at Unity stuff, that's gonna be a lot nicer than what i'm using!

Ben Clarke · #16 09-11-2011, 07:07 PM

The K Series sound almost as good as the comparable Yorkville NX. I've A/B'd them and talked to numerous people who have also. Also, the K12 uses a ceramic version of the woofer designed by Celestion for the Yorkville NX55P, uses a slightly better HF, is made in Asia and costs about the same.

Yorkville's entry level stuff is respectable and worth the dough, but my guess would be you were using a single 18" ported sub? None of those out there sound all that good.

AndyLES · #17 09-11-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

which yorkie subs?

a pair of yx18s is a lot different than a pair of ls1208s!

i love my yorkville stuff, for passive mid-price bar-band PA it's hard to beat. i've been using a pair of E15s over 4 ls608s for a few years now; it does the job nicely for my 4-piece rock cover band, even outdoors.

if the OP is looking at Unity stuff, that's gonna be a lot nicer than what i'm using!

The subs were Yorkville LS720p. In fairness, I should say as a disclaimer that I haven't heard other Yorkville subs, and that your needs and preferences may vary. But the QSC KSubs just kill them.

Dave the Bass · #18 09-11-2011, 09:12 PM

My church just started an expansion location where we have to set up and tear down in a gym every week. We are using Yorkville 18-in. powered subs (not sure what model) and EV powered tops (12 and a horn), sounds great,clear and punchy, plenty of volume. No complaints.

Ben Clarke · #19 09-11-2011, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyLES

The subs were Yorkville LS720p. In fairness, I should say as a disclaimer that I haven't heard other Yorkville subs, and that your needs and preferences may vary. But the QSC KSubs just kill them.

The 720 are nice - if your needs are light and/or you like it clean and neutral. They don't thump like a bandpass box, which the vast majority of lollipop PA users prefer. The 720's my favorite sub that one guy can pick up and carry.

To be fair, if you like a bandpass box, the Unity are not for you either. Pretty much the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of measurable distortion and subjective sound quality. I haven't heard the KSub, and I believe that QSC's DSP is well done and I'm sure that helps quite a bit.

The powered Unity is -3dB at 37Hz w/ a max SPL of 132. The KSub is -6dB at 48Hz, a spec a lot of folks around here wouldn't find attractive for a bass guitar cab, much less a sub. Max SPL is 130.

Horns rule.

The KSubs do look easy to cart around, though.

AndyLES · #20 09-12-2011, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Clarke

The KSub is -6dB at 48Hz, a spec a lot of folks around here wouldn't find attractive for a bass guitar cab, much less a sub. Max SPL is 130.

Horns rule.

The KSubs do look easy to cart around, though.

Really? Whaddaya know. That said, I haven't had any real trouble with power or low end from the K sub. If anything, I often have to turn them down slightly because a the places the band plays (corporate parties in bars, clubs, lofts, etc. in NYC with resonant wood panelled floors). I run the subs off of a bus, similar to the Aux fed technique, to keep any unwanted crap out of them.