Powered Mixers - Suggestions?

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I am looking to get a powered mixer and speakers in the relatively near future and want to know you have any suggestions.

My usage and criteria is:

• In my basement jam room to amplify vocals, potentially horns, keyboards and the occasional other instrument. It must be loud enough to compete with acoustic rock drums.
• Small to medium sized gigs. Again, most likely for vocals but not neccessarily limited to vocals if I need a more than stage sound (guitar, bass, keys, etc...).
• It has to handle mains as well as monitors.
• Have onboard effects, like reverbs and delays.
• Relatively compact and light weight.
• Be user friendly and have a simple and easy layout.

These are the models I was currently looking at and available in my area:

Peavey:
XR8600 (2 x 600W)
XR8300 (2 x 300W)

Yorkville:
MicroMix M810 (2 x 400W)
MicroMix M1610 (2 x 800W)

Yamaha:
EMX512SC (2 x 500W)

And maybe even Carvin (would have to order):
XP650 (2 x 250W)
XP880 (2 x 250W + 300W)

I would prefer to have more wattage than needed so that I would not be wanting in the future if I require a little more than I initially set out for.

Speakers would be chosen after the powered mixer.

Do any of you have any experience with these small mixers or any other similar equipment. Reliability issues, equipment limitations or glowing reviews? Any help would be much appreciated.

[bluestarbass]

Soundcraft makes a model, I dont know all the details. It sounds like it would be perfect for what your doing. I know it has some built in fx, and soundcraft pres are much better than most live stuff out there.

Here it is, i found it as i was typing
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...xer?sku=630924

[baba]

I've had two of Yamaha's powered mixers and they are a great value and rock solid. Plus the new ones have some added features like compression and feedback indicators.

Go Yamaha.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by bluestarbass

Soundcraft makes a model, I dont know all the details. It sounds like it would be perfect for what your doing. I know it has some built in fx, and soundcraft pres are much better than most live stuff out there.

Here it is, i found it as i was typing
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...xer?sku=630924

There's a more powerful version of that too, which is good for 500 watts/side. A friend of mine has one, it worked pretty well on the gigs I played with him. The Yamaha powered mixers are the ones I see the most around here though, and everyone seems to dig 'em a lot.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I haven't heard of Soundcraft. I will check them out.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Smallmouth_Bass

I haven't heard of Soundcraft. I will check them out.

They're one of the big time players for concert level boards. The GigRac is meant to be very simple and compact, and meets those goals pretty nicely IMHO.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I like that it has a cover that clips over the front face for transportation. I don't know if the others have that.

[mattsk42]

We have a GigRac. I've been mildly impressed, but not totally. It seems like our model doesn't really put out that much power, and the effects are so-so. It does do the simple job of powering speakers and being a mixer.

If you really want to avoid upgrading in the future, get a good mixer and add a poweramp. It gives you a lot more flexibility in the long run, and it's not that much more than a powered mixer depending on what you get.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

And there's also the Mackie PPM808S (2 x 600W).

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by mattsk42

If you really want to avoid upgrading in the future, get a good mixer and add a poweramp. It gives you a lot more flexibility in the long run, and it's not that much more than a powered mixer depending on what you get.

If budget allows, a big +1 to that. None of the budget powered units have enough EQ for my taste, and the EFX tend to be a mixed bag IME. The Allen and Heath powered boards look pretty nice, but they're not cheap!

You could also look at powered speakers and a small format board as a nice compact solution.

[Juniorkimbrough]

WE use the Yamaha 312 powered mixer and is plenty loud for most of our gigs. you can always run another power amp from the "main outs" if you are playing a larger gig.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I am leaning towards going for one of the higher powered combos. I agree, it would probably be more flexible to get separate units, but I don't think I want to go down that road. I just want a good sounding compact, easy to use and reliable package that will last a long time. At this point, I do not envision it being used for anything bigger than a small bar.

Thanks for the suggestions so far!

[Vandelay]

Originally Posted by Smallmouth_Bass

And there's also the Mackie PPM808S (2 x 600W).

I've owned a Mackie PPM 808S for several years now, and I've used it for dozens if not hundreds of rehearsals and small/medium sized gigs. I regularly power 2 mains and 2 monitors with it. Plenty of power, very solid, and very easy to use. I'd definitely recommend it.

My only issue is that I quickly run out of channels when I want to mic all instruments, drums and vocals in my band. To get around this, I've sometimes borrowed an unpowered mixer and connected it to one of the channels on the 808S. But because of that issue, I've been eyeing a Carvin C1644 lately -- 16 channels, plus it still has the built-in dual EQs and built-in effects. It's a non-powered mixer, but you can buy a version (C1644P) with power amps in it. Or I may just buy my own power amps. Carvin also makes an RX1200 (12 channels) that's worth a look.

[SteveC]

Yamaha.

We are a 4 piece (guitar, keys, bass and drums) with 2 vox - 3 if I'd suck it up. Anyway, we run everything (including bass, kick drum and overhead drum for "presence") in the PA and it works great. We have used the EMX312 and the EMX5000.

Yamaha makes really nice stuff.

[bluestarbass]

am leaning towards going for one of the higher powered combos. I agree, it would probably be more flexible to get separate units, but I don't think I want to go down that road. I just want a good sounding compact, easy to use and reliable package that will last a long time. At this point, I do not envision it being used for anything bigger than a small bar

Something to think about, get one that you like the pres and the eq, you can always put a power amp into those to get more power on all the models ive seen.

From my experience I was in the same position as you a few years ago. I realized that something like that is plenty big. Anytime your playing anywhere bigger theres always a PA. For the few times a year youd actually need your own bigger PA its probably cheaper just to pay some soundguy to bring his own.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Originally Posted by bluestarbass

I realized that something like that is plenty big. Anytime your playing anywhere bigger theres always a PA. For the few times a year youd actually need your own bigger PA its probably cheaper just to pay some soundguy to bring his own.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

[emblymouse]

We've worked a Mackie 808 mono to death and its always been great.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

And I was just evaluating some of the specs.

The Yamaha EMX512SC output level is:
nominal 125W and max before clip 500W. How does this relate in watts RMS?

The Peavey XR8600's rated power is:
600W program into 4 ohms, both channels driven / 500W RMS into 4 ohms, both channels driven
475W program into 8 ohms, both channels driven / 360W RMS into 8 ohms, both channels driven

And the Yorkville M1610 is rated:
(per channel) @ 8ohms (0%1"THD, 1kHz) 600W
@ 4ohms 800W

I was under the impression that power ratings were generally measured in Watts RMS. These are similar competing units and they don't list the specs the same way. Translation?

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Weekend crowd bump?