Feature:
One of the main reasons I chose the Yamaha EMX 5000-12 over the Mackie 808S (and over the Yamaha 88S) is because of its faders--whenever I have to do even a little mic level changing during a show, I much prefer working with faders to working with the tiny "knobs" on most powered mixers. The Mackie is a great mixer, which I've used on many occasions, but the Yamaha 5000-12 has about the same specs and has the same stereo or mains + monitors flexibility, but with many more "pro-level" features, such as PFL monitoring, 2 independent efx (so you could have delay on guitars and reverb on vocals, for example), 2 aux sends (two separate monitor mixes, or mons + external efx), 48v phantom (not 15v, like the Mackie) and a pretty complete patch bay.
Quality:
The unit seems to be very well constructed, and my experience with Yamaha and the experience of some pro A-V people I talked to who use Yamaha a lot, is that their stuff can take it.
Value:
I think it's a great value.
Desirability:
This is kind of a silly question regarding a powered mixer.
Sound:
This is a very clean sounding mixer. I haven't used it extensively yet, but so far, the mic preamps sound neutral, the efx sound great, and the power amps can get really loud.
Support:
I'll say 9 here, only because I don't know. But about 10 or more years back, I needed a Yamaha tape deck repaired, and their service center in Garden Grove gave me excellent service.
Overall:
This mixer more than fulfills my needs for now and for the foreseeable future. Unlike most powered mixers, the Yamaha 500-12 has "room to grow"; you can add external efx, insert compressors or pitch correction into individual channels, use it in stereo and add a separate mono monitor amp, use its mono out to add a subwoofer and completely devastate the place!
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