Yamaha emx5016 powered mixer

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Bob Yeager

Freshman
Feb 11, 2016
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I have a Yamaha EMX5016CF powered mixer (2 x 75, 200 or 500 watts governed by selector switch depending on size of room). I'm currently using the internal power amps, one for monitor wedges and the other for mains. Since the built in graphic eq is only 9 band, and works only on mains I would like to change to outboard graphic eqs and power amps for the monitors and mains. I plan to run from Aux 1 output on the board to an outboard GEQ, then outboard power amp for monitor wedges and from Left & Right Stereo Output on the board to an outboard GEQ, then outboard power amp for the mains. A powered subwoofer would be connected to the Stereo Sub Out at the board.

What size power amp should I use to power the wedges from channel one and the maiins from channel two? I will be running 2) 8 ohm (4 ohms total) Yamaha CM15V wedges (noise - 250 watt; program - 500 watt; max - 1000 watt) and 2) 8 ohm (4 ohms total) Yamaha C115V mains (noise - 250 watt; program - 500 watt; max - 1000 watt). I've been told that a 500 watt/channel power amp would not be enough power, and could damage the speakers (even though I run the same sets of speakers from the board's internal amplifers at 75 watts, 200 watts or 500 watts per channel.
 
This is a huge can of worms, but I'll give is a shot.

That mixer is rated by the Yamaha marketing department as a "peak output" of 500 watts into a 4 ohm load such as your pair of monitors or mains. If you look at the spec you will find that it's really 125 watt amp at 4 ohms meaning 60 watts going to each 8 ohm speaker in your setup. (The amps sees the 4 ohm load of two 8 ohm speakers, but each speaker gets half of that power when you have 2 on the same amp channel.)

Buying amps depends on your budget. You could buy a decent 4 channel amp like a QSC PLD 4.2 giving you a true 400 watts to each speaker for $1,000. Seems like overkill unless you have growth plans for that amp. Since you are running 2 channels now, you could stay that way and use a 2 channel amp such as a QSC GX7 which would give you about 400 watts to each speaker for $600. For less money you could get a QSC GX5 giving you about 300 watts at each speaker for $400. If you are lucky you may be able to find a GX7 or GX5 used locally for about half of retail pricing. (I'm just using QSC for reference, these could be Crown, Peavey, Crest, etc. amps.)
 
So the GX5 would be sufficient to use (Channel A for Mains and Channel B for Monitors) without worrying about damaging my speakers?
 
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