Yamaha’s Club Series speakers have been popular in various live sound and fixed-install applications for over 10 years now. The latest Club Series IV line includes two-way mains with 12-in. and
15-in. woofers, 10-, 12- and 15-in. two-way monitors and 18-inch and dual-15-in. subwoofers. Various finishes are available, including cloth, vinyl oak and black elastomer paint.
In this issue of Church Production Magazine, we put the SM12IVS 12-in. monitor (List Price: $405) through its paces. Yamaha’s SM12IVS monitor is a two-way bass-reflex design with a 12-in. woofer and two-inch titanium compression horn. The monitor’s horn has a pattern of 90 degrees by 40 degrees, oriented vertically. A built-in passive crossover divvies up the audio at a frequency of 2 kHz. There is no horn level adjustment on the SM12IVS.
Though average in size for a 12-in. monitor, the SM12IVS is quite heavy at 43 pounds. Its cabinet is constructed of 3/4-in. particle board, which certainly contributes to its heft. The last “S” in the SM12IVS’s model number stands for “sprayed,” referring to the monitor’s tough, sprayed-on elastomer finish. From woofer grille to handle to finish, the SM12IVS has a look and feel of a monitor that’s built solid to withstand abuse.
Unlike many smaller floor wedges, the SM12IVS’s back is symmetrical. This means it only offers one angle of projection from the floor (30 degrees) instead of two. This minor drawback is offset to some degree by the orientation of the monitor’s horn, which gives the SM12IVS a larger sweet spot in the vertical dimension.
Yamaha is clearly positioning the SM12IVS as a versatile speaker for monitor, side-fill and mains use. It has large rubber feet on its bottom, as well as a recessed cup for stand mounting. Supplement the SM12IVS with a subwoofer, and it should turn in a respectable performance as a main speaker. Those that plan to use the SM12IVS as a main speaker can even rotate the woofer grill to bring the Yamaha logo back on the level.
To the Test
Sonically, the SM12IVS puts in a very good showing. It’s sound is clear and crisp in the mid band, with good high-frequency extension. The monitor doesn’t sound edgy or harsh, however, which can be common with larger compression horns. Instead, the SM12IVS’s sound has a slight emphasis in the midrange band around 1 kHz. A broad cut of around 2 dB centered at this frequency smoothed out the SM12IVS’s sound to my ears.
The monitor’s midrange may also seem more pronounced due to its lack of lower bass frequencies. Though it’s a ported design with a –3 dB rating of 60 Hz, the SM12IVS doesn’t sound like it’s putting out much below about 90 or 100 Hz. This is actually fine for its primary application as a stage monitor, where too much bass can cause problems with low-frequency feedback and rumble.
The SM12IVS’s horn offers an even, forgiving pattern. I could detect no lobes or “hot spots” across a typical working arc in front of the monitor. High-frequency detail was best directly on-axis with the horn (as is to be expected), but upper-mid and low-treble frequencies still sounded balanced even when listening from quite a bit off-axis.
Thanks to high-quality components and good crossover design, the SM12IVS is capable of handling very high power levels (300 watts program/600 watts peak). With a very respectable one-watt sensitivity of 97 dB, the Yamaha will easily achieve ear-splitting levels with even a modest amplifier.
The Verdict
Priced at $405, the SM12IVS occupies a nice middle ground between very expensive monitors and those low-cost models that may not offer quite as much versatility and ruggedness. Though it probably won’t be mistaken for a high-dollar monitor in the areas of overall clarity and detail, the SM12IVS’s sound is more than adequate for the vast majority of church applications.
This American-made monitor has a lot going for it—it’s built well, has great power handling, and offers the versatility of rubber feet and a pole mount for main speaker use. The SM12IVS is definitely worth a closer look.