Yamaha has introduced a new series of amplifiers, designated the TXn Series.
There are three models available: the TX4n delivers 1,900W per channel into 4Ω, the TX5n delivers 2,300W per channel into 4Ω, and the TX6n delivers 3,000W per channel into 4Ω. All feature analog and digital inputs, network compatibility, and sophisticated on-board DSP. The amps can also be monitored and controlled by a computer using Yamaha's “Amp Editor” application. I spent time with a TX6n, and found it to be an advanced, powerful amp that I would love to have in my own arsenal.
The TX6n amp is slender, in a 2U package, and not particularly heavy considering the power it produces. The far left and far right quadrants of the front panel are dominated by air intakes for the amp's forced-air cooling system. The amp's controls are found in the middle two quadrants. And I'll just come right out and say that this is the most striking group of controls I've ever seen on any Yamaha device. The most impressive feature of the panel is the pair of sleek knobs that reside on either side of the display. If the amp's LCD display shows attenuation meters, these encoders adjust attenuation of the A and B channels. At all other times, the left encoder moves the cursor within the display, and the right encoder adjusts values. At the far left of the control panel is the power switch and indicator. To the immediate right of that is a battery of LEDs that display information about the amp's status, including stand-by mode, network connectivity, protection circuit activation, bridge mode, and parallel mode. An “identify” LED flashes blue when the corresponding icon is clicked in the graphical user interface of the amp editor software. A mix engineer can click the icon, and an assistant can locate the amp based on the LED.
Each channel has mute, alert, clip, and signal present LEDs, along with mute buttons. The main LCD display in the center of the amp's front panel shows level information, among other things, and also has home, exit, and enter buttons, along with function buttons directly below the display. This display is situated in a slick metal bezel—lending strongly to the aesthetics of the user interface. The suite of controls and displays on the front panel is very robust, and facilitates control over every available parameter of the amplifier, although most would probably agree that the more graphically rich user interface of the amp editor software is the easier way to control and monitor the amp.
The rear panel of the amp reflects the front panel's air-ducts-on-the-sides scheme, with all its connections concentrated in the middle two quadrants. From left to right are found speaker outputs in both Speakon and fiveway binding post formats. At top center is an MY card slot that facilitates a lot of choices in terms of I/O. As of this writing, nearly a dozen and a half cards are available with various analog and digital configurations accessible, including CobraNet, EtherSound, and MADI. The amp ships from Yamaha with an AES/EBU digital I/O MY card. With this card, one output passes the input signal, unprocessed, even if the amp is off. The other passes the input signal as processed by the amp's internal DSP. Below the card slot is the amp's substantial AC power cord—hard-wired into the unit—no IEC here—it simply wouldn't be safe considering the current this amp draws. To the right of that is the amp's analog I/O section—inputs and through outputs that pass the input signal unprocessed—these are all XLR connectors. Above the analog I/O are the amp's RJ45 network connection jack and three-conductor Euroblock fault output. An indicator such as an LED can be connected to indicate a fault.
The TX6n itself is a powerful, quiet amp that sounds great—but the real power lies in the extensive DSP and signal routing options available to the user. For instance, input redundancy can be configured, so if there's an interruption in the analog input, the digital input is used instead, and vice-versa. Impedance of each speaker can be detected by pilot tone or program signal. The amp also has voltage limiting to keep it safe. There is also a 4x4 matrix mixer, eightband parametric input EQ, input delay, and an internal oscillator. The amp's built-in crossover offers Butterworth, Bessel, and Linkwitz-Riley topologies with steepness of six,12,18,24,36, and 48 dB/octave. At the outputs, delay is available again, along with six bands of parametric EQ, including horn EQ, which compensates for horns' natural tendency to roll off the level of the high frequency range. Limiting, muting, and signal routing are all available at the output stage as well. The Yamaha TXn Series are very robust amplifiers offering a huge amount of control over the signal, from input to output, and solid, high fidelity amplification. The addition of computer control and control by thirdparty devices simply add the icing to the cake here. I can recommend consideration of these amps in the strongest terms.
