Yamaha TF5 Review

Written by Mark Le. Last updated on August 19, 2020.
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Yamaha TF5 Review

Short on Time? Here’s what matters most.
✅ High fader count minimizes the sound glitches,
✅ High input capacity makes it the best fit for larger applications,
✅ TouchFlow Operation makes it easier to handle.

When my parents started running a church, they had to work within a budget. Therefore, apart from the day-to-day necessities, they were not left with additional money to buy anything out of the budget for the Church, such as a digital mixer which would help in the ceremonies, various Church-sponsored activities or annual year programs.

Over time, the budget increased, and my parents decided that it was time to bring in new equipment that will be helpful for the Church. We started searching for digital mixers that performed well, yet were easy to use. It was a difficult task, but it led us to the Yamaha TF5 series, which has been quite handy and an important part of the church equipment ever since!

Things to Consider Before Buying a Yamaha TF5

If you are looking for features that are quite handy and high-tech, then Yamaha TF5 is surely an exciting choice for you. You will get an elegant, classy old school vibe from it because of its digital scribble strips feature.

Digital mixers are a great investment and are of great value, if you plan to either donate them or even if you plan on using them yourselves.
To make a purchase that caters to all you requirements, you must first conduct a systematic research. The first step is to ask yourself a few basic questions that will help you analyze the product under consideration.

The most important things to bear in mind before buying this digital mixer should be:

  • Is it worth buying?
  • Is it affordable?
  • What features does it offer?
  • What features does it not offer?

There is a multitude of similar products available in the market; enough to baffle a layman. To narrow down your options to one final choice is hard. Reflecting upon these basic questions will help you make a better decision. It will help you understand the features you require, and then compare it with those that each product is offering.

With the help of my review, you will be able to make an informed and guided decision!

Presenting the Product

Yamaha TF5 is the latest addition to the Yamaha TF series. It provides users an array of options and features to experiment with. The TouchFlow Operation allows you to handle most of the operations through a touch panel, making the mixing effortless and fun!
The TouchFlow operation has widened the user-base of this console because it has made it reliable for both, the amateurs and the professionals. So, if you are planning to get your hands on a great digital console that has high-tech features and is easy to use, Yamaha TF5 should be on your list!

ProsCons
High fader count minimizes the sound glitches.It consumes more power than its predecessors.
High input capacity makes it the best fit for larger applications.It requires a larger space to fit in.
TouchFlow Operation makes it easier to handle. 

Features & Benefits

Let us dive deeper into the details and have an in-depth knowledge of the digital mixer. It would be convenient to have all the facts in hand while making the decision to get a console. Following is a detailed and comprehensive account of all the features and benefits of the Yamaha TF5. This will help you understand the specifications of this product before you decide to buy it.

Let's get started!

Mixer

It comes with 33 motor faders. This means you can change the settings as per your requirements very easily. 8 Digitally Controlled Amplifier (DCA) groups help you in adjusting similar signals individually. You can change the individual channels assigned to each DCA group as well. The mix routing has one sub-group and one main Longitudinal Redundancy Check (LRC). Moreover, it also has 6 stereo AUX output and an 8 mono AUX input.

Signal Processing

The gain lies in a range of -6 dB to +66 dB. There are 8x internal effects as well. Moreover, you get 10 graphic equalizers with this digital mixer.

Digital Audio

It has a 48 kHz sample rate with a record bit depth of 24 bit. The converter's dynamic range is 110 dB. The latency is less than 2.6 ms. It has 1-knob COMP™ and 1-knob EQ™ with touch and turns knobs, making it very precise.

Performance

This digital console has a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and +0.5/-1.5 dB. The maximum input level of the mic/line input is +30 dBu, and Stereo Input is +10dBV. It has an output of +4 dBu (Nominal) and + 24 dBu (Max).
The analog dynamic range is 107 dB per min. The headphone output power is 3mW to 75mW with crosstalk of -100 dB. The I/O impedance has Combo XLR-1/4" Input of 7.5 k Ω, 2RCA input of 10 k Ω, an XLR Output of 75 Ω and a headphone output of 100 Ω.

Connectivity

The mixer has 32 analog inputs. This means you can have a diversity of input signals in the final audio. With 16 analog outputs, it provides a broader floor to express the audio. The digital input/output has an RJ45 port. It also has a type-B USB connector and 2 type-A USB connectors with 1 I/O card expansion port.

Recording

There is a 34 Multi-Track recording feature that supports MP3 and WAV as playback formats and WAV as its record format.

Power

The alternating current's input power is 100 to 240V AC power or 50/60 Hz, with its power consumption equal to 120 Watts.

Physical Features

It is not a rack mountable digital mixer. The dimensions of TF5 are 34.1 x 8.9 x 23.6" / 866 x 225 x 599 mm and its weight is 44.1 lb or 20 kg.

Accessories

You get a quick guide, CUBASE AI download information, and a power cord as accessories with this amazing product.

Benefits of Yamaha TF5

  • It has 48 mixing channels which enable the user to connect multiple audio inputs.
  • The 20 AUX buses allow us to have an individual level control over each input channel, which definitely adds up to the value of the mixer.
  • TouchFlow Operation allows us to go beyond boundaries and lets our inner creativity take charge by making it convenient to use the mixer via the touch panel.
  • It is a budget-friendly digital console. You can use this sleek console not only in your own studio but also in front of a large crowd.

Social Proof

While probing the details of the Yamaha TF5 on the internet, I came across several reviews by the users of this digital console. These reviews helped me get a closer insight into its features and specifications. Almost all of the reviews were positive, where users described their great experience with the Yamaha TF5, and vouched for it amazing performance and durability. Most people found it easy to use and believed it to be an ideal equipment for the Church services.

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Alternatives

The best way of knowing that a product is as good as it claims to be is by comparing it with other similar products in the market. Before making the purchase, I compared the Yamaha TF5 mixer with three other popular mixers. This gave me an idea of all the features that digital consoles offer and which combination of these features would best suit my needs.
I have given brief reviews of the three other digital mixers in comparison with Yamaha TF5 to ensure that you make an informed decision.

Allen & Heath QU 32

Yamaha TF5  Allen & Heath QU 32
AffordableNot a budget option
Digital scribble strips help recalling where you left last.Preamps are better in comparison.
One knob touch makes it difficult to handle everything.Comes with various knobs

Midas M32 LIVE - Digital Console for Live

Yamaha TF5Midas M32 LIVE
It offers a set of faders to its users to get creative with.It offers a wide range of analog output channels.
It offers a vast input level in comparison.There is a variety of mic preamps in it.
It allows users to record Multi-tracks.It has a touch screen display that catches the eye of its users.

Allen & Heath SQ-6 48-Channel / 36-Bus

Yamaha TF5Allen & Heath SQ-6
Doesn't have a real-time analyzerThere is a real-time analyzer in it.
It has a headphone output feature as well.Doesn't have a headphone output feature
Its mix routing has wider features to offer.It provides a touch screen display to its users.

Reference: Here

Conclusion

The Yamaha TF5 has brought an end to our traditional interpretation of a digital console. It comes with a multitude of features that make it worth every penny. It is an affordable option and is very easy to use; ideal for the technical staff at the Church. It helps you get the hang of music mixing before you move on to classier options.

If you buy the Yamaha TF5, you will not regret it!

Happy Mixing, Folks!

Article written by Mark Le
An enthusiastic and charismatic Christian – dedicated to living a life of full service to the ministry through helping churches in bridging the gap between the Gospel and Technology.

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