Yamaha MG166CX

This 16 channel analog mixer has been around for a while now, you can use it as a analog mixer or connect it to your computer via USB cable. One thing to keep in mind is that there are two versions of this mixer. There is a USB model and one that does not support the USB mode which came out before the USB model one did. So when purchasing you will need to make sure you get the one you need because both models are exactly the same, but one of them will have computer connectivity. Plus the price between the two is not much of a difference so it will be very easy to get confused and purchased the complete analog one if you wanted the USB one.

UTILIZATION

The MG166CX has 16 faders that are all well built and 8 of the channels have phantom power. The EQ on this mixer is also very good giving you a 3 band EQ on channels 1 through 8 (sweep able mid) and regular EQ on 3 other channels. The size of this unit is pretty big, but it can be rack mounted if you have enough rack space to fit this mixer into.

SOUNDS

Before investing in this mixer you need to know that you might get a slight hissing sound. I have only experienced this sound with a few different microphones which were weird because it didn’t hiss on each microphone that got used with it. I am not sure if the unit was defective or if it was normal.

OVERALL OPINION

While this mixer is solid and has some really good EQ, I would not purchase it again because there are other Yamaha mixers that are very similar and cost a little less. The only thing about this mixer that really stood out to me was the EQ. If you need great EQ on the go, or for a live performance this will work. But there is a trade off because there are only 16 channels. So it will really depend on what your set up is and how many channels you need.

The Yamaha MG166CX is a 16 channel analog mixer that's compatible with your DAW via a USB connection. In fact, it comes with Cubase AI4 software if you don't already have your own. However, I've really only used the MG166CX as an analog mixer outside of using it with a DAW. This is a pretty complete mixer, consisting of 10 microphone preamps, with the remaining six channels being delegated to stereo line inputs. Each of the channels has three band EQ, with the first eight having a mid sweep option as well. This even has six built in compressors, as well as 6 busses and 3 auxiliary sends. It can also be rack mounted...

UTILIZATION

If you're familiar with the make up of analog mixers, you'll do just fine with the Yamaha MG166CX. It doesn't consist of anything out of the ordinary as it's just got a lot of what you'll find with your basic analog mixers. Having said this, it does pretty much have the full make up of options here, which is always nice. If you're not as familiar with the ins and outs of analog mixers, I'd suggest messing around with this more than the average person would in order to feel wholly comfortable with it. The manual might be a good thing to have for these latter users as well.

SOUNDS

The sound of the Yamaha MG166CX isn't going to be too much to write home about, but it certainly does the job if you're looking for something to help route things here and there. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this as your main mic preamps in your studio, but in a home studio it would be a nice interface to connect everything together and you'd have the mic preamps if you needed them. The MG166CX would also work well for a live show set up, as it's probably best suited for this type of use.

OVERALL OPINION

Yamaha is known the world round for making affordable gear of all kinds, and they don't come up short at all with the MG166CX. While it's not the best as your console in your home studio, it will definitely do the job and at the very least will serve as a routing mixer. It's not expensive at all for what you're getting, so if you want a 16 channel analog mixer in the vein of this kind, the MG166CX is going to be the one of the cheapest and most complete you'll find.

Is rack?
Yes

How many lanes, bus attendant, departures, returns ...)?

8x mono mic line level
2x mono mic level or 2x stereo line inputs
2x stereo inputs thomann line jack or RCA
Compressor on first 6 slices
2x stereo effects returns
3-band EQ with parametric mids
Low cut filter 18 dB / Oct.
+48 V phantom power
Integrated SPX effects with 16 programs

What is the type of connectors (RCA, Jack, XLR ...)?
XLR, jack, rca

The effects section is it integrated?
Yes

UTILIZATION

The general configuration is it simple?
Yes

The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
Yes

The usual functions are they easily accessible?
Yes

SOUNDS

The console is transparent?
For my studio (keyboards, synthesizers, computer) is very well

The equalizer is effective? ...
Yes I find quite

Introduced she breath?
Not all preamps are good

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?
A few months

Have you tried many other models before buying it?
Ho yes, before I had Behringers, they are far from being as good

What is the particular feature you like best and least?
It was easy and very good sound

How would you rate the quality / price?
Very good for 411 euros so good!

With experience, you do again this choice? ...
Yes, even a 32 inputs