(DBR10) | £416 (DBR12) | £511 (DBR15) When you look into the heritage of a company which has been around since 1887, sometimes you are surprised by the range of products and services they supply. The name Yamaha has been around me all my life. When we used to go sailing before the kids were born we used Yamaha outboard engines; I have a Yamaha mixing desk which I use for conferences; and, looking at the Glastonbury footage on TV recently, all kinds of musical instruments and drums are made by Yamaha.

And who can forget all the FS1Es that our friends used to ride to college during the 80s?! 66 Pro Mobile Issue 73.indd 20/10/15 6:44:o, it's no surprise that Yamaha are also a respected manufacturer of loudspeakers. In the last few years, their collaboration with Nexo has resulted in the highly acclaimed DXR range of speakers, and now we have the DBR range which inherits the DNA of the mid-range DXR and flagship DSR ranges whilst being available at a lower price point.

The DBR range consists of three models: the DBR10, DBR12 and DBR15. As you can imagine, the numbers refer to the size of the driver, with each model containing a Low-Frequency driver (10", 12" and 15" respectively) and a High- Frequency compression driver. Each model is a powered speaker with built-in dual-amplifier module and basic mixer. On the DBR15 and DBR12, the Class- D amps can deliver 400W to the LF driver and 65W to the HF driver continuously (peak 800W to the LF driver and 200W to the HF driver).

This produces an SPL of 132dB for the DBR15 and 131dB for the DBR12, which means there is plenty of sound available for the average supplied with a party! The DBR10 is a little less powthe cabinet. All erful, being rated at 325W (700W built from black peak) and capable of producing an elegant front SPL of 129dB. These amp modules or mounted on feature a good combination of light pole or tripod. weight and high efficiency, together also be used as with Yamaha’s DSP and protection ing purposes, circuitry to keep the speakers from safely recessed damage.

The rear panel The frequency response for each of connectors, cab is 50Hz - 20KHz for the DBR15, tors. The power 52Hz - 20KHz for the DBR12, and and a power 55Hz - 20KHz for the DBR10. The signal inputs weight of each unit is 19Kg, 16Kg, two-channel and 11Kg respectively. The DBR15 has a combination and DBR12 have a decent handle socket and a on each side, whilst the DBR10 is one can accept YAMAHA DBR SERIES Pro Mobile Issue 73.indd handle on the top of a mic level input, which is selected of the enclosures are via a slide switch, whilst channel two plastic with a very can accept line level inputs either grille, and can be flown from the combination XLR/¼” jack a standard 35mm or from a pair of RCA phono sock- These speakers can ets, so connecting something like an wedges for monitoriPod for background music is dead and the controls are easy.

The onboard DSP allows you to avoid any damage. to select from three different sound profiles and there is also a switchfeatures a number able High Pass filter to allow use controls, and indicaeither as a full-range cabinet or as inlet is an IEC socket a mid-top together with a separate switch is provided. The subwoofer. An XLR output connecform part of a basic tor is also provided to allow you to mixer. Each channel daisy-chain to other powered speak- XLR/¼” jack ers by passing the mixed output of level control.

Channel channels one and two, or the output either a line level or of channel two only. The indicators 67 20/10/15 6:44: show when the DBR is powered on, when signal is present, when maximum signal input levels are reached, and if the speaker protection circuit has activated. So, enough about the specs, what are they like in use out on the road? I was lucky enough to test both the DBR12 and DBR15 units, and I found there is not a huge amount of difference between them.

I used a pair of DBR15s mounted on tripods as the only sound system for a wedding with 90 guests. The sound was clear and plentiful. The speakers had plenty of volume to spare, I never heard any distortion and there was no real heat generated by the amp. They are very easy to handle, and I think the design is simple whist being particularly elegant.

I played a range of music, from modern to old and everything in between, and the DBRs coped very well. I would have to say that if the music list had included some heavier dance or drum n bass, to truly recreate the lower frequencies such as bass sweeps, a suitable sub such as a Yamaha DXS- 15 would have been required. I used the DBR12s for an almost identical party and they were very similar, although - as you would expect - the bass response of a 12” cab was ever so slightly lower.

At anpower switch and other gig I also used these for backthat the mic/line ground music – when it was required switch. (I remember in a different part of the venue to ful speaker where my main setup - with my iPod conswitch which caused nected straight into the back of the you couldn’t easily speaker using an RCA lead. This proyou were in!) duced perfect results from a capable but discreet speaker system. I think that for the speakers cost, they I particularly like the fact that there choice for most mobile is a basic mixer on this range of ing enough quality speakers, which adds to their flexvast majority of our ibility.

I also like the presence of a really like the weight 68 Pro Mobile Issue 73.indd 68 really like the fact these speakers; they were particuswitch is a slide larly easy to handle, and don’t take owning an awup much space in the van either. this was a push When you decide to buy them, allow problems as a few extra quid to get the optional tell which mode transit covers. These will protect your investment in storage and in transit so they keep looking brand money that these new!

Personally, I think I will add a are a very logical pair of DBR12s to my arsenal - not DJs, providtoo big and not too small - and the sound for the generous four-year warranty means workloads. I also I don't need to worry too much and ‘grab’ of about reliability either. YAMAHA DBR SERIES 20/10/15 6:44:ro Mobile Issue 73.indd 69 20/10/15 6:44:ro Mobile Ad Sep 2015.indd 1 19/08/2015 11:29