Yamaha CL5 Digital Mixer

The CL5 is Yamaha's largest CL-series console and the board that ends up on riders when a touring production needs to stop arguing about gear. It handles 72 mix channels, sits at the center of a Dante network, and carries enough bus structure to run a serious FOH position, a monitor world, or both in a split configuration. This is not a compact-show tool — it is a flagship desk for productions large enough to justify one, and its presence on a rider communicates clearly to the venue or rental house what level of show they are receiving.

The dual EtherCON Dante ports — primary and secondary — are the real backbone here, each carrying 64 channels bidirectionally, which means your I/O infrastructure lives on the network rather than in a snake. Eight local mic preamps and eight Omni outputs give you enough hardwired connectivity to survive a Dante failure or patch a simple show without touching the network at all. At 230 watts nominal draw with a 280-watt ceiling, plan your power distribution accordingly — a dedicated 20-amp circuit is the minimum starting point. The 667mm depth and 36kg weight mean this goes on a road-case surface or a proper console stand, not into a standard rack bay.

If you are running a national tour, a large theatrical production, or a festival where the desk needs to be familiar to any engineer who walks up to it, the CL5 earns its place without much debate. If your show fits comfortably on 48 inputs and a smaller footprint, Yamaha's own CL3 or CL1 may serve you better at a lower price point and reduced weight. The CL5 is also not the right answer if your production is still building out its Dante infrastructure — you will be paying for network I/O capacity you cannot yet use.