all very good choices


don't be so sure about that, the new ev ekx 18" subs weighs just as much as the 12" yamaha dxs12
www.electrovoice.com

the 15" ev is 56lbs
www.electrovoice.com



the dxs12/dxr10 combo will give you that bottom that your looking for, but the art745-a with it's 4" compression driver will give your vocals the best sound. project far & sound crystal clear even at very hight SPL


so why not get the art 745 & get a rcf sub, this one actually weighs less than the dxs12
www.rcf.it

Thanks for that. The trouble with a 18 or 15 sub is space as well as weight. I can sometimes be in a small corner for a bar which is why I opted for the 12 sub option. Also the rcf top and sub option is out of my budget.

I would do #1

@Boltonguy, I have the #1 set up and I've very happy with the performance. Like you I also have the DXR15's as well and in both cases the bang for your buck is hard to beat. Indeed the DSX12's are kinda heavy I think. No doubt the RCF would be a better option but the price is(Canada) very high and really not that many dealers stock the line. I really would like to hear them.
You can go wrong with the Yamaha's, get the covers!

Thanks. I've arranged a demo of the Yamaha DXR/DXS, the RCF745, the RCF evox8 and the EV ETX15P this Saturday at my local music store. Will let you know how I get on.

Ok. Just come back from the music shop. I tried RCF745a, ETX-15P and the DXR10/DXS12 combo

1. The RCF has a very bright mid and top and is very powerful.
2. The ETX15 again is the same but with slightly less top. A little more bass than the RCF
3. The DXR10/DXS12 combo was obviously more bottom heavy due to the separate sub. The highs weren't as pronounced as the RCF and the EV

I like a nice full sound with bottom end. My friend preferred the RCF but she prefers miss and highs. However a pair a RCFs would be £2,000.

My intention was to have two tops and two subs on the Yamaha but after testing it was deemed that 1 sub and 2 tops was ample and kept up with the RCF and EV.

At first the shop had the RCF On the stage floor so the bass was lovely, however as soon as they went on sticks you lost most of the bottom end. My friend still said they had enough bass but it just wasn't the same as the DXS12 sub.

I decided to buy 2 DXR10s with 1 DXS12 sub which cost £1300. I couldn't justify the extra £700 for the RCFs.

Luckily I spend a bit of money at the shop so I have them on approval. A gig tonight and tomorrow so will see how the system goes. I do have a soft spot for the yamahas as my old system was 2 DXR15s and I believe the 1 sub and 2 tops is a significant improvement on that

I will let you all know how they go after the weekend gigs.

Thanks for all your input.

can we make a pa/lighting section for these posts?

Well I've used the rig for 2 weekends and I think I'm going to trade it in for 2 15 tops again. I just found the sub to be a bit too thumpy and not smooth. I did the settings in extended low frequency with a 100 hz crossover but I am just not happy with the sound. I'm going to take them back and get 2 EV EKX15 powered tops. This is the same price. This will reduce set up/down time and the bottom end will be smoother and more controllable. I think the EKX tops will be an upgrade from my DXR15 tops plus they are a wood finish. I have 1 more gig on Friday with this DXS/DXR set up so will see if I can improve the sound. If not then it's EV. At least I gave it a try.

why not look @

& the 12" 41lbs
www.electrovoice.com

sounds like you need a 18" the ekx 18" weight is the same as a dxs12

Yes I've seen the range. The 15 sub is tempting. Very lightweight and good specs and not a band pass. May get the 15 powered tops first then sub later in the year when I have the larger Xmas parties lined up. I did look at the Yamaha DSR115 but size is bigger and its heavier.

DSR115s are VERY tough to limit. :-)

Al

they are big and heavy, but are built to last. The Line-X finish on them is WAY better than the whimpy finish on the DXRs - my only compaint about the DXRs.

Al

Joee's idea of simply trying a better sounding/performing sub is certainly a good one. I personally prefer a pair however. I'm always thinking "what if my sub fails?" Then you're left with really whimpy sound. If you have a pair of them though, you can still sound decent for the rest of the night.


Al

I have a pair of ev elx15p (i had a pair of yamaha dxr15 but sold them) and i also have the dxr dxs combo and 15s on sticks do not compare to the dxr dxs combo. Having a dedicated sub will always give better bass response in my opinion.

Yes I do appreciate that a 3 way system is better than a 2 way system but I'm just not keen on the sound that the DXS12 gives out. I'm a solo singer using backing tracks 60s to 10s. Having 2 subs is too much on both weight and cost. Do I think having 2 EKX15 tops with a EKX15 sub will be the best solution. Ou bringing out the sub as and when needed. I can't believe the 15 sub is 5kg lighter than the DXS12

last one. Has anyone compared the Alto Black 15 top with the EKX15P top? there is only £10 difference between the 2 speakers.

EV is a much more trusted brand than Alto - most anyone will tell you that.

Yes I know that EV are the more well known brand but here in the UK, Alto certainly has a large presence in the market and the black series seems to be more pro than the TS series

I didn't say well-known - I said trusted.

The Blacks do seem like a higher quality than the TS, but they couldn't get the TS series right what with all the reports of blown speakers, so what makes you think they'll be able to get the Blacks right?

I've decided to go with the 2 ETX15P speakers then get the EKX15SP sub in a couple of months. That rig should see m through my gigs for a good while :-)

I meant EKX15P tops

is there a reason you're going with 15" tops when you're planning on using a sub?

I'm not planning on using the sub for all gigs. Only the larger ones.

I would probably suggest the 18" sub to pair with the 15s then. 2 would be better.

Thanks dj but cost and space is at a premium. It's basically now between 2 RCF745s (my local retailer is telling me these are the ones to get) which cost £2,000 a pair. Or 2 EKX15P which have a better mixer on the back, look cleaner, are wood and would come in at £1600 a pair. This would leave me £400 to put to a sub for the future. Hmmmm I hate my indecisiveness

Just thought I'd update. Went to 2 shops today. 1st shop with 2 EKX15 tops. Ran music through a dynacord desk. Nice sound but a little sharp and quite distorted top end. Also, a small thing but it's not very clear to see from the back if you are limiting. I'm a singer so I'm used to looking for a red light on the back of a speaker to see if I'm peaking. I imagine trying to glimpse over at the LCD display on the EV is rather difficult. Anyway I then went back to the other shop to retest the RCF745. Had a pair on stocks running through a Yamaha MGP desk. Same songs and I just straight away heard the difference. Much clearer cleaner and fuller. More fuller bass notes too. I tried to get the limit light on the back blinking but just couldn't. It's a simpler interface on the back. Basically 3 lights. 1 XLR input and a boost button. Plus it's 5kg lighter. It is £200 a box dearer than the EKX but I just heard a clearer fuller sound on this box. I'm going to push the button tomorrow. Thanks for all your input guys. Please check this RCF box out.

if you get a sub for those RCFs, just make sure it has a built-in crossover.

That is the downside of the RCFs but there are many subs with crossovers that I could use in future. I just felt the RCF was a bigger upward step than the EKX

it's a whole class above the EKX - the comparable EV speaker would be the ETX, but most reports are the RCF is still better.

For your applications, the RCFs should be excellent and you should notice an improvement in vocal clarity and projection given the huge HF driver and low crossover point.

Al

The ekx is nowhere near the same league as the 745a. I think the reason the price is so close between the two is that you giys pay a premium for the ev's across the pond. The 745a has a 4in coil on the horn and a crossover freq of 650hz. Hard to beat that. The zxa5 ev compares to the loudness of the 745a, however I think the 745 sounds better. My opinion.

huh?

are we talking about the ekx15p?

i got a price of $1,220 for the 745, the exk15p i was quoted a price of half that

Here in the UK the price of the EKX15P is £850. The price of the RCF745 is £999

ekx
www.agiprodj.com

745
www.fullcompass.com

Usa product imported to uk=$$$$$$$$. How much is ev zxa5 and etx15p there?

Zxa5 = £1400. ETX15 = £1100

However I think there is a new agreement (TTIP) being agreed which may reduce prices on imports and exports between US and Europe.

Pick up the RCF745s tomorrow. First gig with them on Sunday so will let you know how they go :-)

Did you get the 745's?