I asked this same question to the EV reps at NAMM. They said that the ZXA5 was still a class above the ETX range.

this guy !!!!! not you rebel

nm nh

I don't see anything out performing the zxa5 for a long time at this price point. Sometimes I wonder if Ev made them too good by mistake....lol

I asked Ben at nlfxpro about both sets of speakers and he recommended the ETX over the zxa5

surely you asked why ?

Then go with the ETX. I am sure that a brand new product with no long term gig testing and has already been stated by EV's own reps to be below the ZXA5s will be better because a salesperson who I am sure has a lot of the newer line on order is correct.

The ZXa5 is still a step above but the new ETX line has it's advantages - more efficient amplifier, DSP, 3 way cab, cardioid setting to reverse load subs. The ZXa5 will most definitely go louder but how many people will actually run those speakers that hard? I am sure for the average mobile DJ, the new ETX line will get the job done, nicely.
If they demo good, I might be picking up a pair of the three ways & subs.

Ben is a lot more than just a salesperson.
proacademyseries.com

They (NFLFXPro) give a lot back to the DJ industry - Education Seminars, training, etc... I've been to several of their classes at Mobile Beat. They are pretty high on the vendor list for EV, and give a lot of feedback to them.
Would like to know what his recommendation is based on though.

there was also a guy on the board named caliguy, he said

"the EV ZLX15-P sound better than they EV ZXA5"



SMH.......

I still don't see the advantage of the ETX-35P over the ZXA5s. The cabinet weighs 85lbs and is not tripod mountable. This means the average mobile DJ would have to bring out 4 subs or some kind of scaffolding to get them high enough to project over a crowd.

Dude, just telling you what he said. I'm seriously trying to make an educated decision and I appreciate the input which is why I asked. I didn't ask Ben why he recommends the ETX over the ZXA5, but I will. Do you guys know the best deal I can get on a pair of ZXA5's and where?

Thanks!

Well, now you're comparing a 2-way to a 3-way. The ETX-15P would be a 2-way to compare to the ZXA5 and that weighs 61 pounds.

And, I got Ben's reply. He said:

"if you look at the features and specs side by side, it speaks for itself. For what it's worth... I own ZXa5s... and I say ETX is better."

Actually the ZXA5s are only 50lbs.



Yes the DSP is very interesting but the single 12 and single 15 2-way cabinets would not outperform the ZXA5s. The 3way cabinet is an option but the extra 35lbs and lack of a pole mount would render them a pretty tough sell for mobiles unless you were doing a lot of large events.

I personally use the KV2 EX-12s which are a level above either of these but the 62lb cabinets are starting to be a real hassle for me. I am leaning towards going with the ZXA5s or something from RCF.

That was me comparing the 3 way. Traditionally, 3 way speakers sound better when playing recorded music than comparable 2 way cabinets.
These cabinets do have a pole mount on the bottom of the cabinets. Good speaker stands, like the Ultimate TS 100b can support up to 150lbs.

Thanks Rebelguy. I meant that the ETX-15P weighs 61 pounds, making it about 10 pounds heavier than the ZXA5. I am heavily leaning towards a pair of the ZXA5's. Anyone know where to get the best deal?

Not too far fetched. At a controlled volume isn't it possible it could sound better but not louder? The ZLX does have adjustable DSP.

Proaudiostar

Update: I called EV directly... talked to a guy that has nothing to gain by recommending one over the other (not a sales guy). He said he 100% recommends the ETX line. He says the FIR filters, limiters and other newer components make it a better overall speaker. He said the SPL is a little louder on the ZXA5 but still personally likes the ETX speakers better.

Eh, although he was not a sales guy, i am sure with any company they would push their new product vs. old product. but hopefully someone will do a comparison soon.

Agreed. Maybe I'll wait until they hit the market and get some exposure.

That's your best bet. Discussing this with people who don't have the speakers to do a side by side does nothing for you.

This Is A Big Plus, Along With Being Made Of Wood. I'll Reserve Judgment Until I'm Able To Test Them.
(NM)

In my opinion, the biggest benefit of the ETX over the zxa5 will be limiting and protection. Because as we all know, the zxa5 requires external DSP limiting/compression protection to keep them safe. So for some people this could make the ETX more appealing.

if you know what your doing but the Kangs !!! (Zxa5)


nm nh

but = buy

Check out this picture comparison of all the ETX speakers. I am freaking out at how big the ETX-18sp looks.

oi57.tinypic.com

SMH

NO......

i had the zlx15-p in my house and demoed it......HELLL NOOOO

The 15in sub looks like its about the same size as most 18in subs on the market.
19 in x 23 in x 32 in
91.9 lb (41.7 kg)

The 18 inch is sub is fairly large as well.
22 in x 27 in x 36 in
114.2 lb (51.8 kg)

Given the size of that 18 inch sub, Im sure it will sound tremendous.

That's what I say. Stop being a sissy expecting big sound from uber-portable enclosures. DJs want Yorkville LS80xP boOM with K-sub size and portability... ain't gonna happen.

EV ETX-18p = 22" x 27" x 36"
QSC KW181 = 20.1" x 23.4" x 29.9"
JBL PRX718-XLF = 27.2" x 20.6" x 28.5"
RCF

I'm guesstimating, with all other things being nearly equal (bass-reflex design, applied amp power, driver of same spec range: excursion, compression, Xmax, etc.), the EV ETX 18" may be the new "kang" of low-end theory for mid-level priced powered subs (excluding the LS801P of course). Just a wild theory and my $.02.

(nm)

no comment.........

i plead the 5th......

lol.........................

Yup, they right in between all the powered subs on the market for mobile DJs. Not to big, not to small. The casters and handles make it fairly easy to handle. Just gotta hit the gym for a few weeks beforehand lol.

Still debating between a pair of ETX-15P speakers or ZXA5's. Which do you guys think will have better bass response without a separate subwoofer. I see the new ETX use SMX woofers which they say is in their concert grade cabinets. The ZXA5 uses DVX woofers which EV is also using in the new ETX SUBS.

Oh, one other question. If I go with the ZXA5's, which model should I get? (The 90 or 60 dispersion pattern)

Get 90 if you plan on running only 1 cab per side. 60 if you plan to do multiple cabs per side.
I haven't heard the bass response on the ETX so hard to compare, but I would think simply because of all the additional on board DSP that the ETX has you will get some better bass response there as a stand alone cab.

Damn these forums (I mean that in a good way). I stumbled across the RCF HD-12A... it gets lots of great reviews and supposedly has pretty impressive bass for a 12" cabinet. Anyone have any experience with this speaker? How would it compare to the new ETX line?

Yorkville new 12 inch cabinet


Nm nh

what model is Yorkville's new 12?

Watchwww.youtube.com


Nm nh

OK, thanks black one for throwing that into the mix... looks pretty damn impressive. So, now I'm looking at RCF-HD12A vs ETX-12P vs the Yorkville Parasource PS-12P by Yorkville. Thoughts guys? (I know the ETX are hard to discuss since they're not out yet).

Fixed. Go all out and buy right the first time...

I'd wait until the ETX hit the streets. The ZXA5 is the people's champ when it comes to powered tops but those advancements in DSP, limiting and driver timing are something to consider on the new line. Don't rush it because if you make the right decision the first time after weighing all the factors, you won't regret your purchase decision later on.

I will say most DJs don't regret getting the ZXA5's because they're not really going to find a better 2-way powered top for the money. My only gripe is that they don't have built-in limiting.

(nm)

Parasource is the truth. Rented a pair for a party the other night and they sound amazing.

They also make a 15 inch cab.

No idea how it compares to EV gear cause I've never heard either, but I would definitely rate them way higher than the KW series or any of the previous yorkville tops offered.

Well, taking everything into consideration (reviews I've read, weight etc) I am leaning towards a pair of RCF HD-32A tops and a JBL PRX715XLF sub. Would they "play well" together? I am coming from K12's and one KSub so am I making a step in the right direction? I was told that JBL sub will sound better than the ksub.

OR... what about RCF SUB705AS vs JBL PRX715XLF? Would the RCF sub be a better "match" to the RCF tops?

I would think that you'd want 2 of those subs to keep up. I have two 750 watt (1500 peak) yorkville 15" and a single one can barely keep up with my K12s. I would think the RCF are a higher class than the K12s as is. Keep in mind that sound quality doesn't equal output which is why so many people here recommend the LS801Ps. They may not be the best sounding subs in the world, but boy do they pound...

how long have you been asking advise already.........dude buy something already.....lol



taking this into consideration almost any sub you buy will sound better than that piece of junk ksub & just about every top that you've considered will most likely sound better than the k12

as was mentioned to you in the other thread.....rcf sub705-as & rcf fd12-a will be more than enough for the type of events you do & would be a real nice upgrade

i see your now looking at the hd12-a also....thats a great little speaker that gives of a decent amount of bass when used with out subs, something to think about with smaller events


now go and buy something already........

PS

if you looking at top that can do the job with out subs than zxa5 it is

I'm about ready to purchase LOL ... thanks a lot for the input guys. I just wish there was a super speaker store that carried all these brands. Joee, you say the zxa5 sounds great without bass, but the frequency response on those don't go as low as the RCF's (on paper). Would you recommend the zxa5 over an hd12a (or hd32a)?

zxa5 stand alone will sound as if your using a small sub woofer, the bass they put out is unbelievable for such a small two way top box

i own zxa5's
imageshack.com

i also own rcf sub 705-as & rcf art 312-a
imageshack.com

that said i've been using my rcf setup a lot these days, having a dedicated sub will always sound better than not having one i also like the semi compact size of the rcf sub/top

now to answer your question i would recommend the zxa5 over any other two way speaker, but if your events are 150 to 200 people i think you said before? the rcf setup would be more than enough

OK... one more ? ... RCF HD12-a vs HD32-a. Thoughts?

i haven't heard the 32-a so i can't tell you about it, there was someone that did a review on this board a while back

i have heard the hd/fd 12-a

no mater which you choose from the 3 you will be very happy as they are all improvements over the qsc k12

shop.chucklevins.com

www.kpodj.com

www.kpodj.com

Joee, thanks man. Sorry to keep posting, but without hearing any of these, it's all based on user opinion, so I'm trying to make an educated choice. If I decide on the ZXA5's. I would need a limiter. Should I get a driverack PX or the new driverack PA2? Is the PA2 a replacement for the PA & PX or just the PA? That PA2 looks pretty sweet. I'm definitely down to either the ZXA5's or RCF's.

just be aware that the zxa5 is a small wonder of a speaker & the sub woofers you would need to complement it might be to big for you

yorkville.com

www.jblpro.com

electrovoice.com

might i make another suggestion, while not being my favorite box the k12 is still pretty decent sell your k sub keep your k12's a buy one or two kw181's
qsc.com

KW181's won't work (not enough space in my car)... I am trying to stay as compact as possible and keep the weight down. (I'm 46 with some back issues). I already sold the K12's and the KSub. So, I'm speakerless right now. I was also looking at Yorkville (a lot
people seem to love their subs). Maybe a couple of these: yorkville.com and one of these: yorkville.com ... how would they compare to the RCF's?

since weight is a issue, i recommend my first chose in the other thread

70lbs but still compact and very manageable
www.rcf.it

36lbs
shop.chucklevins.com

www.rcf.it

You think RCF over Yorkville?

the yorks are heavier than rcf, if i had back problems i would give these a real close look, try to get a local guitar center to get one in
www.jblpro.com

yeah, I looked at the JBL PRX 700 line too. I read that the PRX715XLF sub has excessive fan noise though. I do like the weight though. As far as sound quality, is JBL in the same league as the RCF stuff I'm looking at?

i haven't heard the jbl, i want too as for fan noise who's going to hear it when the music plays

Here is what I read from another forum: The part that concerns me is he says you can hear fan noise over program material...


I recently picked up a pair of these powered 15" subs to use at small venues. And yes, you can indeed pick them up since they weigh only 56 lbs. !

Both easily stacked on the hand truck and made load-in almost pleasant. I'll generally use QSC K10s on top.

The sound from these is nice and tight, as you would expect from a 15, and there's ample punch for most any type of program material ... live or recorded.

The DuraFlex finish on the cabinet appears rugged and I really like the security of the threaded pole mount.

However ...

The noise from the cooling fan is quite excessive. At 2' from the back of the cabinet the fan noise at idle is 74 db with the droning sound of the motor resonating the cabinet at 350 Hz.

The fan noise can even be heard throughout the room along with the program material.

I just can't imagine that JBL let this go out the door without noticing.

And more on the JBL Sub: www.sweetwater.com

that sucks

Agreed. I think I'm going to go with RCF. I just have to decide between the HD12a's or the HD32a's. Thanks again for your input!

i can speak from experience the sub 705-as & art 312-a pair together very nicely

and don't rue out the FD12-A either it's a completely different speaker than the HD12-A
shop.chucklevins.com

if weight is an issue, don't go yorkville

I am THIS close to purchasing the RCF HD32a's and a SUB705AS. Quick question. Since the sub doesn't have wheels (casters). Could I buy some and put em on myself? Anyone done anything like that? If so, any recommendations on where to buy wheels?

i use a platform truck
www.mcmelectronics.com

but they also sell casters
www.rcf.it

@ Mike Sinclair is money a issues, or would you be ok spending a few dollars more for a better sub?

Joee, what sub? Remember, weight is a concern. I was looking at the ETX stuff, but that 15" sub at 92 pounds is a "no go" for me.

But money isn't an issue for the right product.

another rcf same size box & weight with a better driver and more power, it might be a better fit for the hd32-a
www.rcf.it

kpodj has the 905 for $1,444 & the 32-a for $926.....i'm sure they will give a better price

Wow, NICE sub. I think that would be a better fit. Would it work OK with the HD12a's too, do you think? That would give me a couple hundred bucks towards the sub since the 12a's are a little cheaper than 32a's.

Awesome! I was looking on eBay and they're more than that! Those are awesome prices. Thanks!

Just looked up 905 on kpodj and it's $1945. I'm not sure where you got $1444. www.kpodj.com

that sub will pair nice with either rcf 12 top, the thing that i like is booth the sub and top speaker have a full front grill, look nice

rcf.media-display.it

rcf.media-display.it


you have to create a account than it will show vip pricing

Ahh... OK sweet :)

Joee... you freakin' ROCK dude. Thanks for your patience and input. With those prices, that makes up my mind. I was looking at around $1244 each for the HD32a's so $926 is WAAAaaay better! Thanks again. My mind is made up :)

no problem.......if you can get the 905-as sub, it will be a better match

and don't let me catch you in here a week from now asking what you should buy.....lol

it better be a review......lol

and FYI.....you are buying some REALLY good gear!

& when you want a truly compact light system, maybe when you hit 50 years of age......lol

www.rcf.it

www.rcf.it

Joee, I placed the order at kpodj.com only to find out they won't be available for 5-6 weeks :( ... any other thoughts on where to buy them? That seemed to be the best price.

rcf's are made in italy.....sadly it might be the same thing at another dealer also

How Would a pair of ZZA5's without a sub compare to k12s with ksub? Would I miss the bass?

check your PM

do you need this NOW? or can you wait?


if you turned on 2 k12 and one ksub vs two zxa5's ..........you would think the qsc's were turned off

You're probably right.

Now I'm looking at FBT ProMaxX 14a speakers vs RCF HD32-a... I am actually leaning towards FBT due to their weight. They use B&C Neodymium drivers and only weigh 36.4 pounds! They also have a ProMaxX 15" sub that weighs around 62 pounds. (again due to lighter components). The sub is a birch cabinet, so that's crazy light.

Tops: www.fbt.it
Sub: www.fbt.it

Anyone use these products? I realize both FBT & RCF aren't as common in the States, but there seems to be something about these Italian made speakers.

according to this review the fbt is one nice sounding speaker, but looks but ugly

issuu.com

pricey
www.rmcaudiodirect.com

www.rmcaudiodirect.com

for the same price of the FBT setup you could get this which would blow it away in terms of sound
www.kpodj.com

but i think it would be to big and heavy for you

^ second link fail

heres the right one
www.rmcaudiodirect.com

Yeah, after looking and comparing, that promaxx isn't very appealing to look at. Plus, I do mostly Weddings and I don't think I want those in wedding pictures LOL. I think I'm going to stick with two HD32-a's and an ART 905as sub. Final Answer.

something else to consider, but the sub might be to heavy for you
www.americanmusical.com

www.americanmusical.com

When will FBT realize this? They may sound good but they are absolute eyesores. There's no reason for that concave grill. Even the "FBT" logo is ugly!

They need to go the way of using symbols to represent their brand like Mackie and Prince.

They aren't the prettiest, but I just got off the phone with a guy who sells both the ProMaxX line and the RCF D Line and he said the FBT's outperform the RCF's. They are NOT pretty, but if they sound THAT good and only weigh 37 pounds, it's very tempting.

^ is he talking about the 12-A or the 32-A......the two very different speakers

He said he prefers the ProMaxX even over the 32-a. Bold claim for sure! They have a 30-day return policy with only a 10% restocking fee, so I'm tempted to buy the Promaxx 14a's and check them out for myself.

I had the promaxx12-a and they are great sounding speakers

Sweet! Someone who has actually heard these things! JDforKing, do they have really great bass response. That's what I've been told... that these are some of the best sounding tops, second only to EV ZXA5's in terms of low end.

well if size and lbs's are a concern than maybe fbt is the right choice for you
Watchwww.youtube.com

Buy one then... 10% of $2400 is $240 compared to the $120 return fee for a single speaker. You can possibly A/B them to something else.

Holy crap! Not many subs you can lift over your head! Wow... LOL

I had the 12 not the 14. For a 12 the bass response was good. I buy speakers with realistic expectations. I sold the fbt promaxx 12-a and purchased 2 yamaha dxr8s and 2 yamaha dxs12. I don't think anything (other than the zxa5) can compete with a system with designated subs.

i guess they don't look so bad
Watchwww.youtube.com

Yeah, I think I'm gonna give them a whirl. I'll try a pair of the 14a's and if I need a sub (which a nagging voice in the back of my head says I will), then I'll buy the ProMaxX 15sa subwoofer (that 62 pound sub that the dude was lifting over his head) :P

That's what drunk frat dudes say about the ugly chick when it's dark. LOL... that Youtube vid was also dark.

The Fbts definitely don't look as bad as people think in this forum. I just did a high end wedding a couple of weekends ago and the band brought their PA system. They had four behringer subs and 2 EV sx500 tops . No one complained about the way speakers looked. This was a $100,000 plus wedding reception. I think sometimes we put too much stock in our personal preference of speakers.

*those

Eh... maybe so. You can't knock their performance though.

Performance wise, the EV sx500 were LLLLLOOOUUUUDDDDDD and clear

i love that speaker, i used it for many years.......the sound throws far and the bass rivals the zxa5

I have an older pair of SX200s - paired with a single Yorkville LS800p it is a great sounding combo.

have you considered just going for a smaller system? 2 high-powered 10s and a sub or two? If you're only looking at 150-200 people, most of those systems recommended seem overkill...

he already bought a pair of fat promaxx14a's

I agree, thats what i have (2 yamaha dxr8s and 2 yamaha dxs12s) and it works well for a150 to 200 person wedding or corporate event.

I just grabbed a pair of DXR10s and love them. They get way more use than my K12s now. I couple them with one or two Yorkville NX720Ss and I can potentially do parties up to 300 with little problem.

How would you compare DXR10 vs k12's ?

Here's my RCF HD-32A's ran with a single VRX918SP (behind one of movers).
scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net

Nice setup but how did the venue let you get away with blocking an exit door?

What movers are those?

Also what kind of stand/bracket is that you have them on?

The venue put me there. There's some room behind me. The movers are chauvet intimidator spot 350s and I used an on stage speaker adaptor to mount movers to tripod. Drilled out a couple of 3/8" holes in the bracket and used 3/8" bolts, washers, wing nuts. The hazer/fazer is antari z350

Yeah I thought that was custom cause I would have been bought something like that. I have the 250s and getting the software controller soon.

I have the Intimidator Spot 350s also. Love those lights. I mount them on tripods with the locking version of these.

csnl.com

Oh wow, do they stay secure with the lights moving around all night?

That's nice. The locking one will stay secure

They just sound cleaner and a little more detailed - especially when you're getting close to limit. Sound just as loud, but better when pushed. Granted they do have a bit of a processed sound to them so I'm sure something like RCF or EV might sound a bit warmer (can't compare as no one local stocks either of those brands), but it's nothing I've ever complained about.

Without subs, of course I'd use my K12s unless it was for a party of under 50 at moderate volumes, but lately I've been using the DXR10s as my mains and my K12s stay at home or are used as monitors which looks a little strange when you monitors are larger than your main tops. Considering selling my K12s and replacing them with DXR12s, but I've heard that the K12s handle bass a lot better in full range mode.

The biggest concern is that they are made in China so that may be an issue for some. The fact that it has a 7 year warranty (and we have several local authorized service centres) hekps mitigate that concern for me.


For the price, output, sound quality, features, and warranty, I'd definitely recommend them over the K-Series line and the older Yorkville line (those are the brands I have the most experience with).

I've been trying to find someone local that carries EV for years but no dice. I know why it's so hard to get RCFs in Canada due to some issues with tarrifs and apparently it's very difficult getting replacement parts, but EV is carried in other parts of the country so I have no idea why it's so difficult finding them in my city...

I almost bought the zxa5 until i heard the promaxx...you will be glad you've bought them they sound better at high volumes than the zxa5.....Only gripe they are some ugly ass speakers but i play reggae and soca and that crowd don't give a fuck how a speaker looks...As long a the output is there they could care less...I pair mines up with the ls800s...Massive Awesome Sound.....

^ you prefer the sound of the promaxx vs the zxa, i really need to hear this speaker

Got em' today and they sound UN-FREAKIN-BELIEVABLE! WOW... just Wow! These CRUSH the K12's WITH a Ksub. I only listened to them for about an hour, but the bass response is SO good. I seriously don't know if I need a sub with these to do weddings! I want to get them in a bigger room to make that decision. They get SO loud without clipping, it's crazy. I personally have never heard a speaker sound this good. VERY happy with this purchase!

Which model did you get?

Promaxx 14a's. And for all who say they are ugly, I kind of like the look (maybe I'm weird) but they don't bother me. They sound SO good

So where did you end up getting them from and price?

bought them from RMS Audio Direct. Under $2300 for the pair.

RMC audio direct, erik is the guy. Thats where i got my promaxx 12-a's from

Congrats Sinclair. Great Sound Is THe Ultimate Goal.

Yup... Erik is who I bought them from. I was actually inquiring about the RCF HD32a speakers and Erik suggested that the Promaxx speakers were lighter, comparably priced and sounded better than the RCF D Line. I was kind of back & forth between the two. I'm glad he talked me into the FBT's. Man, I can't say enough good things about em'.

Told you so...wait till you play them with subs...

Do anybody know the release dates of the new EV ETX series?

I'm almost SCARED to add a sub (I could only buy one because of car space). The bass is already the most I've ever heard out of a top speaker. I have 3 days to decide on the sub (there's a coupon code that expires monday) :P

Well if your gonna be playing for larger crowds you might want to get one...I use mines with the ls800p and the sound is awesome...But stand alone is pretty impressive also..The thing i like most about them over the evzxa5 is when you push the ev's they start to sound harsh but the promaxx stays sounding sweet even at the highest volumes...I don't know how they got all that output in such a small box 38lbs....

Agreed! I kept turning up the volume on my mixer, a little more... a little more... a little more... and they were SO loud, but the limit light wasn't even flickering!

good to hear you like the



NOW GOOOOOO BUY A SUB WOOOOOOFERRRRRR!

take advantage of that coupon ,if you like they why they sound now can you imagine how it will sound with a sub?

Question though... at the Promaxx's loudest volume, is it any where near the loudest volume of the ZXa5s? Even on that well done review that was done, they stated the ZXa5's seem like they could go on forever and the output was no contest compared to the rest of the bunch.

Here's what I'd like to see... at the Promaxx's absolute loudest non-clipping volume, set the ZXA5 to the same loudness and compare the sound quality; then know the ZXA has even more headroom to get louder. I know about the harshness sound at the loudest volumes on the ZXA5. It's not a perfect speaker but it is excellent. My only gripe about the Promaxx is its look. Its weight, price and performance seem to all be top notch.

No its not near the loudest volume of the ZXa5s volume but if you put the two together and set to the loudest non clipping volume in my opinion the promaxx sound quality is definitely better to my ears....But yes the zxa5 do get louder....Thats why i can't wait for these new etc series to come out so we could see how they sound at extreme volumes compared to the zxa5...

The price, weight, and sound quality won me over the zxa5.....Like i said i don't know how they got all that power in that little box

FBT 14a- Watchwww.youtube.com
www.fbt.it

Interesting, it uses a 14in woofer and its 36 pounds. Hard plastic shell from what I can see.

Uh-oh... question (potential problem). I ordered the 15sa sub (one sub) to go with my new tops, but the sub only has ONE input (most subs I've seen have two ins and outs. So HOW would I hook this up? www.fbt.it

Example, my KSub had two ins and outs, so I'd run from my mixer L & R into the two sub inputs, then out of two sub outputs into the tops. Would XLR splitters be OK to use? Or were they designed so you have to buy two?

I changed my order to a different sub... all good :)

Do you own Zxa5's ?

Agipro has them shipping on 4/18 (one week!!)

www.agiprodj.com

I'm waiting to hear them in person again first before deciding. I need one powerful top to run above my subs at my venues where there's not enough room for L/R speakers. It's either the etx or dsr.

OK, so I have and love the Promaxx 14a's. I just ordered an FBT Subline 15sa to go with it. It has 4 presets on the back... 1) Original 80hz 2) Original 120hz 3) Punch 80hz and 4) Punch 120hz. I have no idea what these settings mean. I assume they are the crossover. I've never learned about crossover points or how to use them. I had the Ksub with 2 K12's and I just plugged them in :P ... I am wondering which setting would be best and should I run from mixer to Sub, then tops, or from mixer to tops, then sub last? My goal is the add some low end without losing low end in the tops. I like how those tops sound as full speakers and I don't want to sacrifice a lot of low end up top since I'm only using one sub. Thanks guys. I don't mean to be ignorant... just trying to learn.

Here's a crazy thought (and maybe I'm way off here) but if I wanted to keep full signal to my tops yet add some subwoofer, could I just run from "booth out" on my mixer to the sub and main outs to the tops? Then I'd have a separate volume knob on my mixer for the sub. Or is that a bad plan?

Full signal to the top is no problem but not full output from the top. You don't want tops trying to reproduce sub bass when you have subs playing the same notes. The overlapping frequencies get knocked out of phase and negate one another.

Based on the one sub and tops in question, what would be the best way to hook things together and with which Frequency choice?

I would call or email FBT and ask them for the recommended settings. I am going to assume that nobody has that system on these forums so there's no sense in trying to get advice when you can just ask the manufacturer directly.

I will try to contact them. Here's the manual (not sure if this clears anything up). www.fbt.it

I don't understand why you're trying to run a single 15inch sub with 14inch tops. Those tops are going to overpower that single sub. You can definitely turn your tops down but the set up just seems a little backwards to me.

JDforKing, I hear what you're saying. Ideally, a couple of 18's would be great, but that's not in the budget, my back, or room in my car. I just want to get a little more punch to accompany the tops. That's why I'm trying to figure out optimal settings so I don't take a lot of LF away from the tops.

In theory, wouldn't that be the same situation I was in before (running 2 K12's with only one KSub)? While the Ksub wasn't the greatest, it DID add a little punch to the lows. I never cranked the system THAT loud to where the sub didn't seem to be keeping up.

Again, I'm learning. When you say the sub won't keep up, is it a waste of money then?

sub frequencies are generally mono so you only need to send one channel to the subwoofer.

also I agree that a single 15" sub isn't going to keep up with 2 14" tops. you'd want two at least but it's better to have an 18.

Would I be better off to stick with the tops and not buy the sub?

Someone else suggested buying a third top and putting it in the floor mode using it as a makeshift sub. Thoughts?

Someone gave you a bad suggestion.

What are you trying to accomplish here? The FBTs are a great choice. The sub you picked will give you some extra bass but will not compete with a bigger sub. It's physics and you can't beat it.

What I am trying to do is add a little more bass to the overall system. Will this subwoofer take away too much bass from the tops? Or would it be enough to make the system sound better? If I'm better off with the tops by themselves, I will cancel the sub order.

Are you completely new to buying & setting up speakers?

Actually yes, I am fairly new to setting up speakers and subs. I only had the K-series by QSC prior to buying the ProMaxX 14a's.

Did a little research and stumbled across these:

www.fbt.it

They are basically the same as the subline 15sa but in a plastic enclosure instead of baltic birch. I'm sure they don't hit quite as hard as the birch but they are smaller and lighter and TWO of them would fit in my car, I think. Anyone think 2 of those would keep up with the 2 Promaxx 14a's?

I don't think you realize that the promaxx14a is one of fbt best powered speakers. Most subs that fit in your car wont keep up with your tops.

So, unless I could get two of the Promaxx 15's or a decent 18", I should probably not worry about a sub at this point?

In my opinion, yes.

I think your tops without a sub will work great for weddings up to 150 people.

why don't you just try your new speakers out at a few gigs and then decide what you think you might need?

Correct. You did it right by purchasing top notch tops... don't stub your toe on low-volume subs, especially plastic ones.

Yeah, I think I'm overthinking things. That's a good plan. I really wanted to use a Promaxx 15sa sub, but it only has ONE XLR input (where most subs have two) and it has ONE XLR LINK output. I don't know how I could use one of those subs with two tops. I run in stereo, not mono, so could I just use an XLR "Y" cable?

If I understand correctly, the crossovers are built into the tops and you have to run from mixer, to tops, then subs (backwards from most configurations) but still, how would I go from two tops to one sub? This sub is 1200 watts RMS so it would probably be better at keeping up than most other subs I've discussed here

built-in "crossovers" on tops are just high-pass filters that cut out the low frequencies at a certain point (usually 100 hz). So you don't have to worry about passing the signal through the tops. Simply pass the left channel through the sub, and the that to your left speaker and leave the right speaker connected through the main board.

The thing about larger 15" speakers is they tend to sound best on their own unless you have some serious subs to pair with them. Otherwise, you would have been better off going with smaller tops if you were set on the subs.

Again, if your average party size is 100-150, you won't really need subs with those particular tops as they are some of the louder ones available.

Even then, a good rule of thumb is to have more bottom end than top end speaker-wise as it simply takes more power to drive low frequencies than it does highs and mids so to get a proper balanced signal, you generally need larger (or more) subs than you have tops. Especially in the case of monsters like the promaxx 14as.

Of course you can always turn down the tops to match the single sub, but you have to ask yourself, for parties of just 150, is it worth it to you to pay for a sub and lug it to events if you have to turn your tops way down to compensate?

dj_soo... well said. I'm gonna quit sweating it. They sound great. The only reason I thought I might need more bass is that I set them up on my deck and the bass wasn't as good as it was in my living room.

Anyway, I'm gonna try them on their own. I appreciate everyone's input (and patience with me) I know I've been all over the place.

Mike Sinclair

if i were you i would stick with the promaxx15 sub, you could always run serato in mono

if you prefer not to run mono doesn't the 14a have a built in crossover? run one channel to the sub than output that to the top, than the other channel to the top

Guitar Center already has them available

Yes, the 14a does have a crossover, but if I run in stereo, wouldn't I miss the bass from the other channel? Also, from what I understand, these FBT's were designed so you have to actually run from mixer to tops, then to sub(s) last (kind of backwards from what we're used to, I know.

NO......... you won't miss anything, when you here big bass in a room do you know if it's coming from your right or your left?


.........run one channel to your top than sub than the other channel to your other top you'll still get that stereo sound

bass is no directional it goes everywhere........you will be fine trust me when i tell you, i don't give people bad advise EVER get one promaxx15sa you will be 5 times happier than you are now

Well, so far your advice has been very good, so I don't doubt you. I was just wondering if bass can be recording in stereo (some in Left channel, some in Right) and if I only ran bass from one side, I'd miss what was recorded in the other channel. So, you're saying bass doesn't work that way?

One other quick question though: If I run from one speaker to the sub, that top speaker will be crossed over and the other top will be full range. Won't that sound a little off?

bass is mono/non directional not stereo


no you crossover/high pass filter both to boxes

high pass both to boxes? You lost me. I would have one sub and you suggested running one channel to top then to sub (that one would be high pass filtered) then run the other channel to the other top. The second top would then be full range coming off second channel on mixer.

What about something like a DBX Driverack? Only question is would that mess with the DSP already onboard the speakers? Cuz I LOVE the way the speakers sound right now... don't want to mess that up. Maybe I'll just try to run the tops without a sub for a few gigs and see how they sound. Thanks again Joee. Your thoughts are much appreciated :)

run both top boxes in high pass mode, as far as to the top than the sub vs. to the sub than the top

do it how ever fbt recommends it should be in the manual

Dude you have 1 sub. You cannot run it in stereo. Could you run a top speaker in stereo with one speaker? Think about it. If you had two subs then you could run the subs in stereo. Not that it really matters cause most people run subs in mono since bass isn't directional. Here is what you do, you place that sub in the middle with the tops on each side and high pass filter them. If you don't take out the bass (high pass filter) off the tops then your entire mix could sound muddy. The vocals on the tracks can sound muffled. Yes there is a thing as too much bass. It won't sound clear and punchy. If you have the tops spread out far enough from the subs then you could play around with them running in full range.

Sorry, I've been over thinking this stuff for days. For some reason, I didn't think the 14a's had HP filter switch, but they do! SELECT, I understand you can't run ONE sub in stereo. My concern is that the sub I want only has ONE INPUT and if I run from the LINK OUT of one top speaker, and not the other, am I getting all the bass? Does that make more sense? If I were to do this (connect from ONE top down to the sub) does it matter if I come from the Left or Right top? I assume it doesn't matter, but wonder if there's a "standard".

Yes, you will be fine with most of today's music. Older music is different and maybe a few of today's songs, like Icona Pops I love it (minimal thou). Overall you should be good to go.

Would something like THIS be good just to make sure I'm getting all the bass?

www.mcmelectronics.com

Mike Sinclair

you are over thinking this, stop NOW.......lol

run the system the way i told you it will still be stereo but your bass wont be which doesnt mater

BASS IS NO DIRECTIONAL!...........

waste of money in my opinion. if you're truly concerned about the 1 sub getting left and right signal i would invest that money into a more useful tool such as a channel mixer to achieve this. Watchwww.youtube.com

It makes no sense. The link out is just a pass through, it sends the complete signal from your mixer to whatever your connecting it to whether its a top or sub. Its made for daisy chaining speakers and subs. It does not change the sound.

I run my tops in stereo, not mono. Some program material (like Niro said above) is recorded in stereo, and while bass is omnidirectional, it is possible to split some bass to L & R. Yes, MOST bass is centered, especially nowadays, but it's not always 100% the case. So, that's why I'm researching this so hard... learning as I go... that's for sure. And, the link out is a pass thru UNLESS I engage the High Pass FIlter, then it uses built-in crossover. The sub doesn't have a built-in crosser, instead, FBT chose to let you choose the frequency at which the sub cuts off on the back of the unit.

That's not true at all. Most subs have dual inputs to sum both channels. I run L&R signal to my Yorkville LS800p and my EV ZXa1 subs when using only one sub. Most subs (not the Yorkville) will also send a high pass signal out to the top cabinets.
My EV: L&R mains into sub, sub outs to top speakers.
Yorkie: L&R mains to top speakers, L&R Secondary output to Sub. I could also go from tops to sub but that is just a mess of cabling that isn't beneficial.

Did you take a listen to them? how do they sound?

They sound really good and can get really loud with a sub. I'm curious to hear how they perform in a gig. Hearing them in a store is always different.

Nope, the link out is still the same signal from the mixer, it will never change. Again, it is meant to daisy chain speakers and have them run independently to however you choose. The speakers and sub have their own crossovers built in. You can run the sub at different crossover frequencies, same thing with the tops. The sub your looking at has a crossover from 80hz all the way up to 140hz. The tops have a "factory preset", which can be used for vocals, dance music, etc. They dont list the crossover frequencies they use to change the sound.

OK, my mixer has a MONO/STEREO switch. I use stereo. So, if I run an XLR out of the LEFT master output into speaker A (for example) and a second XLR cable out of the RIGHT master output to speaker B, then go from link out of (let's say) speaker A into speaker C. Then speaker C is only getting LEFT channel, not full signal.

I see what you are saying about the crossovers, but the tops have various factory presets like you said, but those are not crossover frequencies, that is onboard DSP. (The loudness setting boosts the low end, similar to "bass boost" on a qsc k12).

untracking

Sorry guys. I'm just trying to learn and some of the info I'm getting conflicts with other info. So if I offend anyone by asking questions, then "untrack" away!

Thanks Pdidy. I appreciate your input.

I have this problem also, it's somewhat OCD. It's really hard to get away from the technical aspect of equipment, even if the real world applications sound or look equal, but the data is different. Mine usually passes after I go thru all the hassles of trying to equal something out, then to realize it doesn't matter. But I understand your issue.

Your solution is to get something like this Rane crossover that mono's the sub
www.rane.com

Or get 2 subs.

Nice! That Rane might be a solid option. Thanks for that. I would LOVE to get two subs if only I had room in my vehicle...

Dude you confusing yourself. In your example that is a full signal, left channel full signal. Exactly what its made for, daisy chaining. How in the world you expect to get a stereo signal from one channel is beyond me.

As far as the tops they made those presets so you can choose how you want your music to sound with or without their subwoofer.

You dont need anything extra, nada. Your making mess out of this when its so easy to setup and sound the way its supposed to.

Realy get a different sub so you can pass the tops from it from left to right. Hopefully that will visually make you feel better even tho it wont change your sound at all!

Also all these powered subs for live sound are all mono. Just because they have two inputs doesnt mean they are running in stereo, its all for ease of setup and configuration, daisy chaining. Call the companies and ask for yourself. Like they told me and Ive been telling you, you want stereo subs, get TWO subs! Im out. Good luck.

For the record I called Yorkville and EV. All their subs are mono!

I am not confusing myself. You are not understanding me. I know you can't get stereo from one channel. I never said I wanted to do that. But, some bass frequencies, while not many, are recorded with some stereo separation (mostly older tracks). And, I HAVE talked to a few people who confirm that. Sure, I CAN run from the "link out" of one speaker into the sub and it will probably sound just fine 99% of the time, but if it's a song that happens to have some bass frequency that was mastered in the OTHER channel, it won't pass through because I'm passing only LEFT OR RIGHT into the sub. So, with a sub that only has one input, it would be nice to SUM L&R to MONO (NOT stereo) into the sub to make sure I'm capturing ALL low frequencies for sure. Niro got what I was saying and offered up a unit that will do exactly that.

I never once said I thought subs were stereo, but bass frequencies CAN be split in the recording process and I'm running Stereo OUT of my mixer (Left channel to one speaker, Right channel to second top speaker) so, then coming from ONE speaker to sub, it's only going to be left OR right signal depending on which top I'm coming from.

When a sub has two inputs, and you're feeding it both sides when coming out of your mixer in stereo mode (and again, I'm NOT saying the sub is stereo, just that it's getting all low frequencies into it)... OR, if you run in Mono Mode out of mixer then yes, you can pass one side and you're feeding all low frequencies to the sub. Or if you happen to have "sub out" on a mixer or crossover that allows summing to mono, then you're good to go. Anyone else understand what I'm saying? I swear I'm not crazy!

So will you get the Chanel mixer or the crossover ?

Which would you recommend between the two?

pdidy,

any channel mixer you can recommend? I'm googling as we speak and there are a ton of them in various price ranges

Your speakers have good internal crossovers already therefore I would choose the line mixer.

That's kind of what I was thinking. I looked at a driverack PX too, but I think that's overkill, since the speakers have good crossovers and great DSP

What's you budget ?

I'm a "best bang for the buck" kind of guy. I don't need the Ferrari, but I don't want the clunker either (if that makes any sense) :P ... something solid that I can trust.

Preferably XLR in and out

I recommend you quit driving yourself and the people in this thread crazy with this nonsense. Who gives a crap about a less than 1% chance of playing a song that may be mixed on the opposite channel. Do you even know of what those songs are? How do you even know you have them in your collection? You are over analyzing this way too much. If you really care about the sound so much then buy another sub. You are posting on this forum about the FBTs you said you bought but posting on the prosound forums about still looking into the RCF HD -32A's. Which is it?

As I have stated earlier in the thread, why don't you call FBT and ask them the correct way to hook things up?

I posted on the other forum WHEN I was looking into the RCF's. So "which is it?" it's the Promaxx's that I bought... obviously. This is an open forum. If you don't like what I have to say, don't read it! And, in case you haven't been reading, I'm close to a solution thanks to people who actually do try to help others.

Tell me if I'm wrong, but the confusion maybe with the term Bass. Bass kicks are mono (not all the time, but mostly) but some baselines, especially older music is recorded stereo. So you will honestly loose it if you're cutting the low end and just plugging into only one side.

My other suggestion would be to cut the low on the side you are using a sub on and leave the other in full range.

I considered that, but I wasn't sure if that would mess with the sound field or not.

again, as joee, me, and everyone else has been saying.

YOU DON'T NEED TO RUN YOUR BASS IN STEREO.

Not only is it non-directional, in modern music, anything below 100hz is mixed to mono these days anyway.

OK, if I order the sub, I'll just run it from one side. I just didn't want to potentially lose anything. But since that's apparently an extremely small percentage, I won't sweat it. I'll stop now :) ... and, in all honestly, thank you guys. I really do appreciate the input.

There are still songs that have bass lines that are not equal from both channels or older music. Bass and anything coming out of one speaker is mono, but if there is a bass line recorded only on the right channel. Running the tops with a low-cut and the sub on the left will void it.

The low end output will not be identical, but you won't lose all of the bass if it was recorded in stereo. You should be good 98% of the time. I have ran it this way many times.

Basslines consist of a range of frequencies. The sub-bass which is the part you "feel" is almost always in mono. It's the higher frequencies - the parts you hear tend to be the overtones that play in a higher frequency spectrum which can be stereo.

The only real exception is maybe music made and mixed in the 60s which was often hard-panning instruments left and right. But even then, there was little to no sub-bass in that music to begin with simply because the emphasis on sub-bass is a relatively new phenomenon in recording. If it's a huge concern, turn your crossovers down to around 80 or 90 hz and the few times you feel the need to play the beatles, you'll still hear the stereo bass signal even if the subs aren't picking up completely on what little is there.

Very NICE explanation... thank you! :)

Another easy way to deal with the old track issue is simply switch your output in serato to mono the few times you decide to drop a older track. Cheaper than buying an outboard mixer or crossover - especially since those speakers already include hpf for the tops.

That's actually a beautiful plan. Why spend more money when I don't have to? Thanks again.

why do you keep putting so much thought into this?

you don't need a mixer to get mono output

both scratchLive & serato dj have a mono or stereo output option in the setup menu

Yup... got it. I'm done. Thanks again for all your help.

I think he wanted to mono the subs and keep the highs in stereo.

Really a waste of money considering the tracks that do have stereo bass are few and far between.

A thought: (sorry, I don't mean to keep this going) I just had a question. I found another lightweight, seemingly powerful subwoofer and this one has pass thru's (left and right). It's the JBL PRX715XLF ... anyone have experience with this sub? Or would the FBT ProMaxX 15sa be a better choice?

I still think you should just run the fbts on their own for a couple of gigs and see how those sound. Any more than 150 people and you won't really need a sub.

Good call... I'm sure my living room isn't the best environment to really test out the tops. Thanks DJ Soo

this

K... message received! Thanks guys.

Lock this thread please. LOL

+1

SMH....

Y'all are terrible with symmetry...

It's VERY POSSIBLE that SOME bass notes are split in Stereo, depending on how the song is mixed...

Regardless, I would always feel some type of way if I know that part of the stereo sound that was intended to be heard is left out.

You can purchase a small Behringer mixer -> www.bhphotovideo.com, feed the left in to Channel 1, Right into Channel 2, pan to the middle, and use one output as a summed Mono signal for your single sub.

Just sayin...

Recording has nothing to do with the speaker output here.

It's not like you're "removing" the bass from a side.

You are very clear in your thinking, and YES, it's possible to "Miss" some bass notes IF the recording was mixed down a certain way.

If you're paranoid (like me) about missing bass sounds, let the little mixer I suggested above, run both channels into it, pan to the middle, (so it creates a mono signal), and use an output for your sub. Problem solved.

Boom. There it is.

Exactly.

How the hell do you know so much about one aspect of speakers, but not something "seemingly" easy as summing to mono?

Y'all buggin...

If dude wants to sum mono his sub, then let him.

He's asking a LEGIT question, and old music or new, it's POSSIBLE that he could loose SOME music, notes, effects, or whatever if he doesn't sum the bass to mono to get both the left and right channel.

Some of y'all don't care, and would just put your mixer on Mono, and call it a day...

Some of us care...

For example, I'm EXTREMELY picky when setting up sound...

If I MONO JUST the bass vs running it in STEREO, I can tell the difference in TODAY'S dance music...

The bass if MONO'ed, seems to concentrate to the CENTER of the room, vs in Stereo, it seems much more full, but I'm talking about using 2 bins of course...

A single sub in the middle, WILL sound tighter and inclusive of all bass notes if summed to Mono.

But then his RECORDING will be in Mono...

Y'all buggin...

All good points by Johnny. What kind of DJ mixer are you running Sinclair? Quite a few mixers have hardware mono switches. i play a lot of 50s & 60s music (Soul, R&B, Boogaloo, Latin, Surf, Rockabilly), and personally I think they all sound better on a Bar/Club system when run in mono. After all, production techniques did advance during the 60s/70s. Late 60s, early 70s stuff normally has a lot better sound quality to it than the earlier stuff.

i run mono all the time when i do a smaller gig were i take one sub & one top, do you think anyone can tell the difference?

NO! they can't

I'm running the new Denon MC6000MK2 which DOES have a mono/stereo switch. I prefer to run in Stereo which is why this conversation came up.

this thread has gone totally off topic

This wasn't about "THEM", HE wanted to make sure all the notes were present and accounted for.

Some of us can appreciate that, some of us can't.

No biggie.

Like, I'm the type of guy who has a heart attack if I I have 2 say, banana clip ends of speaker wire, and one is RED, the other BLACK.

I ALWAYS make sure the one with the RED end connected to the RIGHT channel....and I'm just talking about a speaker cable.

Don't get me started on how some of y'all are strait OCD over wire management in the first place.

Nothing wrong with being OCD over signal processing and output... He'll take better care of his equipment, and his equipment will take good care of him.

And tell the difference about what? You have NO CHOICE but to run in Mono if you bring ONE top / bottom.

man don't start we me son.........wires every ware is just horrible HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!



HORRRRIIIBBBBLLLEEEEE


difference in what? that room is filled with sound wether i bring one or two speaker they can't tell the difference

wires showing BLASPHEMY!!!!!!!!!!

just went to the local EV ETX demo. Very impressed with the whole line.

Compared the QSC KW153 and KW181 vs the EV ETX 3way and 18" sub, and the EV is leaps and bounds better in SQ and output. the KW153 sounded very harsh and tinny. The EV was more natural and warm, most likely because of the wood box.

They turned down the EV sub by -6db to match the QSC 18". I really like the 10" and 12" tops. The EV 15" sub is very impressive as well. The output is almost that of the KW181.

10's over 15's would be a great system for weddings.

instagram.com

Yeah I want them now. Damnit.

WHAT -6db ?..... Get the f*#K out of here.....lol

There's got to be a misunderstanding here cause something's not right with those numbers.
-6db would mean 1 EV ETX sub is = to 2 QSC 18 !! Naaa

That's what the reps said. To compare the QSC vs EV, they turned off 1 of the subs on the left stack and then matchd the SPL output as close as possible. After that, they turned them on and went through all the different EV models with the 2 different model subs.

They mentioned the -6 because they said it can get alot louder, but for the purposes of the test it was to do an fair comparison of the sound quality and not to show the output difference.

I wonder how the EV ETX 3 way compares to that Mackie 3 way

So if that demo was "for real", that would put the EV ETX sub up there with the Yorkville 801 in spl but with superior sound quality. hmmm

Now if the EV ETX sub was in Horn loaded cabinet I'd be more inclined to believe it but its in a standard reflex cabinet. ???

what size events do you think the 12's could handle with some 18's?

the ETX sub is about the size of the yorkville I believe. They were saying they needed a bigger box to get the most out of their sub. I do think the yorkville still would be louder.

Man I wish you could do a comparison of the 2. They should give you products to demo..lol

It really depends on the type of events and room dimensions, but it should handle a 3-400 person wedding easily.

good to know thank

wonder how the etx 15 compares to the zxa5

So why purchase 2 speakers in the first place?

Again, some of us want quality, some of us just want......sound.

i know right, exactly the reason i purchased two ZAX5'S & i run the xlr wire down the back of the speaker stand with wire tire so no wires show

Thats the question we all want to know... On paper its better than the zxa5 but i don't trust the specs....Also the ETX has a 2 inch voice coil with a 1.25 compression driver compared to the ZXA5 2 inch coil 1 inch compression driver....Somebody will AB the two very soon as the ETX is starting to show up in stores..

that and considering the etx15 is cheaper than the zxa5

@RIDDIMNBLUES

i don't know if you got a chance to see this tread, but this speaker might give the zxa5 a run for it's money
serato.com

Wow!! that 4" inch voice coil is even bigger than the promaxx 3" voice coil...Alot of people be sleeping on these italian brand speakers.....

I am going to say that the new ETX subs will be 4-6db lower than the Yorkvilles. I also think that they will sound much better, be easier to move around, and will be sufficiently loud enough for most gigs. Having the built in ability to cardioid load multiple (3 or more) subs will put the SPL output on par with the Yorkvilles.
I almost bit on the ZZounds 12 payment plan for one yesterday but will wait until I can hear them in person.

I also think the same holds true to the ETX 3 way / ZXa5 comparison - ETX will sound better, not be as loud but will sufficiently loud enough for most gigs.

i dont get that ? cardioid does not increase output.

Also, the cardioid feature is one feature you wont be seeing used at the level of the game.

Perhaps I mispoke. I think the cleaner, fuller pattern of a cardioid subwoofer array would require less power and possibly less overall SPL to fill the venue area with acceptable levels; where the Yorkvilles might be driven harder to attempt to fill in the dead spots. I agree that most wouldn't be using this type of setup but it's a nice feature to have if you need it.
Just my opinion, I am not a Super Sound Engineer...
Here is a good read:
www.electrovoice.com

Are he FBT Promaxx speakers now discontinued? www.avsuperstore.com

The ^^^

the entire promaxx line or just the 10a

They had "discontinued" for the 15" sub too.

I called RMC Audio, he says they still get them in all the time. When I tried to get a price from my distributor they said the Promaxx 14a was discontinued. The FBT US distribution center is shut down, RMC Audio deals with FBT Italy direct with a 3+ week lead time on orders.

I just got the ETX 12P delivered last night. s66.photobucket.com

The build- Looks great, nice grill, clean and classy. Box feels solid, handles in good spots. Monitor wedge is nice. Much heavier and harder than I thought they would be getting them on the pole.

The DSP- I LOVE this feature. Visually with numbers and a small graph you can see your input go up till it reaches 0. Thats great, no second guessing your input level on these. Good for those guys who like playing in the red. You'll know how far to bring the master up. The menu is really easy to use and has a lot of nice features.

The sound- I used my Rane 62 and had the lights blinking in yellow on the gains, I think thats about +2, +4 decibels. I then turned up the master and watched the numbers go up on the back of the speaker till I reached 0 db. I was about 10 ft away, they got really loud, I could barely hear my friend speak. The dispersion pattern in good. The bass is decent, not great, but in par with its nearest competitors. I listened to tons of tracks, from EDM, Dancehall, Jazz, etc. They reproduced all the notes well, clean. I then wanted to hear them peak. As I turned up the db gain in the back I noticed on bass heavy tracks +3 was when the peak warning came on and other tracks I could go as high as +6. With my input gain at zero and the DSP gain at +3 I couldnt make out a word my friend was saying in front of me. I was screaming at him lol. The sound engulfed us, just super loud!! Pretty impressive for such a small speaker. So where these shine is the highs and sheer output with no distortion. I then went even higher in the db gain in the back and the warning came up, but never did they distort. They just kept getting louder! The protection they have is excellent. Its a great little speaker and my 15sp sub arrives today. I cannot wait to hear it paired with these! They definitely need some bass behind them. I'll let you know soon enough.

nice review

Thanks, I think the db gain in the back of the speaker will be really useful when I just plug in microphones directly into them.

I bet rental spots will scoop these up considering the levels of protection they seem to offer. EV has nearly idiot-proofed these ETX's.

Yeah I think the protection on these is the best set of features that any manufacturer has introduced to date. Just seeing your input go up and knowing when to stop rather than some blinking light is huge. Its way too easy to abuse powered speakers.

Speaking both as a mobile DJ who owns the ETX-15Ps for personal use and owner of a company that rents out tons of powered speakers: we won't be purchasing the ETX line for rentals.

First, you need to understand that 9.5/10 people who rent sound systems--at least from us--would look at you like you're speaking Greek if you tried to discuss "input gain" with them. They're simply not going to understand that concept at a level that makes this feature a benefit. They want to pick up the gear, get where they're going, plug it in and make it work acceptably well.

We rent out almost exclusively QSC K12's and Alto TS-112A's. Why? Because between a few labels and the simplicity of the speakers, they're basically idiot proof. I tell them "watch the limit light [as I point to it]... it can blink now and again, but if it's dead red, you're pushing the speakers too hard, and you may be buying us some new ones come Monday." Not only that, but at ~$375 more per box than the K12, and $800 more than the Alto, it's just not worth it. Just about everyone gets all the volume they need from the K12's (plus sub(s) when needed), and if they are doing something larger they're generally going to have us come in and fully run sound for them with our higher end stuff. Tons of people every week are happy with the pair of Altos at their house party, BBQ, graduation party, etc.

In general, I'm pretty averse to running into the limiter during my performances other than blinks here and there. If the limiter is coming on and the signal is compressing, I'm sacrificing a great deal of sound quality for minimal & temporary output quantity--not to mention the risk of shutting down your speaker. Just from playing around a little, these EVs do seem to do a better job than most at managing themselves at clip, but I'll have to get back to you after a performance outside this summer...

I have an outdoor gig tomorrow and brought my ETXs for the first time (it's out of town, and I'm here night before), so I'm giving them a whirl in just the type of event I bought them for--around 100-120 people when I'm trying to avoid having to bring a sub to get acceptable output. I'll report back after the gig...

That was my biggest concern. Getting older and being a one-man operation with slight back issues, the last thing I need is to struggle getting a speaker on and off the poles. I'm glad I went with the RCF's. These ETX's sound pretty sweet, but too heavy for me. I'll be curious to see how the upcoming RCF Evox 8 system sounds. That's gonna be super portable.

No more Behringers at GC: www.musicincmag.com

I'm gonna hook them up and A/B/C them at some point this week with some of my other speakers, but I was seriously underwhelmed with the output of the ETX-15p. The limiter comes on really quickly, and the thermal warning came on a few times. I'm wondering if the lack of "flat" setting on the back means that the "music" setting is basically like QSC deep mode (which also limits quickly).

I barely had enough volume to cover a fairly small dance floor at an event with only 100 guests.

Wow. Very interesting.

I always expect limiter lights to go on powered speakers. Its the main reason why I gave up on them and went passive with the JBL SRX line. Reality tho is people expect to much from powered speakers and drive them to hard. With that said I just got and used my new ETX 12p and ETX 15sp speakers this weekend at a gig. I needed a smaller setup that could cover all of my wedding dance floors this year. At home testing them out I used them all first at full range. Bass was great, not muddy, everything sounded good, punchy. I then used the preset settings the tops and sub had for using them together. I noticed a lot more depth and balance to the music. The stereo imaging was excellent, it sounded really good, I was impressed! This is the way I was going to use them at my gig. At the gig setup was a breeze. I am able to lift the sub into my suv and stand it on its casters. Just great, I had so much more room than before with my two 15in tops and 18in subs. Once the party started I turned them up and got out in front to listen. They setup sounded good and projected well. I was in a small, medium sized hall. The sub was cool and what I expected for a small 15in sub. Nothing like an 18in sub, but enough bump to complimented the tops. Two 15in subs would have been nice.

Now the bad. The tops were crossed over so they never once peaked or limited. Cool the entire night and the room temp was hot, no AC. I was dying. The sub on the other hand did show the peak warning and quite frequently with bass heavy tracks. There was one particular track where the peak and temp warning stayed on and even worse I got a burning smell coming from the sub. Now the sub didnt turn off or down. That was cool cause the party was in full swing. However I didnt like that smell and it scared me. Now it could be that the room was really hot and it was new, but still I wasnt driving it hard. I kinda wish I would have got the 18in version, but then again, I like the size and its easy on my back and car suspension.

Overall they look great and do the job. Its a nice compact setup. I got a good deal on them. They have a good warranty. For being powered speakers I didnt expect much to begin with so I wasnt completely impressed or disappointed. I have an outdoor gig this Sunday. Im going to be running them all at full range since the tops and sub will be a distance from each other. Well see how they hold up.

Thanks for review on the 15 sub

Classic case of not-enuff-rig-for-the-gig. This is why I rarely recommend 15" subs to other DJ's.

I recently did a wedding with a single EV SBa750 15" sub and a pair of RCF312A tops. The venue was made of mostly marble and the sub was wall/floor loaded so the bass was crazy (more than enough). I have a 2nd EV SBa750 but having previously done that same venue, I knew 2 subs was waaaayyyy too much.

i can tell you that two rcf sub 705-as coupled together is a very nice bass

If your going small subs, you're better off having two to be really be covered for most gigs. It was definitely adequate with just one, but for this crowd and the format, Funk, RnB, 90's, Hip Hop, it was lacking the bass Im used to having when I play out. One more sub is definitely in the works.

I know, as do my 2 EV SBa750's. They thump and sound great but there's a limit with bigger rooms and more people. Some guys have smaller vehicles so I guess you just run with what suits you.

I setup my ETX 12p tops at home tonight. I switched the function mode to from music to live and started playing tracks to test them out again. I can definitely hear a difference. The live setting is now my favorite. It makes these speakers come alive. I'll be testing them out this way at my next gig with the sub. I'll give you all an update after this weekend.

I really like how the etx 12's sound but I haven't read any solid gig reports or reviews on them yet to give me a good idea what they are capable of. Not sure if its worth the extra money over getting some Yamaha dxrs.

I just spoke to an EV technical rep, the "music" setting is designed to be more conservative and incoporates compression/eq/limiting. The "live" setting is more raw and is for use with a professional mixing console that has compression/eq/limiting. Honestly the live setting is really awesome! The music is alive, punchy, strong! Im using a Rane 62 mixer. He also said its fine to use the live setting with a DJ mixer as long as your not abusing them. Im super excited to test the sub and tops out at my next gig.

So I played out with my ETX setup this weekend at an outdoor 5k post race after party. At setup time I had all my speakers set to "live" mode, 0db and I kept the sub at its default factory setting of 100hz crossover.

The sound- Pretty amazing for a compact setup! Heads were turning as I cranked them up, and the subwoofer sounded wonderful. The dispersion was great and projected really well in the area I was in. Rock music and anything "live" really shines on this setup! The stereo imagining/sound stage is excellent! This EV sound, I love it. Dance music and everything else is equally as good. Just clean and punchy. As I was playing the tops peak light did flash frequently, but they never turned off or down. I couldnt see the sub from under the stage, but I could feel delivering some pretty sweet bass. It also didnt shut down or turn down either. The sound never distorted and the speakers kept their composure the entire day with direct sunlight on the back of them for most of the day. Overall I'm really happy with my new setup. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a nice, inexpensive compact setup. Easy to load in and out of my car as well. I got a lot of compliments that day and gave out the most business cards I have all year in one gig. Good times.

@ select I actually picked up an etx 12 and I have to agree with you,it's a great sounding speaker. I tried it live mode and it definitely made a huge difference in the sound, it's like night and day. The cab is a little bit heavier than my prx 712 but it definitely sounds more crispier and punchier than the jbl .

For real, that music mode is too soft for my taste. I used it at my first gig and was like ehh, they're ok. Live mode is more of what I thought these speakers would sound like. They are great for sure.

I,m gonna get me my second one thanks for the info.

so you're setting the Sub on Live mode as well?

Yes, live mode all around. I have no idea of what EV was thinking with that music mode. I just dont care for it.

You know i never thought about using the live mode on my ETX 35-P till i saw your post the other day. Ever since i bought them ive been using them in music mode and thought they played very good bought in the back of my mind i was expecting more punch...Yesterday i tried them in live mode and i was fricking amazed and blown away of the difference it sounded in live mode...Wow!!! now this is more of what i was expecting out of the 35-p speakers...couldn't be more satisfied and proud of these speakers..I was going by the manual and using the music setting,they should of been more specific in the manual..

you mean the manual didn't help? awww man don't tell Johnny! he a firm believer of manuals

:-)

Well I think music mode is made to be used by a broad range of DJ mixers/controllers so the DSP settings are set a certain way cause they know idiots like playing in the red and at max volume. It just sounds overly compressed. I think they softened up the sound so people wouldn't blow them out. Anything is possible.

I as well wasn't completely satisfied till I used them outdoors this past weekend in live mode. I could only imagine what the 35p sound like for you in live mode.

did you return the 18" yet? i wonder what would be the test results after doing the test again with the sub set to live mode after reading about SELECTS experience

this right here has got to be the best quote of all time!


reason being mike was set to buy rcf HD's the sales person told him FBT sounds better & out preforms the rcf

so he got the promaxx14a he was not pleased with the sound, sold them got the rcf HD's and is thrilled with the sound


never EVER EVER ever listen to a sales person you don't know!!!!!!

this was a first, I've never heard of anyone not being pleased with the promaxx14a sound.
Im still a lil suspicious.....

i've never heard the fbt but let me tell you i got a pair of FD12-A'a not the HD, the rcf D Line sounds GOOD


when i let people here it they say, is the sub on? they think it is when it's not it has a nice bass for being a 12"


so again i can't speak for fbt, but rcf d line MAN...... i did i gig this week in a small lounge and only took one, another dj comes up to me and says what kind of speaker is that i say rcf, he that says were are the rest of the speakers? i say thats it just one, he said WOW

I did return it. I had bought it down in Austin when visiting a friends. After my disappointment with it I had him return it for me. Now I really wish I kept it longer to test it in live mode.

cant find any official info on the FD12-A. can you post the link on from rcf ?

the FD12-A is a box that rcf made exclusively for chuck levins so you won't see it on the rcf website

HD12-A
www.rcf.it

FD12-A
shop.chucklevins.com

it was $599 they recently had a price drop to $499, for the price the speaker can't be beat

This was at soundcheck prior to my event that day. Forgive the sound it was recorded with a camera, but at least you'll get an idea of what they sound like. My Rane 62 master level was at about 4.5. The subwoofer was placed under the stage. I definitely would like to add another subwoofer. The single adds a good amount of flavor to the low end, but I feel for bigger events I would need at least two of them coupled. I also know I could easily fit two subs into my ride standing up on the casters.

I have another video coming soon of the actual event.

Watchwww.youtube.com

I switched the ETX-15P to live mode and it made maybe 0.5dB of difference in headroom. If you look in the manual at the response curves, there's a huge difference between "live" and "music" for the 10, 12, and 15" 3 way (sometimes as much as 5-7dB), but not the 15" 2 way where "live" and "music" curves are basically identical. So that makes sense.

Amp did give me about 3-4dB more when crossed at 100Hz, though that's not terribly unexpected.

I'm going to try them this weekend at a 175 person wedding with a pair of KW181's and see what's what. I know I'll find the delay feature handy given where I need to place subs at this particular venue, but a pair of DXR12's and an external DSP is still a lot cheaper than these guys...

Just to follow up, I A/B'd it with the KW152 and the results weren't very surprising (to me, anyway).

The 152 was about 3dB louder with just about all types of music with both crossed at 100Hz, and about 4dB louder when both were playing a full range signal. At about 15 yards away, the KW152 was peaking at 100-101dB and mostly sitting 96-99 (to use baseball lingo) and the ETX15-P was sitting 94-96 peaking at 97-98.

If the amp specs are true on the EV, that means the limiter is either extremely aggressive or the drivers are just not very efficient.

I will say, however, that while the the KW152 was undeniably louder at the top end, it was also, definitely harsher than the ETX, which sounded warm and true at all way through the limiter. It's a trade off, I guess...

To be clear, that's measured with a dB meter (not iPhone app) and not calculated etc. 15 yard distance is approximate...

The QSC KW152 has a bigger driver so that explains the output. Its dispersion is also very different.

The whole QSC line gets harsh when you crank them up, but they are work horses and get abused by everyone I know who uses them lol. I was using them this past weekend at wedding and the guy I was playing with was redlining all night. Those tops and KW181 sub took a beating that night.

lol
I get so scared when I see a limit light come on. lol Am I the only one that is like that??

I get worried as well, but for some reason everyone and I mean everyone I know who uses the QSC line pushes them to their limit all night.

I wont say they get harsh when you crank them up, to be more specific and factual they get harsh when you abuse them or push them past their DESIGNED use. I think its very important that we specify that so its not misunderstood or misinterpreted.



Fact....and that's across the ENTIRE k & kw line. I am convinced they are by far the most reliable speakers out right now. There's not even a close 2nd place with their Quantity of sales that continue to work without failure even when abused. Nobodies even close.


Fact and i have personal experience....
One of my dj partners owns the k12, kw152 and kw181 (2 of each). He has a residence and does mobile where he uses his system on average 2 times per week over the past 3 years.

My boy has absolutely KNOW sense of sound quality or gain structure, none what so ever !! Drives me fuckin crazy but its his shit so fuck it.
I have never seen a speaker that can survive the type of torture my boy does on a weekly basis with no failures 3 years straight. Im talkin serato gains in the red, ttm57 solid red and all QSC's solid red and no failures.......

Oh and he runs everything full range with BOOST engaged on tops and bottoms.....smh

WTH? Are we talking about the same person lol!? For real, it drives me crazy, but for some reason those QSC speakers survive after every gig.

I think that's the main appeal of QSC gear - it may not be the best sounding or the most affordable for what you get, but holy shit is it battle-hardened and time tested nowadays.

Guard rail is time tested tech. QSC amps have used it for a while now...

I own a ton of K gear for rental, and I've only ever seen one thing come back blown (a KW181). Tech that replaced the driver said it was most likely an instantaneous burst like some idiot plugging in interconnect cables with all the levels open.

I charged the guy a $100 convenience fee for the sub being in the shop over a weekend (when I couldn't rent it again), and we were both happy. I got a new driver, and he didn't have to pay $1500 to replace the sub he blew.

Unfortunately, I think most powered speakers are probably underpowered because folks have gotten so used to running their speakers "in the red" and nothing bad happening that the manufacturers need to adjust.

The new EV ETX and zlx models have EXCELLENT protection and processing. They may turn out to be as indestructible as the QSC line (time will tell) and sound better doing it.

Im hoping so. Its not realistic to give a full review until you've tested them out for a while. So far so good. No shut downs or any serious problems. The 15 inch sub is turning out to be enough bump and sounds great too. I was doing a corporate event this past week and kept the sound levels classy and smooth. People were talking and drinking. Towards the end of the night I added +3 db to the back the sub and it added some nice low end to the room. It was just right, I was impressed. EV has its own distinct sound and speaker design. Im digging it. Its a great looking set at that.

Don't you have passive srx also ?

I sold that setup, subs, tops, amps, etc. I used that setup for years and served me well. Reason I sold them I because I wanted to go smaller as strange as that sounds. My car was overwhelmed with equipment and even more so now that I have moving heads and uplights. I was taking two cars to gigs and thats just not feasible anymore. I have a Honda CRV. As of now I have a ton of gigs out of state this year and really had to think about a system I could fit in my car with all my other stuff. I went with the EV setup because I like the new technology they have in them and the DSP control in the back is very DBX like. I was sold on that alone. They also look good and fit in my car nicely. No more tetris time.

Purchased a pair of JBL PRX715's from a friends advice. Boy, last time I take someones advice before really listening to them. Went into a local Guitar Center and the guy let me listen to the ETX 15p's. WOW. I was blown away. I returned the JBL's, and put in extra money to get the ETX 15p's. I'll tell you one thing, for self powered speakers in this price range (Paid $1050 Each For Them), these things kick major butt.

I know there are better Self Powered speakers out there (RCF, FBT), but in the $1000 price range, these things are insane. Crystal clear and fantastic bass. These actually compare to the Mackie SA1521's I just sold. I sold the Mackie's because of the weight issue (101LBS).

These EV's are 40 LBS lighter then those Mackie's.

It's a pleasure to own these speakers. Even without bass bottoms, these sound phenomenal.

EV finally did something right for a change. I was having doubts about them because of the pair of ELX 115p's that I purchased a while back (they sounded horrible).

If your looking at this thread, do think twice about buying the ETX 15p's, you won't be disappointed.

if you like the etx15 you will love the zxa5

and i do agree with you on the prx715, i think the yamaha dxr15 sound better than the jbl

HuH?

i'm with you there & i don't know what he's talking about saying the elx15 sound horrible, as we both know they sound pretty good

... along with the ZLX, SX, SXA, ZX, ZXA, SBA and just about everything else EV has ever made.

ELX sound bad. They sound good at first (about an hour or 2), then they heat up and sound horrible. yes, the ELX 115p's.

they sounded good the entire night every time i used them

I just played a rooftop party with them in the sun for 9 hours yesterday. All I heard was compliments on how clean they sounded.

User error....lol

i think he was under powering them

Well he is OneCrazyDJ for a reason.

LOL.....true true

"under powering them".....yo that statement is classic....smh

Man, I rented a pair of EV ELX this weekend for a wedding reception. I loved the sound but they had some chipping issues. that wood cabinet is fragile. Too fragile for me doing mobiles.

Don't bang them around to chip them. Problem solved.

The ETX finish is a lot better

i think you can remedy this problem on you own

Watchwww.youtube.com

www.google.com

The SBA series is by far my favorite to this day. Them damn 760's knock

I've been procrastinating switching to active speakers. I def want to hear more about this series. I've been running 2 STX715s and 2 LS808s for a few years now and couldn't justify switching. I'm looking forward to more reviews.

Oops I mean SRX715s

It aint just me. Every review I've read has mentioned this issue. To me they seem more like a speaker for permanent installs. And yes these speakers had the covers with them.

Hello everyone i have a question and would like some help, i have 4 EV ELXs and teo subs now at a party if i use at one end a sub and the other end another sub and on the back panel of the elx switch them to with sub how should i run the other two that dont have sub linked... Should i keep them full range or switch them to with sub as well... Thanks for any feedback...

Im probably one of the first on here to buy the ETX 35-P and i must say coupled together with my Yorkville Ls800's this is the best my sound system ever sounded ever!! (even when i had the zxa5's) Played them out this past weekend and i got a chance to really push them hard playing dancehall and soca.....


Through out the night (5 to 6 hours) ive been keeping a keen eye on the back of the EV's not once did they limit,feel hot or distort in sound quality just clean clear punchy sound all night..The dsp on the back was set to 0db and they were playing super loud and clear with plenty more headroom if i wanted to crank it up some more...

Together with the yorkies the ETX-35p makes a awesome sounding sound system...Thinking about getting 2 more and 2 more yorkvilles..

3-way tops have big advantages in sound over 2-ways.

I have 2 of the ETX-15P and love them. Did a gig this weekend w/ them and decided that it's time to grab some subs to match. I'll be going w/ 2 18s in a week or so.

Used my 12 as well these speakers are ridiculously clean and punchy especially if you tweak the settings properly on the Back.

I'm looking into the etx35p. I'm wondering how they would sound with my current 4 eaw srx220's. And also how they would hold up with 2 or 4 danley th118 that I may purchase in the future

YOU mean the sbx220 eaw.com

Yes I'd do mean sbx220. Great compact subs but have their limits

Do you see yourself upgrading to 2 etx35p's per side, 4 total ?

The etx35p has 60 degree horn so if you need high output to keep up with with 4 th118's the 60 degree dispersion works well. 60 degree horn are also preferred in long narrow rooms (Long throw).

^^^when used 1 per side.

I may upgrade to 2 per side but not in the near future, I'm not sure how the 60 degree will work with 1 per side. Are you saying that it will produce higher output than the 90 degree cabs? I have also considered the qrx212 with the rotatable 75 x 50 degree horn

The QRX212/75 will easily sound better and get louder than the ETX35P but the caveat is that it's not pole mountable. Unless you have tall'ish subs, you're going to be looking for solutions to raise them about your crowd's heads. I use scaffolding for mine.

DJ GaFFle, check your PM……another set hit ebay

have you demoed the ETX line, it shits about everything imo.

I agree

Yes and it is a great sounding speaker but not quite the target line that the QRX is especially considering the drivers in it. When the QRX is bi-amp'ed, it's in that next level of PA speakers. I did not do a direct A/B but I own the QRX and know how loud they can go and how good they can sound. They just have their mounting limitations due to no pole mount but they are flyable.

With all that being said, as a DJ, I would recommend the ETX35P's over the QRX due to the pole mount and knowing that in general, a 3-way is going to trump most 2-way boxes out there. Plus the ETX35P is powered whereas the QRX requires an amp and possibly 2 of them if you're bi-amping them.

I bought 2 of the etx 118s for live sound they suck! Cant handle a kick at all they clip on +4 output. And have no way of changing the dsp settings. I would buy peavey over these speakers. You can hear the drummers wood kick off of the stage over these cabs. Dont get me wrong, did you have a really Good look. Just no good for live sound.

I have listened to most of the ETX line and have not found a product I don't like yet! I bought four of the ETX-15-SP's and a pair of the ETX12P's. They all sound great. When I do small gigs with just one ETX-15-SP, I only bring a pair of ZLX12P tops as the ETX12P tops are so powerfull you need two-four subs.

Do you really have a pair of EV-ETX-18-SP subs, as most people who spend as much as they cost would know what they are. You called them etx118s. I am thinking you are very confussed and have purchassed the ELX-118 subs, which is like comparing Little League to Pro Baseball !!

The ETX-18-SP subs are monsters, they crush anything QSC, Peavey or Yamaha have in the single 18" line.

I had a very large two year old EV-Tour X rig that I am steadily replacing it with ETX. If you ask why, over two years ago there was nothing on the mid level market in an active speaker that produced the sound I needed and the EV-Tour X line with EV-CP4000 amps and EVDCONE DSP did the job, ETX has changed the market for me.

chickenpicker77, I am not trying to be harsh here, but I have heard the ETX-18-SP (pair) with the ETX-35P in support of a band in Nashvile and the subs pounded my chest with the drum hits and were still at -2 to -3 on the db scale on the input monitors.

I wonder how the yamaha dxr tops stack up against the ev etx tops soundwise crossed with a subs (not necessarily the etx sub, any quality sub)?

A better comparison would be with the DSRs which offer more output than DXR (and have a bigger compression driver). They are also closer in price to the ETX.

Al

The Yamaha's are nice, I have a pair of DXR15's, they are the only tops I use if I have a cheap customer who can't afford a rig with tops and subs. The 15" driver gives a pretty good overall sound, I do not like the sound of 15" tops if I am using a sub 8", 10" or evn 12" sound much better crossed at 100hz. A single 15" or 18" sub and 8" or up tops ( of decent quality) will blow away any single top I have heard, even the double 15" boxes that you can bi-amp.

My EV-TourX two way 15" tops (TX1152's) had to be in a large enviroment or outdoors to sound good and it took 4-6 18" subs to keep up with them.

The only bad thing about the DXR line is they cases are pretty cheap, just like the ZLX line. They have a lot of flex to them and scratch very easily. If you push them hard with much bass they have a lot of case rattle from behind (you don't hear it out front).

Even if you're just comparing sound. I know the dsr has alot more output, but crossed i'm thinking the dxr may also give a nice sound to compare it to the etx series.

I personally prefer the sound of the DXRs over the DSRs. I don't need the output capability of the DSRs as I mostly do smaller wedding type gigs, so the sound quality and features of the DXRs made them the better choice for me. I've been using them for about 2 years now and simply love 'em. I do have covers for all of them however, as the finish is definitely their weak point. The DXR cabs sound so good, I actually use them for ALL of my music listening at home.

Al

I have a pair of 8s and 12s myself. I'm just wondering how the sound compared to the etx line. Obviously, I think the etx how better output, but i'm thinking more along the lines of sound quality.

In my opinion the etx sounds alot better then the dxr's

thanks

The DXR series do sound great, I own a pair of DXR 15's but they have thier limits especially when pushed at higher volumes they start to limit...For moderate usage without pushing them to climate volumes these speakers are EXCELLENT!!

The ETX series however are in a different league. .I own a pair of the 35-p and these bad boys can put out higher levels of clean chest thumping sounds without breaking a sweat....

I know what you mean about that chest thumping sound from the ETX 35-p I myself own a pair but I use the ls800p with mines...The ETX-18-SP I would of liked to get a pair to go with my 3-way tops but I already have 4 ls800p and im not gonna change them.

In my personal opinion the Yorkvilles sound and hit harder paired with the 35-p tops than the ETX - 183-SP subs do..Its like they were made for each other

Yes the Yorkvilles do get loud and very boomie. Surley the right speaker if you do a lot of teen or young adult gigs.

I almost bought a pair, but got busy enough in the wedding and adult private party seen, that I have pushed back from the lower paying school stuff.

For my gigs I need a very flat and tight bass response, as my current clients tend to listen to 30% country, 50% classics (60's, 70's and 80's Motown, Rock, Disco, Funk) and 20% modern top 40. Very little Hip Hop and no Rap, Heavy Metal, EDM or current Rock.

I compare the Yorkvilles in sound to the Dynacord line, they sound a lot alike.

I use my Yorkville for weddings, no complaints here in the sound department, think it fits well for the types of weddings I do.

Right, plenty of people do. Yorkvilles make some of my favorite horn loaded powered subs. The LS series dont get that low, but plenty of bass is thrown out on the dance floor.

If you do weddings where you have to bring the full on BOOM then Yorkies have that as good as anything on the market and are priced very well!

^Yep, exactly. I bought them earlier this year. Weddings sound great with my ZXA5s and the 1 York.

I "want" a 2nd one, but I don't need it. I've done weddings up to 300 people with the 2 EVs and 1 York and dance floor was rocking.

The EV-ZXA5s are a very smooth and powerfull 15" top, it takes several subs to keep up with them if you are pushing some SPL.

I only do a couple of gigs a year in a large enough enviroment to use a 15" top, for those events I usually use eight 18" subs, a pair of 12" tops on the dance floor area (smoothed down a bit) and a pair of 15" tops spread further out and higher to reach the back of the room.

Gotta say I love my ZXA5s.

Did a sweet 16 last night...about 100 people in a decent size room. I was carrying gear by myself and I was downstairs so I wasn't bringing the Yorkville. Ran in full range all night. Sounded great and got LOUD!! Worked with an MC that I work with a lot who is really loud on the mic so I def had some big spikes in sound there. Had the EVs set at unity, master level was at about 12 o'clock. Channel meters never in the red, master level meters hit 0 db just a handful of times and I don't think it ever went any higher than that, but most of the time was on -6db on my SX.
Considering how freakin loud it got in there, I know I had more room left to go as they didn't sound stressed in the slightest. I know would have been able to get even louder had I brought the Yorkville down there too.

On another side note, this MC I've worked with before always felt that the mic sounded a little distorted when using my old $299 Shure mic. I always had the mic hooked up through a separate mixer so it's not the SX mic issue. He used my new Line 6 v75 and said how perfect and clear the mic was...so I was def happy about that!

Wow how did I miss this discussion lol I have ETX 15P 12P and the ZXA5 plus 2 ETX 15SP Subs I love powered speakers E.V.did there thing with these.. The ETX line is a killa..BUT my RCF 722AS and RCF 4PRO8003 just can't be touched. .

yes it can, buy this right here

tops
www.rcf.it

sub
www.rcf.it

or,sub
www.rcf.it

those tops have a 4" voice coil i'm sure there will run circles around the 722

WOW. 4 inch voice coil?! My SRX had a three inch and it was painful to even be in front of them if I let em loose. I can only imagine how loud those sound. Great dispersion too.

it's not often you see a speaker were the HF driver has a bigger voice coil the LF driver

Well damn, way too rich for my blood, but if you figure you could only get this size of driver with a passive speaker+amps+drivrack its not a bad deal. At 43 pounds they also weigh less than my ETX 12p.

www.fullcompass.com

i like to see a comparison between this rcf and the ev zxa5


this may be the speakers to beat it?

LOL u funny that's a 15" mines is a 12"….But those are some loud speakers i want to side /side them with my ZXA5'S…those might be my next top's.

you want a 12 you say

you make sure you upgrade, because i want to know if them thing outperform the zxa5, post a comparison vid

That'll be interesting. If you ever get'em Jest, I know you live in ATL so I'll want to come hear them too. That 4" horn has got to scream.

This is likely the first under $2000 2-way top that can beat a zxa5 in every way except price but that's only because it's new. I'm guessing street price bout $1700.

I wonder why they went with an IEC connector over a powercon as this would be at the semi-pro level? Even their HD32As have a powercon connector.

Spec wise they are both (ZXa5 & ART745) rated at 133db max. Interestingly, the ETX35p is rated at 136db. Not that specs always show real world usability...
You would think at some point the ZXa5 will get a new power module with all the DSP goodies.

Well that would count as a small minus.

I own 3 zxa5 and two ls801p,2 psa2s and Im looking in to buy 2 active 12'' What would be the loudest clean, light weigh between $500 to $1500 per top you guy's recommend (etx,rcf,parasource) just want a smaller box..
thank you

(Enter Joeee The RCF Rep in 5..4..3..2..)

for $930 this is probably going to be your best option
www.rcf.it

LMAO………….

Do I have good timing or what? LOL

^ that was hilarious as soon as i hit post your post showed up right before mine…..lol

Bwhahahahaha

which model ??

RCF you preferred ?

i showed you right here


go to kpodj.com register far a account and you will see vip pricing
& fyi i'm a zxa5 owner also, but my rcf's is all i have been using
imageshack.com

That is mad creepy....

That was crazy right?

It had me cracking up.

RCF HD-32A ftw. I've got both. Great 12" speaker

What is the bass response like on the rcf hd-32a?

It's a clean tight bass but doesn't go as low as Jbl prx615 or zxa5. Heres my comparison using zoom recorder for audio.
youtu.be

I don't think too many 12" speakers will go as low as 15" speakers

Yeah yo...

man listen ……

RCF is my new favorite speaker, thats my story and i'm sticking to it

i can't wait to see if the new art 745 is better than the zxa5!

The ART 745 has some great specs, but it is BUTT ugly. Got that open horn 1990's look :)

yea your 100% correct

i don't know why they didn't give it this make over
www.rcfaudio.ro

i guess they wanted to keep it looking like all the other 7 series

My first gig using 2 x etx-35p's with a etx-18p.

instagram.com

They sound AMAZING!!!!! I've debated for a long while if I should get QSC's but after comparing them to the ETX line, I'm so glad I got them. They are heavy but so worth the hassle. Got so many compliments after the night was over.

Those speaker stands are saying "fat girl get off me" with those tops and a pair of moving heads on them :)

I love the ETX35P and I have a trailer load of EV, but they are just to large and heavy to fit all but a couple of my gigs a year.

A suggestion, they really need to be spread much further apart, because if you are using the DSP crossover setting you are getting around 80 hz to the tops so you have a lot of cancellation going on that will create frequency dead spots in your venue.

Thanks for the hint. I'm on the learning curve for the hz part of it.

The stands do look that way but the weight restrictions on the On Stage Stand are able to handle that much and more so I decided to give it a try. I'm looking into getting another ETX-18P so the 35p's are sitting on top or with a pole mount and everything looks equal or perhaps using them suspending from my truss.

What type of lifting technique do you use to put those 90lb. beasts on the speaker stands?

I am sure the stands were fine, I was just kidding. I have mounted the ETX35P on a set of poles coming out of the ETX18SP. It can not be safely done by one person (I am 6'3" and 230 pounds and in fair shape) I could not do it by myself, and it was all two of us working together could do to mount them. It is a two man job to mount them on a tripod, I use the ultimate hydraulic assist and you have to give them some help getting a speaker over 60 lbs up.

If you get another ETX18SP let me suggest you couple them, side by side, I use a fat fingers clearance between the two. Get the tops up on poles, 6' in the air(to bottom of cabinet) and spread them a minimum of 20' apart, if you can out to around 40', they are some powerful tops and play very well lower in the frequency range than the average two way top.

I have changed my set up since going to active speakers. I usually center the subs backed up against a wall and spread my tops evenly on each side of the sub cluster. I locate myself on the adjacent wall, this gives me a much better way to hear the balance and volume of the speakers. Not having long runs of speakon cables from the amps, just XLR and being able to plug in anywhere for power changed my set up techniques.

I use this one! Very easy. I use a bag to angle the speaker up to get the pole in then lift gently.

Watchwww.youtube.com

Nice! I've heard about placing the subs next to a wall but I haven't had a chance to do so. The venue was at an aluminium fair house so the walls were rattling all night!

Do you have pics of your speaker setup? I would like to see your speaker placements.

btw, Thanks for all the info!

I'm surprised people have to be told (shown) how to do this. It's common sense. I've always set up speakers on tripods this way.

I stumbled upon this video after I figured it out on my own. People have been asking me how I get them on stands so I show them the video. Easier to explain.

Here's a vid of the Speakers.

www.facebook.com

pretty much the only way to do it.

I went to Guitar Center today those ETX-35's are fukking huge.

They are huge, heavy and sound great. No other adjectives needed :)

I listened they are very good. Way too much to carry though.

Wouldn't a yamaha dxr 8 and a single yamaha dxs12 or a yamaha dxs15 be very similar to a 3 way top like the etx-35p?

Umm nah

No

No

Not even close, I had the dxr12 with the dxs15 before and the ev etx35sp sounds much better. Not sure about the low end response since I use them together with the etx 18p. I don't think there is any small top and 15 inch sub out there that sound better then the etx35sp in the same price range

Sorry I didn't specify but I meant more along the lines of concept not sound quality. I know the ev etx35p will beat out the dxr combo in every way possible when it comes to sound quality.

Three different drivers as opposed to 2 will create a better sound.

his original question

that's three drivers, one dxs15 sub driver one & one dxr12 top driver 2 & 3 horn and woofer


but will it sound better than the etx35 of course not the dxr series will NOT beat anything i the etx line up tops or subs


now lets pose his question another way ,what do you guys think will sound better one single QSC KW153? or EV ETX 15SP with one ETX 10P?

i'll leave rcf out of this comparison……lol

I'm gonna easily say the separates: ETX 15" sub with ETX 10" top will sound better hands down. The sub will ground couple for more bass than a pole-mounted 3-way top. The top has a 10" driver handling the knock and mids (vs. KW153's 6" mid) plus the default tweeter to handle the high end.

So wouldn't the same ev etx15sp with one etx10p sound better than the etx35p?

No, because you can split the frequencies 4 ways instead of 3. The woofer on the 35p could be crossed for more mid bass, like bass guitar and kick drum sounds, and the sub kept crossed at a lower point to concentrate on sub bass with no mid bass. As you turn each system up louder, the 4 way system would sound even better, as the speakers can handle the more limited frequencies better at higher volumes rather than being overdriven.

i wouldn't think so, the qsc is another story

Okay, makes sense now. Great explanation Taipanic.

Although there are some higher end 2-way cabinets that will put a lot of 3-way cabinets to shame.

are we talking four way as in one sub with a three way box?

i was just comparing a three way box to a sub/two way box, there both three way systems

I was comparing a three to a sub and a two way box too, but then Taipanic gave me more insight. Quick comment, in a three way speaker, when used as a three way, the bass coming of out the 15 in the etx35p is the equivalent of the bass that comes out of a 15 in a two way speaker, correct?

Both are running in full range when not crossed over, so that bass wouldn't be comparable to a designated 15 inch sub?

there both full range but the three way's sub will be crossed over at a lower point to handle lower lows & the mid driver miss, the two will be crossed over at a higher point to handle lows and mid bass

Makes sense, the mid in the three will handle most of the mid so the 15 (in the etx35ps) will handle more bass than a regular two-way.

i was just getting back to your original question, i don't think a yamaha sub/two way combo will sound better than the etx 3 way, but i do think the etx sub/two way combo will sound better than a qsc three way


i just asked the same question with a different brand

While the ETX35P sounds great, it does not sound better than a ETX15SP and a ETX10P combo. I have listened to all of these extensively.

The ETX sub has a much better driver and and a much larger chamber/cabinet to work with to produce good bass response. The ETX10P crossed to work with the ETX15SP produces better mid bass and mid vocals, the horn has a better coverage in the ETX10P, unless you are in need of more through.

We won't go into the difference in power available when you have two separate cabinets, as all the powered speakers power numbers have no standard by which to be compared.

the overall size of the etx35 is bigger than the etx15 sub


it's plausible as you now have a 10" mid bass driver

You can have a cabinet with larger external dimensions, but that does not mean the cabinet is ported or designed for the bass production, or just to have enough vertical space to separate the three drivers to work on their plain.

However, you are slightly off Joee, the actually cubic displacement of the ETX15SP is bigger.

you would know as you own four, i own zero i was a ev man all the way till i stated using rcf

so have you demoed the configurations? the etx15 sub/10 top vs the etx35?

the 15 sub/10 top sounds better?

I have not demoed them side by side against each other, but I have listened to the ETX35P, on a pole stand alone, and it sounded much better than any two way top.

I have also listened in-dept to the ETX15SP with the ETX10P and ETX12P. My favorite combination of the ETX line was the ETX15SP with the ETX10P.

I bought the ETX12P to go with my four ETX15SPs because the ETX10P didn't cover all four as well as the ETX12P.

Remember I have stated before, I use the ZLX12P tops with one or two of the ETX15SP subs.

You need at least four ETX18SP subs to play with a set of the ETX35P tops, and if you are pushing dance music, probably six.

not taking depth into consideration (i not sure how to calculate depth in to the measurements


but taking hight/width

etx35
720 Sq.Ft.

etx15 sub
396 Sq.Ft.

thats what i get now the sub is 32" deep the 3 way is 16" deep at half the depth of the sub you may be right


so the the 15/10 sound better than the 3 way?

You have to figure in the depth to get the cubic feet of the enclosure, not the sq feet.

To me the 15/10 combo sounded much better. A fuller sound, with more pronounced lows. You can get some good lows on the 35P cabinet when you put it on the floor, but then your mids and highs are all in the wrong places.

The 35P really stands out if you can corner load it on tripods, I thought they sounded their best stand alone with the bottom of the cabinet at around 6', placed in a corner.

Hello
I am in a big dillema. I own a ZXA5 and my concern is buying another one to match them or sell it and buy a pair of ETX-15p. I need a pair of selfpowered speakers with hi spl for live use not for djing.

From the ZXA5's manual
"To provide maximum performance with LF punch and high SPL, the ZxA5 does NOT have a separate protection limiter for the woofer, but the woofer amplifier does have a clip limiter. It is possible to overdrive the ZxA5 hard enough and long enough for the woofer to fail. When the ZxA5 is driven to amplifier clip the sound quality decreases; at this point the drive level should be turned down."

I can't understand if the speaker has an internal limiter or not. The luck of a limit light concers me and i'm afraid that i blow them.

On the other side i read great reviews about etx-15p, with hi spl, new technology dsp etc.

What do you recommend?

just add a drive rack pa to you're system problem solved ,it has built in compression limiting eq & crossover

dbxpro.com