EV PXM-12MP vs Atomic CLR Neo

[elvis]

OK, got a EV PXM-12MP. I've been gigging with Atomic CLRs, but really wanted something smaller, but not to sacrifice the sound quality. I love the CLRs. They translate tones that I made on my Adam A7X studio monitors quite perfectly, and sound very full and balanced at gig levels.

The size is somewhat (20%?) smaller than the CLRs, and the weight ever slightly so (10%). The shape is more slim-wedge, vs fat-wedge for the CLR. Definitely better for size and weight, but still sizable.

Sound! The CLR sounds quite full and balanced, and is really exactly what I want a monitor to sound like. Side-by-sade and A/B with the PXM, the PXM was quite similar, except a bit thinner sounding and a LOT punchier. Way more aggressive for sure. Probably will be very audible on stage. They were set for MONITOR1. Don't know what that means yet, haven't RTMF yet. All controls to 0. Changed to MONITOR2. This had more lows and sounds more balanced, and is quite similar to the CLR. BUT where the CLR sounds more balanced, the PXM was again WAY punchier. I quite like it actually. And by comparison, the CLR sounds a bit... tubby. Certainly is very much lacks punch. I think I actually like the PXM more. Probably quite a bit more.

 

[unix-guy]

And definitely a more durable enclosure on the EV

 

[warlockII]

While the CLR's paint isn't that tuff the cab is. One of mine took a 6ft fall, landed on a corner during a gig(don't ask). It still works flawlessly.

 

[Greg Ferguson]

They were set for MONITOR1. Don't know what that means yet, haven't RTMF yet. All controls to 0. Changed to MONITOR2. This had more lows and sounds more balanced, and is quite similar to the CLR.

This will help visualize the difference.

Monitor 1 is scooping low mids whereas Monitor 2 is very flat. At stage volume the Fractal without any compensating EQ except for dealing with the speaker mode, sounds like a monster on Monitor 2.

 

[Robbie Boyette]

Got the EV PXM-12MP a few months ago. It is awesome.
Band members and soundmen alike have been blown away at how "big" it sounds and how small it physically is.

 

[elvis]

This will help visualize the difference.

Monitor 1 is scooping low mids whereas Monitor 2 is very flat. At stage volume the Fractal without any compensating EQ except for dealing with the speaker mode, sounds like a monster on Monitor 2.

Yes, I looked at this before I bought, but forgot about it until you posted. Thanks! Holds up to expectations for sure.

And what would "dealing with the speaker mode" look like?

 

[elvis]

Yes, I looked at this before I bought, but forgot about it until you posted. Thanks! Holds up to expectations for sure.

And what would "dealing with the speaker mode" look like?

Greg, sorry if this read as flippant. I really do want to know about dealing w/ the speaker mode.

 

[Greg Ferguson]

I’m traveling so access is limited.

what would "dealing with the speaker mode" look like?

It’s called “mode” or “space” in different places, but it’s the result of how physics react to putting a speaker, and sound waves especially lows, react against a solid surface.

A speaker on a tripod or hung in the air away from a wall is in full-mode/space and its acoustics are not affected. Put it on the floor or against a wall and the lows reflect against the surface and reinforce themselves causing a boost in their volume. IIRC, it’s about 4-6 dB below 200Hz. Add that for each additional surface. That’s why sticking a stereo speaker on the floor and against the wall sounds boomy. The same is true for studio monitors on desks, don’t put them against the wall, leave a couple feet.

For guitar cabs and floor monitors, like the PXM or others, getting the built-in EQ curve right is the starting point, but their placement on stage can affect the speaker’s and consequently the modeler’s sound. During setup I use a global EQ on the output to adjust the lows to compensate for the stage rumble and speaker position.

There are many articles about this on the internet that dig into the physics, but the gist is to be aware that surfaces affect the sound too, and compensate accordingly.

---

PS - knowing that this happens can be useful in other ways. I travel with some small stereo speakers with about 2” cones. They sound great but lack lows, so I’ll search for an overhanging cabinet or corner for them and get a much better low-end without touching anything else.

 

[elvis]

I’m traveling so access is limited.

It’s called “mode” or “space” in different places, but it’s the result of how physics react to putting a speaker, and sound waves especially lows, react against a solid surface.

A speaker on a tripod or hung in the air away from a wall is in full-mode/space and its acoustics are not affected. Put it on the floor or against a wall and the lows reflect against the surface and reinforce themselves causing a boost in their volume. IIRC, it’s about 4-6 dB below 200Hz. Add that for each additional surface. That’s why sticking a stereo speaker on the floor and against the wall sounds boomy. The same is true for studio monitors on desks, don’t put them against the wall, leave a couple feet.

For guitar cabs and floor monitors, like the PXM or others, getting the built-in EQ curve right is the starting point, but their placement on stage can affect the speaker’s and consequently the modeler’s sound. During setup I use a global EQ on the output to adjust the lows to compensate for the stage rumble and speaker position.

There are many articles about this on the internet that dig into the physics, but the gist is to be aware that surfaces affect the sound too, and compensate accordingly.

---

PS - knowing that this happens can be useful in other ways. I travel with some small stereo speakers with about 2” cones. They sound great but lack lows, so I’ll search for an overhanging cabinet or corner for them and get a much better low-end without touching anything else.

Thanks for this! I'm generally aware that it's a thing, but the details on how to compensate are elusive. When you write that you use EQ to adjust, is there a process you might use? Is it by ear only? Are there particular surface characteristics you think about? Most stages are a bit of flat uncarpeted area, but may be solid or hollow, for example. You give a frequency and magnitude range, which is helpful. Do you find that you "often" or "usually" take certain measures?

 

[Brutal1ty]

I’m traveling so access is limited.

It’s called “mode” or “space” in different places, but it’s the result of how physics react to putting a speaker, and sound waves especially lows, react against a solid surface.

A speaker on a tripod or hung in the air away from a wall is in full-mode/space and its acoustics are not affected. Put it on the floor or against a wall and the lows reflect against the surface and reinforce themselves causing a boost in their volume. IIRC, it’s about 4-6 dB below 200Hz. Add that for each additional surface. That’s why sticking a stereo speaker on the floor and against the wall sounds boomy. The same is true for studio monitors on desks, don’t put them against the wall, leave a couple feet.

For guitar cabs and floor monitors, like the PXM or others, getting the built-in EQ curve right is the starting point, but their placement on stage can affect the speaker’s and consequently the modeler’s sound. During setup I use a global EQ on the output to adjust the lows to compensate for the stage rumble and speaker position.

There are many articles about this on the internet that dig into the physics, but the gist is to be aware that surfaces affect the sound too, and compensate accordingly.

---

PS - knowing that this happens can be useful in other ways. I travel with some small stereo speakers with about 2” cones. They sound great but lack lows, so I’ll search for an overhanging cabinet or corner for them and get a much better low-end without touching anything else.

Thanks for that explanation! I would like to clarify some doubts, it has the SD 200 with the Matrix F12p cabinet. Sounds great! Compared to the EV-PXM-12MP is there much difference? Would the EV-PXM-12MP have enough volume to be used as an amp to play live in a relatively small room, in addition to being just a monitor?

 

[Greg Ferguson]

(…] it has the SD 200 with the Matrix F12p cabinet. Sounds great! Compared to the EV-PXM-12MP is there much difference?

I can’t say, I know nothing of that combination.

Would the EV-PXM-12MP have enough volume to be used as an amp to play live in a relatively small room, […]

Have enough volume? It can hit 129 dB peaks and cruise at 106 dB. That is extremely loud.

in addition to being just a monitor?

I don’t understand “being just a monitor”.

It’s an excellent monitor. It reproduces the sound very well.

 

[elvis]

Thanks for that explanation! I would like to clarify some doubts, it has the SD 200 with the Matrix F12p cabinet. Sounds great! Compared to the EV-PXM-12MP is there much difference? Would the EV-PXM-12MP have enough volume to be used as an amp to play live in a relatively small room, in addition to being just a monitor?

It's 700W IIRC. That is only about 400 more than you would need to play a medium-sized club as a guitar-only amplifier.

Gigging it tonight. If it works well, I'll buy another. We'll be using it to monitor guitar, vocals, and kick on stage. Bringing the CLRs as well for the same purpose. Great shootout scenario!

 

[Dave Merrill]

Not a great match for kick at live volume, I wouldn't think, not that I've tried it. For guitar, vocals etc should be great.

 

[Rex]

Not a great match for kick at live volume, I wouldn't think, not that I've tried it. For guitar, vocals etc should be great.

True. But when you're monitoring the kick on stage, all you really care about is the beater. That'll come through just fine. You might even be glad there's less low-frequency content on stage.

 

[RobbyDeeMusic]

I don't have the EV, but I do have 2 of the Yamaha's which are basically the same thing using a coaxial speaker (the EV has a few more bells and whistles) and the bass response is quite amazing AND I know of a bass player that uses the Yamaha's on stage for his bass rig. He stacks two of them together. I think they would handle the kick drum in the monitor quite well. Still hoping to hear someone's review A-B'g the EV against the DHR12m. If there is anyone in SW Florida area with one of the EVs, I would like to maybe meet and compare. I am quite happy with the Yamaha's but I would have been just as happy with the EVs.

 

[elvis]

Worked great last night! Didn't need to run the monitor very loud, as the stage was pretty isolated from FOH (it was a big room), but the tone and punch were exactly right and I could hear exactly what I needed to hear standing next to the drum kit and quite close to the bass amp. And packing the smaller-size monitor in my small trunk was wonderful.

 

[Nado]

I have two of the Dynaord version (AXM-12A). Fantastic. Compact, light, punchy and bulletproof.

 

[Cainer]

Love hearing all the reviews/impressions about these speakers.

One thing to keep in mind especially as it relates to the mythical "amp in the room" phenomenon is that almost without exception, people put their (traditional) amps on the stage, which does give that bass reinforcement effect Greg was talking about. So you might consider that a feature rather than a bug when you use whatever it is you're using to amplify the Fractal. That low-end, molar-rattling 'oomph' can make the amp feel a lot bigger in the room - of course you don't want it to get muddy either, but sometimes depending on the club, your speaker-cab having a solid connection to the stage is kind of a magic ingredient.

 

[daacrusher2001]

I have to try an EV…I’ve been using a PS170 into a guitar cab and while it works well, lately I’m finding I prefer FRFR When using the FM3. I’d like to be able to just take the presets I use with my studio monitors to the stage.

I was going to buy a CLR, which might be great, but the EVs are more accessible and if I want to go stereo I can get a second one in a day.

 

[Jamme1961]

I have a CLR about to ship to me - I love my EV and thought the CLR would be possibly better - Should I cancel my order and save the trouble of a return?