smilefan
Experienced
When I first got my Axe FX I tried it with every amp & spkr I could lay hands on. At least 12 different guitar speakers of all types and wattages, PA speakers, even audiophile home stereo speakers. My initial winners were a souped-up VHT 2/90/2 into two 2x12s with Weber Californias in one, and the new EVM 12L Classics in the other. Best mix to my ears at the time.
Then I started gigging with them . Hard. Outdoor shows where no amount of volume was enough. Crazy situations where soundmen seemed to be dialing us down, and we had to compensate with stage volume, or rich folks farm-like backyards that faced giant canyons in the San Gabriel mountains. I’ve literally had the Axe output at 10, and both sides of the VHT on 10 into these poor speakers. Jet airplane volume. Combat zone. If there was an animal rights group for speakers, I’d be in jail now.
I would make allowances for speaker performance under such extreme circumstances. But with one speaker I didn’t need to. It performed without flaw, without mushiness, ghosting, bass flub, or any speaker stress at all. The EVM 12L Classic! Its also the most efficient guitar speaker I’ve encountered, I could look up the technical specs, but this says it better; with the EVM 2x12 on ‘4’, I had to turn the Weber CA side to ‘6.5’ to equalize the 2 cab volumes (the Californias are no slouch, either, very efficient themselves).
And that’s not even the best part. For a super high-powered speaker it has been amazingly musical. The bass is bigger than any other gtr speaker I know, but not in a boom-box way. Tight, controlled, yet massive and amazing punch. The highs are so extended, I don’t know what speaker to compare it to. Yet they are not piercing or fatiguing. I liken their highs to a Silverface Twin. Ultra high brilliance, seemingly reaching into dog hearing territory, but sweetly chimey. Scooped, open, uncolored mids (great for the Axe FX). Plus, they sound just as wonderful in my practice room as they do causing seismic distrubances.
The Californias are great speakers but they cracked a bit under the pressure(a bit woofy and mushy under very high volume) and couldn’t compete with the high end and low end extension of the EVMs, nor were they nearly as efficient. So if you need a military-grade speaker that can take impossible punishment without losing an ounce of clarity, control, or musicality then try the new Electro-Voice EVM 12L Classic. My ultra-clear, ultra extended 12” speaker of choice for anyone using guitar speakers with the Axe FX. They just sound better with the Axe than any other 12" gtr speaker I've heard, at any volume. YMMV.
Then I started gigging with them . Hard. Outdoor shows where no amount of volume was enough. Crazy situations where soundmen seemed to be dialing us down, and we had to compensate with stage volume, or rich folks farm-like backyards that faced giant canyons in the San Gabriel mountains. I’ve literally had the Axe output at 10, and both sides of the VHT on 10 into these poor speakers. Jet airplane volume. Combat zone. If there was an animal rights group for speakers, I’d be in jail now.
I would make allowances for speaker performance under such extreme circumstances. But with one speaker I didn’t need to. It performed without flaw, without mushiness, ghosting, bass flub, or any speaker stress at all. The EVM 12L Classic! Its also the most efficient guitar speaker I’ve encountered, I could look up the technical specs, but this says it better; with the EVM 2x12 on ‘4’, I had to turn the Weber CA side to ‘6.5’ to equalize the 2 cab volumes (the Californias are no slouch, either, very efficient themselves).
And that’s not even the best part. For a super high-powered speaker it has been amazingly musical. The bass is bigger than any other gtr speaker I know, but not in a boom-box way. Tight, controlled, yet massive and amazing punch. The highs are so extended, I don’t know what speaker to compare it to. Yet they are not piercing or fatiguing. I liken their highs to a Silverface Twin. Ultra high brilliance, seemingly reaching into dog hearing territory, but sweetly chimey. Scooped, open, uncolored mids (great for the Axe FX). Plus, they sound just as wonderful in my practice room as they do causing seismic distrubances.
The Californias are great speakers but they cracked a bit under the pressure(a bit woofy and mushy under very high volume) and couldn’t compete with the high end and low end extension of the EVMs, nor were they nearly as efficient. So if you need a military-grade speaker that can take impossible punishment without losing an ounce of clarity, control, or musicality then try the new Electro-Voice EVM 12L Classic. My ultra-clear, ultra extended 12” speaker of choice for anyone using guitar speakers with the Axe FX. They just sound better with the Axe than any other 12" gtr speaker I've heard, at any volume. YMMV.