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Audio Review: Nexo PS10/LS600/RS18 Loudspeaker System
Nexo's PS10 achieves the trifecta of small size, great sound and ample SPL.
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The low mids delivered by the Nexo PS-10 are round and full, courtesy of the 10-inch drivers, and moving into the high mids, there's a very nice sense of presence.
As the guy in charge of sound for a small but growing church, I spend time thinking about technology solutions that will help us to transition from our leased school gymnasium to a semi-permanent store-front location, and then beyond that to a permanent structure. Our existing three-way tri-amplified speakers are great for the gym we're in now, and despite the fact they're not intended to be flown, will probably suffice when we move into a store-front location. We may even be able to somehow rig them to fly. But when we move on to a substantially larger freestanding structure (hopefully one of our own design), we will definitely need something more. We could hang on to our current, faithful old pair of speakers for the next few years leading to that eventuality, or we could start looking down the road and take steps to be prepared. In my mind, it's preferable to avoid the giant financial hit that occurs when a substantial portion (if not all) of the technology must be updated all at once upon arriving in a new location. Of course, this is not always plausible, but I believe it's worth pursuing.
To be sure, a small, highly portable system that is easily moved in and out of a smaller location every Sunday is not likely to produce the SPL necessary for a much larger space. A portable but large system that will survive through until a permanent space is occupied is likely to be a pain to move in and out every week. Finding the perfect "Goldilocks" system is a challenge at best, but I believe I have found it. Nexo's PS10 loudspeakers achieve the trifecta of high-fidelity, small size, and ample SPL. Considering their 10-inch LF drivers, it's likely that some reinforcement in the low end would be desired by most, so Nexo offers the LS600 subwoofer, with a 15-inch driver.
The system I evaluated consisted of a pair of PS10s, a pair of LS600s, and went a bit further to include a pair of RS18 subwoofers as well, each with two 18-inch drivers. This configuration delivers loud, clear audio very efficiently, including plenty of low-end. In order to make the transition from very small to much larger, additional PS10s would be preferable to the additional subwoofers, in my estimation. If the budget allows, the RS18s are a marvelous addition. But again, the thought-experiment here presumes the notion that the money for speakers is spent at the beginning of the process, while the church is still very small and in a diminutive, leased location.
Sound ... System
So how do they sound? Very, very good, and based upon my previous experiences with Nexo speakers, this is no surprise. My good friend (and Phoenix church sound stalwart) Doug Robertson II and I took this system for a test-drive in an outdoor setting. Starting at the low-end and working upward, the output of the RS18 subwoofers is the kind I describe as "earth" bass-very deep, very full, and for lack of a better descriptor-"fundamental." These are very sophisticated subs that can operate in two different modes: directional or omni (I evaluated them in omni mode, which requires only one amplifier; directional requires two). As you might imagine, pouring 3,800W of power into a pair of 18-inch LF drivers disperses a lot of energy and really shakes things up-so much so that I strongly recommend using some kind of rubber feet or a mat between these subs and whatever sits on top of them to prevent things from shimmying their way to the floor.
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John McJunkin is the CEO of Avalon Podcasting in Chandler, Arizona, which offers high quality podcast production and consultation services to a broad range of clients. He’s also the host of the Podcast Pro Tech & Tips Podcast at www.avalonpodcasting.com.
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