this summer I bought 6 of the new EV ELX cabs, 4 112p and 2 115p for use as mains and monitors for a number of gigs I had where my B gear was spread thin. I mix about 100 events per year from kids to grammy award winners. 30 years experience. My usual beater Yamaha clubs and Mpro wedges were all spoken for a number of times and I was intrigued by the good reviews for the ELX. I bought two to start with and used them as mains over 181i subs. First impressions had me liking the ELX112 quite a bit. they are loud, light, sip power, have decent throw and the price is right. that was a nice system for the gigs I used them on.
So, I bought 4 more. 2 more 112 and the pair of 115s. Many more gigs with them as mains and monitors using both the 15s as mains and the 12s.
The good stuff:
they're light
they sound pretty good, especially the 12s.
I really like them as monitors. nice small footprint, bands like them.
nice looking box
they over achieve for their price point
the ELX15 makes a decent drummer monitor
the HPF works pretty well.
the maybe stuff:
-one handle on the 12s, not a huge deal so I'm semi complaining
-the ELX 15s sound like they're voiced for DJs, thick bottom end and hole at the vocal area.I definitely prefer the 12s
-the loudness switch doesn't do quite enough to use as stand alone box
-takes some EQ to get the HF to where i was happy, as compared to my HPR122i.
-the pole socket doesn't fit my Ultimate stands very snugly, so on a couple mildly windy gigs, the speaker turned.
-the pots seem to be fragile and flimsy...but at this price point...
The not so good stuff:
-a few cabs have shut down completely on me about 6 times at different gigs, different cabs. Granted, one was a hot Ca. summer day and the speaker was in the sun. A couple of the thermal shutdowns were on "regular" days, like 85 degree days. I had them providing sound for a set of grandstands alongside my 122i and the 122 kept going, same program material...not pushed into limit. I am a bit scared now. they have not shut down when in monitor use.
-one XLR has stuck in a broken combi jack
-the finish is very thin. I don't have covers for them yet but even after a couple gigs they showed signs of wearing through.
-the ELX15 just sound strange to my ears over subs. i am constantly trying to get the HF and vocals to punch through.
-I had 3 set up on one monitor mix last week with CD program running through. I swear one cabinet sounds different, EQ wise..switches set the same.
so anyhow. I mostly am happy with the EVs except for the thermal shutdowns. I am deciding whether I will keep them around or go to something like RCF312a.
I have set them up next to my projection screen out of the DVD player and they work great for that too. lol.