Laney CX Series

The feature I first noticed was that all the active speakers in the CX range have additional speaker outputs, allowing one extra 8Ω passive speaker to be powered from each, so if you aren't worried about having everything in stereo, one of the Laney CX12A or CX15A speakers teamed with its passive equivalent (CX12 or CX15) would certainly do the trick for handling vocals and non-bass instruments. When it comes to subs, again there's a choice of the active CXSUB-A or the passive CXSUB, with the active version's extension speaker socket allowing you to drive a passive CXSUB. There are many possible permutations of the system using one each of the passive and active tops and subs, so it is quite practical to assemble a system that you can scale down for smaller venues, or you can take the whole lot for bigger gigs.

Another unusual feature is that although the 'A' version top cabinets are powered, they don't include active crossovers — the CX12-A we had in for review is powered by a single amplifier driving a passive crossover, and is capable of delivering 110W into a single 8Ω speaker (as it does when no extension is connected), or it can power a further passive 8Ω extension speaker such that it delivers a total of 165W into the combined 4Ω load. All the speakers in the CX range are 8Ω impedance, so mixing and matching isn't a problem. The frequency range of the speaker is quoted as 60Hz to 18kHz (±3dB), or 50Hz to 18kHz for the passive CX12.

Though conventional-looking, the CX12-A has a more comprehensive than usual input section, essentially a small mixer able to combine mic (XLR), line (mono jack) or CD/MP3 player sources (with the pair of phonos summed to mono). Each input has its own level control, after which the mixed signals pass through a three-band EQ offering cut or boost at 35Hz, 2.5kHz and 10kHz via rotary controls for bass, middle and treble. A red peak LED warns if excessive signal levels are triggering the integral optical limiter, while a green LED shows the unit is powered up. The mixer panel is safely recessed behind the moulded side carrying handle, while the line out (always full-range) and extension speaker socket are on the back panel. A further Sub Filter switch on the mixer panel brings in a 12dB/octave 170Hz high-pass filter for use when using the speaker with the CXSUB-A, though this doesn't affect the line out, which is always full bandwidth. Of course, if you hook up a passive speaker to the extension speaker jack, that will be fed from the same filtered signal as the active speaker powering it, so adding a single powered sub to one active and one passive top would give you a neat little full-range system, albeit in mono. If you need stereo, then you'll need two active tops. A small fan on the rear panel cools the power amplifier section, but this is pretty quiet.

Like many of its rivals, the CX12-A is a ported two-way speaker with the ports and the 12-inch bass/mid driver safely tucked away behind a tough steel grille. A one-inch tweeter is set back in a deep, moulded-horn flare, and in addition to the side carrying handle, there's a standard 35mm pole mount plus threaded insert 'flying points' on all four sides of the cabinet. The casework itself is sensibly rigid and as well damped as most plastic cabinets. Overall, the cabinet size is 410 x 330 x 620mm, which makes it roughly the same size as my own Mackie SRM450s. All the active tops and subs have IEC power inlets and rocker-style power switches.

Both models of sub utilise a 15-inch driver, though it must be remembered that the passive version has no crossover or input filter so you have to take care of that at source. You could get away with running a passive sub from the extension speaker jack on an active top speaker, but it would be fed a full-range signal, which is likely to lead to a somewhat muddy mid range. For this reason, I'd recommend your first sub to be active, as not only does this give you a better integrated bass end, it also allows you to expand the system easily by adding a passive sub at a later date.

The sub cabinets are rigidly constructed from plywood, measuring 580 x 505 x 510mm, with the port on the front of the enclosure. Again, the amp pack of the CXSUB-A is fan cooled. Unusually, the cabinets are vinyl-covered, rather than the more utilitarian black textured paint finish we've come to know and love, and the speaker is protected by a large steel grille that covers the whole front face of the box. Both versions of the sub also include a 35mm pole mount socket set into the top surface so that a standard pole can be used to support the top speaker, and generous bar-style handles are inset into the sides of the cabinet for lifting. Published component shipping weights for the system — CX12-A: 24kg, CXSUB-A: 34kg and CXSUB: 29kg — are, in practice, manageable by a single person as long as you take care to lift correctly. No maximum SPL values are specified and no weight was given for the passive CX12, though this is in the region of 21kg.

Add the active CXSUB-A sub and the system gives a decent account of itself on full-range recorded music, with the proviso that you adjust the sub level so that it is just filling in those lower octaves and not dominating proceedings. If you have the sub level set too high, the bass end becomes quite overbearing with some notes coming across louder than others, but set it sensibly and it works perfectly well. If you're putting bass or drums through the PA, then I'd say the sub is a must, and a system with a single sub and a couple of tops should be more than a match for typical pub and small club gigs. Not only does the sub add the necessary low-end punch, it also relieves the top speaker of the burden of having to handle bass frequencies, which in turn gives the system more headroom. The limiters are a nice feature, as they help avoid nasty distortion and possible driver damage if you push the system too hard, but if the limit light comes on more than just on loud peaks, the sound quality will suffer. As a rule, if the peak LED flashes, back off the level until it flashes rarely, if at all.