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The Electro-Voice EKX-15P is a 15-inch powered loudspeaker designed for portable sound reinforcement.
For event organisers, the attraction is fairly straightforward: it combines the loudspeaker, amplification and onboard processing into a single cabinet, making it possible to build a substantial PA without needing a separate power amplifier.
But is the EKX-15P the right speaker for your event?
That depends on what you’re trying to achieve.
It can be a very capable choice for weddings, parties, corporate events, DJs and live music, but the ideal application depends on the size of the audience, venue and role the PA needs to perform.
What is the Electro-Voice EKX-15P?
The EKX-15P is a powered 15-inch loudspeaker from Electro-Voice’s EKX range.
“Powered” means the amplification is built into the speaker cabinet.
That makes the system relatively straightforward to deploy. Rather than connecting a passive speaker to a separate external amplifier, you provide mains power and an audio signal directly to the powered speaker.
For event hire, that can make a significant difference to the amount of equipment involved.
The EKX-15P can therefore work as part of a simple two-speaker PA or as the main full-range component of a larger system incorporating subwoofers.
Why choose a 15-inch speaker?
The 15-inch driver gives the EKX-15P useful low-frequency capability while retaining the flexibility of a full-range loudspeaker.
That can make it particularly useful when music is an important part of the event.
It doesn’t mean that a 15-inch speaker is automatically better than a 12-inch speaker.
A smaller speaker can be a better choice where portability, compactness or speech-focused use is more important.
The choice comes down to the application.
Our 12-inch versus 15-inch speaker guide explains the differences in more detail.
Is the EKX-15P suitable for weddings?
Yes, it can be an excellent fit for many wedding receptions.
A pair of EKX-15P speakers can provide the main PA for speeches, announcements, background music and dancing.
Audio Hire’s 2 × 1500 Watt 15” Speaker Package provides two EKX-15P speakers together with speaker stands and speaker cables.
That makes it a practical all-round system for many receptions.
However, a wedding involving a large dance floor and a DJ may have different requirements from a wedding where the PA is primarily being used for speeches.
If substantial bass is important, dedicated subwoofers may be worth considering.
EKX-15P for wedding speeches
The EKX-15P is not just a music speaker.
Its full-range design makes it suitable for speech reinforcement as well.
For wedding speeches, the most important factors are intelligibility, microphone technique, speaker placement and system levels.
The speaker should be positioned in front of the microphones and aimed towards the audience.
This helps reduce the possibility of feedback.
A suitable microphone is equally important. Audio Hire offers the Shure SM58, as well as other microphone hire options in Adelaide.
EKX-15P for DJs
The EKX-15P is particularly useful for DJs who need a substantial full-range PA without immediately moving to a larger system.
A pair can provide the left and right channels for a DJ setup and deliver enough output for a wide range of private events and functions.
Whether you need subwoofers depends on the event.
For a smaller wedding or party where music is important but extreme bass isn’t the objective, the pair of EKX-15Ps may be all that’s required.
For a larger dance-focused event, adding dedicated subwoofers can provide substantially greater low-frequency output.
Audio Hire’s larger EV speaker and subwoofer system is designed for this type of application.
EKX-15P for live music
The EKX-15P can also be used as a main PA for live music.
A pair of full-range speakers can handle vocals and instruments for smaller bands, acoustic performers and other live performances.
The rest of the system becomes increasingly important as the number of performers grows.
A full band may require a mixer with numerous inputs, several microphones and potentially stage monitors.
If the performance includes substantial kick drum and bass, subwoofers may also become useful.
The EKX-15P therefore works well as part of a live sound system, but the speaker itself is only one component of the production.
EKX-15P for corporate events
For corporate events, presentations and conferences, the EKX-15P can provide plenty of capability.
The key consideration is not maximum volume but coverage and speech intelligibility.
A pair of speakers positioned correctly can provide even coverage across a reasonably sized audience.
The speaker’s capabilities also give you plenty of headroom for situations where the same system needs to move from speeches into music later in the event.
For a small presentation, however, a 15-inch speaker may provide more capability than you actually need.
The best system is the one that matches the event.
How many people can two EKX-15Ps handle?
There isn’t a meaningful fixed number.
You might see PA equipment marketed with statements suggesting that a particular speaker is suitable for a particular number of people.
Those numbers should be treated cautiously.
Two EKX-15Ps in a small indoor room are being asked to do something very different from two EKX-15Ps covering a large outdoor audience.
The type of event matters too.
Two speakers handling speech for 150 people have a very different workload from two speakers providing dance music for 150 people.
Venue size, audience layout, desired volume and the type of program all need to be considered.
Our guide to how many Electro-Voice speakers you need goes into this in more detail.
Is the EKX-15P loud enough?
For many event applications, a pair of EKX-15Ps provides substantial output.
But “loud enough” isn’t determined by the speaker’s wattage alone.
The amplifier power, driver design, sensitivity, maximum SPL, DSP and enclosure all contribute to the result.
The way the speakers are positioned also matters.
A pair positioned correctly at the front of the audience will generally produce a better result than the same speakers placed poorly.
This is why it isn’t useful to choose a PA purely by comparing wattage figures.
Our speaker wattage guide explains the issue.
Do EKX-15Ps need subwoofers?
No.
The EKX-15P is a full-range speaker and can be used without subwoofers.
Whether you should add them is a different question.
If the event is mainly speech, background music or general-purpose entertainment, the EKX-15Ps may be sufficient on their own.
If the event is centred around a dance floor, DJ performance or music where substantial bass is important, dedicated subwoofers can be a worthwhile addition.
A subwoofer handles the lowest frequencies, allowing the main speakers to concentrate on the rest of the music.
Two EKX-15Ps versus EKX-15Ps with subwoofers
These are really two different levels of system.
A pair of EKX-15Ps gives you a relatively simple full-range PA.
Adding two dedicated subwoofers changes the system into a three-way division of labour: the subwoofers handle the lowest frequencies while the main speakers handle the remainder.
That can provide significantly more low-frequency impact and greater overall headroom.
It also means more equipment to transport, position and connect.
For that reason, subwoofers should be added because the event needs them, not simply because a larger system sounds impressive on paper.
How should the EKX-15P be positioned?
For a typical event, the speakers should be positioned towards the front of the audience and raised on suitable stands.
This helps project the sound over people near the front and towards the rest of the audience.
The speakers should be aimed towards the area where people will actually be listening.
Avoid positioning the main speakers behind microphones.
That arrangement increases the likelihood of feedback.
If you’re using two speakers, consider the shape of the audience when deciding how far apart to position them and where to aim them.
Our Electro-Voice setup guide covers the practical considerations.
What cables does the EKX-15P need?
Because the EKX-15P is powered, each speaker needs mains power as well as an audio signal.
The standard power and speaker cables required for Audio Hire’s speaker packages are supplied with the relevant hire equipment.
If the speaker needs to be positioned a long distance from the mixer or audio source, longer cable options can also be arranged.
Cable runs should be planned before the event so that they don’t create unnecessary trip hazards.
Is the EKX-15P easy to use?
One of the advantages of a powered loudspeaker is the relatively straightforward setup.
You don’t need to match a separate power amplifier to the speaker.
A typical system can be as simple as:
Audio source → powered speaker
For a more complicated event, the signal path might instead be:
Microphones and music sources → mixer → EKX-15P speakers
The mixer provides control over the different sources and allows the system to be adjusted for the event.
EKX-15P versus a smaller speaker
The EKX-15P isn’t necessarily the best option for every event.
If you’re running a small presentation, ceremony or background-music setup, a compact 12-inch speaker may be easier to transport and more than capable of handling the job.
The 15-inch EKX-15P becomes more attractive when you need additional output, low-frequency capability or headroom.
It’s therefore better to think of it as a particular tool rather than simply a “better” speaker.
EKX-15P for outdoor events
Outdoor events can place greater demands on a PA.
There are fewer surfaces reflecting sound back into the audience, and the distance between the speakers and the back of the listening area can be considerable.
A pair of EKX-15Ps can work well for smaller outdoor events, but the appropriate system depends heavily on the size and layout of the area being covered.
For a large outdoor event, you may need a larger system or additional coverage.
The physical size of the audience area is often more important than the raw number of people attending.
When should you choose something larger?
If the event requires substantial low-frequency output, very high volume or coverage over a large area, a pair of full-range EKX-15Ps may no longer be the most appropriate solution.
This is where a larger system incorporating dedicated subwoofers becomes useful.
The choice should be based on the actual requirements rather than simply moving to the biggest system available.
If you’re unsure, provide the event details and let the equipment be selected around the application.
Is the EKX-15P right for your event?
The EKX-15P makes sense when you want a capable full-range powered speaker that can handle a broad range of event applications.
It’s particularly useful where music is an important part of the event and you want more low-frequency capability and headroom than a smaller compact speaker may provide.
A pair of EKX-15Ps can work well for weddings, private parties, DJs, corporate events and smaller live performances.
For larger music-focused events, adding dedicated subwoofers can take the system considerably further.
The important thing is to match the equipment to the event.
Hire Electro-Voice EKX-15P speakers in Adelaide
Audio Hire’s 2 × 1500 Watt 15” Speaker Package provides a straightforward way to hire a pair of Electro-Voice EKX-15P speakers in Adelaide.
The package includes two speakers, two speaker stands and two speaker cables.
If you need microphones, Audio Hire also offers Microphone Hire Adelaide.
If you need a larger music system with dedicated subwoofers, the EV speaker and subwoofer system is the next step up.
Not sure which system suits your event?
Contact Audio Hire with the details of your event and we’ll help you choose an appropriate setup.
You can also browse Speaker Hire Adelaide and check the available equipment and dates online.