Tom’s Talking
In October’s Newswave, I talked about the MXR series of mixers from American Audio and how one mixer does not fit all. The same certainly applies for speakers, but that won’t stop us from trying! Today’s traveling DJ often needs a speaker that can be used for ceremonies, cocktails, rentals, monitors, or events in general. With that in mind, we took the popular ELS series and gave it a new twist: Bluetooth Connectivity! The ELS-15BT is a lightweight, 2-way speaker that is smarter than the average speaker.

The star feature is bluetooth connectivity. Using an easy to navigate menu on the back, you can quickly connect this speaker to your smartphone or any Bluetooth transmitter. Of course, Bluetooth isn’t the only way to transmit music; The ELS-15BT also features a USB and SD port to access your music library. The EQ options allow you to quickly choose a preset to boost the sound of your files to a level that’s pleasant to your client. If that wasn’t enough, the remote control (which IS included with the ELS-15BT) allows you to control your music while you work. The TRS, RCA, and XLR inputs allow you to connect various devices the “old school” way. Remember that Bluetooth can only connect to one device at a time, so only one ELS-15BT may be connected to your device, BUT you can daisy chain another speaker, of any brand, via the on-board XLR or TRS-OUT.

Gone are the days when someone needing a simple PA has to rent a speaker, amplifier, mixer and a source to play music from. The ELS-15BT combines all of this together while keeping the price at a very affordable $229.99 MAP. This is an instant money-maker for rental houses or DJs that often see their system being rented out. Speaking of rentals, letting others use your gear can be cringe-worthy. The question many of us ask when we rent something out usually involves the condition of its return. With 4 protection modes: Short Circuit, Thermal, On/Off Mute, and LF/HF limiters, you have a nice safety cushion against most common speaker abuse. With this kind of reliability, and the low price tag to boot, this speaker also allows you to use it for more “dangerous” events such as pool parties, unmanned events, bubble parties, sound effect booths (for example a spooky sounds in the lobby for a haunted mansion prom theme) without worrying about pulling a second mortgage to replace the system should someone tamper with it.

The ELS-15BT easily slides on top of any standard speaker stand or can be flown thanks to its combination of 9 fly-points (M8, 1.25” thread).

As a side-note, this speaker makes a great monitor, and allows you to enjoy your favorite music on your USB drive during set up and strike. The combination of Bluetooth, MP3/SD readers and the handy remote.

Basically, as far as speakers go, the ELS-15BT has many hats and most likely one of them is one you also wear!
 

ELS-15BT Demo Video

- Tom Freret is American Audio National Sales Manager   

For more information Contact ADJ:
U.S. Office - Tel: 800-322-6337/+1-323-582-2650 • Web: www.adj.com