American Audio’s PXI Powered Speakers Deliver Great Sound In 4 Size Options.

Not too long ago if you wanted to crank up the sound, you’d have to plug into an amplifier and then connect to a pair of speakers. Then audio manufacturers came up with the bright idea of putting an amp inside the speaker cabinet itself, giving you your power boost and sound projection all in one unit.
Today, powered cabinets have captured a growing share of the speaker market, with everyone from DJs and bands to nightclubs and pro audio installers switching over from passive ones. Given the convenience and mobility of these “all-in-one” boxes, it’s no mystery why.
Now American Audio is aiming to make things even more convenient with a new line of bi-amped powered speakers, the PXI Series. What’s immediately distinctive about the PXI models is that they come in four different sizes – 8-inch (model PXI 8P), 10-inch (PXI 10P), 12-inch (PXI 12P) and 15-inch (PXI 15P). This really caught our attention, because although there are plenty of powered 10 and 15-inch cabinets on the market, you don’t see many 8s and 12s. But sometimes these in-between sizes are exactly what the job calls for. So we were pleased to see a speaker manufacturer addressing the issue that “size matters.”

Power For The People

All four models include a bi-amplified system with electronic crossover. The varying power of the amps gives you an idea of the variety you’ll find in this series. The peewee PXI 8P is powered by a 100 watt amp, while the big-daddy PXI 15P blasts out a full 400 watts of amplification capable of filling even the largest venues. In between are the PXI 10P’s 200 watt amp and the PXI 12P with 300 watts.
Accounting for their power differences, all of the PXI models impressed us with their sonic clarity and punch. All have a super flat frequency response, so you get extremely accurate sound reproduction. Frequency response on the PXI 8P and 10P is rated at 50Hz - 17kHz (-10db), while on the 12P and 15P it’s 40Hz –17kHz (-10db).

Form And Function

The three larger units (10P, 12P, 15P) feature separate treble, bass and volume output control, which gives you the ability to tweak the mix to perfection. On the 10P and 12P you get one microphone input and one line input with their own volume controls, while the 15P has two mic and one line input, each with its own controls. This is a nice convenience, because you can go out on a gig and plug your CD player and one or two mics right into the speaker without having to carry along an extra mixer. We also liked the compact trapezoidal design of the speakers, which allows for versatile placement possibilities, both flyable and stand mountable. American Audio has conveniently included floor monitor brackets with each unit.
But what gets our biggest nod about the PXI Series is the wide range of available size options. Whatever your application – DJ, band, karaoke, PA, large club installation -- there’s a model that’s right for you. You’re no longer faced with the unpleasant choice of trying to coax louder sound out of a small system or purchasing more speaker than you need. And if you’ve got a number of things going on like, say, a club with different rooms, the PXI Series is the ideal solution. For example, you can put 15Ps out on the dance floor with some subwoofers, then add some 8s in the bar area to fill in the sound.
Whichever models you choose, there’s another thing you’ll like about the PXI Series – the price. With great prices on all versions, American Audio has shown that you don’t have to dig deep in your pockets to have a wide range of speaker options at your fingertips.