REVIEWED
REVIEWED: RCF NXL-14A & SUB-15AX
I may have shown Pete and Steve at Pro Mobile a little too much of my hand when I showed my gratitude for them reviewing some EV speakers in the 126th edition of Pro Mobile. Instead of a whopping great pallet, what landed at my unit shutter in the spring sunshine was a neat little stack consisting of four boxes; comprising two NXL-14-As and two Sub 15-AXs. Sat in their purpose-made zip bags, they exuded silent confidence (that silent bit didn’t last long).
As a self-confessed speaker hoarder and owner of multiple different systems at any one time, I will be the first person to call out ‘stick’ systems. By that, I’m talking about any systems which comprise a mid-top that has a small form factor, accompanied by a big brother boom-boom box to maintain some warmth. Whilst they are the perfect product if you want something aesthetically pleasing, they don’t always deliver when you need raw power or SPL when it actually matters.
Since the release of the NXL-14-A, I have always been curious to see if these were too pretty to have a backbone, or something to move the air when it actually mattered.
First impressions: wood, metal and True1
I undressed the RCF speakers from their custom padded blankets. Although all speakers can be used with the covers on, aesthetically it reminds me of speakers in use at a travelling fairground.
The first thing we see is that there is no cheap plastic involved with the build of these speakers. Birch ply all round with full metal grilles. The NXL 14-As have handles integrated at the top and bottom to the rear to make the grip points nice and easy.
The SUB 15-AXs share the same theme of birch ply and metal grilles with chunky handles at each side. One-person manoeuvrability is key with 15” subs, and at 31.4kg they are manageable solo.
The NXL 14-As come in at 12.8kg, so not featherweight, but given their touring build with a compact form factor, I’m more than happy to sling it on top of a stand.
Both speakers have the new Neutrik Powercon True1 connector with Link, so running power and signal between boxes is a nice touch, too.
Soundcheck shenanigans
Getting straight to it, I wired up an NXL 14-A to the unit and hit ‘play’. First thoughts were clear, controlled and crisp. Thanks to dual 6” drivers and a 1.75” compression driver, they are articulate and vocals sound brighter than the more conventional equivalent 12” active speakers. They also felt like they have a relatively wide coverage angle, too.
Then, we brought in the sub…
I’ve used a fair amount of 15” subs over the years, starting with some Altos TS-Sub15s. Then I bought some EV SBA760s, then more recently some DB Technologies Sub615Ds. They have always been an important item in the arsenal because sometimes a venue or an environment calls for subs, but 18s would trip a limiter, or not attack fast enough for live work, or throw too far beyond a dancefloor. Most 15s fall over because they try to compensate to be like an 18 – either they are too boxy or too boomy or run out of energy when you need it the most.
The SUB 15-AX kicked – and kicked – while maintaining musical clarity. After my little play on the top-sub combo, I decided to dive a little deeper into the presets, to see if it was a fluke or some sort of witchcraft at play.
The Swiss army knife bit
Here is where things get really interesting – the NXL 14-A is a no-fuss workhorse. You get a very similar backplate as their ART7 and ART9 series speakers: balanced XLR input and link output, a choice of three DSP presets, a volume knob, and the aforementioned True1 power input with link output.
Where RCF got cheeky is with the AX subwoofers. As we have learned with RCF on the 9 series, any time they involve the letter X, there’s some computer wizardry involved. With the Sub 15-AX, it’s the built-in DSP (they call it an advanced crossover engine or ACE) crossover presets, which include a dedicated, factory-tuned option specifically for dozens of speakers in the RCF family, including the NXL 14-A. This preset optimises phase alignment and crossover frequency, meaning you can plug in and play with minimal setup while getting perfectly balanced, punchy sound the way you want it.
The Sub 15-AX also features an 8-band output EQ, configurable system delay, and cardioid mode (which requires a minimum of two subs per side to be effective), all of which are accessible through a bright touchscreen and rotary encoder (knob to us normal people). If you don’t want to get on all fours to programme it, then all of this can be set up inside the RCF LiveRemote app, which connects to the AX via Bluetooth. Now, you can’t use this Bluetooth to play music, it’s for control only. (Note: if you had a pair of ART9 AX tops, you could stream to those and control the speakers via the app, too).
Road test round-up
Never someone to shy away from using loan toys for gigs, I thought it would be rude not to deploy these speakers on some different jobs:
Gig 1: Small presentation at Caviar House, Mayfair
Terrible load-in, small gig, 50-capacity standing drinks then seated Q&A, etc. I would normally use my RCF TT515As on round base stands. The NXL 14-As were not only crisp, but they had a lot more warmth (due to being a larger speaker).
Interestingly enough, the client thought they were the same speakers I used last time but asked why it sounded warmer! Great feedback rejection too, as the speakers had to be placed in odd areas by the stage I was worried but it turned out fine! Thanks to their size, they could fit in the corners!
Gig 2: Bar Mitzvah at Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, 160 people
Handled the room with ease! Subs and tops sounded crystal clear and punchy. Kept pushing the system to try to find the clip lights, but it got very, very loud before I did! Interestingly, on this one, the in-house system at the bowling alley was a pair of Martin Audio 18” subs; they were probably heavily limited through their processor, nonetheless, the SUB 15AXs wiped the floor with them, and we decided we didn’t need the in-house system at all for this gig.
Gig 3: Wedding ceremony, 7-piece band and DJ at Sopwell House, 150 guests
This was probably the biggest test, using the system for the full ceremony (with the band accompanying the ceremony in an ‘unclubbed style’). The whole system was crystal clear. For the ceremony itself, I rolled the bass back as it wasn’t needed. Looking back, I could have just run the NXL 14As full range, and they would have been fine.
Then music for the wedding breakfast and dancing; the whole system sounded musical and punchy. The band leader even asked if he could use it on the next gig (perfect excuse to place an order).
Final thoughts
There really is a lot of choice out there when it comes to compact PA systems. I’ve used my fair share of them, from the dinky stick arrays to chunkier tops and subs, but the RCF setup I’ve been using recently strikes a bit of a sweet spot in the market. It’s got all the aesthetic appeal of a column system, with the proper sonic performance of the traditional sub-pole-top combo, making it a proper 3-way PA system.
It’s quick to set up and small enough to fit on the smallest of Rock-N-Roller trolleys, yet flexible and sleek enough to handle weddings, corporate gigs and clubbier parties.
The SUB 15-AX’s DSP processing and app control genuinely set it apart because you can tweak your sound to the venue, to the other speakers you are using, or even just to your own ears. Sure, it’s not a budget system but, at its price point and the multitude of gig types this combo can work in, you’d be hard-pressed to find something else that not only covers the bases but absolutely thrives in them.
TL/DR summary:
Looks: Sleek and pro without being flashy. Sounds: Punchy and clear across different styles. Transport: Easily handled with one person and a trolley (wish 15s had wheels though). Techy bits: App control for DSP on subs, presets galore including NXL 14-A. Price point: Not budget but also not boutique – cheaper than buying one system for each job, just get this one to do it all.
Would I buy it? Honestly, yes. And I think I might have just convinced my business partner, Max, too!
As a self-confessed speaker hoarder and owner of multiple different systems at any one time, I will be the first person to call out ‘stick’ systems. By that, I’m talking about any systems which comprise a mid-top that has a small form factor, accompanied by a big brother boom-boom box to maintain some warmth. Whilst they are the perfect product if you want something aesthetically pleasing, they don’t always deliver when you need raw power or SPL when it actually matters.
Since the release of the NXL-14-A, I have always been curious to see if these were too pretty to have a backbone, or something to move the air when it actually mattered.
First impressions: wood, metal and True1
I undressed the RCF speakers from their custom padded blankets. Although all speakers can be used with the covers on, aesthetically it reminds me of speakers in use at a travelling fairground.
The first thing we see is that there is no cheap plastic involved with the build of these speakers. Birch ply all round with full metal grilles. The NXL 14-As have handles integrated at the top and bottom to the rear to make the grip points nice and easy.
The SUB 15-AXs share the same theme of birch ply and metal grilles with chunky handles at each side. One-person manoeuvrability is key with 15” subs, and at 31.4kg they are manageable solo.
The NXL 14-As come in at 12.8kg, so not featherweight, but given their touring build with a compact form factor, I’m more than happy to sling it on top of a stand.
Both speakers have the new Neutrik Powercon True1 connector with Link, so running power and signal between boxes is a nice touch, too.
Soundcheck shenanigans
Getting straight to it, I wired up an NXL 14-A to the unit and hit ‘play’. First thoughts were clear, controlled and crisp. Thanks to dual 6” drivers and a 1.75” compression driver, they are articulate and vocals sound brighter than the more conventional equivalent 12” active speakers. They also felt like they have a relatively wide coverage angle, too.
Then, we brought in the sub…
I’ve used a fair amount of 15” subs over the years, starting with some Altos TS-Sub15s. Then I bought some EV SBA760s, then more recently some DB Technologies Sub615Ds. They have always been an important item in the arsenal because sometimes a venue or an environment calls for subs, but 18s would trip a limiter, or not attack fast enough for live work, or throw too far beyond a dancefloor. Most 15s fall over because they try to compensate to be like an 18 – either they are too boxy or too boomy or run out of energy when you need it the most.
The SUB 15-AX kicked – and kicked – while maintaining musical clarity. After my little play on the top-sub combo, I decided to dive a little deeper into the presets, to see if it was a fluke or some sort of witchcraft at play.
The Swiss army knife bit
Here is where things get really interesting – the NXL 14-A is a no-fuss workhorse. You get a very similar backplate as their ART7 and ART9 series speakers: balanced XLR input and link output, a choice of three DSP presets, a volume knob, and the aforementioned True1 power input with link output.
Where RCF got cheeky is with the AX subwoofers. As we have learned with RCF on the 9 series, any time they involve the letter X, there’s some computer wizardry involved. With the Sub 15-AX, it’s the built-in DSP (they call it an advanced crossover engine or ACE) crossover presets, which include a dedicated, factory-tuned option specifically for dozens of speakers in the RCF family, including the NXL 14-A. This preset optimises phase alignment and crossover frequency, meaning you can plug in and play with minimal setup while getting perfectly balanced, punchy sound the way you want it.
The Sub 15-AX also features an 8-band output EQ, configurable system delay, and cardioid mode (which requires a minimum of two subs per side to be effective), all of which are accessible through a bright touchscreen and rotary encoder (knob to us normal people). If you don’t want to get on all fours to programme it, then all of this can be set up inside the RCF LiveRemote app, which connects to the AX via Bluetooth. Now, you can’t use this Bluetooth to play music, it’s for control only. (Note: if you had a pair of ART9 AX tops, you could stream to those and control the speakers via the app, too).
Road test round-up
Never someone to shy away from using loan toys for gigs, I thought it would be rude not to deploy these speakers on some different jobs:
Gig 1: Small presentation at Caviar House, Mayfair
Terrible load-in, small gig, 50-capacity standing drinks then seated Q&A, etc. I would normally use my RCF TT515As on round base stands. The NXL 14-As were not only crisp, but they had a lot more warmth (due to being a larger speaker).
Interestingly enough, the client thought they were the same speakers I used last time but asked why it sounded warmer! Great feedback rejection too, as the speakers had to be placed in odd areas by the stage I was worried but it turned out fine! Thanks to their size, they could fit in the corners!
Gig 2: Bar Mitzvah at Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, 160 people
Handled the room with ease! Subs and tops sounded crystal clear and punchy. Kept pushing the system to try to find the clip lights, but it got very, very loud before I did! Interestingly, on this one, the in-house system at the bowling alley was a pair of Martin Audio 18” subs; they were probably heavily limited through their processor, nonetheless, the SUB 15AXs wiped the floor with them, and we decided we didn’t need the in-house system at all for this gig.
Gig 3: Wedding ceremony, 7-piece band and DJ at Sopwell House, 150 guests
This was probably the biggest test, using the system for the full ceremony (with the band accompanying the ceremony in an ‘unclubbed style’). The whole system was crystal clear. For the ceremony itself, I rolled the bass back as it wasn’t needed. Looking back, I could have just run the NXL 14As full range, and they would have been fine.
Then music for the wedding breakfast and dancing; the whole system sounded musical and punchy. The band leader even asked if he could use it on the next gig (perfect excuse to place an order).
Final thoughts
There really is a lot of choice out there when it comes to compact PA systems. I’ve used my fair share of them, from the dinky stick arrays to chunkier tops and subs, but the RCF setup I’ve been using recently strikes a bit of a sweet spot in the market. It’s got all the aesthetic appeal of a column system, with the proper sonic performance of the traditional sub-pole-top combo, making it a proper 3-way PA system.
It’s quick to set up and small enough to fit on the smallest of Rock-N-Roller trolleys, yet flexible and sleek enough to handle weddings, corporate gigs and clubbier parties.
The SUB 15-AX’s DSP processing and app control genuinely set it apart because you can tweak your sound to the venue, to the other speakers you are using, or even just to your own ears. Sure, it’s not a budget system but, at its price point and the multitude of gig types this combo can work in, you’d be hard-pressed to find something else that not only covers the bases but absolutely thrives in them.
TL/DR summary:
Looks: Sleek and pro without being flashy. Sounds: Punchy and clear across different styles. Transport: Easily handled with one person and a trolley (wish 15s had wheels though). Techy bits: App control for DSP on subs, presets galore including NXL 14-A. Price point: Not budget but also not boutique – cheaper than buying one system for each job, just get this one to do it all.
Would I buy it? Honestly, yes. And I think I might have just convinced my business partner, Max, too!
