Tried Out the Popular Powered Speaker ZLX-12BT from the Iconic PA Speaker Brand, Electro-Voice!

If you’re a frequent concert goer, you’ve probably seen the famous PA speaker SX300E from the brand Electro-Voice at least once. Today, I’m introducing Electro-Voice’s powered PA speaker ZLX-12BT, which has a built-in power amplifier.

The first thing that surprised me was how compact it is. Compared to the EON712, which also has a 12-inch speaker, you can see that the ZLX-12BT is noticeably smaller. To the right of the ZLX-12BT is the EON710 (10-inch), and next to that is the EON712 (12-inch).

I compared it with the SX300E from different angles.

I always thought the SX300E was compact compared to other passive 12-inch speakers, but the ZLX-12BT is even slimmer!

However, the ZLX-12BT does have more depth than the SX300E.

Both speakers come with screws that help fill in the small gap when mounted on speaker stands, which is a nice feature.

Did you notice?
One of the great features of the ZLX-12BT is the abundance of handles. With handles on the sides, top, and bottom, you can lift the speaker easily in any position—whether vertical or horizontal. Having multiple handles also allows you to securely carry it with both hands, making transportation much easier.

Additionally, the ZLX-12BT has an enclosure that allows it to be used as a floor monitor, so it can be set up with the appropriate angle as shown.

As per the functionality of the ZLX-12BT, this model supports Bluetooth music playback as the ‘BT’ in the product name suggests.

For example, you can connect a microphone to the two input jacks on the ZLX-12BT and play background music wirelessly from a smartphone, which means you can manage events like talk shows or dance lessons without needing a mixer.

One of the most recommended features is the ability to configure DSP settings directly on the speaker.
I was surprised by how much could be adjusted from the LCD display on the speaker itself. I’ll walk you through the details in conjunction with the manual.

The operation is straightforward: press the ‘PUSH FOR DSP’ knob to display the menu, turn the knob to select, and press it to confirm. I quickly got used to it after a few tries.

Here’s the actual menu display of the ZLX-12BT and the device display when pairing via Bluetooth (EV ZLX BT).

Below is an excerpt from the manual listing the settings you can configure under each menu item:

1. MODE

You can select the optimal sound profile for your application from this menu.
Even if you find equalizing difficult, you can rest easy.

2. LOCATION

This is another great feature. PA speakers can be set up in various ways depending on the venue and application. The ZLX-12BT offers three common presets—mounted on a speaker stand, placed on the floor, or positioned near a wall—with each one tuned for optimal performance.

3. SUB

When using it with a subwoofer, you can set the mid-high frequencies output from the ZLX-12BT according to the range handled by the subwoofer. It’s very user-friendly, allowing you to select crossover frequencies of 80/100/120/150 Hz, which works not only with Electro-Voice subwoofers but also with generic ones.

4. TREBLE、BASS

It’s great to be able to tailor the sound to your liking directly on the speaker. The two-band equalizer allows for intuitive adjustments—boost the highs for more clarity or the lows for more punch. Of course, you can also cut frequencies to tone things down.

5. MIX OUT

This output terminal is used when you want to add another powered speaker. The ZLX-12BT allows you to choose whether to output ‘L+R’ or ‘R only’ from the MIX OUT when playing Bluetooth music. Select ‘L+R’ if you want the same sound from all speakers, or ‘R only’ if you want stereo playback.

6. STORE、RECALL

You can save and recall up to five settings, making it easy to adapt to different venues or installation methods. This is a very convenient feature unique to DSP.

Sound quality can be subjective, but in my opinion, the ZLX-12BT delivers a “rich and thick low-end that you can really feel” and “natural mid-high frequencies that seamlessly connect with that low-end.” As I mentioned at the beginning, the ZLX-12BT’s compact body and lighter weight might lead you to expect a more subdued sound compared to larger, heavier speakers, but I was pleasantly surprised. It reminded me of my experience with the SX300E—how its compact size belied the powerful 12-inch sound. My personal impression of the ZLX-12BT is that it produces “the kind of sound that hits you in the gut, characteristic of Electro-Voice”, making it a highly recommended PA speaker for any application or genre.
Sound House offers comparison audio samples of powered speakers, so I encourage you to listen and compare them.

SoundCloud: Classic PA Speaker (Powered) Comparison