TXD SERIES MAKES A BIG IMPRESSION ON THE LIVE BAND MARKET

- Establishing a benchmark in the world of the PA system.

The following reprint of Justin Dean's recent Music Mart review emphasises the suitability of the TXD range for the live band market, and its growing popularity for pub, bar and small club venues. The system combinations on test were TXD-151 plus TXD-118 subs, and TXD-121 plus TXD-115 subs all run passively from single amplifiers.

Justin Dean takes a look at a new system from one of the biggest names in touring PA - Turbosound

During my years working as a live music promoter, Turbosound has got to be the one name that has been included on touring engineer’s spec sheets more than any other. Like the SM58 microphone, their name has become synonymous with quality and durability which has led them to become a benchmark in the world of the PA system.

The TXD system of passive enclosures is the latest addition in a long line of refined music products, so despite the usual struggle of getting eight huge boxes up the stairs at my studio, my excitement remained undented, unlike my back! There are six enclosures in the TXD range, all sharing the same unifying looks and designed to work at their optimum with each other. These include a monitor (TXD-12M), two sizes of mid/top (12” or 15” woofer - TXD-121 and TXD-151), and two sizes of sub bass bin (15” - TXD-115, or 18” - TXD-118 - woofer). For this review I was sent the mid/tops (TXD-121 and TXD-151) and the bass enclosures (TXD-115 and TXD-118) to get a general overview of the system.

Although quite difficult to lift in their cardboard box packaging they are easy to handle once they’re out. The handles are simple cut outs in the side of the enclosure - fitting in with a general austere, functional aesthetic that the TXD range exhibits - but their positioning towards the top of the cabinet make them comfortable to lift and carry. Each of the units could be lifted by one person as the weight is not too excessive making the set up of an entire rig not too much of an exhausting task. The main component of cabinet construction is 15mm birch ply, ensuring good acoustic performance and this has been coated in a semi-matt textured paint. This gives the TXD an excellent cosmetic finish - ideal as an impressive installation item (they also come with M10 mounting points so that you can ‘fly’ them as desired). However, it may allow the corners to get damaged if they are required to be loaded in and out of a van regularly - of course the remit of this review didn’t allow us to test just how much it would damage them! If gigging or mobile DJ applications is your purpose for them, I’d recommend a visit to your local retailer to pick up some corner protects to secure your investment. The colour of the review units is ‘TurboBlue’ and looks fantastic! Black is also an option, but the blue is a definite winner.

Additional hardware is included in the form of pole-mount sockets and M10 threaded rigging points, all use stuff. Linking to amps and other enclosures is via pairs of Neutrik NL4MP Speakon connectors, the sockets being located in a recess on the rear of the unit. The front is protected by steel mesh, which appears to be powder coated. Hmmmm, my favourite and a big boon on the protection stakes! A badge also adorns the front, just to remind yourself - and more importantly everyone else in sight - that you own a Turbosound rig.

All the enclosures are rated at 300 watts RMS, 600 watts program with impedance of 8 ohms - and you should match with a suitable high quality amplifier at 600w to get the best from the system. If you want to keep things really simple, bi-amping is not necessary as each sub is fitted with a crossover and a link to the mid/top enclosure.

…AND NOW THE SCIENCE
That’s what brings them together as a range, but let’s also take a quick look at what sets them apart. The TXD-121 comprises of a 1 x 12” LF driver with a 1” HF compression driver offering a frequency response of 60Hz to 20kHz. It offers a 70° horizontal and 40° vertical dispersion with a max SPL of 122dB continuous (128dB peak) and sensitivity of 97dB. It measures in at 553 x 411 x 352mm and weighs just 20kg.

The TXD-151 is 8kg heavier, and slightly bigger at 682 x 465 x 423mm. It houses a 1 x 15” LF driver with the 1” compression unit, but can deal with frequencies between 45Hz and 20kHz (±4dB). It does offer the same dispersion characteristics as its smaller brother with a slightly extended sensitivity of 90dB and higher SPL handling (124dB continuous, 130dB peak),

The TXD-115 sports 1 x 15” reflex-loaded LF driver, with the cabinet also allowing for four forward-facing ports. It includes an internal low-pass crossover network which ships everything above 150Hz straight on up to the mid tops. It can handle 121dB continuous and 127dB peak, and deal with frequencies down to 43Hz - and of course, (dispersion’s not an issue with sub bass. The TXD-118 is pretty much the same as the TXD-115 - it weighs in at 28kg and measures 652 x 540 x 484mm, handles 123dB continuous and 129dB peak down to a rib cage rattling 38Hz.

PERFORMANCE
For the test I set up two systems, one with two TXD-118 subs with two TXD-151 mid/tops and another with two TXD-115 subs and two TXD-121 mid/tops. Both set-ups only used one amplifier to take advantage of the internal crossover.

At low levels both systems exhibit a well-balanced sound across the whole frequency range, with top end detail sitting just right on the driving bottom end from the mid/tops and that murmur from the subs that you know will be head crushing at volume. Bringing the volume up to gig levels doesn’t affect the quality of sound but delivers it with a punch that is jaw-droppingly good! Both systems can push a lot of air but this is the point where the difference between the smaller and larger set-up becomes apparent. The smaller just sounds that little bit ‘warmer’ and finds that sweet spot compared to the slightly more brutal effect of the larger. Obviously this would change in a room full of people, and with the larger audience the TXD-118 and TXD-151 are aimed at, this effect would undoubtedly be curtailed slightly. With this in mind I took the smaller system to a show to see how it performed in a live band situation. All four boxes fit comfortably in the back of my Peugeot 309 (with the seats folded down of course) and getting the lot up a set of stairs was a cinch. The performance from the TXD-115 and TXD-121 was superb, probably one of the best live gigs I have used. Oh, if only I still had that dbx driverack. Once again, everything from kick drum to guitars and vocals were handled with depth and detail to the point that I had band and audience members asking about the PA. It’s that good.

CONCLUSION
Of course you don’t have to split all the boxes into separate systems as I did. With the right speaker management system, amps and crossovers you could own a seriously powerful PA system, which would be the envy of all the other engineers/venues in your area. You see, even though the TXD system is quite portable I firmly believe these should find a permanent home in a working venue or club that demands a great sound system. They’re just too nice to be chucked into the back of a car or van every so often. If you’re a venue owner with a few grand waiting for a new system then I reckon the TXD series is as good as ‘yer gonna get. Serious touring bands or PA hiring companies with a similarly serious budget would be well to invest in these. Just don’t scratch them, or I will personally find you and give you a slap! Top stuff from Turbosound.

Click here for more details on the TXD series.