Speakers – manufacturers are forever trying to fi nd ways to make them sound better, look diff erent and be easier to transport. And for mobile DJs, this latter point is one of incredible importance. With this in mind, Denon DJ’s fi rst foray into the world of professional audio – the newly launched Axis Series – may be of interest to the readers of Pro Mobile. 7766 The arrival of this new speaker series may not be what you were expecting from Denon DJ, a company known for its CD players, DJ mixers, controllers and accessories.

But, having been acquired by inMusic (Numark), it seems the brand is in fairly safe hands and is ready to expand. inMusic has a good history with Alto speakers, which off er great value poundfor-pound, so there’s no reason why Denon DJ shouldn’t follow suit with the higher-end Axis Series. The new series comprises three products – the Axis 8, Axis 12 and Axis 12S. The Axis 8 and 12 are both two-way coaxial speakers – with 8” and 12” drivers, respectively – while the Axis 12S is a 12” powered subwoofer, but for this review I looked exclusively at an Axis 12 system, complete with the 12S sub.

Starting off on purely aesthetic terms, I think the speakers themselves look great. The Denon DJ engineers have gone for a modern look with clean lines and gentle curves; with a matt black fi nish and black grilles, the speakers have an air of understated sophistication. However, the most striking aspect of the two top enclosures is their shape. Rather than the traditional rectangular front, they are square, which leads us to what is found inside the units.

Both the Axis 12 and Axis 8 make use of a coaxial driver (where the tweeter is mounted in front of the woofer on the same axis), which enables a better quality of sound from a more compact unit. This technology is common in professional studio monitors, but isn’t oft en seen put to use in portable PA systems (although Mackie’s DLM series is one other notable example). The Axis 12 and 8 also both feature 1000W class-D bi-amplifi cation with precision internal DSP designed to provide a high-power but portable audio solution that is well-suited to DJs on the road.

Partly down to the square enclosure design resulting from the coaxial driver, you’ll fi nd that the Axis 12 speakers are surprisingly compact, to the point where you could probably stack one on top of another in the back of your hatchback. Easy to pack, easy to stack – this really is a portable PA system, great for the needs of the mobile DJ. I also found the speakers – including the sub – easy to lift and move around thanks to their low weight (the top box weighs 16.99kg, while the sub is 21.26kg – signifi cantly lighter than a few similar models on the market) and the comfortable recessed carry handles.

THDEE ANROTN O DF JA ADXVIESR 1T2IS/1IN2GS Once I’d got the Axis 12 tops hooked up with the 12S subs, it was all pretty standard stuff from this point onwards; nothing ground-breaking or surprising, but nothing inherently bad either. I’d defi nitely say that the sound produced by the Axis 12 is respectable given the size of the unit. The top-end is clear and, for some events, the Axis 12s alone could even off er enough of a bass kick to be used without the sub.

However, you will probably fi nd you need to play around with the EQ found on the rear control panel (switching between the ‘Flat’ and ‘Boost’ presets) in order to achieve your desired sound. The fl exibility off ered by the rear panel is in fact essential to the Axis 12’s success as a product. There are two separate inputs, each with combination XLR/jack sockets and dedicated volume controls. A ‘Thru’ XLR output socket is also provided, which can be switched between just input 1 or a mix of both inputs.

What’s really useful is the option to connect your microphone directly into the speaker - as Input 1 is switchable between mic and line level - which means announcements and other hosting duties are possible without the need to go through your DJ mixer. Meanwhile Input 2 also off ers RCA phono socket inputs meaning you can connect your tablet, smartphone or laptop directly to play songs during dinner, a wedding breakfast or early-evening drinks when this is required away from your main setup.

As I mentioned earlier, I believe that in smaller venues pair of Axis 12s could defi nitely be used – one either side of the DJ booth – without the subwoofers. However, for regular-sized function rooms, you will be looking for that added bass kick from the Axis 12S. Again, the Denon DJ team have integrated 1000W class-D amplifi cation with internal DSP, this time to power a 12” heat-treated woofer with 3” voice coil. The Axis 12S speakers have been designed to provide solid low-end from a portable sub that can be taken on the road with your Axis 12 units.

Boasting a maximum SPL in excess of 120dB and a response that extends to 38Hz, this unit is supposed to be able to handle a lot! Compared to the clean sound produced by the top box, however, it didn’t seem to me that the 12S matched its standards; the bass was OK and it certainly added kick, but you wouldn’t exactly call it solid. At the levels I was using it, the sound was reasonable. But I think really pushing the sub to its limits inside bigger venues would provide a few issues.

Having said this, the settings can be tweaked on the rear panel of the 12S, just as they can for the Axis 12. Naturally, you can adjust the ADRETNIOCNLE D HJE AAXDIISN 1G2/12S DENON DJ AXIS 12/12S a volume level, but there is also a button for switching the crossover setting between 80Hz and the default 140Hz (recommended by Denon DJ when using with Axis 12 speakers), depending on whether you need to increase the mid-bass levels or not. Continuing the fl exibility off ered by the Axis 12, the 12S is fi tted with two XLR inputs, each with corresponding high-pass and full-range output XLR sockets and a Stea reo/Mono switch.

This means that you can use a single sub, connecting the stereo feed from your mixer to the Axis 12S and then hooking your stereo Axis 12 speakers up to the High Pass outputs. Equally, you can use two separate subs, each linking to a single top. Finally the Full Range outputs also mean that multiple systems can be daisy-chained for larger rooms. This fl exibility is a THE EARLY DAYS /12S In a is I It 78 real positive, allowing you to confi gure your Axis 12/12S setup – and integrate it with a larger system - in a way that suits your needs as a mobile DJ. terms of practicalities there are a few more notable features of the Axis 12/12S system as a whole.

For starters, both fan-cooled units have been equipped with robust and comfortable carrying handles: one on top of the Axis 12 and one either side of the Axis 12S. Another point to note is the pole-mount inserts, which allow you to mount the top box above the bass bin using standard 35mm pole. The Axis 12 top box, like the 12S, also fi tted with sturdy rubber feet, so it’s no problem to ground stack the speakers, too. So, would I recommend the Denon DJ Axis 12 speakers for use in your mobile audio rig?

I think that’s up to you to decide! Audio is a very personal thing, so I’d really suggest visiting your local stockist for a demo. It’s important to remember that this is Denon DJ’s fi rst off ering in the competitive world of speakers – and in my opinion the Axis 12/12S isn’t a bad fi rst attempt at all! It would have been really interesting to have done a side-by-side comparison with other speakers in the same price bracket to see how it stacks up against the highly competitive speaker market.

The system has some real plus points – the lightweight, portable and stylish square design being just one of them. I also loved the fl exibility off ered by the rear panels, although it would be nice to have some sort of protection for the control panel – for instance, a sliding or magnetic cover. But this is something that Denon DJ may look at adding to its next model. For the time being, would recommend investing in speaker covers, as with any active system.

Thanks to the portability enabled by its coaxial drivers and stackable design, the Axis 12/12S is certainly appealing to the needs of audio users on the move. However, the deciding factor for many mobile DJs will be the price. is defi nitely worth getting down to your local store to check it out, compare it with similar systems and see what you think. As far as fi rst attempts go, Denon DJ hasn’t done too badly. I’m interested to see what they come up with next.