(I’m fortunate that I’m a qualified electrician and have been able to use this to keep going) as well as driving a van for a well-known supermarket helped to pay the bills, but its hardly event life is it? So, I was delighted to get my hands on a pair of Powerwerks speakers for test – it was a good excuse to shake the dust and cobwebs from all my kit in the warehouse! 86 86 sponsored by In all honesty, I hadn’t ever heard of – let alone seen – Powerwerks speakers before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

However, some research led me to discover that the brand is one of over 70 distributed by JHS, who I definitely had heard of. JHS was started in 1965 by husband and wife team, John and Madge Hornby- Skewes, as a seller of small accessories. Now JHS specialises in providing just about every conceivable item anyone needing sound equipment could possibly want. Powerwerks systems and speakers are designed in the US, and the quality of design in its range is due to their engineers’ expertise, totaling over 100 years in sound production!

The Powerwerks Pro series range features three different speaker sizes, with 10-, 12- and 15-inch drivers, and are designed to offer big punch in small, portable packages. I had the 15-inch versions. With their impressive high power of 1000W peak with maximum 125dbspl at one metre, 40Hz to 20KHz frequency response, and 2.8KHz crossover, I had more than enough power to wake the neighbours at my unit! Especially when a certain Mariah Carey track came on.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. However, it’s that time of year, and Let's face it, probably the only chance I would get to play it out loud in 2020! I did also get into one of my venues' function rooms, although clearly it wasn’t set for an event due to ongoing restrictions. This gave me a chance to properly play the speakers in an environment we would normally expect to hear them in. (Mind, I didn’t dare play Mariah there – I’d have been lynched!) The speaker cabinets are made from medium density fibreboard, perfect material for damping out unwanted energy and vibration, and have a solid construction, with rubber feet on one side enabling them to be used as monitors.

They have integral twin M8 threaded inserts for easy installation and/ or mounting, which is a handy feature. There is also a 35mm top hat, a carry/lifting handle, and the entire cab weighs in at 24kg. In terms of control, the panel on the cabinet’s rear features three channels, two with combo jack inputs – which accept microphone or line level audio signals from ¼” TRS or mono connection, or balanced XLR cables – and one for an auxiliary cable or Bluetooth connectivity.

Each of the two input jack channels has switchable music/voice EQ, as well as microphone/ line gain with individual level control. POWERWERKS PWPRO 15 On the third channel there are Bluetooth ‘enable’ and ‘pair’ buttons, a volume control and an auxiliary input. When an auxiliary cable is plugged in, the system automatically disables the Bluetooth function. Finally, you have a master volume control, XLR line out and power input.

The first test I ran was using the Bluetooth receiver. This didn’t drop out at all when walking from one end of the yard outside my unit to the other, which is around 100m. This is very impressive, as Bluetooth speakers I’ve used in the past haven’t performed this well. So, what’s the sound like?

Well, the sound these speakers gave once setup was extremely clear, crisp and consistent. All the usual high tones you would hope to hear are present, and they reminded me a surround system at home, in that they didn’t get louder as you got closer to them. The quality remained at all levels. In fact, the more I turned up the volume, the better they sounded, and there is a very good feel to the bottom end.

Whilst my test in the venue was in an empty room, know these would be great speakers to use in a room full of happy dancers or Christmas partygoers – oh, hang on! I know, it would have been lovely to have used them at a proper event. I’d have been interested to hear the sound in a ‘true’ environment, and even better, perhaps by complementing the already strong PSTOAWYIENRGW MEORKBSIL PEWPRO bass with subs. This would likely be much more than I’d need for some of the events I do, but it’s always better to have too much than not enough, and it’s good to have that power when you’re in larger rooms with big crowds without having to resort to using alternative speakers.

I really like these speakers. They have great functionality with a brilliant sound and, at the price point, are an excellent mid-budget option but with an expensive feel. A great all-round, easy-to-use system with cracking quality. Powerwerks is definitely a brand to watch, as they have a solid range of speakers available and I honestly think the quality will ruffle some of their competitors’ feathers!

As with all speakers, I would always recommend testing them for yourself at your local retailer, as everyone’s taste is different and you will get a better understanding of what you truly want from the sound you produce. I hope everyone maintains high spirits as we look ahead to this year. Stay safe everyone, we will get through this! of I THE EARLY DAYS By Fabio Capozzi chairman@ HAPPY NEW YEAR! And I hope everyone has had a great Christmas and New Year’s Eve, such as it was with all the restrictions in place.

Traditionally December is a significantly busy time for us all and I have heard from members that it was particularly weird not working over the Christmas period. The continued ban on large groups being allowed to congregate killed any chance for festive bookings, nevertheless, I hope you were able to spend the downtime with family and friends (within the rules of course) and had a rare but relaxing time. The entertainment industry has endured the most aggressive and devastating catastrophe we have ever known, leaving the country devoid of any parties, weddings, celebrations, and get-togethers.

In light of a successful vaccine, I am sure you will all a join me in looking forward to getting back to gigs whilst looking back at family, friends and colleagues who were not so fortunate and have now passed due to Coronavirus. The NEC, Association members and I would like to extend our condolences and heartfelt sympathies I to the families that have suffered loss during this devastating pandemic. I frequently have memories pop up in my Facebook account and it staggers me how often they are of me and the NEC team at expos, branch sessions and DJ networking events.

I have come to realise how much I miss meeting and greeting members and talking with DJs looking to join the Association. I take this opportunity to thank all the committees and their volunteers that have maintained communications with their branch members and supporters via video calls. We are hoping these have been welcome and the experience has been enjoyable. If you would like to help your branch with content or any expertise you would like to share, please make contact with your branch committee as they would be delighted to speak with you.

You may be aware that NADJ, SEDA and other DJ groups and affiliations collaborated to create the #SaveDJEntertainment campaign as a single voice regarding the devastating effect of Coronavirus and the entertainment industry. I am pleased to announce that we have teamed up with the #OneVoice campaign as a joint effort to make our voice louder still. There are a disproportionate number of DJ entertainers that have been forgotten in the wake of the pandemic, leaving many DJs to fend for themselves, supporting their families with little or no help, in spite of the financial measures and aid provided by Government.

One Voice has created sizeable platform that we are pleased to be a part of as we continue to push on behalf of our members and the DJ community. If you have not sent your letter to your local MP please do visit the site to download the template and find your local MP. look towards 2021 with anticipation and some trepidation. For all of us the wedding and Christmas season was wiped out, however, as we move into a new year I look forward to seeing the entertainment industry start to get back on its feet and see many of us securing bookings and getting back to gigs.

Whilst writing this, I cannot help but hear the Beatles song: “Here Comes the Sun”; a song about beginning afresh with a positive outlook. Using the brightest thing in our life, the Sun, as a metaphor for the start of a new chapter, it talks of NADJ NEWS feeling better about new beginnings by inviting a more positive energy into our life, thus seeing more smiles from people – and that is something we all love about our job… putting smiles on faces and our dancefloors.

I think of the journey and how we can be enriched by the people we surround ourselves with. I am sure none of us is the same person or DJ since the end of March 2020, but by evolving and being able to embrace the changes and challenges we have faced as fellow members and industry colleagues, we can continue to support each other. If you’ve not heard from a fellow DJ in a while, reach out and make contact. Say hi, how are you doing?

I look forward to the return of live branch sessions, meeting and chatting with the many members and visitors that support the branches, but in the meantime look after yourselves and each other. BRANCH UPDATE By Fabio Capozzi on behalf of the Branch Committees Wow, what a challenging year we have all just had. Familiarity is a safe place. It does not test or require any further work for us to continue on our paths.

It is neither forward nor backward, present, or past, good, or bad, but simply where we are. The NADJ do not subscribe to being content in this motionless state, we feel there is much we can do together to help reinvigorate our industry and promote a positive public image of mobile DJs and what they can bring to any event. We have been observing a positive shift towards supporting this ethos, and with the changing attitudes of members, combined with committees working on exciting initiatives, new ideas and better approaches to tired old formats are being challenged or updated for all our benefit.