A good PA gets out of the way of the gig.
It needs to be loud enough to fill the room, light enough to carry and simple enough that you’re not still trying to figure it out when doors open.
That’s what PreSonus is going for with the AIR XD Series – an update to its original AIR range that keeps the same five shapes but adds Bluetooth, more power and reworked drivers. It’s compact, quick to set up and user-friendly – handy for a solo muso running weekend gigs, a mobile DJ or a hire company loading in and out several times a week.
The range splits into three full-range loudspeakers – the 10, 12 and 15, the “tops” that carry the whole mix on their own – plus two subwoofers, the Sub 15 and Sub 18, that add the deep bottom end underneath.
Every model is active and Class D powered, with the tops running 1,500W. The woofer’s been revamped with a bigger voice coil to shift heat and handle more power, so the low end stays tight and controlled through a long, loud night. Up top, the tweeter’s PEEK diaphragm shrugs off heat, rated to 250°C, and keeps the highs clear without turning harsh when you push the levels, with a standard 90° by 60° spread of coverage.
Every speaker has Bluetooth built in, so you can play music straight from your phone, or pair any two for wireless stereo with no cable in between. A small colour screen and a set of presets take care of the tuning, with modes for speech, music or foldback, plus ±10 dB of treble and bass to even out a boomy or a dead room. The presets get you up and running fast, and the deeper EQ and sub tuning are there when you want to dig in a little more. The tops also have a three-channel mixer built in, with two XLR/TRS combo inputs for mics or instruments and a stereo aux for a music player, so for a lot of gigs you won’t need a separate desk.
The tops are shaped to stand upright or lie on their side as a foldback wedge, and they’ll go on a speaker pole, either level or tilted 7.5° down to aim at a crowd. They’ll also hang from fly points for a permanent install or stack on the floor. Plus, every model is tuned to sound the same, so you can mix and match tops and subs and it all still sounds like one cohesive system.
Catch up on all the latest features here.
AIR XD 10
The smallest and lightest top at 13.8 kg, the XD 10 pairs a 10-inch woofer with a 1-inch tweeter for up to 130 dB, with bass reaching down to 55 Hz. It’s the one that’ll fit in the backseat, and suits a solo set or a speech. It can also double as a foldback wedge on stage.
AIR XD 12
A step up in size and volume, the 12-inch XD 12 hits 132 dB and reaches a little deeper to 48 Hz, on the same 1,500W and the same tweeter as the 15. At 19.5 kg it’s the all-rounder of the range, a good fit for a small band, a mobile DJ or a busier corporate room.
AIR XD 15
The biggest top, the XD 15 gets to 134 dB and digs all the way down to 40 Hz, so it can carry a full band on its own before you’ve even added a sub. It weighs 23.1 kg and shares the tweeter with the 12. If you’re playing a bigger room, this is the one to go for.
AIR XD Sub 15
For low end, the Sub 15 brings a 15-inch driver on 2,000W, good for up to 128 dB and down to 32 Hz. It tunes itself to whatever top you’re running so the handover between them stays smooth. If you’re using more than one sub, there are settings to point the bass out at the crowd and keep it off the stage. There’s also a “Mo’ Bass” mode for when you simply want more. Casters are included, though at 32 kg it’s still a two-hands job.
AIR XD Sub 18
The big one. The Sub 18’s 18-inch driver, also on 2,000W, pushes to 130 dB and reaches down to 33 Hz for serious sub-bass. It has the same tuning tricks as the Sub 15, in a tough wood cabinet with proper handles and caster mounts. At 39.8 kg, it’s a bit of a hefty lift, so you may need an extra hand.
The AIR XD Series is a jack-of-all-trades. With the amp, mixer, Bluetooth and tuning all built in, it’s compact, fast to set up and user-friendly. It’s the kind of PA you can point at almost any job and trust it to deliver – a party, a small stage, a corporate event, a wedding or a permanent installation. Aimed at everyone from mobile performers and DJs to hire companies, venues and installers, and backed by a six-year warranty, the AIR XD Series is built for the long haul.
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