Review: Cerwin Vega P1000X P-Series

Strother Bullins considers how this portable PA compares with the company’s older offerings.

The P-Series is one of two powered live loudspeaker lines by Cerwin-Vega, the other being C-V’s flagship CVA Series – quite possibly the best all-around PPA (portable PA) gear I’ve ever used.

The P-Series incorporates some notable CVA-influenced features, as well as some unique and useful touches. For this review, I received a P1000X pair (at $699 street, each), a two-way biamped full-range bass-reflex speaker featuring a 10in LF driver and a 1.75in HF driver, polypropylene cabinet with steel accents and handles incorporating a flush waveguide and 18 gauge perforated steel grille; and a Class D amp providing 1,000W of peak power.

The P1000X is compact for what it offers, with dimensions of 25.5in x 15in x 15in and a weight of 37lbs. Frequency response is relatively flat and balanced for PPA gear, at a reported 61.0Hz to 20.6kHz, (±3dB), with a 128dB maximum SPL (1W @1m).

I/O for the three-channel mixer includes Neutrik XLR/TRS inputs on channels 1 and 2, switchable mic-DI or line plus an XLR throughput each; dual 0.25in TS line inputs on channel 3; and a mix output on XLR. EQ-based parameters include Enhanced EQ (contour adjustment with feedback-reducing midrange attenuation); Vega Bass Boost (LF gain); and a High Pass Filter (attenuation below 80Hz), each with on/off switches.

In Use

After several months of use in several applications – club/theatre, outdoor venue and rehearsal use – I found the P1000X to be a great stage monitor and main speaker (when used as a pair coupled with a powered subwoofer). It’s plenty powerful in most PPA applications and seems to be physically overbuilt in typical Cerwin-Vega fashion, with an overall better and thicker grade of polypropylene than I find in the vast majority of portable PA products.

However, if shopping for active portable PA gear today, I’d honestly choose an older Cerwin-Vega full-range model – the more compact, tour grade-built Active Series CVA-28 dual 8in speaker (at $599 street, each, with 800W peak power) over the P1000X; there are several products very comparable to the P1000X in the market yet nothing out there quite like the CVA Series.

That said, for those looking for a more traditional PPA powered enclosure with Cerwin-Vega’s well-earned reputation for quality sound and rugged construction, the P1000X is a very worthy choice and notably user-friendly to boot.

www.cerwinvega.com

Strother Bullins is reviews editor across NewBay Media’s AV/Pro Audio division. ?He was also editor of sister title ?Pro Audio Review. www.prosoundnetwork.com