Short answer: the Yamaha DXR12mkIII. It ranks #13 of 83 12-inch pa speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $999.99; the Axiom ED120A ranks #18, rated 4.0/5, and costs $1,790, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Yamaha DXR12mkIII: A light, loud 12 inch powered PA speaker with strong amplification, app control and capable onboard DSP. It has a microphone input for karaoke or announcements, which the Axiom ED120A lacks. Watch for: The truncated Spinorama data does not produce a preference score, so its tonal advantage over the proven Yamaha DXR12mkII is not yet quantified.
Why pick the Axiom ED120A: A good sounding professional 12 inch powered PA speaker with deep bass, remote control and an asymmetric horn for installs. Watch for: The 132dB claimed peak is competitive rather than class-leading, and the asymmetric 60°-to-100° pattern needs more deliberate aiming than a conventional symmetric horn.
Buy the Yamaha DXR12mkIII. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Axiom ED120A and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete PA & Live Sound rankings.
A light, loud 12 inch powered PA speaker with strong amplification, app control and capable onboard DSP.
A good sounding professional 12 inch powered PA speaker with deep bass, remote control and an asymmetric horn for installs.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha DXR12mkIII | Axiom ED120A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999.99 | $1,790 |
| Ranked | #13 of 83 in 12-Inch PA Speakers | #18 of 83 in 12-Inch PA Speakers |
| Passive | No | No |
| Configuration | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, 1” throat/1.75” diaphragm compression driver | 12” woofer, 1.4” compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 17kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 23.6”H x 14.4”W x 13.8”D (600 x 366 x 350 mm) | 24”H x 14.2”W x 12.2”D (610 x 360 x 310 mm) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 60Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° | 60°-100° asymmetric x 60° |
| Maximum SPL | 134dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 132dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Balanced mic/line inputs and link output | XLR input and link; EtherCON control network |
| Amplifier Power | 2000W peak / 1000W RMS (1700W LF + 300W HF peak) | 1,200W continuous (900W LF + 300W HF Class D, manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz (FIR-X) | - |
| Cabinet Material | PP plastic | 15mm reinforced phenolic birch plywood |
| Rigging | 3 x M10 points plus U-bracket points; 35mm dual-angle pole mount | M10 and M6 fly points; pole-mount socket |
| DSP | Yes, FIR-X tuning, Drive Motion Calibration and D-Remote | Yes, CORE processing with PRONET control |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) | 41.9 lbs (19 kg) |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Microphone Input | Yes | No |
| Guitar Input | No | No |
| Network Control | - | PRONET control over EtherCON/CANBUS |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 3.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 5.73 |
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