Short answer: the Yamaha DXR15mkIII. It ranks #15 of 62 15-inch pa speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $1,099.99. The Yamaha CZR15 ranks #22, rated 3.7/5, at $1,024, $75.99 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The case for the Yamaha DXR15mkIII: The third-generation DXR15 raises claimed output to 134dB with 2000W amplification, app-based control and Yamaha’s newest onboard DSP, while its 90° x 60° pattern matches the well-regarded Yamaha DXR12mkIII. The catch: The low-quality local data is truncated and cannot produce a preference score, so its tonal advantage over the proven Yamaha DXR15mkII is unconfirmed.
What the Yamaha CZR15 does well: The passive version of the measured Yamaha DZR15, with a 15” woofer and a 2” voice coil compression driver in a plywood cabinet with 90° x 60° coverage. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
Buy the Yamaha DXR15mkIII. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $75.99 saving on the Yamaha CZR15 is not enough to make up the difference.
About the ratings: the Yamaha CZR15’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.3 to 4.1, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Want more options? Browse the full PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha DXR15mkIII | Yamaha CZR15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,099.99 | $1,024.00 Passive |
| Ranked | #15 of 62 in 15-Inch PA Speakers | #22 of 62 in 15-Inch PA Speakers Estimated |
| Passive | No | Yes |
| Configuration | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker | Passive 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Drivers | 15” woofer, 1” throat/1.75” diaphragm compression driver | 15” woofer, 2” voice coil compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 46Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) | 33Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 27.5”H x 17.6”W x 15”D (699 x 447 x 380 mm) | - |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° | 90° x 60° |
| Maximum SPL | 134dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 129dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | 2 x XLR/TRS combo; XLR thru and DSP outputs | - |
| Amplifier Power | 2000W peak / 1000W RMS (1700W LF + 300W HF peak) | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz (FIR-X) | - |
| Cabinet Material | PP plastic | Plywood |
| Rigging | 3 x M10 points plus U-bracket points; 35mm dual-angle pole mount | 12 x M10 inserts; 2 x 35mm pole sockets (0° or -7°) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54.5Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | - |
| DSP | Yes, FIR-X tuning, Drive Motion Calibration and D-Remote | No (passive) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Weight | 46.3 lbs (21 kg) | 47 lbs (21.3 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | Yes | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| Power Handling | - | 800W |
| Impedance | - | 8 ohms |
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- Yamaha DZR15 vs Yamaha DXR15mkIII
- JBL PRX915 vs Yamaha DXR15mkIII
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Yamaha DXR15mkIII: $1,099.99 Amazon B&H Photo Video Guitar Center eBay
Older model: the Yamaha DXR15mkII (ranked lower, rated 3.7/5). See every Yamaha DXR and CXR generation.
Same family: the Yamaha DXR10mkIII (smaller powered model, rated 3.8/5), the Yamaha DXR12mkIII (smaller powered model, rated 4.1/5), the Yamaha CXR10mkIII (smallest passive model, estimated 3.5/5), the Yamaha CXR12mkIII (passive model, estimated 3.8/5) and the Yamaha CXR15mkIII (largest passive model, ranked lower, estimated 3.5/5).
Pros: The third-generation DXR15 raises claimed output to 134dB with 2000W amplification, app-based control and Yamaha’s newest onboard DSP, while its 90° x 60° pattern matches the well-regarded Yamaha DXR12mkIII. Measured bass extension of 54.5Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The low-quality local data is truncated and cannot produce a preference score, so its tonal advantage over the proven Yamaha DXR15mkII is unconfirmed. Wireless connectivity is for remote control, not audio streaming.
Full Yamaha DXR15mkIII review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2026 (3 months ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 2000W peak / 1000W RMS (1700W LF + 300W HF peak) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54.5Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Cabinet Material | PP plastic |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz (FIR-X) |
| DSP | Yes, FIR-X tuning, Drive Motion Calibration and D-Remote |
| Dimensions | 27.5”H x 17.6”W x 15”D (699 x 447 x 380 mm) |
| Drivers | 15” woofer, 1” throat/1.75” diaphragm compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 46Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | 2 x XLR/TRS combo; XLR thru and DSP outputs |
| Maximum SPL | 134dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| Passive | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Rigging | 3 x M10 points plus U-bracket points; 35mm dual-angle pole mount |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 46.3 lbs (21 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Yamaha DXR15mkIII vs Coda Audio G715
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- Yamaha DXR15mkIII vs RCF ART 935-A
- Yamaha DXR15mkIII vs FBT Mitus 115A
- Yamaha DXR15mkIII vs Yamaha DXR15mkII
- Yamaha DXR15mkIII vs JBL PRX915
- Yamaha DXR15mkIII vs Yamaha DZR15
- See all 23 comparisons
Yamaha CZR15: $1,024.00 Passive Estimated B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the Yamaha DZR10 (smallest powered model, rated 3.4/5), the Yamaha DZR12 (powered model, rated 3.9/5), the Yamaha DZR15 (powered model, ranked higher, rated 4/5), the Yamaha DZR315 (largest powered model, ranked higher, rated 3.8/5), the Yamaha CZR10 (smaller passive model, estimated 3.2/5) and the Yamaha CZR12 (smaller passive model, estimated 3.6/5).
Pros: The passive version of the measured Yamaha DZR15, with a 15” woofer and a 2” voice coil compression driver in a plywood cabinet with 90° x 60° coverage. Yamaha rates it at 800W handling, 129dB maximum SPL and bass reaching 33Hz, and its PX and PC-D amplifiers carry a dedicated processing preset for it.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. It needs an external amplifier and speaker processing to match the powered DZR, which has its FIR-X tuning built in. It costs about as much as the powered model before the amplifier.
Full Yamaha CZR15 review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Cabinet Material | Plywood |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Drivers | 15” woofer, 2” voice coil compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Maximum SPL | 129dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 800W |
| Rigging | 12 x M10 inserts; 2 x 35mm pole sockets (0° or -7°) |
| Weight | 47 lbs (21.3 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons