Turbosound Milan M15 Powered Loudspeaker
by Strother Bullins, 04.06.2010
West Sussex, U.K.-based Turbosound
is not a company I can
easily associate with portable PA
products.
The first thing I think of when I see
Turbosound’s distinctive logo is Iron
Maiden’s World Slavery Tour of 1984/1985
— one of the longest tours in rock ’n’ roll
history — and its massive, incredible
Turbosound rig. And that’s only the iceberg
tip of Turbosound’s impression left
on the realm of large-scale touring.
What did such trivia mean to me as I
unpacked a pair of Milan M15 self-powered
portable PA speakers, Turbosound’s most
affordable speaker in the company’s long
history? Exceedingly high expectations for
performance, power, and build quality.
What I found in the M15 was consistently
a cut above most common portable PA
options, thus worth its cost ($1,082 list,
under $1k street).
Features
The Milan M15 is based on a lightweight,
digitally controlled Class-D amplifier,
offering 450W to its 15-inch,
neodymium, low-frequency driver and
one-inch, neodymium, high-frequency
compression driver on a 90-degree horizontal
by 60-degree vertical horn.
Measuring 28 x 18.5 x 15.7 inches and
weighing in at under 50 lbs., the M15 is a
tightly constructed, sturdy-feeling
polypropylene enclosure with three
recessed carrying handles, dual-angle
pole-mount socket, steel-mesh grille, and
six threaded rigging points.
Frequency response is 36 Hz to
17 kHz (+/- 3 dB). Internal DSP
operates at 48 kHz and provides
parametric EQ and frequency-dependent
limiting features, the
latter of which allows for higher
SPL before distortion and dramatically
reduces the possibility of
driver damage; continuous and
maximum SPL levels are 125 dB
and 131 dB, respectively.
On its back panel, the M15 offers two
mic/line-level inputs via two Neutrik
XLR/TRS combo jacks, each with a rotary
level pot and a simple mic/line switch. On
rotary pots are Bass and Treble shelving EQ
at useful frequencies: +/-12 dB at 200 Hz
and +/-12 dB at 4 kHz, respectively. Also
available is a three-LED display (blue for
“power on,” green for “signal detected,” and
red for “limiter on”); XLR line-level mix-out
connector; on/off rocker switch; IEC power
connector; and most interestingly, a twoposition
Bass Mode switch. The latter offers
a fourth-order HPF at 36 Hz (setting “A,” for
use without external subwoofers) and 100
Hz (setting “B,” designed for use with an
external subwoofer to reducing overlap in
bass frequencies, or to reduce boom when
using the M15 as a floor wedge).
In Use
Whether for loud rock gigs as mains (in
which I also used a powered subwoofer
with the M15 on Bass Mode B), as wedges
in various positions, or full-range main
monitors in slightly less SPL-demanding
applications, the Milan M15 pair performed
beautifully, striking me as slightly
less feedback prone compared to similar
self-powered speakers I’ve previously
used in the same environments. In my
use, the M15 got loud, stayed clean, and
sounded consistently full, punchy, and
smooth up top. Best of all, it doesn’t take
two people to carry this rather powerful
small/medium club main monitor; I did it
easily thanks to the M15’s reasonable
weight and well conceived handles.
I found the M15’s built-in two-channel
mixers to be quite helpful. For example,
for a trio gig in a small wine bar — featuring
a small drum kit, acoustic/electric
bass guitar, keyboard, and solo vocal — I
provided truly full-range sound reinforcement
via the M15’s rich sound, simple EQ,
and level control with, other than instruments,
only the necessary cables, one
direct box, one mic, and the two enclosures
in tow. Using the first M15 as a
wedge, the keyboardist/vocalist used
inputs 1 and 2 via TRS line-level signal
and XLR dynamic mic input, respectively;
then, using enclosure one’s XLR Mix Out,
we used input 1 of enclosure two (pole-mounted and positioned as a main) for the vocal/keyboard
mix, and the second input for the electric bass guitar.
Summary
The Milan M15 is an impressive performer that would be a
good investment for the discriminating live musician, smallscale
sound reinforcement provider, or small/medium live music
venue (clubs, theaters, and even houses-of-worship) with a need
for a flexible, portable, and full-range powered speaker.
Contact: American Music & Sound (U.S. distributor) | 800-994-4984 | americanmusicandsound.com
Strother Bullins is the reviews and features editor for Pro Audio Review.