Axelvox DX800PM — a personal wireless monitoring system in the new DX series

Grigory Liadov

Axelvox continues to expand its professional equipment range with more wireless products. The manufacturer recently introduced the new DX wireless microphone systems. Now the range adds the DX800PM personal monitoring system. This is a logical next step for the DX series. The system is aimed at musicians, sound engineers and rental companies that need reliable signal transmission, simple operation and an affordable price.

Axelvox DX wireless systems use a UHF band that is relatively clear and stable in Russia. DX wireless microphone systems cover the full 650–758 MHz range. The DX800PM personal monitoring system operates at 650–690 MHz.

The DX800PM package includes a single-channel transmitter, a bodypack receiver and in-ear headphones. Like other professional monitoring systems, the transmitter can work with several receivers at the same time. Additional DX800RX receivers can be bought separately.

The system centres on a single-channel transmitter with a bright colour display. The transmitter has an all-metal case. Rack-mounting brackets are included.

The display shows all the essential operating information. A peak meter on the left makes it easy to monitor the transmitted audio level. The current frequency and channel number appear in large text in the centre. The transmission mode is shown above the frequency. The system can switch between stereo and mono. This allows a mono signal to be sent to both earpieces or a stereo signal to be summed to mono. Mono can improve clarity and is also useful when a performer wears only one earpiece.

Operation is simple, with no menus or complex settings on the transmitter. In practice, all you need to do is scan for a clear frequency and synchronise the receiver. Pressing SCAN starts an 8-second scan. The system then automatically chooses the best frequency for the current conditions. Manual frequency selection is also possible, with one limitation. The 650–690 MHz operating range is divided into 80 presets with fixed frequencies spaced at 250 kHz intervals.

A headphone socket is located to the left of the display. This lets you monitor the signal sent to the bodypack receiver. The volume knob affects only this headphone output. All other connections are on the rear panel.

One useful feature is Bluetooth input. A dedicated pairing button has an indicator to confirm a successful connection. There is no need to change the selected input when using Bluetooth. The transmitter mixes signals from all input sources and sends them to the receiver at the same time.

For wired sources, the transmitter has separate balanced inputs on XLR/TRS combo sockets. Each input has its own small, secure level control that is difficult to move accidentally. There is also an additional stereo minijack input. A stereo TRS line-through output allows several transmitters to be connected in a chain. The transmitter uses an external 12 V power adapter.

DX-series bodypack receivers have a new, modern design. Most of the case is metal; only the battery compartment cover is plastic. The receiver now has a single antenna and a large display. A metal clip on the back attaches the receiver to a belt.

The large, bright colour display is both useful and attractive. Colour is not essential for operation, but a well-designed device is more pleasant to use. Most of the information repeats the transmitter display. In addition to frequency and signal level, the receiver shows battery charge and radio reception quality.

Importantly, the receiver also has a battery LED on top of the case. The LED turns red when the batteries are low. This gives a clear warning and allows the batteries to be changed in time. The top panel also has an input-signal indicator, a volume control, a headphone output and an additional line output.

The receiver runs on two AA batteries. A button inside the battery compartment switches between stereo and mono. Estimated battery life is 8 hours.

The supplied in-ear headphones have the familiar shape of stage-monitoring models. As before, no technical specifications are provided. The headphones look almost identical to those supplied with Axelvox DWS systems. Each earpiece uses a single dynamic driver.

 

The headphones look neat and attractive. The black plastic shells have a glossy finish. Their ergonomic shape fits comfortably in the ear, and there are no large protruding parts. Two pairs of replacement eartips are supplied so users can choose a better size. As with most stage models, the cable runs over the ear. The over-ear section has extra insulation that gives it enough stiffness to retain its curved shape.

The detachable cable is 1.2 m long, which is enough for comfortable use. The cable has a fabric braid and an additional protective polymer coating.

The supplied headphones sound quite good. Bass reproduction is confident, and the treble is full. We heard no obvious faults or strong colouration. For an inexpensive in-ear model, the sound is good.

The headphones are easy to use and fit comfortably. The supplied eartips hold the earpieces securely and provide a good seal. This improves isolation from external noise and reduces the need for higher listening levels.

The manufacturer does not provide receiver specifications. Subjectively, the headphone output has power comparable to the amplifiers in most inexpensive audio devices. There is enough volume for comfortable monitoring even in a noisy environment.

We had no operating problems and heard no faults in the transmitted sound. The system remained stable and did not lose the connection as we moved the receiver. Switching between stereo and mono is a useful addition: the previous model transmitted only in mono.

Conclusions

The new-generation DX800PM is an attractive system. Compared with the earlier DWS7000HT PM Bundle, the new model looks more modern and technically advanced. The updated design, bright colour displays, metal construction, new functions and extra connections all contribute to that impression. At the same time, the DX800PM is just as easy to use and keeps the range's main advantage: an affordable price. It is a useful option for musicians who want a capable, modern monitoring system without a large investment. The DWS7000HT PM Bundle remains a simple, low-cost system for basic tasks. The DX800PM takes the design and features a step further while keeping operation simple and the price accessible.

 

Note. This is an adapted machine translation into English. It follows the “In simple terms” approach. Read the original article at https://prosound.ixbt.com/microphones/axelvox-dx800pm.shtml.