Tom’s Talking
Sink Your Teeth into Bluetooth

American Audio continues to grace the frontline of the technological revolution with Bluetooth speakers offering you increased control – Tom tells all…

This month I’d like to talk about Bluetooth and you! Do you take advantage of this useful tool? Are you making the most of the technological advancements which have become so common place in the inventive, forward-thinking twenty-first century?

In the time it’s taken you to read these few opening sentences, you could’ve just as easily turned on your tablet, downloaded a new song, and been playing it over wireless Bluetooth speakers. These days, with the capabilities of smart phones and tablets, high-speed internet, and Bluetooth products, one minute is all it takes.

Incase you aren’t already aware of exactly what Bluetooth is, I’ll clarify: Bluetooth basically allows you to send music, voice, video and photo files, or other control information, wirelessly over short distances. In terms of remote hardware, such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops, this allows music and other audio to be played on the remote device and simultaneously streamed through a Bluetooth-enabled output, such as loud speakers.

At American Audio we currently offers two Bluetooth-enabled products: the ELS-PA10 and the ELS-15BT. The former is an all-in-one portable PA system which comes with two speakers, one mixer and a microphone, while the latter is a multi-functional active speaker. Both are enhanced by Bluetooth.

ELS15BT
Our ELS-15BT is a lightweight 15-inch speaker which is Bluetooth-enabled and features a built-in MP3 player with USB and SD card inputs. Once the MP3 player is switched on, you can select which mode you’d like to use it in – Bluetooth, USB or SD card – and track names and lengths are displayed on the blue LCD screen. If you select Bluetooth mode, the speaker will automatically search for compatible Bluetooth devices – such as your smart phone, tablet or laptop. Once connected, you can play music on your device and it will automatically be streamed through the speaker. All that’s left for you to do is adjust the volume on the back of the speaker cab to your preferred level and adjust bass and treble if you wish. If you want to play your music through multiple speakers, numerous cabs can be daisy-chained via XLR or ¼-inch cables using the ins/outs. What’s great is that connected speakers do not have to be Bluetooth compatible, so you can stream music from your remote device through your ELS-15BT and then spread this sound across multiple speakers for bigger impact. The speaker also includes microphone inputs (XLR and ¼-inch jack) so if you’re a DJ, you can be playing music and making announcements through the same sound system, and if you’re a musician or entertainer, you can sing over your backing tracks.

ELS-PA10
Perhaps more suited to entertainment professionals on the go is our ELS-PA10, which is an all-in-one PA package perfect for smaller gigs, restaurant musicians, and other compact audio setups. The ELS-PA10 consists of two 10-inch speakers and one six-channel mixer/amplifier, with the mixer slotting onto the back of one speaker for easy storage and transport, as well as protection from damage. (For added practicality, the second speaker features a rear storage compartment which holds the microphone, cables, and other accessories while in transit.) This suitability to a mobile lifestyle makes the ELS-PA10 ideal for solo performers, small bands, or even churches and schools who need a highly portable sound system for announcements and small-scale performances.

The mixer features dual XLR/¼-inch inputs and ¼-inch jack outputs for connecting speakers, as well as an in-built MP3 player offering Bluetooth connection and inputs for SD card and flash drive. As with the ELS-15BT, upon selecting Bluetooth mode the player searches for connecting devices automatically and lets you stream your music across both speakers. With the included remote, you can then control volume and play/pause the music from a far, while selecting playlists on your remote device – whether it’s a smart phone, tablet or laptop.

What does all of this mean for your setup though? How will it change the way you operate? Well, the important factor here is wireless. Dinner music is a perfect example; some clients will want quieter, more relaxing music to be played during dinner and with your Bluetooth speakers in the room, you can be streaming music from your remote device without even having to be in the same room. This means you can leave guests in peace to enjoy their meal while you have the party music prepared in the main room. In a similar way, Bluetooth speakers are great for chill out rooms, games rooms or secondary bars. You can be playing more chilled music, or music at a lower volume, from your remote device, while you DJ a louder party set in the main room – keeping guests of different tastes happy and ensuring a more relaxed, talking environment in the other rooms. Another bonus offered by Bluetooth is that there is no need to have extra CD players or laptops set up around the venue.

Our Bluetooth speakers – the ELS-15BT and the ELS-PA10 – really put flexibility in the palm of your hand, whether you’re a wedding DJ, a party DJ, an entertainer, a solo musician, or a band. This technology allows you to please your clients in ways you haven’t been able to previously: you can offer chill-out music and a slamming DJ set, both at the same time – and you can do it wirelessly from a position of your choice. If you’re a tech-savvy DJ and you aren’t making the most of Bluetooth – you must be crazy! Grasp the opportunity with both hands, sink your teeth into Bluetooth – and I guarantee you’ll taste the difference.

Tom Freret is the National Sales Manager of American Audio.

Learn more about the American Audio ELS15 BT in this informative product demo video:

- Tom Freret is the National Sales Manager of American Audio  

For more information Contact ADJ:
U.S. Office - Tel: 800-322-6337/+1-323-582-2650 • Web: www.adj.com