EV Evolve 50 vs 50M: Column PA System Comparison Guide

Picture yourself hauling a third load of gear into the venue. Your back already aches. The show hasn’t even started yet. Now, imagine walking in with one sleek box that sets up in 60 seconds. That’s the beautiful promise of the ev evolve 50 vs 50m.

You want amazing sound. You need a fast setup. But you’re stuck between two fantastic choices. I’m here to make that decision simple for you. Let’s find the perfect sound system for your gigs, together.

Keynote: EV Evolve 50 vs 50M

The Evolve 50 and 50M deliver identical professional sound and power. Your decision is based on control. The Evolve 50 is a streamlined loudspeaker for external mixers. The Evolve 50M adds an 8-channel digital mixer with effects, creating a complete, all-in-one system for ultimate creative control.

Meet Your New Gig Partner: What Makes These Systems Special

Same DNA, Different Brain

Both of these Electro-Voice Evolve systems are built with the same powerful heart. They deliver a massive 127 dB of clear sound. A 1000W Class-D amplifier drives everything. You get eight 3.5-inch neodymium drivers in the column and a deep 12-inch subwoofer.

The setup is a dream. A special magnetic pole coupling clicks everything together in seconds. I’ve done it in under a minute myself. The real difference isn’t the sound. It’s that one system is a simple powerhouse, while the other is a portable command center.

The Quick Reality Check

This table breaks it down for you.

Feature	Evolve 50	Evolve 50M
Weight	57 lbs total	60 lbs total
Price	~$1,599	~$1,899
Coverage	120° horizontal	120° horizontal
Setup Time	Under 5 minutes	Under 5 minutes
Mixer Channels	3	8
Built-in Effects	No	Yes (30 types)

You can see the weight difference is tiny. That extra $300 buys you an entire digital mixer. Both give you the same wide sound coverage that fills a room perfectly. Both go from your car to playing music in less than five minutes.

Sound Quality: The Truth Nobody Tells You

They Sound Exactly the Same (And That’s Great)

I’ll tell you a secret most reviews don’t. These two systems sound identical. They have the same drivers and the same amplifier. They produce the exact same clean, full sound from 37Hz to 20kHz.

Both can handle a quiet ceremony or a wild dance floor. The feedback resistance is amazing, keeping you confident at high volumes. You are not buying “better sound” with the 50M. You are buying more control over that sound.

Real-World Performance Metrics

Here’s how that power feels in real rooms.

• Coffee Shop (50 people): You’ll be running at about 30% power.
• Wedding Reception (200 guests): You’ll feel comfortable around 60% power.
• Outdoor Event (500+ people): Link two systems for a beautiful stereo sound.

The excellent cardioid coverage pattern focuses sound on your audience. It keeps sound from bouncing off ceilings and creating mud. While detailed polar plot specifications are hard to find, the real-world result is clean audio everywhere.

The Mixer Difference: Where Magic Happens

Evolve 50: Clean and Simple

The Evolve 50 is all about simplicity. It has a basic 3-channel mixer. You get combo jacks for a microphone or instrument. It also has Bluetooth streaming for background music.

This is the perfect choice if you already use a DJ controller or an external mixer. It’s a clean, powerful speaker that does its job beautifully. It lets your other gear do the thinking.

Evolve 50M: Your Portable Studio

The Evolve 50M is a complete game-changer. It has a built-in 8-channel digital mixer. This replaces a whole rack of equipment. You get four mic inputs, stereo inputs, and a special input for guitars.

It also has 30 built-in effects like reverb and delay to make your vocals shine. It includes phantom power for high-end condenser mics. You can save all your settings as scenes and control it all from an app.

When Extra Channels Save Your Night

“I replaced my entire rack with one 50M.”

A wedding DJ told me this, and he’s right. For a ceremony, you might need a lapel mic, a handheld mic, a musician’s input, and music playback. A corporate event might need several presenters. The 50M handles all of this without a single extra box.

QuickSmart Features: Control That Actually Works

The App Experience (When Tech Cooperates)

The QuickSmart mobile app connects to your speaker using Bluetooth Low Energy. You can walk around the room and adjust the sound from your phone. Tweak the EQ or add effects from the dance floor.

You can save your settings for different venues. This saves you tons of time. The app lets you control one speaker or a linked pair. But I always keep the physical knobs in mind, just in case the Wi-Fi acts up.

QuickSmart Link: Double Your Power

This feature is only on the Evolve 50M. You can connect two 50M systems with a simple network cable. This creates a true stereo system with 16 total channels.

One phone app controls everything perfectly. It’s a professional way to grow your system as your gigs get bigger. You can handle a full band with this setup.

Portability: The Load-In You’ll Actually Enjoy

What “Portable” Really Means

This column array system is truly easy to carry. The top column piece weighs just 13 pounds. You can carry it with one hand. The subwoofer is about 57-60 pounds but has well-placed handles.

The whole system fits in the trunk of a regular car. You’ll still have room for your other gear. Optional backpack-style bags make carrying everything even easier. Your back will thank you.

Five-Minute Setup Checklist

Getting live is this fast.

Step	Action
1	Connect the power cable to the sub.
2	Click the pole into the magnetic base.
3	Drop the top column into place.
4	Connect your microphone or music player.
5	Do a quick sound check, and you’re ready!

Real Gigs, Real Choices

For DJs: Speed and Simplicity Win

If you’re a DJ, the Evolve 50 is probably your perfect match. It works seamlessly with your controller. You get clean power without messing with extra menus.

Use the Bluetooth for dinner music or song requests. You can save about $300 and put that money toward a new controller. For most DJs, the simple power of the 50 is all you need.

For Musicians: Flexibility Changes Everything

If you’re a solo musician, the 50M is a dream. Plug your guitar right in and add some beautiful reverb to your voice. No extra pedals needed.

If you’re in a duo or trio, you can mix everyone from one box. If your band grows, just link two 50Ms together. The built-in effects and mixer make it the best column speaker with built-in mixer for performers.

For Events: Professional Polish

Both systems make speech sound incredibly clear. This is crucial for wedding ceremonies and corporate events. The 50M’s scenes let you switch from cocktail music to the dance party with one tap.

Being able to control the sound from your phone means you stay invisible. You can manage multiple wireless mics for a panel discussion without any trouble. It makes every event feel more professional.

Money Talk: Your Investment Decoded

The Price Gap Breakdown

Here’s how the cost really adds up.

Cost Factor	Evolve 50	Evolve 50M
Base Price	~$1,599	~$1,899
Mixer Value	External mixer needed	$500+ mixer included
Effects	External pedal needed	Built-in
Total Investment	Higher overall	Lower overall

The Evolve 50M costs about $300 more upfront. But it includes a high-quality digital mixer and effects. If you had to buy those separately, you’d spend much more.

Hidden Value Nobody Mentions

An all-in-one system has fewer cables and connections. That means fewer things can go wrong during a show. A clean stage also looks more professional to your clients.

Both of these models hold their value very well. And think about the physical cost. A lighter, simpler load-in saves your body over a long career.

Decision Time: Your 30-Second Choice

Choose the Evolve 50 If You:

• Already own a mixer that you love to use.
• Mostly play DJ sets or simple acoustic shows.
• Value pure simplicity and reliability above all.
• Are working with a very tight budget right now.

Choose the Evolve 50M If You:

• Need to mix multiple mics and instruments.
• Love the idea of controlling sound from an app.
• Want professional effects without carrying extra gear.
• See yourself taking on more complex gigs in the future.

Still Unsure? Ask Yourself This

Think about your gigs. Will you often use more than three inputs? If yes, get the 50M. Do you hate dealing with apps and menus? If yes, get the 50. Are you trying to replace a whole rack of gear? Get the 50M. Is your top priority a fast, simple setup? Get the 50.

Quick-Start Templates

DJ Setup in 30 Seconds

• Connect your controller to the line inputs.
• Select the “Music” preset from the DSP presets.
• If the room is boomy, cut the low frequencies a little.
• Pair a phone via Bluetooth for easy requests.

Singer-Songwriter Magic

• Plug your vocal mic into channel 1. Add a light reverb.
• Plug your acoustic guitar into the Hi-Z input. Cut frequencies below 80Hz.
• Run any backing tracks into a stereo channel.
• Save this entire setup as your “Coffee Shop” scene.

Band Configuration

• Link two 50M systems with a network cable.
• Pan the drums and bass to one side.
• Pan the vocals and guitars to the other side.
• Use the same reverb on both sides to glue the sound together.

The Bottom Line: You Can’t Lose

Both of these speakers deliver that legendary Electro-Voice sound. The kind of sound that makes people notice. Your choice in the ev evolve 50 vs 50m debate isn’t about which one sounds better. It’s about which one works better for you.

The Evolve 50 is pure, simple power. The Evolve 50M is that same power with a complete control room built inside. Trust your gut, think about your gigs, and get ready for people to compliment your amazing sound.

EV 50 vs EV 50m (FAQs)