JBL Review Continued...

I've now used the JBL EON 210P in three live applications. The first, as a PA for a singles speaker in a medium sized room, for a lobby event with a combination of mic and background music, and as a PA for a vocal performer and guitarist in an outdoor venue.

In all three situations, the set-up was a breeze. The thing I keep coming back to is how light weight and easy to handle these speakers are. I'm not a wimp per se, but I'm not super buff either. I can carry both speakers comfortably up and down stairs, down a city block, or around our facility with out cursing them, and I appreciate that. Having everything contained with the speakers short of the guitar and cable is nice too. I like the stock 1/4" cables - but the down side is at 25' each they are NOT long enough for most runs, in all three applications I had to run one if not two alternate 1/4" cables. Two events I mounted them on speaker stands, and one set the speakers on a low wall.

In all three events, I was most impressed by the vocal presence the system offered. The JBL tag line about being understood is not a boast. In each event vocal clarity was right there, regardless of volume of the other noise in the around the system. I was particularly impressed in the lobby and bar events - where words and articulation were not lost to crowd noise, but the volume wasn't over powering. Even at the height of happy hour with a full bar, I was able to hear all of the lyrics from across far side of the patio, and understand announcements over the white noise of milling and socializing patrons in the lobby.

Where music was concerned, I felt that the EQ on the mixer was a little basic, but not so necessary that it was a problem. Too much EQ control would also pretty much kill the best feature of the system - it's clarity. The on board reverb was also just right... not too over the top, nothing elaborate, with a sensitive enough ratio control to fill the room out with out it sounding processed.

The only area this system lacks is in low end, especially compared to the EON 10/15's. I suppose that's a pretty small sacrifice for such great vocal clarity.

What else can I answer for you?! It's great to test out gear!

Cheers,

Richelle

More numbers!

After playing with the EON 210P in my shop and in practical portable situations, I wanted to see how it would sound in a theatre setting, as well as take some more readings, so I set the system up in our (currently dark) black box theatre space.

After playing some music, listening to some stock effects, I broke out the db meter and some readings. I used fast response "c" weight in direct line with a single cabinet for all of the below:

Using the same 20 seconds of music, I got the following peak measurements:

at 1 yard: 95 db, 2 yards: 91 db, 3 & 4 yards: 87 db, 5 yards: 89 db, 6 yards 87 db, 7 yards: 83 db,

8 - 11 yards: 81 db, 12 yards 80 db.

Using 1kHz tone just (run several db lower than the onboard compression but still with hearing protection in place) I got the following constant measurements:

at 1 yard: 116 db, 2 yards: 109 db, 3 yards: 105 db, 4 yards: 104 db, 5 & 6 yards, 102 db,

7 yards: 105 db, 8 yards: 102 db, 9 - 11 yards, 98 db, 12 yards, 93 db.

Even though the meter told me that there was a 10 db difference between 3 and 12 yards, I could barley tell the difference with the 1 K tone. I'm also unsure if the slight db raise at 7 yards with tone and at 6 yards with music is an anomaly with a slight rise in db is truly a speaker response or a result of the acoustics of the room.

Responding to the speakers beyond the numbers, I return to what I've already posted. They are amazingly clear and punchy within the vocal range, without being over bright or crunchy. In a smaller space, these would be ideal for a vocal performance - even in a 3/4 setting like our black box with the 100 deg x 60 deg dispersion pattern. I would also imagine they would make great vocal monitors.

In summary...

I thought I'd finish up this review of my experience with the EON system in testing and use, and also comment on after getting this rig to test, I've seen several similar systems newly introduced by other manufactures... variations of a theme that started ages ago with the Fender Passport if not before. On a non-work related trip to a local chain music store, I checked out three similar systems - each with their own quirks. I didn't have a chance to really road test these alternates, so I can't say I have a true side by side comparison, but the EON 210P seems to be a solid mid range candidate in terms of features.

In a nutshell, I really like the EON 210P system for what JBL market's it for - PA/vocal reinforcement. It's design focused on the spoken word is clean and carries without overpowering a room. The portability and ease of set up and use are also outstanding features. The on-board reverb is a great compliment for simple set-ups.

My only two true complaints (and they're pretty minor) are the high level source bleed (a strong line level source such as a tone generator, MP3 player, etc. will bleed through channel and main level - enough to be audible.) This bleed was worse on the 1/8" and RCA stereo channels than on the single mic/line channel. The second is the stereo 5/6 channels being an either or 1/4" or RCA jack with a single volume pot - if you're giving me the connections, give me another 2 channels.

Minor things I would like - a larger storage capacity in the on board storage unit - even an inch more depth. I'd also like a way to have the mixer and on board storage attached to the speakers while in use, rather than having to have them removed to access the speaker connections. The system doesn't have much low end - a sub out would be great to make the system more versatile. (The monitor out isn't really an option for this, since it sends the same signal as the main outputs.)

That said, I really like the system - user friendly and simple with out insulting your intelligence. I have enjoyed having it in my gear compliment.