PLAYBACK By Erik V. Miller Working well with a variety of users – from DJs and bands to public speakers and event MCs – the JBL PRX ONE stands out as an all-in-one PA solution that can bring the bass, while effectively filling the room with treble. With it being so incredibly easy to assemble – there are only three pieces and the system doesn’t weigh as much as its market competitors – this unit impresses, for sure. The PRX ONE stands up with its features, abilities, and build quality, while delivering brand-new effects and cool ways to explore them on the unit. So, let’s dig down a little deeper and find out what really makes this system tick and sound the way it does. First Impressions: Pulling the unit out of the box, I was taken by how lightweight and sleek the system feels and looks. It’s smooth to the touch, while still feeling like it would take a strong hit and not show much damage – so that is a big positive for me. For someone who carries a lot of gear to events, it’s nice to pick up an all-in-one system and not feel like the subwoofer part weighs more than it really should, which happens often to me. The carrying case for the 12-speaker vertical array is a
much better design than comparable models by other companies because, in my opinion, it seems to fit and hold the two columns in a way that better supports and protects them. The mixer on the back end looks familiar – it’s similar to mixers from other products and functions in a similar way. The knob is quite intuitive and flows around easily, but it does move really fast, and I found that it can land on other options that you didn’t intend for – so, be careful. It’s very straightforward and seems to function just the way it is described, which is always a plus, while also having professional quality that you would expect from a JBL product. The Bluetooth connects effortlessly, but it took me a moment to realize that you needed to use Channel 7 for the Bluetooth audio and to push the volume up for it to function. For me, that was a moment of adventure, but once you know, you know. Now, let’s move on to the specs and see what this is really packing inside. Features: Coming out screaming with its 2,000-watt amplifier and 130 dB SPL (Sound Pressure Level), JBL’s PRX ONE really takes a stand and immerses you into a room of
JBL PRX ONE: All-in-One Solution
sound. Priced at $1,599, the system brings depth without being overly large and in-your-face. It’s a really well-balanced speaker system and something that serious mobile DJs should consider. While standing next to the 12-speaker vertical array, you don’t feel like it’s a lot; but when you step away, the sound just fills the room and you are just impressed by its performance. Now, the bass seems to get more and more depth the louder you turn up the volume, probably because it goes down to 35hz. And while that is not inherently a bad thing, it does seem to overpower the treble eventually and can be a bit too much (to my ears). Hear for yourself, of course. With effects at your fingertips – like reverb, delay, compression, and much more – you can add these to any channel and have full control over how you add them and how much you use. They are great features if you are going to have a vocalist sing while a band plays and everyone is connected to one or more of these units – lots of options and creativity, at the end of the day. On the back of the unit, you’ll find four XLR inputs for four different channels, two ¼-inch inputs for two different channels, one auxiliary input for a channel, and an XLR pass-thru as well. That is a nice lineup of inputs for the system, and I feel that they could be used well by a wide array of people for many different types of events. Directly comparing this unit to similar one that I own from another manufacturer, the JBL system clearly outshines
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