JBL SRX

[lightsource]

Hi all,

We're looking at investing in a new PA system, and so far the JBL SRX seem to fit the bill. Currently looking at 6x SRX828SP Subs and 4x SRX 835P Mid Tops.

We can do anything from a small pub gig, all the way upto a 3000 people outdoor festival.

 

For us, it fits the weight / power / SPL etc to replace our current PA.

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are with these cabs.

 

[TonyMitchell]

Hi all,

We're looking at investing in a new PA system, and so far the JBL SRX seem to fit the bill. Currently looking at 6x SRX828SP Subs and 4x SRX 835P Mid Tops.

We can do anything from a small pub gig, all the way upto a 3000 people outdoor festival.

 

For us, it fits the weight / power / SPL etc to replace our current PA.

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are with these cabs.

 

 

 

 

About 12 years ago, we looked at and listened to the unpowered 728 series, a similar configuration - 6 x twin 18" subs and 4 x 722 mid/tops. We didn't buy them.

I see you are looking at the powered versions, however not much has changed in that they are power hungry, quite heavy and not versatile for the smaller applications you mention.

I guess you are looking at the 3-way 835 mid/tops with a view to using a pair on their own as full range FOH for smaller gigs. The problem is they weigh 38kg and although they are fitted with a pole mount cup, I wouldn't fancy getting them up there (and even less getting them up & off the pole to de-rig). And unless you're on a very high stage, they'll stand too low without subs to place on the floor.

View the manufacturer's SPL data with a pinch of salt, IIRC it is calculated and assumes 0% thermal compression.

 

Why not buy single 18" boxes instead? Much more versatile logistics and coupled together the same as a twin 18"

I see JBL don't do an SRX822P, which is a shame if you want to take this route, as a twin 12"+CD mid/top would sound much nicer on top of a stack of subs and would work well in pairs if the 60x40 pattern was the same as the 835.

 

Whether this would be enough rig for a 3,000 pax gig would depend on the musical genres and physical layout - for folk/bluegrass you should be good, for rock, probably not.

 

There's not a lot of SRX in use in the UK, the other side of the pond is a different story. In your position I'd be looking for four secondhand stacks of C7 and a couple of B2s. Buy wisely and this wouldn't necessarily cost you a huge amount more, but would give you a rider friendly system in a different class. Or for a lighter option, 4xQ7 with Q-SUBs and B2s. There's plenty of it on the s/h market as companies migrate to V and Y and D12s are cheap as chips now too.

[Stuart91]

I'd agree with Tony.

 

I haven't had much direct experience of the SRX series, but we were very disappointed with the lower PRX series.

 

JBL in general aren't as established in the UK, even in the states they're regarded as a workmanlike brand, certainly not in the same bracket as D&B.

 

What do the companies around you have? There can be advantages to being able to cross-hire.

[S&L]

it's a complicated question really.

 

context - I have in the past worked for a tribute band that play 250 - 400 cap theatres and venues and until recently they used PRX passive boxes - two 15" tops, two 18" subs, powered from thomann amps.

 

is it ok for bars?...yes, probably as good as the best systems being used by bar bands

how does it sound outdoors? honestly no idea

what about theatres?...for the gigs I describe, it was clear, tidy provided reasonable results - below 400 cap I doubt there is the budget for much more (certainly not d&b) and if I were given it again I would be happy enough to mix on it in that context - it certainly wasn't a limiting factor in the signal chain.

 

what about spares?...not cheap and so far as I know, often not stocked in the UK - they had to send to the states for a new diaphragm when one failed after a period of time.

 

would I swap d and b for it? no, obviously not

would I swap my entry turbosound and hk rigs for them?.... they are about on a par - everything you would expect from job, a little harsh at the top, easy to tidy up though - I would swap my hk but not sure about my turbosound...

 

anything else? I do a lot of stuff that swings between spoken word to 50 people, to theatres for 500 + and a few outdoor events. it's pretty much impossible to make one rig do it all. I would say the same goes for the jbl srx. you may want to think carefully about what you really do a lot of and what you only do twice a year. there are two things true at this level - you never have the right vehicles for the job and you seldom have the right boxes for the job - it's a case of covering common bases.

[Tim McCulloch]

The comments and comparisons to the PRX models are invalid - it's not the same loudspeaker system. Really.

 

What is considered superior to the SRX (passive or powered) for the same spending in the UK? On my side the Big Pond most European imports have traditionally been more money and I'd suspect the reverse is true of US imports to the UK, Italy or elsewhere but I'm not in a position to make a value/quality comparison to the other products available in the UK.

 

Calling the SRX728 "power hungry" makes me wonder if Watts are different over there, too. About 500 Watts of EDM XLF will make the 728 "walk around" on a smoother floor and you'll smell the heat from the voice coils, too. I can't image they'd survive long (mechanically or electrically) with higher input voltage/current. For rock and roll, pop, country, they'll take more because the peak-to-average ratio in those genres is much higher.

 

The suitability of a rig's individual loudspeakers rests with those loudspeakers putting the needed SPL in desired coverage pattern with whatever subjective sound quality, tonality or voicing is sought by the client or engineer.

 

Disclosure - I'm senior systems engineer and general manager of a regional hire company that's heavily invested in the Harman ecosystem, with inventory ranging from crappy PRX (for those that do not or cannot pay more) to VerTec line arrays with I-Tech HD power. I'm not a "fan boy" of any brand or models as I see them as tools used to accomplish goals and deliver on promises made to clients, and tools can and will change with needs and desires of the commercial market place. Your mileage may vary.

Have fun, good luck.

Tim Mc