The new SRX800 line of active loudspeakers from JBL Professional was unveiled during Winter NAMM 2015. The series consists of the 12-inch, two-way SRX812P; the 15-inch two-way SRX815P; the three-way 15-inch SRX835P and single (SRX818SP) and double-18 (SRX828SP) subwoofers.
The System
As indicated by the “P” designation in the model names, all are powered speakers and have built-in Class-D amplification using Crown’s Front-End DriveCore Technology, providing 2,000 peak watts to the fullrange speakers and 1,000 watts per channel in the subs. The speakers feature onboard mixing of two channel inputs (each with XLR/TRS Combo inputs), two XLR direct outs, an XLR mix out and a Cat-6 Ethernet link connection for networking or remote control via your Wi-Fi router.
For this review, I checked out a pair of the SRX835P speakers, a three-way design loaded with a 15-inch 2275F Differential Drive Technology woofer, a 2107H mid driver and a 2432H HF compression driver. This is a bi-amped system that is rated for 2,000 watts peak and 1,500 watts continuous. The crossover frequencies are 330 Hz and 2.4k Hz. As with almost everything nowadays, no manual was included with the product, but most information is available on the JBL website.
Let me set you straight right off, these are not speakers you bring to your nephew’s birthday when they need a sound system. The SRX835P’s weigh in at 85 pounds each, and some care needs to be taken when using these atop tripod stands. I have encountered more than a few low-quality stands over the years, and for safety’s sake (of both your crew and the public) the SRX835P’s really deserve a stable, strong and secure support. Dimensions are approximately 38.75 x 21.5 x 18.75 inches (H x W x D).
The SRX835P’s are heavy-duty speakers meant for installations or to be part of a bigger system. There are 12 M10 fly points for installations. I took the system to a Cancer Society Relay for Life benefit and used them for mains. The benefit was held on a high school football field and featured rock/pop bands, acoustic/folk acts and a smattering of foreground music playbacks and the usual announcements, where vocal intelligibility was essential. The SRX835P’s power rating according to the manual is 1,500 watts continuous and I can’t dispute it.
The Sound
I was able to fill the field from one end to the other, with plenty of headroom left over. Even at high volumes (occasionally hitting 106 dB at the mix position, 85 feet out), the program sounded good, clear and articulate. With their 60 x 40-degree (H x V) dispersion, the SRX835P’s are better suited for longer-throw applications than the usual 90-degree horizontal beaming of most two-way boxes (such as two-way SRX815P’s in the series). The SRX835P’s downfield penetration was very good and the horn edges rolled off smoothly, without any off-axis edginess, yet at the same time. allowed me to keep sound bleed away from neighboring homes, which had been an issue at this same gig in previous year.
In terms of the frequency response, the SRX815P’s were fairly flat through their stated 41 Hz to 20 kHz (-3dB) bandwidth. The crossover points were essentially undetectable, although in standalone mode (without any HP filtering for a subwoofer) the speakers sounded just slightly bass-heavy — even in an outdoor, quasi-free field environment, although some users may find that more of a plus than a deterrent. In any case, any extra LF can easily be remedied with a light touch of EQ and the bass was tight and well-damped, while to top-end was airy and natural.
One of things I wasn’t crazy about was the power light. It shows green when you plug it in, although the speaker itself may not be switched on. I would prefer if the LED indicator only glowed when the speaker was turned on, or better yet, a two-color LED that’s yellow when there’s power and green when the amp is actually on. Just a suggestion. The rear mounted LCD display is small and there were occasions when I had some difficulty reading the screen. It’s fairly small and the quick start sheet included with the speaker doesn’t help with accessing functions or helping the user utilize the settings that are available to access through the back panel. Press a preset on the menu and the speaker output momentarily mutes — even if you don’t change anything and are just looking to see what mode the speaker is set in. There should be a warning about that.
Wi-Fi Control… and More
I didn’t have access to a router at the event, but when I got the speakers back to the shop, I was able to hook them up and try the free SRX Connect app for the iPad. I was impressed with the ease and simplicity that it found and synced to the speakers. It’s a very useful app that allows you to group sets of speakers and make global adjustments to compensate for or take advantage of the particular acoustics of venue. Features include a highly useful onboard signal generator (with white and pink noise and sweepable sine waves), 20 bands of parametric EQ, high/low-pass filters, input mixing and 50 User Presets. I found the EQ particularly good in that even subtle adjustments could be heard clearly.
I would like to see JBL add a Cat-6 “thru” link so you could daisy-chain the data feeds to the SRX800 speakers in your rig, without having to run a separate wire from the router to each individual speaker.
The entire SRX800 series is also compatible with Harman HiQnet Audio Architect™ software for Mac and PC which offers more advanced DSP control of the speakers, including compression, up to two seconds of delay and monitoring of various amplifier parameters. It’s unlikely that most casual users would require the added flexibility of HiQnet Audio Architect, yet this degree of control would definitely come in handy when any SRX800’s were employed as part of a larger system or install, as side/front fills, etc.
With the smooth response and the punch of this three-way design, the JBL SRX835P’s are a definite contender, either in an install or for anyone seeking to take their portable “speaker on a stick” systems for portable applications up a notch or two — or three.
At a Glance
The Three-Way Alternative
JBL’s SRX835P is a versatile and good sounding three-way loudspeaker that adds advanced features such as Wi-Fi control and Harman HiQnet Audio Architect support in a system that provides a logical step up from the usual two-way speaker-on-a-stick offerings.
JBL SRX835P
PROS
- Good sounding and powerful
- Easy Wi-Fi setup
- Versatile software control
CONS
- Heavy
- Power LED can be misleading
- Needs more useful information packed with product
Manufacturer: JBL Professional
Pricing: MSRP is $1,998.75; street price is $1,599.99.
More Info: www.jblpro.com
