Whether you're an engineer or an artist, what is it that we're looking for from personal monitors? I've narrowed that question down to a few things that are important to me. I want to have brilliant (but not painful) highs, super-punchy mids to make the vocal cut through and low end that stimulates the shaking of my nether regions. A hard feat to accomplish, and very few PM manufacturers can say that they can accomplish this.
The Gear
Jerry Harvey, the "JH" of JH Audio, has been a leader in the design and manufacture of high end PMs since his days with Ultimate Ears, but to fit six drivers in each ear sounds like a challenge even for someone as experienced as he. Dual highs, dual mids, dual lows, 119dB output and bandwidth that would rival most 5-way PAs, all crammed in your ear. Damn. Just think about that. How does one smash a dual 21-inch sub and a full-size line array box into your ear without causing a neck injury? The answer is, "I don't know, but Jerry Harvey does!" Although my initial thought was that the 13s were going to be similar in size to your standard set of studio cans, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they aren't any larger than any other PM I've ever seen. This only further astounds me on how they pack all that punch into such a small package.
The Test
For the sake of this review, I gave the 13s an unconventional series of tests. Let's retrace my steps through the tests I conducted. When I saw the spec sheet for the 13s, I was impressed with the claim of a 10Hz to 20kHz bandwidth, but I needed to see for myself if this was true or just fluff. So the first test I conducted was hooking them up to a tone generator. The generator that I was using only went down to 20Hz, but I figured if I could hear/feel 20Hz, that was probably sufficient. So down the tone sweep went, and sure enough, I could hear/feel the 20Hz. I say feel because they were actually producing enough signal to make me dizzy and a little queasy. So I can substantiate the claim – they play low. Now my hearing stops a little below 18kHz but I could hear every freq on the sweep all the way until my ears stopped. Two thumbs up on the bandwidth.
My next step was to listen to several different kinds of input one at time and see what they sound like. I set up an ear mix and took my tablet PC around the stage and turned up every input one at a time. Again, I was very pleased – each input had a near-perfect re-presentation coming back at me through the 13s. A very nice depth and presence in the kick drum, bright and present snare drum and screaming vocals. The second portion of this test was to build a mix and see how the 13s held up. At the next show I did just that. I dialed myself up a mix and made it sound the way I would like to hear it. I had the brilliant (but not painful) high end, punchy vocals and nether-tingling lows.
There is a certain friend of mine who has said that I am the verbal equivalent of "drunk girl," and for once, I am speechless. There is only one comment that I'll make, and this is purely preference. Although I've raved about the incredible bandwidth and nether-tingling low end, I would like to have just a little more low end. Again, I must disclaim that this is purely a preference. Remember, I needed to take Dramamine after listening to the low end on a tone generator.
And to top it all off, Jerry and Brittany Harvey are truly a class act. From the first time I talked to them about this review they treated me like I'd been a lifelong friend. I would like them to know that just as appreciative they are for us doing a review of their product I am equally as appreciative for how genuine they are and how humble they are about what they do.
JH Audio JH13 Pro PM System
What It Is: A PM system that, despite having six drivers in each ear piece, is considerably smaller than a full-sized line array with dual 21-inch subs.
Who It's For: Anyone who can benefit from all that punch packed into a small package.
Pros: The claim of a 10Hz to 20kHz bandwidth is anything but fluff. A brilliant but not painful high end, punchy vocals and nether-tingling lows.
Cons: None, unless you share James Elizondo's personal preference for a little more low end.
How Much: $1,099 (MSRP).
