JBL JRX212 Pro loudspeakers

[AcuDefTechGuy]

JRX212 Specifications :
Price : $219 each shipped on Amazon
Power Rating : 250 W / 1000 W
Frequency Response (±3 dB) : 80 Hz - 18 kHz
Sensitivity (@1m) : 98 dB SPL (1w/1m)
Nominal Impedance : 8 ohms
Recommended Amplifier Power : 250 W to 500 W into 8 ohms
Maximum SPL : 128 dB
Nominal Dispersion : 90º x 50º
Crossover Frequency : 2.1 kHz
Dimensions (H x W x D) : 23 in x 15.7 in x 12.8 in
Weight : 19.5 kg (43 lb)
High Frequency Driver : JBL 2414H-C 1" exit compression driver mounted on Progressive Transition Waveguide
Low Frequency Driver : JBL M112-8

Subwoofers used : Velodyne SC-600 IF/IC x 4, powered by Dayton SA230 x 1

Amp: Denon AVR-3112CI (no external amp)

Room: 18' x 20' x 12', open on 3 sides to living room, kitchen, & dinning

Music: Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Live at the Radio City Music Hall, Eagles Hell Freezes Over Live, Smallville Soundtrack, Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone.

Impression: Clear detailed live dynamic sound. Reminds me of real live amplified concerts.

Speakers similar in SQ: JTR Triple 8.

Okay, so my family room was once blessed with the great Philharmonic 3 speakers and also Dynaudio X32, Focal 826V, and ATC SCM7. Being the family room, it gets tremendous traffic by every guest, in-law, and little kid who wants to touch the speakers and do bad things with them.

The family room is used for many things - movies, TV, music, parties, and of course, karaoke singing.

After selling all the mentioned speakers, I decided on a pair of pro speakers from JBL - the JRX212, which handle the 80Hz -18kHz region, while 4 Velodyne SC-600 IF/IC subs handle the bass.

This is not the first time I ventured into the pro speaker arena. About 2 years ago I also tried a pair of Yamaha pro speakers (cost me $1500/pair) from Guitar center. The Yamaha sounded like utter crap compared to my Infinity P362 speakers. So naturally I returned the Yamaha and swore I would never try another pro speaker. But I kept on hearing that JBL pro was much better. It made sense because they are also made by Harman International. I have never heard a bad speaker from Harman, so I figured it was worth a shot. And I was very glad I did!

IMO, the JBL JRX212 are a different animal than traditional "Hi-Fi" audiophile speakers. They definitely sound different. It's almost like 2 different brands of pianos that have different tonal characters. In contrast to Hi-Fi speakers, the JBL (& the JTR T8 I listened to) sound much better at high volume than at lower volume. At low volume, they seem to lack detail and presence, but at higher volume, they sure sound pretty sweet. They sound exactly like real live amplified concerts I'm used to seeing. Maybe that's because many concerts also use pro JBL speakers, albeit much more expensive and bigger speakers. But that similar tonal character is present. At good volume, the sound is clear, detailed, very dynamic and loud.

But how detailed is the sound compared to Hi-Fi speakers? At high volume, I dare say they sound pretty much as detailed as many Hi-Fi speakers. Diminishing returns is just as prevalent here.

After listening to the music I've selected, I think the JRX212 sound best with live music recordings (Adele, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Eagles Live concerts). Some pop/rock music sound better than others. Same with classical music. But they all sound much better at high volume for sure.

So if you crave that high-efficiency JTR sound, but don't want to spend more than $418 for a pair of speakers, I think these JRX212 are worth a try. I definitely recommend them for college fraternity parties, karaoke parties, and well, just all parties in general where loud dynamic music is salient and inebriated guests have the proclivity to blow speakers. The important thing is that these speakers do sound good at moderate to higher volume.

 

[crossedover]

Lord help you if you ever take up boating

 

[zieglj01]

Lord help you if you ever take up boating

I think he is bored, since he sold a lot of his speakers - and/or, may be on some type of vacation!

 

[shadyJ]

There is quite a discussion over the Behringer Eurolive B215XL at AVSforum, and it has me curious. Some live audio speakers that I have heard have sounded very good, some Mackies and some QSCs. I would like to give the JBL JRX212s and Behringer B215s a try if I have the opportunity. Anyway I am definitely interested and the price is certainly right. Maybe Audioholics should try a review of one of these guys, to see if measurements can back all the furor.

 

[jinjuku]

You owe it to yourself to Listen to the QSC K series.

I've heard good things about the budget Behringer Eurolives for HT duty also but haven't had ears on them.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What do you guys think about the lower volume performance of these HE type speakers? I have listened to the JTR T8 and it was the same thing. At lower softer volume, they just don't sound as clear for some reasons. But once the volume hits 80dB and especially 90dB, man, they have plenty of clarity and detail.

I listened to the same songs that I often used when auditioning, including Eagles' Hotel California and Five for Fighting's Superman (among others). And at 90dB, I was really shocked at the amount of detail I was able to pick up.

I am sure the higher dollar speakers from JBL, QSC, and others are even better (with some diminishing returns). But for $219 shipped, these are solid. The disparity between these $219 JBL and the $750 Yamaha pro that I first tried is risible. Price definitely does not always equal performance. Once again, kudos to JBL and Harman.

I always envisioned having 2 separate systems. One Hi-Fi system, reserved for just me and a very select few. And then another all-purpose system that can take a beating (parties, karaoke, etc.) and still sound great overall while doing it.

 

[GranteedEV]

What do you guys think about the lower volume performance of these HE type speakers? I have listened to the JTR T8 and it was the same thing. At lower softer volume, they just don't sound as clear for some reasons. But once the volume hits 80dB and especially 90dB, man, they have plenty of clarity and detail.

.

I have not heard these speakers.

However i'll point to their narrow directivity as a possible cause for what you're hearing. Reflections in a room cause a perception of higher volume at the same absolute SPL. It's kind of like listening to your speakers outdoors vs indoors - indoors will seem louder. That's what Floyd Toole refers to as similar reflections improving intelligibility.

The flip side of that is that it impacts bass perception, as high volumes can be too much, even if bass is not.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have not heard these speakers.

However i'll point to their narrow directivity as a possible cause for what you're hearing. Reflections in a room cause a perception of higher volume at the same absolute SPL. It's kind of like listening to your speakers outdoors vs indoors - indoors will seem louder. That's what Floyd Toole refers to as similar reflections improving intelligibility.

The flip side of that is that it impacts bass perception, as high volumes can be too much, even if bass is not.

So at low volume, speakers with narrow directivity will not sound as intelligible?

 

[Matt34]

I'm still running the eD pro cinema 12's if that says anything about what I think of high efficiency speakers.

(Mine are better looking than those JBL's.)

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm still running the eD pro cinema 12's if that says anything about what I think of high efficiency speakers.

(Mine are better looking than those JBL's.)

Yeah, that's why I didn't post any pic of those JRX212.

They are quite ugly.

But they seem to be heavy duty and I have no angst about kids and in-laws doing bad things with them.

They get a lot of action in the family room.

 

[ski2xblack]

ADTG, since you're playing around with those JBLs you should read THIS.

They should sound just as intelligible at low or high volumes, as long as they're aimed in your general direction.

Careful with your hearing!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

ADTG, since you're playing around with those JBLs you should read THIS.

They should sound just as intelligible at low or high volumes, as long as they're aimed in your general direction.

Careful with your hearing!

Probably just bias on my part. I am not immune.

 

[GranteedEV]

So at low volume, speakers with narrow directivity will not sound as intelligible?

They should sound quieter at the same volume - which means less relative inteliigibility but that just means you can't comare at the same SPL fairly since the sound pressures are not the same. Of course the drivers / crossover / box matter too.. Something the price of these JBLs might have some other issues.

Btw, are you crossfiring them so their axes meet in front of you?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

They should sound quieter at the same volume - which means less relative inteliigibility but that just means you can't comare at the same SPL fairly since the sound pressures are not the same. Of course the drivers / crossover / box matter too.. Something the price of these JBLs might have some other issues.

Btw, are you crossfiring them so their axes meet in front of you?

I see.

It was just a very loose and casual subjective bias-prone impression at lower volume, not volume matching even with SPL meter or anything.

No. The JBL are not cross-firing at all. They are firing straight ahead. Placement is right beside (on each side) the 73" DLP TV. Not the best placement. So perhaps that has something to do with their suboptimal performance at lower volume. No big deal to me since the only time I really expose myself to them is during karaoke. Oh, yeah.