JBL EON Compact Unboxing/Initial Review

[Cuki79]

UPDATED reviews:

CON:

StephenT (Schertler JAM400 user, QSC CP8 new user, likes Bose S1): Upper midrange bump. Not flat enough voicing, weak output. Happy to find the QSC CP8 instead.

UNDECIDED:
DavidE (Bose S1 user): Honky.

PRO:

AaroUSA (QSC K8.2 & Bose S1 user): better tone than Bose, loud enough for the use.

Guitargabor (Bose S1 user, ex-AER user): Tone is more pleasing than Bose. Loud enough for the use.

Bonedigger (Fishman Mini Charge user): Loud enough

SpruceTop (Baggs Synapse user): Happy with tone and power.

Cuki79 (SR JAM150+ & Laney AH4x4 user): I confirm the honkyness. So far, I am sold with the EQ and am ready to compromise with the intrinsic tone.

Please tell me if I misinterpreted your toughts.

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

I just checked my stored settings and I have a big master-EQ cut at 450 Hz. [Only Master-EQ correction]

I also checked the "Spectral Identification" and found that this frequency range is called "honky".

. and I can carry it with one hand.

How big an eq cut at 450hz? I'm not great with eq. SUCK at parametric.

We need to find an inexpensive bag for these JBLs. I'm using a small Arriba case for my S1s.

[AeroUSA]

Originally Posted by DavidE

How big an eq cut at 450hz? I'm not great with eq. SUCK at parametric.

We need to find an inexpensive bag for these JBLs. I'm using a small Arriba case for my S1s.

Interesting. I cut 450 for my K&K anyway..

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by DavidE

How big an eq cut at 450hz? I'm not great with eq. SUCK at parametric.

We need to find an inexpensive bag for these JBLs. I'm using a small Arriba case for my S1s.

I am not as good as AaroUSA... I did a large cut:
Gain: -4.2dB
Frequency: 451 Hz
Width: 1

I did not really optimize the width.

[necrome]

Thanks Cuki for recording the comparison clips, I listened to them all and it seems the JBL Eon One Compact is not that much louder than the Laney AH4x4 when it came to absolute maximum SPL (when the channel preamps are not a variable). And I'm actually surprised at how good the Laney sounded considering it's a few years old at this point.

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by necrome

Thanks Cuki for recording the comparison clips, I listened to them all and it seems the JBL Eon One Compact is not that much louder than the Laney AH4x4 when it came to absolute maximum SPL (when the channel preamps are not a variable). And I'm actually surprised at how good the Laney sounded considering it's a few years old at this point.

Less is good.

I was surprised too. The main reason I want the JBL is the extra low end to add backing tracks (and battery operation). For me, you should try the QSC CP8 because your needs are closer to Jonfields45 than mine.

[Groberts]

Cuki, That was an amazing amount of work you did! Thank you for the gift of your time, comparison and sharing that post. Incredibly generous. I thought the JBL sounded very good.

Mainly I want to know if it is full, rich and complete as a stand-alone solution and what sorts of shows I can cover with it.

The Bose S1 never sounded all that great to me on guitar (versus Fishman Loudbox Mini Charge) But the Bose is better on vocals than the Fishman Mini Charge. But since I own and use a Bose L1 Compact, and don't really need 'the battery' feature, ...I am very happy with the Bose.

I use the Fishman Loudbox Mini Charge for things like wedding ceremonies on a lawn. (rare when there is no power, but its helpful once in a while)

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by DavidE

How big an eq cut at 450hz? I'm not great with eq. SUCK at parametric.

The mid cut bugged me. So I did quick measurements with a SM57 with Room EQ Wizard.

The first spectrum is with the mic bout 20" away from the speaker (all on the same pole for the 3 measurements).

The last spectrum is the JBL with the mic about 40-50" away from the speaker


Note that the SM57 is not a flat mic so the overall shape of the spectral response is the mic (See the lower black and white inset).

If there is a bump or notch that is common to all 3 speakers spectrum, it comes from either the mic or the room.

On the last spectrum you see a deep notch at 450Hz. I could get that notch with all 3 amps so it comes from the room. I think I was trying to tame the wobling that comes from that notch with my Master EQ... Told you I was bad at parametric EQuing too...

The good news is that the JBL (in orange on the upper figure) does have an extended low end. It also has less bright and defined with less >5 kHz content.

The most surprising is the AH4x4 which is amazingly flat (for the money).

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Mainly I want to know if it is full, rich and complete as a stand-alone solution and what sorts of shows I can cover with it.

I think AeroUSA will answer to that question in his final review. I am more a geek than a musician... I would trust Aaron, SpruceTop, DavidE, Stephen T and all the others for that

Originally Posted by Groberts

The Bose S1 never sounded all that great to me on guitar (versus Fishman Loudbox Mini Charge). But the Bose is better on vocals than the Fishman Mini Charge.

I totally agree. I had the same feeling. Bose stuff are great for vocals. I always wonder if the use of midrange speakers & low frequency are the key [as advertised] and if EQ could give similar results...

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

I think AeroUSA will answer to that question in his final review. I am more a geek than a musician... I would trust Aaron, SpruceTop, DavidE, Stephen T and all the others for that


I totally agree. I had the same feeling. Bose stuff are great for vocals. I always wonder if the use of midrange speakers & low frequency are the key [as advertised] and if EQ could give similar results...

So, your conclusion is that the JBL is a reasonably flat response speaker, as one might expect it to be, based on the tried and true simple 2-way design? If so, then I should be happy when mine arrives. Wink Wink.

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

So, your conclusion is that the JBL is a reasonably flat response speaker, as one might expect it to be, based on the tried and true simple 2-way design? If so, then I should be happy when mine arrives. Wink Wink.

It was a trap Dave... You just fell into it.

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

It was a trap Dave... You just fell into it.

Dang! Lol. I fall for the same trap every time.

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

Dang! Lol. I fall for the same trap every time.

I got a last minute full band electric guitar gig tonight. so I've been trying to finalize my Kemper profile for tonight. It didn't sound good through the JBL. But no other testing.

But Dave: https://youtu.be/4F4qzPbcFiA

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by DavidE

I got a last minute full band electric guitar gig tonight. so I've been trying to finalize my Kemper profile for tonight. It didn't sound good through the JBL. But no other testing.



But Dave: https://youtu.be/4F4qzPbcFiA

Lol

Both funny and slightly cruel. You just can’t trust the French, or whatever the heck those fish people are.

[Chriscom]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

So, your conclusion is that the JBL is a reasonably flat response speaker, as one might expect it to be, based on the tried and true simple 2-way design? If so, then I should be happy when mine arrives. Wink Wink.

Every time he tries to walk away, THEY PULL HIM BACK IN