JBL is one of a few speaker companies who can pride themselves on offering an entire speaker catalogue designed for the biggest of arena tours, all the way to a musician busking in the street and everything in between. With knowhow and expertise in so many areas, there’s a JBL speaker for everyone and for those who are playing medium-sized clubs and pubs where you need more grunt than is available from an EON, you can look at the PRX900 series.
Those familiar with JBL will recognise the letters PRX from previous generations of speakers, but the new 900 range is not a subtle evolution of the previous PRX800 series – it has undergone a complete ground-up redesign. Featuring a next-generation ferrite driver at their cores, each model in the PRX900 range provides a smooth and natural bass response even at maximum volume. Unlike other speaker manufacturers, JBL develops and manufactures their own internal drivers so you can be assured that what’s inside the heart of the PRX range is new and custom-designed for this box rather than a 3rd party speaker shoehorned into an enclosure.
To partner the new internal driver, the PRX range also has a new poly-annular 1.5” compression driver powered by an efficient, 2000w Peak Class D amplifier to provide a remarkable step up from the EON range when larger venues and spaces need to be filled with top-quality sound. Catering for larger venues, bigger setups, and grander performances, the PRX900 integrates perfectly into any live console/speaker management system but it also features the same acclaimed DSP and wireless control capabilities using the JBL Pro Connect App for advanced local mixing during smaller applications such as speech, solo performances, and DJs. To add to that flexibility, there are enclosure sizes ranging from 8”, 12”, and 15” meaning that there’s a PRX900 box for more applications and more venues than ever before.
If you’re a presenter or solo artist looking for something with a little less power than the PRX series, then there may be another in the JBL range that might suit you better! From ultra-lightweight and simple IRX series to the battery power EON one compact, check out our guide to the JBL portable PA range to find the perfect JBL series for you!
https://www.soundtech.co.uk/musicians-blog/our-guide-to-the-jbl-irx-eon-prx-pa-speaker-ranges
The PRX908 is the smallest enclosure in the range and the smallest speaker ever to bear the PRX prefix, but it still packs a punch with the same 2000w peak, 1000w RMS power amplifier for a total of 126dB SPL and a frequency response from 65Hz to 20kHz. It’s lightweight enclosure and compact 8” 908G driver mean it’s easily mobile and perfect for corporate events, speech, and small music applications.
The PRX912 with its 12” driver has even more low-end extension whilst maintaining PRX’s famous portability. It’s perfect for larger bands with a max SPL of 132dB meaning in smaller venues or medium-sized rooms it can easily compete over a drum kit and backline. Pair it with the matching PRX subwoofer and you’ve got a powerful and portable PA system.
Finally there’s the PRX915 with a 15” driver. It may be the largest in the range, but it has enough LF extension to be used without a subwoofer or with one when maximum frequency response, throw and coverage is required in the largest of rooms.
In terms of rear panel connectivity, all of the speakers in the range feature the same I/O connectivity with 2 Mic/Line inputs on combi jack as well as stereo TRS jack inputs for playback. Accompanying them are 3 balanced XLR line outputs for 'thru’ connections/crossover outputs as well as a Mix Output to combine PRX900 speakers as part of a larger system.
In a departure from the previous PRX offerings, the PRX900 series has a polypropylene/talcum composite cabinet that has been optimised for rigidity and durability. Another advantage of this design is that JBL can easily design-in all of the supports, handles, and ergonomic shapes required to make a more versatile box - unlike MDF or plywood cabinets which by comparison are harder to work with, less flexible and of course, heavier!
2-w1080.jpg)
Alongside the PRX908, 912, and 915, JBL are also offering two redesigned subwoofers including the 15” 915XLF and an 18” 918XLF for massive low-end extension. With more power than the previous design, the new 915SG 15” and 018SG 18” driver combined with the FEA flared port design means these PRX900 series subwoofers are a remarkable upgrade to their predecessors.
The PRX915XLF extends down to an impressive 36Hz and has a maximum SPL of 131dB which belies it’s compact enclosure whilst the PRX918XLF is the perfect choice for the biggest rooms with an impressive output of 134dB and frequency extension down to 30Hz. Both enclosures have the same built-in DSP for simple crossover and output EQ settings along with two XLR/Combi inputs and balanced XLR outputs for integrating with other subwoofers or tops.
With the PRX900 range, JBL have also added the same powerful DSP and wireless mixing capabilities introduced with their EON range including comprehensive, wireless control over EQ, limiters, dbx Automatic Feedback Suppression, ducking and other speaker functions directly from the JBL Pro Connect App for iOS or Android. There’s also 180ms of sample delay that can be used by system integrators to time align multiple speakers in complex rooms or large outdoor spaces. The app itself is the same app that controls other speakers in the JBL range including the EON ONE and PRX ONE, and allows you to control multiple units from one app using Bluetooth - useful to tune multiple FOH and floor monitors at once!
For more information on how the PBL pro connect app works with multiple speakers, check out our guide to Controlling JBL EON and PRX portable PA with the JBL Pro Connect App:
https://www.soundtech.co.uk/musicians-blog/jbl-pro-connect-app-eon-prx-wireless-mixer
Overall, the PRX900 range is a significant upgrade from the previous 900 generation in that it offers more power and flexibility in a more compact size with a wider range of driver options to suit more use cases. With the 900 series, the PRX is still the premium point-source option if you’re a band or ensemble needing some serious sound reinforcement, but with the new compact models and built-in DSP, it’s now a remarkable choice for solo artists and DJs needing something portable, but still packs the PRX punch!
This new blog is presented by the team at Sound Technology Ltd, a leading distributor of musical instruments and pro audio equipment in the UK and ROI.
