(Log in to disable ads.)

The last few years I've played a lot of concert/festival-type gigs. The A/V Companies that supply the sound and staging always have big rigs and state of the art gear. I have found though that the different brands of array-rigs have a totally different sound. The best concert rig I have ever heard was an EV X-Array system. Nexo and DB Audio rigs are also top notch.
However, when I arrive at a festival and see JBL, my heart sinks. I find the sound of JBL's very harsh, mid-e and tinny. Vocals sound harsh and nasal. Acoustic guitars sound like saws and so forth. Compared to the warmth and smoothness of the EV systems, JBL sucks
a$$. I am just talking big concert systems here, not the smaller club/pub P.A. stuff.
Some might argue that it's down to the sound engineers, but by now I am sure if that I would have come across a sound guy that can make a JBL rig sound good. I haven't.

So, is it just me, or are there some of you that feel the same way about JBL? Please share your thoughts.
    I can't really comment based on a wide experience with them, but I find the JBL stuff I have heard always seems to have a midrange "honk" that really doesn't appeal to me.

    Also I have to wonder how much of it is down to not using the right rig for the application.
      a year later
      I have heard Patrick Dudgeon set up JBL so ot was crisp and clear and tight in the low end. Heard him do this using Vertec and VRX. He spends a lot of time getting phasing just right, no knocking his rig. Most of the other boys rigging jbl are over driving active cabs and distorting the crap out of it because it hides bad playing pretty well. When a certain little SA rock band played on Concert Audio's Community rig, they complained the sound was too clear lmfao.
      Nexo is the worst I have ever heard hands down, hits in all the wring places. Turbo rig from the Gear house, now that be some serious business. That other piece of junk on the psy scene... ewwwww. You want to hear some proper industrial grade audio talk to Aggressive Audio in CT. All electrovoice, old school w folded horn subs and the best tops I have ever heard. Crown macrotech amps, old iron driving that monster. Gerhard and his fellas set up a rig that makes it feel like it wants to rip your head off while singing you a lullaby. Epic.
        Write a Reply...