The 2009 JBL Eon 500 range of PA speakers

Riaan-Combrink

Hi guys,

Many guys playing solo or in duos or other small outfits swear by JBL Eon powered speakers - in terms of reliability, sound, power, looks and price (relative to what you're getting).

I've for a while now been saving up to get some Eon G2's. Earlier this year JBL broke my momentum by releasing the 500 series (3rd generation Eons). They're incredible speakers IMHO. They have managed to put more power into the 15" AND reduce the weight (G2 = 400W and 19 kgs; 515 = 450W and 14 kgs). Yep, that's right. A 15" powered speaker (Crown amps inside no less) that puts out that much power and weighs only 14 kgs. I've actually picked them up at the store - its incredible. For guys who have to cart a PA around all the time - what a pleasure.

List price is something silly - but I've talked two stores into approx R 30 000 for a pair of 515s. Quite an investment, but you can't kill an Eon. You'll have it as long as you want it.

Of course, guys will have to drop their second hand price on Eon G2s now (previous generation and all) - so that opens up different possibilities.

Now if I only had 30 grand lying around ☹

Here's Performing Musician's review:
http://www.performing-musician.com/pm/mar09/articles/jbleon500series.htm

PS: I have no affiliation to JBL, but if anyone from Wild & Marr is reading - I'd gladly accept a demo pair as payment for the plug ?

TomCat

Riaan C wrote: Hi guys,

PS: I have no affiliation to JBL, but if anyone from Wild & Marr is reading - I'd gladly accept a demo pair as payment for the plug ?

HAHAHAHA.....Dream on...... ? ?....No chance of that....

There is also the EON 315's. Slightly less powerful than the 515 and at a better price. The new EON 18"sub also looks good.

Keira-WitherKay

mmmm R30 000 on speakers .... unless you somehow making a lot of money or have a 2nd job.... this is not healthy return for what you can potentially earn.... unless you playing as a hobby and can pour all your music earnings into the speakers .... erm yeah if you just reinvest R500 a show back into the speakers you talking 60 shows to reimburse yourself....

and the reality is if you do major functions you will still hire in gear ... as a powerd 15 is never enough.... and that the client pays for ....... and on the other hand when i play festivals and even major venues in and around the world there is an inhouse system ussually ...

so why then make such a huge investment for gigs that are technically small gigs.... and don't pay sufficiently to warrant that ..remember thats just the speakers... and only a pair ... heheh what about the mixing desk the top of line fx units the top end guitar ..... mic's ect ect

i'm sorry i'm of the school that when i play at sandton conference center i'll hire in a top of line PA and sound engineer and bill client ...and for a pub/restaurant gig (cos even most major music pubs even in jhb have inhouse systems... which they charge you to use of course abour R400/ 600 a show of door money/salary ) i will use a cheapie PA i have some powered skytec 15's that cost me a fraction ...and they never failed and i never overdrive em..... and yeah they not the same quality... but hey they not paying you the money either... and i still get the gigs.... and not like the skytecs make me sound inferior or lose me the gigs....heheheh

yeah in perfect world or with a rich lover i would also own eon's or better .... but till then i think there are cheaper ways to still sound awesome...i'd rather own a better guitar .... i can use on festivals and in studio's than spend on PA sound ......

peace and light
Keira

sorry guys i'm just not an audiophile when it comes to live sound..... especially for pub/restaurant gigs

TomCat

Hey Keira

Good points there.

I will say however that coming from the other side of having worked with PA systems for most of my life...R 30 000.00 for loudspeakers is not a lot of money...relatively speaking of course.

In my world EONs would be at the bottom of the loudspeaker food chain...ie entry level. But that is my point of reference, not others.

I designed the system that was installed into a church in Pretoria a few years back. That system cost 3 bars at the time.....now that is a lot of money.....but was worth it.

Getting back to your points about audiophile sound in the pup/restaurant environment....I agree that one must be wise in the spending our our hard earned cash and not buy extravagant equipment. However one does need to have kit that is good enough to make people feel comfortable when you pitch up and set up for your gig.

If it sounds good, i believe that word gets around and increases your chances for more bookings.

Let the debate continue........

AlanRatcliffe

IMO, it's a simple equation: good gear = good sound/more reliability = better reputation = more gigs = higher pay rate.

I laughed when I first saw the guy who is now Riaan's agent - his "solo" rig at the time was a system I would have killed to use for a band. I quickly stopped laughing when I started seeing him playing everywhere I went, from pubs to festivals and carnivals - I think he had a virtual monopoly on pub gigs around Cape Town for quite a while.

TomCat

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: IMO, it's a simple equation: good gear = good sound/more reliability = better reputation = more gigs = higher pay rate.

+1 Alan. Totally agree.

My approach is to get the best you can afford. Especially if your income depends on it.

BTW the best is not always to most expensive........

Neps

I designed the system that was installed into a church in Pretoria a few years back. That system cost 3 bars at the time.....now that is a lot of money.....but was worth it.

Tom, is that the rig I'm thinking of.. JBL array.. 7000 seater in Pretoria East?
Was put in about 3 years ago?

TomCat

Neps wrote:
I designed the system that was installed into a church in Pretoria a few years back. That system cost 3 bars at the time.....now that is a lot of money.....but was worth it.
Tom, is that the rig I'm thinking of.. JBL array.. 7000 seater in Pretoria East?
Was put in about 3 years ago?

Yup, thats the one

JBL Vertec line arrays. Awesome system.....

Neps

ahhh.. thought I'd know the place.. One of my best friends is the Head of Department there... Still not sold on the Desks though, fun to play with but I'm a creature of habbit, and nothing works like a Midas.. Except a Yamaha PM1D and 5D...

aja

http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-JBL-EONS515-PRICED-RITE-W0QQAdIdZ134763455

hope it is legit