The JBL Pro IRX ONE All-in-One Column PA breaks new ground for truly versatile professional portable loudspeakers by combining legendary JBL acoustic clarity, incredibly simple-to-manage 3-channel mixer, and Bluetooth 5.0 audio streaming – all packed into an easy-to-use system that can be carried with one hand. We sat down with Levi Vegh, JBL Pro Application Engineer to get his insight into the development of the IRX ONE and why it’s become an incredibly popular portable PA solution for a wide range of users, applications, and installations. Here are the excerpts from our discussion.
Why was this the right time for JBL to introduce IRX ONE?
JBL has a great offering of higher-end All-In-One Portable column systems with the EON ONE MK2 and the PRX ONE being great examples. Users and partners familiar with these speaker capabilities regularly asked for an additional speaker that combined both enhanced affordability with simplified features and controls but that still maintains great audio performance. The IRX ONE filled this gap perfectly.
Watch this product overview for a detailed walkthrough of IRX ONE’s most popular features and then dive into its complete details and specifications.
What type of user or application is IRX ONE most suited for?
IRX ONE strikes a perfect balance between portability and performance. From educators and presenters to musicians and small bands, IRX ONE is an ideal choice due to its wide coverage capability and 118db of peak SPL. With the column speaker and spacer elements folding neatly in the subwoofer unit and weighing less than 16kg / 35lb, the whole system is a relatively easy, one-hand carry for most people. This also makes it perfect for any hospitality or sports facilities needing ad-hoc mobile audio setups for use in different areas throughout the venue.
Do you need to be an audio professional to use and get the most out of IRX ONE?
Not at all! Since introducing the cabinet speaker range, the JBL IRX series has always been about ease of use and simple deployment. The IRX ONE continues this tradition, allowing anyone with minimal audio expertise to easily configure and operate the system. The only major decision you need to make is deciding where to position the speaker to achieve the best coverage of the audience.
From educators and presenters to musicians and small bands, IRX One is an ideal choice due to its wide coverage capability and JBL signature clarity.
Can you elaborate on the user-friendly capabilities of the IRX ONE interface and its controls?
Once you are set up and your audio source and/or mic is plugged in, you can choose an EQ preset that best suits the use and environment. The unit has a very straightforward and easy-to-use 3-channel mixer with an independent Bluetooth 5.0 audio input. The only thing to pay attention to is to set the channel gain correctly before you set your channel and main level to ensure the best audio performance.
If you are using a line-level source, you can leave your gain around 0dB and if you are using it with a mic or a guitar for example, you can add extra gain accordingly. For the two mic inputs, the phantom power button can only be engaged after a long press to avoid unnecessary pops by accidentally pushing the button during a gig or sending phantom power to plugged-in devices that might not like to receive +48V. Bluetooth source audio is independent of any mixer channel, so you essentially get an extra channel for playback, and you can connect to it the same way as you do with any other Bluetooth audio device, and you can change the playback volume directly from your phone, tablet, PC, or other Bluetooth source.
IRX ONE has a very straightforward and easy-to-use 3-channel mixer with an independent Bluetooth 5.0 audio input.
The IRX ONE utilizes concert line array-inspired directivity control. How does this enhance sound dispersion and coverage?
The JBL acoustic engineering team did a great job of ensuring IRX ONE coverage is as consistent as possible by using six 2” high-frequency drivers arranged in a C-shape array that allows us more control of the beamwidth to achieve an even 160° horizontal dispersion.
This means whether you are right in front of the speaker or to the side of the audience, you’ll have a very similar audio experience. Also, when setting up the column you can select how many spacers you want to use to ensure you have the HF drivers closest to ear level. Depending on how many spacers you use, the IRX One will automatically adjust the system EQ to compensate for the distance between the subwoofer and the high-frequency section, further ensuring consistent coverage at all times.
What features stand out that make IRX ONE both great-sounding and easy to use?
The built-in mixer has two onboard microphone preamps that will provide 55dB of clean gain. This makes it capable of handling most microphones at a quality you would expect from a standalone mixer. Single-knob AFS and ducking are two notable features that definitely set the IRX ONE apart from the competition. If you are a mobile musician or a presenter, there will be occasions when you’ll need to stand close to the PA or even stand in front of it. This can inevitably cause feedback. Thanks to dbx’s AFS (Automatic Feedback Suppression) algorithm, the feedback frequencies are automatically eliminated with high accuracy. The ducking button turns down music when speech is detected, making the system ideal for presentations and announcements.
With the column speaker and spacer elements folding neatly in the subwoofer unit and weighing less than 16kg / 35lb, the whole system is a relatively easy, one-hand carry for most people.
What features of the IRX ONE make it ideal for road-worthy applications?
We put all JBL speaker cabinets and components through rigorous stress tests, that include a variety of environmental tests as well as a speaker stress test where we are putting energy through the transducers for 100 hours at their maximum rated power, making sure the product will withstand the extensive use they are specifically designed for. Because of this level of testing to ensure a stellar customer experience, we confidently include a full 3-year product warranty with every IRX ONE.
What are some recent applications where IRX ONE has proven to be an ideal portable PA solution?
We see a variety of customers looking for just the right solution for their specific need. We see many gigging musicians and mobile DJs adopt the IRX ONE for its output power and compact size but also corporate customers who love it for its simplicity and wide coverage area which is great for sharing among departments and ensuring company presentations are heard clearly. Recently, more and more rental companies are starting to add IRX ONE to their hire portfolio as it has proven an excellent product for a variety of sound reinforcement duties and dry hire jobs.
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