JBL PRX512M

Lightweight, powerful cabinet! I use these as FOH tops for DJ & medium-size club gigs, then also as either sidefills or drum monitors in bigger setups.

Very powerful...400 watts to the 12" speaker, 100 watts to the horn, and those are RMS watts too, not peak! This single speaker could easily keep up with 2 or more of the matching PRX518S subs without straining, and the subs are impressive on their own. I could see using (4) PRX518's and just (2) of these as an amazing sound system for almost any application!

Some older JBL speakers have a harsh treble (like the MP series), but I'm glad to say these are very clean and neutral-sounding. By themselves, they lack bottom end, but then they're not intended as true full-range speakers. Matched with a sub, or used as floor monitors, these are some of the best speakers available for a fair price.

I like the main/monitor switch that limits the low end, but it's not really necessary. I also like the handle on the top and lightweight construction, though it's nice to have side handles to loop cables through for strain relief. The dual-hole polemount cup is innovative and useful. I often set up for bands in a certain local club with the PA onstage. Polemounted, the tops are way over the crowd's heads, so it works well to aim the cabs down a little. Nice idea!

Really, these are great speakers. I use (2) with a pair of the PRX518S subs and a pole between them. The 512M's overpower the subs, so I have to turn them down. This makes sense...the subs are rated at 129dB SPL (a decent spec), while the 512M's are rated at 133dB SPL...quite a step up in volume. I may eventually buy (2) more 518's to balance with the 512's incredible output.

Overall, the 512M's sound very good and get loud as hell...what else do you want?

We use these 2-way speakers for live gigs both FOH and monitoring. Generally we are very pleased with the sound quality, and have even used the larger units with the subs - very nice. They are larger than the KV2 rig we also use but much lighter and thus easier on our backs!

These are active speakers powered by Crown amplifiers (part of the Harmon empire as are JBL). I'm not going to go into too much detail re specs here, although can say that it has a combined TRS/XLR inout and XLR link. Power comes in through a standard connector (unlike the KV2s which use speakon connectors which is a pain if you forget to pack the cables...).

Sound quality is excellent and probably due to the volume inside the cabinets can handle a reasonable amount of low bass. On these units there is a simple filter which rolls off some of the bass for monitoring purposes. These units don't work particularly well at very low volumes (but then when would you need that), they sound like a serious gate is on the signal. But at normal operating volumes the sound quality is nice and even and we have had lots of nice feedback (ha ha, I mean nice comments of course) from our audiences and musicians.
On the downside however some of our units - we have 8 - have developed an annoying crackle which usually disappears after a while, although does return sometimes. Having spoken to the Scandinavian agent we understand that this is a problem in the series generally.
If it wasn't for the crackle the rating for this category would be much higher...

Very easily portable with a convenient handle on the top and two hole in the base - one for straight and one for angled mounting: nice feature!
On the negative side, if one is using speakers from this range in mobile situations (on tour, in and out of theatres, venues etc) then the crappy plastic backlit logo on the front is really terrible: we have cracked three of our 8 already. Seriously weak point structurally and aesthetically in my opinion. Also drags down the rating I'm afraid. Wouldn't matter for fixed installation...

These speakers have been great during our time away from our usual stage (it's being refurbished), they are light and easily erected and sound great. Would we replace them with the same type? Dunno to be honest: having used them for a while we are well aquainted with their shortcomings and would probably try something similar from a different established and respected manufacturer.
So, a gret speaker package but falls a little short of its promise. But if JBL sort out the quality control, crackle and logo issues I'll raise the ratings!

These are great units and sound awesome for small live venues. However, I don't know if I just have bad luck, but I've been through about six of these cabs in the last six months. One died completely, one had a tweeter go, one had a woofer go, one had crazy noise, one had intermittent issues, etc. I'm thinking they must have had a bad run or something. Don't get me wrong, I love the cabs. They are light, loud, and I get compliments on them every gig. And, I'm not a sound noob, so they are being used and connected properly.