JBL’s IRX One is a compact, all-in-one live sound solution which is said to deliver professional-grade performance in a user-friendly package. But does it live up to the JBL reputation? Headliner puts it to the test.
I used to carry a pair of JBL EONs for all the open mic nights I ran during the 2010s and always loved the tone - the only issue I had, in fact, was rust forming on the grills, but in fairness, leaving them out in the rain tends to do that to a speaker (my bad). And when you consider how ill-treated they actually were, the fact they never once let me down says a lot. So although I won’t throw this demo unit into the rainstorm that’s currently happening outside just yet, I am confident that anything made by JBL will be reliable. And let’s hope it sounds good, too.
First Impressions
So, out of the box, the IRX One is clearly a compact, lightweight, and undeniably sleek looking piece of kit. It’s also portable enough for one person to carry and set up without assistance - all the column pieces are stored in the rear of the unit, and it weighs a little under 30lbs. It’s built for life on the road, and its modern, understated design means it won’t look out of place on any stage or event setup. It also took me under 60 seconds to get it up and running.
The speaker’s integrated features also catch my eye: an intuitive control panel with three inputs as well as very useful Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and JBL’s proprietary DSP (Digital Signal Processing) functions will definitely simplify the user experience, so that’s a tick in the box for performers and presenters alike.
Performance
Featuring an 8-inch woofer and six 2-inch high-frequency drivers, the system produces a robust and balanced sound. I plug in a couple of different vocal mics, a semi-acoustic guitar, and play back some music, and the clarity and depth of the audio is really solid.
Thanks to the IRX One’s integrated DSP, the system has five preset master EQ settings accessed from a single rotary control on the panel, and actually suppresses feedback [through dbx Automatic Feedback Suppression] which is very handy. In my tests, these features performed flawlessly, delivering a smooth, natural sound without the need for constant manual adjustments. Again, that ease of use is priceless - particularly if you’re under time constraints which is so often the way when running your own gig.
I found the bass response to be great, too - it goes down to 40Hz - and very warm for a system of this size. Although it’s not going to blow the roof off in terms of SPL, it comfortably fills a 100-person venue without really cranking it at all. But for me, it’s in the upper mids and the high frequencies where the system really shines: a very clean and detailed sound that cuts through without any harshness whatsoever.
