JBL All-In-One Column Speakers: Which one is Right for Me?

JBL are known globally for their range of Loudspeaker Systems, amplifying live performances from the largest stadiums through to the smallest pubs. Their ONE Series Column Speakers were created for the latter. However, their power, advanced features and overall sound quality are distilled from JBL flagship touring systems such as VTX & SRX, that power large scale concert venues around the world.

The Column Speaker PA with integrated mixer is not brand-new invention, but JBL’s knowledge and expertise has informed the development of the ONE Series, which has been evolving for nearly a decade. At every stage, new features and technologies have been added, improving their performance. 

There are common scenarios for both musicians & engineers alike, where ONE Series Column Speakers might have the edge over typical ‘Point & Shoot’ PA (which still has its own set of pros!):

• They’re highly portable and pack down to a transportable size
• The mixer is built-in – no long runs of cables out to an external mixer
• Sound is easier to manage with helpful tools
• All the ONE Series speakers have a Bluetooth audio channel for remote playback
• They’re visually discreet, but audibly impressive.

They make a great companion for Musicians and DJs keen to manage their own sound where access to space and an additional Sound Engineer is not always possible. But if you are a Sound Engineer, there are advanced features in the bigger models that make the ONE Speakers really stand out.

There are currently 3 tiers of JBL ONE Column Speaker – IRX ONE, EON ONE and PRX ONE. 

Each tier offers a slightly different set of features. As you can imagine, the more you spend, the more you get, including power output. However, you may not need the “all singing all dancing” PRX ONE package to get what you need. After all, what happens when you want to do your gig in a remote location with no power? Believe or not, one of these could do the job!

Let’s have a look at the different models that JBL make.

IRX ONE is the latest addition to the ONE Series from JBL. IRX is typically the entry point for JBL Portable PA, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be sacrificing quality. 

Light Weight & Compact – This column speaker is the lightest of the 3, weighing in at just under 16kg. It has the smallest woofer at 8” and 6 x 2” tweeters at the top of the column. This makes it much lighter to carry if you’re on foot, on public transport, and it’ll pack down into the boot of most hatchbacks we reckon!

• Light Weight & Compact – This column speaker is the lightest of the 3, weighing in at just under 16kg. It has the smallest woofer at 8” and 6 x 2” tweeters at the top of the column. This makes it much lighter to carry if you’re on foot, on public transport, and it’ll pack down into the boot of most hatchbacks we reckon!
• 3-Channel Mixer – The mixer on the IRX ONE is ideal for quick and easy setup. It hosts a couple of XLR-Combi inputs, partnered with a ¼" Jack Line input. Ideal for plugging in a microphone or 2 with a guitar or perhaps a mic & keyboard. This makes it suitable for solo or duo musician setups. The AFS (Automatic Feedback Suppression) feature makes it easy to manage potential feedback issues. You could also DJ a small party with it, and with the ‘Ducking’ feature, you can automatically reduce the music level when you talk through the microphone.

• 3 Year Warranty – Remember when we said quality isn’t sacrificed in the IRX range? JBL back this statement up nicely, with a 3-year warranty on IRX ONE. It's tough and reliable, especially during transport where the delicate parts are packed down and protected – such as the column and the mixer.

The EON ONE has recently been upgraded to the ‘Mark 2’ version, enhancing the features and sound quality of the original. But possibly the most intriguing addition to the ‘Mark 2’ is something that makes it possible to setup and perform anywhere.

• It’s Battery Powered – For true portability, the EON ONE Mk 2 has a rechargeable battery so it can be powered up literally anywhere you take it. This is a great feature for setting up in locations without a reliable source of power. For buskers it’s a game changer! Of course, you can still power it from the mains and the battery is removable if needed. JBL offer additional batteries & a dual charger as optional accessories to keep the party going!
• Higher Output – A step up from the IRX ONE, the EON has a bit more ‘oomph’ with a 10” woofer, 8 x 2” tweeters and peak power of 1500W. EON ONE can go louder & lower which is great for bustling venues where you need to cut through a little more. This does come with a slight increase in weight. This can be overcome with the EON ONE Mk2 transporter case with wheels, or some strength training!

• Advanced Mixer & DSP FX – The 5-Channel Mixer on EON ONE Mk2 gives you more options when using it as a self-contained PA system. Hidden under the hood, the mixer has more advanced DSP mixing tools & Lexicon powered FX that can be controlled remotely from an android or iOS device using the JBL Pro Connect App. Instead of mixing from the back of the speaker, you can make mix changes from anywhere, including from an audience perspective.
• 7-Year Warranty – The EON ONE Mk2 has a whopping 7-year warranty to cover faults or issues. Some car manufacturers don’t even offer that! It’s testament to JBL’s high standards in build quality and design that they can cover your purchase for much longer than your average PA system.

Now we come to the top of the range JBL Column Speaker - /jbl-prx-one-all-in-one-powered-column-pa-system. The PRX line is synonymous with top quality point & shoot PA, and that reputation certainly carries through the all-in-one column offering.

• Top Sound Quality for Larger Venues – The PRX ONE outputs 2000W peak, with a 12” Woofer and 12 x 2.5” Tweeters. That’s a lot of speakers in one system. This means even great extension in the low frequencies through to very detailed highs. Column speakers are designed to cover full audio range very well, but the PRX does an exceptional job.
• Consistent Sound for your Audience – The sophisticated mechanics of PRX ONE result in some very even coverage across a dance floor. The array of 12 x 2.5” drivers spread the sound with a width of 130° and vertical spread of 30°. JBL’s A.I.M (Array Inumbration Mechanics) also ensures that those further from the speaker will still get a great sounding performance as well as those at the front.
• 7-Channel Mixer with DSP – The PRX ONE has the largest mixer section of the ONE speaker systems, with 4 x XLR Combi inputs, 2 x Line Inputs and even a little aux input if you want to crack on with a wired device – old school iPod anyone? As with the EON ONE Mk2, the mixer can be fully controlled by the JBL Pro Connect App. It boasts a wide variety of DSP mixing tools such as EQ, Compression & Limiting + Lexicon powered FX. There’s more than enough mixer here to handle a band, or a big DJ setup.

7-Year Warranty – Needless to say, PRX ONE being the best of the 3 does also come with a 7-year warranty cover as standard. The PRX ONE is designed to last a long time, and the warranty certainly backs that up.

If you want to get a quick look at all the features of the ONE Series Column Speakers, we’ve created a comparison table below for you to see some of the main specifications side-by-side.

Maybe column speakers aren’t your cup of tea, after all they are still quite hefty despite being portable. The mighty EON ONE Compact might provide an interesting alternative. It’s small, tiny actually, when compared to the ONE Series Speakers. It’s only got a single 8” woofer and weighs 8kg, but it does kick out a surprising amount of power – cable of reaching the lows of 37.5Hz and outputting up to 112dB SPL.

EON ONE Compact, like it’s bigger EON sibling, is also battery powered. This makes it a great portable speaker for parties, busking and just general listening on the go.

The mixer shouldn’t be dismissed either. It has 4 inputs ideal for mic, guitar or keyboards. It also has the added DSP power & FX unlocked with remote control, just like the EON ONE Mk2 and PRX ONE. A recent upgrade means it now works with the JBL Pro Connect App, to make the most of the advanced mixing features.

Whatever your needs are as a musician, a performer, or an engineer - column speakers like the IRX ONE, EON ONE Mk2 and PRX ONE offer simple yet effective sound reinforcement for gigs and events. Line Array technologies from JBLs flagship touring systems have been used to inform the design choices in these column arrays – ensuring wide, consistent coverage, high output and pristine sound quality in a more portable form. The built-in mixer and column make setup and configuration absolute breeze, so you can concentrate on the most important thing - your playing and performance.  

Check out our full JBL range for more quality augio gear. If you have more questions or queries, contact our customer service team, or head to your local PMT store and speak to an expert.