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REVIEWED
REVIEWED: JBL EON ONE Compact
JBL Professional has a history than is rich and deeply intertwined with the evolution of audio technology. Founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (JBL), a pioneer in audio engineering, the company originally developed loudspeakers for movie theatres, notably contributing to the "Shearer" audio system for MGM's "The Jazz Singer."
In 1969, JBL was acquired by Jervis Corporation, which later became Harman International which still own the brand and are a leading manufacturer of audio equipment for both professional and consumer markets offering a wide range of products, including loudspeakers, headphones, and portable audio devices to the DJ market. JBL seem to have been missing from the mobile DJ arena for the last few years, but they are back with a bang and in fact are the lead audio sponsor for the Pro Mobile Focus & Retreat later this month. With products like the PRX ONE, the recent release of the PRX 900 series along with the EON ONE Compact which I take a closer look at in this review, there is a whole range of PA products from them than are suitable for the DJ market.
In a world where portability reigns supreme, JBL Professional has delivered a pint-sized powerhouse with the EON ONE Compact. This isn't just another Bluetooth speaker; it's a fully-fledged, battery-powered PA system that fits comfortably under your arm.
Unboxing the EON ONE Compact, I was immediately struck by its diminutive size 291mm x 255mm x 399mm (LxWxH) or for those old school people 11.46” x 10.04” x 15.71”. Now before even turned it on and those of you than know me will understand than I looked at the size of it and judged a book by its cover and thought that something this size wasn’t going to punch in our market at all but boy was I wrong. Weighing in at just under 8kg (17.6lbs), it's a breeze to transport, making it ideal for those impromptu gigs, outdoor events where you need to make announcements or to play background for outdoor wedding ceremonies where it’s the perfect battery powered option for quick setup and get out.
I also used it for sound at my 360-video booth at a corporate event where I was setup outside the main entertainment room, so it created the perfect atmosphere for booth users to get down and dirty with their moves which in turn created memorable videos on the output. The phrase ‘Punching above its weight’ comes to mind here and you really must hear it to believe it.
On the outside is a rugged plastic enclosure that feels robust enough for use on the road but time will tell although for those of you that look after your kit, there is an optional slip on cover or a higher price reinforced backpack which is an step down from an bespoke flight case which I guess would cost more than the speaker itself.
The EON ONE Compact is fitted with an 8-inch driver, coupled with a 1-inch tweeter, the EON ONE Compact delivers a surprisingly full and balanced sound. With a maximum SPL of 112 dB, it's more than capable of filling small to medium-sized rooms with clear, articulate audio. The bass response, extending down to 37.5Hz, adds a depth to the overall sound, making it suitable for a variety of musical genres and whilst I wouldn’t use it as the main FOH system for a party, I would use it as a DJ monitor, for background music and ceremonies amongst other uses I already mentioned.
The EON ONE Compact boasts an impressive array of connectivity options. Two XLR/TRS combo jacks cater to microphones and line-level instruments so you can use a microphone system and controller, phone or computer input without the need for a desk making the whole mobile battery setup possible.
There is a dedicated 1/4-inch hi-Z input if you ever work with guitarists. You’ll also find a 3.5mm aux input plus Bluetooth streaming provide further flexibility for connecting external devices. An further feature than I haven’t seen on other battery speakers is two high-power 3.0 USB ports to allow high-speed charging of tablets, phones and some controllers than are USB powered.
A soft touch power button with rotary dials for master volume, gain bass and treble plus toggle buttons for Channel select, Mic/Line selection, Microphone ducking plus selection between the AUX and Bluetooth channels and the Phantom Power button for microphones, yes you ready than correctly,
Phantom Power for microphones on both the line and mic channel without a sound desk to allow you to power 48v microphones or DI boxes all built into the unit.
The standout feature of the EON ONE Compact is the built-in 4-channel digital mixer is which is accessed via physical controls or the intuitive JBL Compact Connect app than is available on both Apple and Android stores, it allows for precise control over volume levels, EQ, and effects. Reverb, delay, and chorus effects add a professional polish to your sound, while the one-touch ducking feature ensures your vocals always cut through the mix.
The Bluetooth functionality extends beyond audio streaming. You can wirelessly control the mixer and effects from your iOS or Android device, giving you the freedom to roam while tweaking your sound. Additionally, you can link up to four EON ONE Compact units via Bluetooth for a wider sound stage or a speaker wirelessly in each corner of the room to spread the sound evenly for corporate events where a microphone and sound for a presentation maybe required but your client doesn’t need an AV tech or more powerful system is needed – it’s all about the upsell and mid-week work outside of our weekend DJ events.
If you haven’t yet decided than you want to jump on board with the EON ONE Compact then let's talk about the battery element, which is a crucial aspect of any portable PA system is the battery life, and with this product, you won’t be disappointed. The swappable, rechargeable battery provides up to 12 hours of playtime once fully charged, ensuring you can power through most events without needing to plug in. A fast charge feature replenishes the battery in just 2.5 hours, and you are also able to charge the battery whilst the speaker is in use if needed.
I used the EON ONE Compact in various scenarios including an outdoor wedding ceremony (the first of the year), 360-video booth session over 3 hours playing music from my iPhone over Bluetooth and for a few hours in the warehouse whilst having a sort out, it consistently delivered impressive results.
The JBL EON ONE Compact is an outstanding product in the portable audio world and perfect for both DJs and Event Production companies, it combines exceptional sound quality, a comprehensive feature set, and impressive portability into a compact and affordable package which I will be adding to my stock inventory.
In 1969, JBL was acquired by Jervis Corporation, which later became Harman International which still own the brand and are a leading manufacturer of audio equipment for both professional and consumer markets offering a wide range of products, including loudspeakers, headphones, and portable audio devices to the DJ market. JBL seem to have been missing from the mobile DJ arena for the last few years, but they are back with a bang and in fact are the lead audio sponsor for the Pro Mobile Focus & Retreat later this month. With products like the PRX ONE, the recent release of the PRX 900 series along with the EON ONE Compact which I take a closer look at in this review, there is a whole range of PA products from them than are suitable for the DJ market.
In a world where portability reigns supreme, JBL Professional has delivered a pint-sized powerhouse with the EON ONE Compact. This isn't just another Bluetooth speaker; it's a fully-fledged, battery-powered PA system that fits comfortably under your arm.
Unboxing the EON ONE Compact, I was immediately struck by its diminutive size 291mm x 255mm x 399mm (LxWxH) or for those old school people 11.46” x 10.04” x 15.71”. Now before even turned it on and those of you than know me will understand than I looked at the size of it and judged a book by its cover and thought that something this size wasn’t going to punch in our market at all but boy was I wrong. Weighing in at just under 8kg (17.6lbs), it's a breeze to transport, making it ideal for those impromptu gigs, outdoor events where you need to make announcements or to play background for outdoor wedding ceremonies where it’s the perfect battery powered option for quick setup and get out.
I also used it for sound at my 360-video booth at a corporate event where I was setup outside the main entertainment room, so it created the perfect atmosphere for booth users to get down and dirty with their moves which in turn created memorable videos on the output. The phrase ‘Punching above its weight’ comes to mind here and you really must hear it to believe it.
On the outside is a rugged plastic enclosure that feels robust enough for use on the road but time will tell although for those of you that look after your kit, there is an optional slip on cover or a higher price reinforced backpack which is an step down from an bespoke flight case which I guess would cost more than the speaker itself.
The EON ONE Compact is fitted with an 8-inch driver, coupled with a 1-inch tweeter, the EON ONE Compact delivers a surprisingly full and balanced sound. With a maximum SPL of 112 dB, it's more than capable of filling small to medium-sized rooms with clear, articulate audio. The bass response, extending down to 37.5Hz, adds a depth to the overall sound, making it suitable for a variety of musical genres and whilst I wouldn’t use it as the main FOH system for a party, I would use it as a DJ monitor, for background music and ceremonies amongst other uses I already mentioned.
The EON ONE Compact boasts an impressive array of connectivity options. Two XLR/TRS combo jacks cater to microphones and line-level instruments so you can use a microphone system and controller, phone or computer input without the need for a desk making the whole mobile battery setup possible.
There is a dedicated 1/4-inch hi-Z input if you ever work with guitarists. You’ll also find a 3.5mm aux input plus Bluetooth streaming provide further flexibility for connecting external devices. An further feature than I haven’t seen on other battery speakers is two high-power 3.0 USB ports to allow high-speed charging of tablets, phones and some controllers than are USB powered.
A soft touch power button with rotary dials for master volume, gain bass and treble plus toggle buttons for Channel select, Mic/Line selection, Microphone ducking plus selection between the AUX and Bluetooth channels and the Phantom Power button for microphones, yes you ready than correctly,
Phantom Power for microphones on both the line and mic channel without a sound desk to allow you to power 48v microphones or DI boxes all built into the unit.
The standout feature of the EON ONE Compact is the built-in 4-channel digital mixer is which is accessed via physical controls or the intuitive JBL Compact Connect app than is available on both Apple and Android stores, it allows for precise control over volume levels, EQ, and effects. Reverb, delay, and chorus effects add a professional polish to your sound, while the one-touch ducking feature ensures your vocals always cut through the mix.
The Bluetooth functionality extends beyond audio streaming. You can wirelessly control the mixer and effects from your iOS or Android device, giving you the freedom to roam while tweaking your sound. Additionally, you can link up to four EON ONE Compact units via Bluetooth for a wider sound stage or a speaker wirelessly in each corner of the room to spread the sound evenly for corporate events where a microphone and sound for a presentation maybe required but your client doesn’t need an AV tech or more powerful system is needed – it’s all about the upsell and mid-week work outside of our weekend DJ events.
If you haven’t yet decided than you want to jump on board with the EON ONE Compact then let's talk about the battery element, which is a crucial aspect of any portable PA system is the battery life, and with this product, you won’t be disappointed. The swappable, rechargeable battery provides up to 12 hours of playtime once fully charged, ensuring you can power through most events without needing to plug in. A fast charge feature replenishes the battery in just 2.5 hours, and you are also able to charge the battery whilst the speaker is in use if needed.
I used the EON ONE Compact in various scenarios including an outdoor wedding ceremony (the first of the year), 360-video booth session over 3 hours playing music from my iPhone over Bluetooth and for a few hours in the warehouse whilst having a sort out, it consistently delivered impressive results.
The JBL EON ONE Compact is an outstanding product in the portable audio world and perfect for both DJs and Event Production companies, it combines exceptional sound quality, a comprehensive feature set, and impressive portability into a compact and affordable package which I will be adding to my stock inventory.
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 130, Pages 88-89.
