Had been using the J8s for small to medium sized wedding venues, but noticed the sound drops off quickly by the end of the dance floor in bigger rooms. Also, if you are doing something like a grand march and need your mic to cut through louder music the mic gets muddy quick on the J8s. Smaller shows they are great with way more low end than even the Evolve 50s, but the game changers for column rays are the Evox 12s. I use those in larger rooms and never need another sub to fill out the sound.
😹You’re killing me with that English/British accent Aaron, but thanks for the shout! I’m still leaning towards the EV 50’s. Now...time for a nice cup of tea and a cucumber sandwich.
UPDATE: I did a software update on the speakers this morning and it’s running much better with the app. I still don’t like the UI, but at least I have more control
Did you update the speaker to 1.6? I agree, the app is no reliable. Sometimes the mute button won't work and if you leave the app to do something else, it disconnects. Not impressed at all.
I Had JMIX8 bundle since may 2018 till april this year (2022). Had around 50-60 gigs with them and they earned me well. But finally, I replaced them with HK Audio Polar 12. 1) Evox is all plastic and the bass coming from the woofer was plastic-bunchy and did not sound very good in many rooms. 2) Upper drivers are tiny and they do not have much sound pressure, so in larger rooms they rather sound bad as they scream.. 3) I never used the JMIX mixer, only in some wedding ceremonies; 4) Yes, they look a bit ugly; 5) Poles - as you use them much then they finally start getting loose; Pros: - very easy to carry & handle, as they are lightweight. - Sound is very good at mid levels and smaller rooms. - fit almost anywhere, any car or back seat etc; These bags will be dead by the end of the year :) The mixer... I barely used it.
@@leorharel I tested the HK Polar at a shop. Did not like it. I though RCF was far superior. Not a Dj but a gigging musician so maybe we are after different sounds.
So it looks like it's been 3 years since this video. This is my "dream" PA system currently. Between that and the EV 50M. I'm an acoustic performer from Southern Minnesota looking to upgrade my sound. Also, do you still feel the same way about this speaker?
Not perfect, but a good choice for something loud and practical. Mainly used for live solo concerts. Had to cut 0.9 at 2Khz at the master EQ, cause they sounded a bit harsh because of the 8x2" top speakers. But all good... They get the job done !! ;)
i have the rcf covers with wheels ....trust me 300$ is alot for covers but worth it when i dont have to carry them every gig i do each weekend ....one weekend of work pays for the covers ....having a case with wheels on speakers and dj mixer is so much better ...i love my j8's
@aaronstrawn same! I have some slip covers and both fit in my “coach wagon” from Academy. I just put the foldable booth on top, then the controller, and I’m out the door.
I'm still trying to figure those out. I need to find a place that I can crank them without my neighbors getting pissed at me lol. For sure as soon as I feel good about the settings, I will do a video
Nice - I read the damn directions. Still couldn't figure out why I had no sound until I watched your vid! Turn up the Master on the sub lunkhead! Thanks!
Hi Aaron, loved yr review am in verge of getting one column array speaker. I am vocalist, singing along with acoustic guitar and playing some music while a break and to get crowd dance. I was looking for EV30M but after watching yr video am with RCF J8 mix, I need loud and clean flat signal. which one you would suggest.
Thanks for watching! Room size is key here. If you're playing smaller rooms, the 30m is good to go. But if you think you might book a larger space, go with the JMIX8. That way you can still take it to smaller gigs and you'll have headroom for bigger spaces. I'll add this- the mixer app for the 30m is waaaayyy better.
@@simondark7965 I went with EV30M, because vocal weren’t coming out clean with JMIX8 mid frequency was missing, EV30M was quite good in maintaining it not completely as conventional 12” 15” speakers but okay while considering for solo gig due to its handling & remote application while performing it is very handy. You can also consider DB technology ES503 which is much lesser price and there is no built in effects or remote app. DB ES1203 is of similar price as EV30M and has lot more power 2000 watts and 135 SPL.
Thanks … keep the whacky comedy sketches coming it sets you apart from everyone else AARON …AND NOT only that , YOU ARE VERY GOOD with your filming and especially when you did the split screen of the time it took the set up and take the array Speaker column systems . And very informative and knowledgeable .. Thank you for all you do and keep on keeping on and keep ‘em coming 👍☘️❤️
Hi Arron I’m following all your videos .I love them .👍 just a quick question on the JBL EON ONE MK2 ..have you heard of any problems with the JBL app that you can control the mix on your iPad ? A friend of mine has a pair and he said the app is very finicky ..the volume can shoot up to max or drop to very low when he’s trying to adjust it for karaoke singers . He’s also done two firmware updates but that didn’t fix the problem . Just wondered if you knew or heard anything about that as I’m thinking of getting a pair as I like the battery and a few other options on them Thanks for any help … and keep on keeping on … ☘️👍❤️ Kieran☘️
@@whitefriars13 I've only used the app a couple times at a real gig. The volume fader on channels can be a little tricky getting it to the exact number you want, it jumps up 2 or 3 db with a little nudge. Other than that, no real issues. Thanks for watching!
Great review. Regarding running 2 EV Evolve 30Ms together via Bluetooth, are you saying that you can run both speakers as one larger PA with double the inputs using the EV Evolve app? Thanks so much for your info.
@@franciscoluna5181 with a pair of Evolve 30Ms, would it be possible to create a larger mono system with double the inputs by going from the XLR main out of the first unit into channel 5 of the second unit and then XLR main out of the second unit into channel 5 or 6 of the first unit? Yamaha Stagepass 1K allows something like this to create a larger mono system. You're a champion creating all your great content. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for watching! You know for me, it’s all about that dance floor. I want that poppin and feelin nice and thumpy. So, any size for me. Cause I usually never have every guest on the dance floor at once. If I need more coverage for speeches or cocktail, I hook up the Bose S1. Never had complaints for sound, I think most guests and clients don’t really notice. They just want to have a good time. 🤷🏻♂️
Nice review 😎 just bought one and I am wondering how you connect your dj controller to it? It has only one xrl if you bypass the mixr so they said to me to put 1left xrl on one channel and right to another channel 🤔
Great video man, thanks for doing a thorough review, these are definitely something a lot of folks are interested in, including myself. Can you not pair up the Jmix with the Evox J8? I guess i'm trying to understand why did you go with 2 JMixes rather than 1 Jmix and 1 J8 (samething without the mixer).
Thanks! Yep, you can pair the Mix with the J8. I got 2 because I didnt want to find myself in a situation where I would need them both as a mixer and I just did this weekend. One was in the main room for reception, and the other was in the loby for cocktail hour. I'm glad I had both for sure.
i decided on 2 j8s because a j8 coupled with the mixj8 falls off a bit and that even noticeably. am very happy with it, but comparing them to the hk polar 12 is a joke, because the metallic sound in the highs is terrible .
EV 30M or RCF J8? Which one has better bass and is louder? I play a lot of House music, Freestyle, and Hip Hop. I have an external mixer if I go with the Rcf.
If you want volume and bass go with the J8. I’m glad I have both though. 30m for a smaller crowd or venue and ceremonies and the J8s for my bigger weddings
Great review, still unsure which to get between these the Evox 12, DB ES1202 or Evolve 50. Seems like the Evox 12 has the gives out the best and most powerful sound, but is the biggest and heaviest with not mixer. Ive even now started to consider one Evox 12 and one JMix8, a kinda best of both worlds. Any thoughts on why this wouldn't work? Ive consider the difference in look between the two.
@@AaronStrawn thanks for the response mate. It's good to know you are still using these. This being my 1st column speaker, I keep thinking I should go for the biggest to get the best sound and closest to my 12" tops and 15" sub. That's why I keep thinking the evox 12, but I completely understand the advantages of the j8, just hate sacrificing sound output potentially. But I know I'll love the portability of these. Oh its so difficult 😩. Thanks again for you response and love the videos 👊🏾
Do you recommend these over the Evolve 50? These are a bit cheaper. Want to use them for 150 guest and lower? Maybe for cocktail and ceremony? Multiple use
I honestly think it’s subjective. I picked these cause I liked them, can’t say if they’re better than the 50s. I’m taking these with me for receptions for sure
Hey Aaron! The Speakon cable - is it for sound or power? Cause either way - you need a second cable to go up there right? ... and I would like to put a light-fx on that bar, which also needs XLR and power cable to go up there. So I'm gonna need 4 cables to go up there. I don't think this would look good, so I would need to put a slip cover over it. at the moment my subs are big enough, so I can put a power-strip under the slip cover and a nice looking LED light, which also needs power... this speaker does not look like there is a lot of room for a power strip or cable management or an LED light to make it look good... Why can't they just power the upper speaker through that bar AND get the signal through there, too? Can't be too difficult to put 2 cables through this bar can it?
You only need the speakon cable to connect it to the sub, no power cable needed. So if you wanted to run a light, it would just be a power and DMX (there are battery powered dmx dongles out there, I actually have them) Hope this helps!
I’m on my 4th replacement JMIX now. Agreed…software is a major problem. Be careful of snapping the Speakon cables to provided clips. It pinches the cable. Lesson learned. Sound is phenomenal. Also have the J8 for my A&H CQ20B which I love.
Hi dude! First of all- great vid! I want to buy a column system and I'm deciding between 2 options. 1. Evox jmix8 2. Db es1203 Evox is less db then the 1203 but has a wireless control option, and has an effect. The 1203 is Heavier, but has more power, the drivers are bigger, and has a stereo option. I'm not familiar with the sound quality of the 1203... What would you recommend? Mostly for djing Thanks!
Couple things to consider. Room size, coverage you want.. I would lean towards lighter. The RCFs all pack up in one piece (poles are separate). Have you gone and listened to either of them? If you can go and feel them. Hope that helps!
@@AaronStrawn unfortunately in my country nobody selling the es 1203 ao i can't hear it. I head the j8 though and the sound was good. For bigger events i have rcr 715 + as 708. For smaller events or activities I'm looking for something easy to setup that doesn't need mixer and so on- just plug and play... I wonder if you can tell the difference on sound quality between those two. Tnx
Def louder, more thumpy bass, haven't had any clipping problems so far either. I do like being able to turn the top without having to move the entire set also.
How do you use the Flat\bass boost button? When I put it in bass it sounds much heavier but in the manual it says that this is only for use at low volumes 🤔
I think it depends on a couple things. Size of the room and what kind of coverage you want to get. If it’s smaller and more contained, sure. Ultimately you’ll want two for bigger events and a backup
With you on the App Aaron. I have a #JMIX8, not happy with it or the sound, I was ringing frequencies with the 7 band EQ and a mic and I heard a pop, the audio switched off but the power stayed on, I didn't get audio back for at least 60 seconds. Can't risk that happening at a gig. The sound is muffled at best and the APP mixer is very limited and not very user friendly constant switching between pages, 7 band eq is not nearly enough. The poles and cables in a separate bag is a recipe for disaster, they will be forgotten before and after gigs. My DB tech es503 sounds much better and costs less, check out my review of the db es503
Haven’t owned either of those. I will say a big advantage of this one is the speaker pole. It can be adjusted and moved which has come in handy many times. Since I bought these, I’ve used them for almost all my gigs and LOVE them
Anyone know if you can plug a phone or ipad into the 1/4 jack socket on the back of the evox 12s and play music through the speaker from there? Just thinking for back up. Thanks
@@AaronStrawn sorry just to make sure, it was the evox 12 I was asking about. I think you're referring to the JMix8. Can you plug a phone/ipad into the back of the evox 12 using the 1/4 inch jack socket on the back of the speaker? Thanks
That is a highly debatable question. I’ve had these for up to 300. BUT- things to consider- room size, placement of the speakers, objectives you want to accomplish.
@@AaronStrawn What about to connect Prime Go to a stereo line (5/6 or 7/8 inputs) to a Jmix8(use this one as a right channel) and connect j8 by XLR as the left channel. Will it be possible to manage main out(both for the jmix8 and j8) through the app? (Master volume and EQ for example?)
I noticed you were using the ios version of the Evox app... You're right, its crap! The Android equivalent is much nicer to use in every way. It might be worth trying it on a tablet or phone to see the difference? Good review though. Thanks.
@@AaronStrawn Bring them in late at night. When she asks, Is that a new speaker? I laugh and say , Are you kidding I've had those for a couple of years! Works every time;)