JBL Professional One Series 104 - compact active monitors

JBL has always had a good reputation in the studio production community, which he deserves as one of the producers breaking new ground. How does his latest compact system present itself in this context?

JBL 104 monitors are in the same product group as Genelec 8010, IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor, Eve SC203 and many others with 3-4,5" woofer. These are kits for assembly stations, multimedia systems, designed to work where ordinary computer speakers offer too low quality, and there is no place for larger active monitors.

design

The monitors are shipped in pairs containing an active (left) and a passive set connected to the first set with a speaker cable. In both cases, the phase inverter is brought to the rear panel.

The 104 kits are supplied in pairs consisting of an active master kit and a passive slave kit. The first includes: equipment, manipulators and communications. The second one has only a converter and is connected to the main set with an acoustic cable. The monitors can be connected to balanced TRS 6,3 mm plugs or unbalanced RCA plugs. Standard spring-loaded connectors are used to connect monitors. The active monitor is powered directly from the mains, has a voltage switch, a master volume control, a stereo Aux input (3,5 mm TRS) and a headphone output for turning off monitors.

The monitor housings are made of ABS plastic and have a metal cover on the front. At the bottom is a neoprene pad that keeps the kits securely on the ground. The manufacturer claims that the shape and design of the monitors are adapted for desktop use.

An interesting feature of the 104 is the use of coaxial drivers with a 3,75” woofer. The concentrically positioned driver has a 1” diameter material dome diaphragm and is fitted with a short waveguide. This is an original design with an exceptionally flat, given its size, frequency response.

The case, in which there is no flat plane, is a bass-reflex solution with a fancifully curved lossy tunnel. At its inner end, a damping element is installed to reduce turbulence and introduce acoustic resistance to expand the phase inverter resonance.

The separation between the woofer and the tweeter is done passively by a unipolar capacitor mounted on the loudspeaker. This solution was chosen so as not to connect monitors with two cables, which seems like a reasonable move. The loudspeakers are powered by a STA350BW digital module that feeds 2×30W drivers.

On practice

The bass-reflex tunnel visible on the left has the shape of a question mark. Damping at its input is designed to reduce turbulence and equalize resonance. The passive crossover function is performed by a capacitor glued to the top of the converter.

During the tests, the JBL 104 ran into the already established Genelec 8010A kits on the market - multimedia, but with a clearly professional flavor. In terms of prices, the comparison is like a featherweight vs. heavyweight boxer. However, what we wanted was primarily the sonic character and the overall listening experience of complex material and single tracks from various types of multi-track productions.

The wideband sound reproduction of the 104 seems to be more massive and deep than the dimensions of this system would suggest. The bass is set lower than the 8010A and is better perceived. The sound, however, is of a consumer nature, with a less expressive presence of mids and bass punctuality. High frequencies are clear and well-read, but less clear than in Genelec monitors, although they sound very impressive. The transducer's coaxial design works well in free field when there are no reflective surfaces near the monitor, but on a desktop, directional consistency isn't as obvious. Undoubtedly, the JBL 104 performs best when placed behind a desktop on tripods to minimize the effect of desktop reflections.

Also, do not expect high pressure levels. Due to its specific design, the transducer has a lot of power compression, so playing loud with high bass is not a good idea. Moreover, both converters are powered by a common amplifier - so at high volume you will hear a narrowing of the bandwidth. However, when the SPL level does not exceed the standard 85 dB during a listening session, no problems will arise.

The drivers used are of coaxial construction with a tweeter inside the woofer.

Summation

Interesting design and impressive sound make the JBL 104 interesting for people who are looking for monitors for basic audio work or general music listening. In the context of its price, this is a very fair offer for those who want something more than the so-called computer speakers, and at the same time pay attention to the manufacturer's brand and workmanship.

Tomasz Wrublewski

Price: PLN 749 (per pair)

Manufacturer: JBL Professional

www.jblpro.com

Distribution: ESS Audio