I currently am running a set of JBL MRX515 with MRX 518 subs. I am looking for a little more bottom end and drive out of my current system. I was looking at upgrading (if it is an upgrade) to the Yorkville Elite series Sats and getting the LS1208 subs. Has anyone had any experience with these? Would I be better off getting a set of the JBL MRX528? I have been told by many folks that the Yorkville Elite speakers are awesome. My band is not a rock n roll band so I dont need to be thumping the world
But we are a polka band on steroids and we can play some pretty large venues. Thoughts
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JBL MRX or Yorkville Elite
- Thread starter AusExp
- Start date
I would take the Yorkie's in that mixup. The JBL's are a nice mid-range offerning, but have never done much for me. Yorkville's Elite series stack up well against IMO, being closer to JBL SRX and EV QRX as upper-end cabinets for working bands/musicians/weekend warrior types.
We love the 1208s. They get louder and stay cleaner with less power than the MRXs. You will need to upgrade your amp if you get the MRX528s if you want to get them rocking. The 1208s might be happy with what you have now, although the plx 3602 and its the perfect fit. We have done 800-1000 people indoor shows with 2 center clustered yorkies. Clean and loud for our alt rock/top 40 cover band.
Moving them is a breeze. We use a trailer and ramp, but step ups and stairs are easy with 2 people. One person can handle the whole thing if the wheels never have to leave the ground. perfect handle placement, and the carpet holds up. We got ours for $1950 local.
Sendom do JBL and Yorkville share the same sales floor, but all 5 of us went to audition both that day, and we all chose the yorkies.
Wes
Moving them is a breeze. We use a trailer and ramp, but step ups and stairs are easy with 2 people. One person can handle the whole thing if the wheels never have to leave the ground. perfect handle placement, and the carpet holds up. We got ours for $1950 local.
Sendom do JBL and Yorkville share the same sales floor, but all 5 of us went to audition both that day, and we all chose the yorkies.
Wes
I would take a Yorkville Elite series cab any day of the week over a JBL MRX series..
However...if moving cabinets that have a lot of weight is a issue, the Elite series is not for you and the MRX series would be a better fit.
But for sound quality...I feel the Elite series trumps the MRX with ease.
I own a bunch of Yorkville Elite & TX series PA cabinets, great build quality, great drivers, great sound....but weigh a F'n ton!
However...if moving cabinets that have a lot of weight is a issue, the Elite series is not for you and the MRX series would be a better fit.
But for sound quality...I feel the Elite series trumps the MRX with ease.
I own a bunch of Yorkville Elite & TX series PA cabinets, great build quality, great drivers, great sound....but weigh a F'n ton!
With the built in dolly, moving the 1208s seems fine. No dolly on the lighter mrx528, but its still a big box to not have wheels. Our 130 pound soundman has no issues. Just try it and see what think I guess.
Wes
Wes
I also put a 5" pole cup in the top of the 1208s and use the poles out of our speaker stands to hold our smaller mains. We eventually upgraded to bigger mains that do not need pole mounting, but the option is there if we need it. You cant always cluster subs this large, so we like to have mounting options.
Wes
Wes
QSCs are great as well if you dont have the amps and processing already.
Id keep you smaller JBLs for small shows if you can swing it.
edit: Ok, I said keep the JBLs, but I have some Mpro418's, which are the generation before yours, and we never use them anymore. We used them once on an acoustic show. Any show where they fit, the 1208s can work. They are taller, but just a little deeper. It's nice to have them around, but if you can get some real cash out of them, go for it. The JBL drivers are where all the resale value is on those. You should be able to get some real money out of them.
Wes
Id keep you smaller JBLs for small shows if you can swing it.
edit: Ok, I said keep the JBLs, but I have some Mpro418's, which are the generation before yours, and we never use them anymore. We used them once on an acoustic show. Any show where they fit, the 1208s can work. They are taller, but just a little deeper. It's nice to have them around, but if you can get some real cash out of them, go for it. The JBL drivers are where all the resale value is on those. You should be able to get some real money out of them.
Wes
Well, I am familiar with the 608 (passive) model, and they sounded decent for live music. It's this quasi-horn loaded design that is punchy, but doesn't extend that low. I liked my Mpro418s better. The box is very small, and it's not a real horn like the 1208 is. Its really just a flared port as far as Im concerned. I believe the 808 is the same driver in a slightly bigger box. The LS808 is the passive version, and I believe the LS801P is the powered version.
The 1208 will crush any front loaded ported cab with the same watts. It's a small fridge. It gets its efficiency and extension from that 10ft horn. I'm still suggesting the 1208 for the money. Listen to them side by side.
The only Unity cab I liked about as much sonically as the 1208was the Elite LS2104. Smaller, heavier, more money, and it needs more watts.
Wes
The 1208 will crush any front loaded ported cab with the same watts. It's a small fridge. It gets its efficiency and extension from that 10ft horn. I'm still suggesting the 1208 for the money. Listen to them side by side.
The only Unity cab I liked about as much sonically as the 1208was the Elite LS2104. Smaller, heavier, more money, and it needs more watts.
Wes
Yes...the LS808 has a much better output then the MRX518s.
The 808 is a completely different animal then the LS608 (I have owned both)
The 808 hits harder, goes lower then the 608 ever will.
For a single 18 sub the 808 is hard to beat in it's price range, it will not go as low as the 1208 but you might actually prefer the performance of the 808 better especially in your typical bar/club setup.
I find the front loaded sub is more punchier then the horn enclosure of the 1208.
I guess I never really answered your question. Since you have the JBL already, I don't think the loss in money of the JBLs vs replacing them with another similar new single driver ported enclosure is really worth the cash loss. If someone was trading you cab for cab, maybe. Those 808s are bigger than the JBLs, just not 2x as big, like the 1208s. You still have to move them from point A to point B, and you will want a cart, and/or a buddy. Most of the time, the 1208s are a 1 man job since we have a trailer and a ramp. If you don't have a trailer and a ramp, then it complicates things a little.
Wes
Wes
Have you tried sourcing another set of MRX518s as an option to louder bass while keeping modularity? If nothing else, it's cheaper, if you have the poweramp to run them. We originally were going to go that route, but our Mpro418s were already discontinued and hard to find for a good price. We borrowed a set before though, so we knew what they would do. We are still glad we went with the 1208s as an alternative, but we spent more on new cabs than we would with used JBLs. Just a thought.
Wes
Wes
Don't forget the MRX518 is a 4ohm box, so if you are going with (2) cabs per side on a amplifier make sure it is 2ohm stable..
The MRX's are really nice if you want a nice full sound, but they lack the punch of a true sub. I am currently using 2 Crown SLX2500 (bridged mono) amplifiers for my subs and 1 2500 for my sat's. Ive thought about getting a second set, but I am not sure that will give me the punch either. Size and weight is a bit of a concern also. One of the reasons why I am asking about the 808 is my dealer had a pair of used 808's come in on trade and would probably trade me even up on my MRX's.
