Feature:
Who wants accessories when setting up a PA, usually you get one of two things, lots of headaches setting up a big PA system. Or, you get too small of a PA that really won't cover the place like you want. This system does not need anything between it and the board. I in fact went a bought a driverack and after listening to the DR in and out, I took it back to the store. The auto EQ in the speakers mystifies me in a good way. Be careful of the line in and out button, seems like overkill, but thanks for the protection. The selection of components is a match made in Heaven, I've been a rocker for way too long to pass up the combo of Crown and JBL, it's like Bogie and Bacall.
Quality:
Being a quality manager I know a little about quality, the thing to remember that if you get your speakers and they don't work, then chances are you have bought something from a company that does not have a quality system, in my case, the speakers are perfect!!!
Value:
Value, well you get what you pay for. I have a pair of Bheringer monitors, reasonable quality but light years away from the the likes of Crown and JBL. THey are actually cheaper than Mackie, and about the same as QSC. Peavey is cheaper but does not sound as good, I own many Peavey products so I know.
Desirability:
I would love to have a bank of 8 535s on each side of the stage, that would eliminate the need for any lower end help. At low to mid volumes you don't need it.
Sex appeal, I play with some very experienced musicians and they all want to take them home with them. This is piece of gear I will never be without.
Sound:
Simply put this system is complete with a catch. IF you match it with the 518 subs be prepared use the 535s at half volume. Now for me that is ok our group won't blow your doors off. I have talked to everyone at crown/JBL/Dannon they all say the same thing, buy another pair of subs. That is easy for them to say. The subs are underpowered compared to the tops. I should have known the 1 to 4 ratio is not present here, the sub actually needs to be about 3 times more powerful. After talking to California JBL, they seem to want to lead me away from talking that they two were to be bought together. In any case the accuracy of the tops will be beaten by no one.
Ease of Use:
When using the 535s you don't really need to know what you are doing. The systems is so simple that it makes you forget Crossovers, Racks, power Amps, chords, connectors, and my favorite winding chords. After 4 hours of rockin your *** off the most fun is winding chords. This system would be easy to use with other speakers, using the back panel cross over options lets you daisy chain other speaker brands or send to another power amp.
Support:
Support is a little dicey, I tend not only read the PDf files on my equipment, if fact I knew way more than the hot line help about my issue with the subs not matching the uppers. But that was my fault I should have looked at the power output of each unit, and done the math myself. I think they need to use real sound engineers to talk to the folks, but head count these days is more of wishful thinking.
Overall:
The 535s I would replace if something happened to them. The 518s I may replace with a design of my own, of course it would carry a bit more power. Right now the tops are all I need for what I am doing solo with my Acoustic only, bit of overkill but I love these two speakers making me sound the best I can.
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