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Debut Of New JBL Professional VTX M Series Stage Monitors

New VTX M20 and VTX M22 both utilize JBL's Neodymium Differential Drive woofers and D2 Dual Diaphragm HF drivers

At NAMM 2016, the Harman Professional Solutions Tour Audio Division debuted the JBL Professional VTX M Series, a new line of stage monitoring products that are shipping now.

The low-profile M Series utilizes JBL’s Neodymium Differential Drive woofers and D2 Dual Diaphragm high-frequency drivers, along with a new high-frequency Image Control Waveguide for a high degree of control and gain before feedback.

The new line is comprised of two models – the VTX M20 and VTX M22. The M20 has dual 10-inch woofers and a 3-inch D2 compression driver, while the VTX M22 offers dual 12-inch woofers in addition to the 3-inch D2 compression driver.

“The M Series is the first dedicated tour sound stage monitoring line in JBL’s VTX family of products,” says George Georgallis, product manager, Tour Sound Amps, Speakers & DSP. “Our goal when we started developing M Series was to create the best stage monitor products available. Working with some of the best monitor engineers in the industry, we came up with performance targets that would address their needs and overcome shortcomings of other monitoring solutions.

“To achieve our ambitious targets,” he continues, “we blended the best of JBL’s proven technologies with several new components that were developed from scratch specifically for these monitors. As a result, these premium stage monitoring products are ready for the most demanding, highest output applications, and can compete with anything in the market today.”

The M Series high-frequency section utilizes the D2430 dual 3-inch compression driver, which is also found in JBL’s large-format VTX V25-II line array system. The D2 driver is coupled with a newly developed 60 x 60 degree high frequency waveguide that has a unique shape, specifically tailored to M Series for stage monitoring applications.

The new waveguide is based on JBL’s Image Control Waveguide, a technology originally developed for the M2 Master Reference studio monitor. Coupled with the D2 Driver, it delivers a coverage pattern that is spatially consistent.

The woofers in the VTX M Series utilize Differential Drive technology, allowing for good heat dissipation, low distortion and high output. The woofers have dual 3-inch voice coils. The two woofers are supported by a bass-reflex enclosure with a large low-frequency port, enabling the system to reproduce low frequencies down to 50 Hz with minimal port turbulence and noise.

The M Series allows for both dual-channel (bi-amp) and single-channel (passive) operating modes that can be set via the accessible selection switches. When switched to single-channel (passive) mode, an internal passive network is engaged that allows users to drive M Series monitors with a single amplifier channel, reducing overall amplifier requirements.

The M Series splits the speaker preset responsibilities between the amplifier DSP and the internal passive network. The external DSP is responsible for frequency response correction, phase response linearization and component protection, while the internal network is only responsible for the component high-pass and low-pass filters. The combination of the internal and external processing recreates a typical bi-amplified loudspeaker preset while only using one amplifier channel.

The frequency response, phase response ,and MAX output of the M Series is identical in both the single-channel (passive) and dual-channel (bi-amp) modes.

The M Series is powered by Crown iTech HD DSP-based amplifiers. In single-channel mode, a single Crown 4x3500HD amplifier can power up to eight M Series monitors (in four independent monitor mixes), creating a compact monitoring system with value.

JBL Professional
Harman Professional

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dBTechnologies is an Italian-based speaker manufacturer, leading in the Touring & Live sound market by providing innovative audio solutions. Their flagship ViO series is made up of an entirely active/self-powered series of loudspeakers. The dBT lineup also includes passive loudspeakers, software, and amplifiers, all delivering uncompromising performance. dBTechnologies speakers headline some of the largest festivals and concerts worldwide, setting standards in both Live and Installation markets.