Comments about JBL PRX635 15" 3-Way Active Speaker System (Each):

This is an update to a review I wrote a few months after I bought my first pair of these.

I have 4 of these speakers. The first one failed after about 8 months from new and 11 uses (about 3 hours each time.) A whole range of upper frequency went out and there was a significant volume drop. JBL fixed or replaced the electronics. Now some 14 months away from new a second one has failed. They did not go dead as some here reported - just lost frequencies.

These sound incredible. I don't know if I got a couple lemons, but I am very unhappy. If I had it to do over I would probably bought JBL passive speakers. More hassle, but probably more reliable.

Comments about JBL PRX635 15" 3-Way Active Speaker System (Each):

Using as a keyboard amp. Needs 1.5" diameter speaker stand (or collar adapter) as does not have locking mechanism to tighten on smaller pole. Holds in place by friction.

Comments about JBL PRX635 15" 3-Way Active Speaker System (Each):

I directed a school in search of really great sound for less money than the VRX system to purchase a PRX system comprised of one PRX18S-XLF and two PRX635 cabinets.

Of the two we were originally shipped, one was damaged in shipping (hardly the product's fault) and the other was D.O.A. I assumed it, too, was damaged in shipping. They were returned and exchanged for two new units.

The new 635s arrived and I "ran them in" using continuous music at a moderate level over the course of a weekend, non-stop, hoping that any defect would show itself quickly. The system showed no signs of a problem.

They were turned off and left unplugged, in a locked area, for a week or so.

When we began rehearsing a band, on the second night, one just quit. The band was at a modest level (backing a choir; far quieter than my initial "run-in") and nothing "happened" like a power spike or someone plugging an instrument hot, or any other mishap. It was playing, and then it wasn't. The fuse was fine, the power cord was fine, the input was fine... something just quit. There was no "operator error" or accident or abuse of any sort. Nobody "DJed" them to death or "impressed the neighbors" or dropped them, or even touched them roughly. The amps were barely even warm.

Considering that this was the second pair with a second unexplained death, and we need to be able to rely on these to work week after week for competitions, the powers that be decided to return the speakers for a refund and get something, anything else even if it doesn't sound as good.

It won't.

The reason I give these a rating of two instead of a zero is because they sound unbelievably good for a PA system when they are playing. No, really. They sound fantastic. They sound almost as good as a reasonably mid-high-end home audio setup and play without obvious distortion at a high volume without ever engaging the limiters. They can fill a 700 seat auditorium to a comfortable level without breathing hard. They could probably run people out of that auditorium if pushed. I'm over 50. I didn't push.

The addition of the PRX18S-XLF just opened them up unbelievably. I would recommend that setup for anyone who wants something really great sounding who can afford to keep a spare pair of 635s for backup... so one pair could be in shipping being reapaired or replaced while you use the other pair.

It's a gross, sick, sick shame that the Crown amps seem problematic. It's such an injustice to what is otherwise one of the best sounding portable PA speakers I've ever heard.
These have a limiter that I assume works (I never hit their limits). The input sensitivity switch might be nice if you need it, but caused me more anxiety than I think the feature is worth and is very-hard to see what position it is in. The pass-through is great for an active system. The weight is great for a speaker this size. The carrying handles are very well thought-out and make lifting the speaker easier than you would think possible for a 60lb speaker. Just the handles deserve an 11 on a scale of 1-10.

It's a shame, but all of that means nothing if they don't work.
The cabinet build seems very nice... if you want to admire the cabinetry.
They would be maybe *the* bargain in P.A. equipment if they were reliable.

Comments about JBL PRX635 15" 3-Way Active Speaker System (Each):

Don't take a chance on this loudspeaker. It will disappoint you and you may suffer financial loss once it is out of warranty and when the speakers fail during a gig. If you bring these JBL units to a gig, make sure you have a back up PA system.
I recently wrote raving reviews about the JBL PRX635 but I have to pull that review since this once superseeds what I previously wrote. I have my JBL's for under 45 days. I used them once and the worked beautifully on New Year's Eve. Lucky for me, they didn't fail at that important gig and waited to fail when I set them up in my home when both internal amplifiers shut down (powered down) after stiking a low note at a low volume. They never recovered. After reading other reviews, I found that the crown amps that they are putting into the JBL units are defective. I had to decline an exchange due to the JBL product being totally unreliable. I cannot afford to disappoint the audiences where I perform. The speakers are attractive, sound great and are lightweight with great power (when the power works) but they are unreliable. To all my fellow DJ's and live acts: Don't take the risk with these units unless you have a backup PA system handy.
Crown Amplifiers are not a good choice for this speaker
Lightweight and good price but unreliable

Comments about JBL PRX635 15" 3-Way Active Speaker System (Each):

Can't say Im happy with the reliability, but the sound is excellent, what Im used to hearing from top equipment. Smooth and loud, not earsplitting or harsh like say a K12.
Great sound, light weight, good looks.
The first pair had the midrange speakers blow out on me after the third show with them.They have DSP limiters built-in, and I had the limiters engaged on my mixer outputs too. I researched replacement drivers and there are 100watt eminence alphalite 6A-CBMR driver in there, re-labeled JBL! Really didnt push them that hard, then heard a flapping sound. Bass player went out of the line out of an Ampeg rig into the board, and our levels were good. Who knows...but I
returned them for a second pair, we shall see....!
Great value, but they need to be reliable.

Comments about JBL PRX635 15" 3-Way Active Speaker System (Each):

I am very surprised with the 2 preceding reviews. I bought a pair of these a few months ago along with a pair of PRX718s subs and am quite pleased.Prior to my purchase I extensively read reviews on the PRX635. I am primarily interested in actual user reviews. I found a lot of helpful information at Harmony Central. Honestly, I didn't read anything that was a negative review until reading these reviews here at MF. Obviously these guys did not have very good luck, but I have not heard anyone else talk about early on failure.I am personally VERY pleased with every aspect of these speakers. I have not had any problems. They are overbuilt and have built in limiters as well. Using a small amount of common sense, you should not be able to blow these. I get compliments from the bands and their fans.They run very efficiently - they sound great at low volume and don't take much juice to run them. the amps do get pretty warm to touch, but I haven't seen many amps that don't! The amazing thing about the amps is that they weigh a fraction of what older ones do, and sound just as good. That combined with a whole new speaker design, this 1500 watt box weighs just 60 pounds and is easy enough for one person to handle.JBL discontinued the PRX718s subs and replaced them with (in my opinion) less well equipped PRX618s and PRX618s-XLF. Both of the new subs lack the fantastic range of the 718s. The 718s are 700/1400 watts, the PRX618s is 600 watts and the PRX618s-XLF is 1000 watts. I have been fortunate to have found another set of PRX718s that I am picking up this weekend and will be buying another set of the PRX635 when they go on sale.This combination is easy to set up - the crossover works perfectly in my opinion, and I was able to get rid of my rackmount.I am sorry to hear the trouble the other two reviewers had, but my experience has been the opposite. I love these things!

Comments about JBL PRX635 15" 3-Way Active Speaker System (Each):

Used two of these JBL 635 with 2 eon 515 as out fills Due to the width of the tent for 4 straight days for a large church convention over 10,000 persons in attendance, these speakers shined, they are very loud, they sound great, they are lightweight, you can't go wrong with these,got a lot of compliments on the sound quality and the looks of these speakers I'm in love with them.

Comments about JBL PRX635 15" 3-Way Active Speaker System (Each):

Researched these as well as the QSC KW153's, and the Mackie HD1531's, and decided to go with JBL because of the weight, price, among other things. Well, I've had the EON 515's for over a year and never had an issue (100+ gigs). I got these in and the first gig a few hours in one went out on me and never came back on accompanied by a burning smell, which was probably a fuse or amp. I probably had them on at 6 out of 10, maybe 7. All my gains were set properly, and I wasn't pushing the speaker at all. The heat sinks run extremely hot, so hot you can't keep your fingers on them for more than a few seconds, which according to JBL pro is "normal." Sent it back waiting for another. I am very nervous though, I didn't want to write a bad review thinking I may have just received a bad unit. Now though it seems like there might be more to it. Wondering if I should send them back and pony up for the QSC's or go back to smaller tops and take my sub everywhere with me (PRX718s). I will say the fear of losing 1 or 2 speakers out live for an event is not worth a dime saved. Especially something like a wedding, New Years Party, etc. They have one more chance, if something happens to either one of these, they're both going back.

Comments about JBL PRX635 15" 3-Way Active Speaker System (Each):

I bought a pair of these speakers.. and initially was very pleased. The sound quality is pretty decent.. the price is great.. and they only weigh 60lbs. In theory.. these speakers are a dream come true.However, about a week into using these speakers.. I noticed a cracking/buzzing sound in one of the speakers with certain low end frequencies. I shipped the defective speaker back and got a replacement. On the very first gig with the replacement speaker... the amp died only 5 songs into the night. The following day.. I shipped the dead speaker back and got another replacement speaker.About a week later... the other speaker (the one that didn't have prior issues) died. Again.. the power amp just shut off and never came back on. Three strikes and you're out!!!I returned the JBLs for a refund and went back to QSC. Before buying these JBL speakers.. I used the QSC HPR153 speakers for 4 years with NO ISSUES EVER. They sounded great.. but were very heavy to lug around 3-4 nights per week.I'm now using the QSC KW153 speakers. Tho I've only had them for a few weeks, they sound great.. and I haven't had any issues. My prior experience with QSC was so good that I have no doubt these speakers will last for years to come.Bottom line... stay away from the JBL speakers. Perhaps I just got a few duds.. but for a working musician.. the risk is not worth the reward. These speakers are NOT reliable.