GEAR REVIEW: JH Audio JH16 Monitors
From our friend Larry Hall. Video posting later tonight...
JH Audio JH-16 Custom In-Ear Monitors
By Larry Hall
Sometimes everything just clicks. Even for a hypocrite like me.
As the owner of a sound company I often try to convince my clients that in-ears are the way to go. As a musician I have fought this tooth and nail... Until a recent opportunity changed my mind.
I can argue both sides of this debate all day long, the sound guy in me says "lets run all ears, have no wedges ,no stage volume" The musician in me says "No way, dude, I need to FEEL it and where will I put my foot during my rock god guitar solo if I don't have a wedge? NO WAY!"
I have had a few reservations musically after using some "entry-level" universal fit personal monitors. In-ears distort. They are not loud enough. Not enough low end. What if I get a monitor guy who rails it and hurts me? What about all of that distortion right in my ear? At least with a wedge I stand a chance of running away or covering my ears!
A few years ago I did a rental gig for Foreigner. I watched Lou Gramm take a huge spike of something in his in-ears during sound check from his monitor guy. Scared the crap out of me he screamed so loud.
Anyway, back to the recent opportunity....
I was asked to offer a perspective as the sound guy and as a guitar player/vocalist for JH Audio JH16s. So I figure, why not? I goy my hearing tested, got the molds done and a few days later they showed up. For the first few days I used them as my glorified IPOD "headphones." I must confess, I was kinda blown away by the quaility,volume and frequency range. In fact I brought them in to the shop for a sweep test and could not believe how low they played. Most of the complaints I hear about in-ears is the inability to recreate good low end. Not these, the JH16s have buckets of bass... At least with an IPOD.
So now it's time to put them to a real test. I had rehearsals starting up with my band-- a LOUD rock band. I asked Brittany Harvey of JH Audio to make a set for my drummer and keyboard player as well. I figure let's get the guy who needs a drum sub and a guy playing 88 keys involved. More molds done and a few days later more JH16s show up.
Both guys are full-time musicians. So they where able to gig right away with theirs.
Chas Stumbo, the drummer who has played with Earshot (No really,no pun) and Lynch Mob and me ( :) Lucky him..) told me he no longer needs a butt thumper or drum sub! And Is blown away by the perfect fit and seal he gets in his ears. This being his 3rd set of ears and first from JH Audio. After just a few gigs he swore he won't use anything else.
Eddie Fluellen, the keyboard player, played with Motown R&B Group Switch. He is a little deaf. (He is a musician so he won't see this:) ) Says for the first time using in-ears he ALWAYS has what he needs--crispy clean highs and a ton of low end.
I started using mine in rehearsals first with the idea on picking them apart from an engineer standpoint, second as a jerk musician that hates everything. I built a good mix pretty quick without wasting a lot of time with EQ. So that was cool, but what was better was after 3 hours I didn't have the ear fatigue I normally had from wedges,drums and my guitar blasting in my face.
After the gig? I cant really believe I waited this long to get them! Move me into the 21st century!
Built for the road? They have a Kevlar covered wire cable, coated with some heavy-duty plastic and come in a cool case that you literally can drive a car over. So, yup.
Customer Service? Chas had his stolen from his car outside of Guitar Center in Las Vegas, along with a a couple of snare drums. I called Brittany late that night. She answered. (You read that right. She answered her phone at night) and three business days later, a replacement set showed up. Enough said.
Never heard of JH Audio? Jerry Harvey. Enough said. Still dont know? Google him.
Bottom line? If you are a PA provider, and you have clients renting your ears, if you don't make them buy JH Audio JH16s, you're selling them half the system. If you're a musician in the market for some sort of monitor, buy these. If you cant afford them, wait a little while longer. They are worth the wait.
GEAR PORN--From Jerry Harvey
There are 8 drivers in the 16 per earIt is a 3-way IEM4 low, 2 mid and 2 hi drivers10hz to 20k-26db of isolation$1149 retail.
Comment
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Comment by Brittany Harvey on June 8, 2011 at 7:52am -
Hello,
This is Brittany from JH Audio. We offer many different models at different price points. You are more than welcome to email me wit any questions.
Brittany@jhaudio.com
Thank you,
Brittany
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Comment by Larry Hall Jr on June 7, 2011 at 4:19pm -
Here is a link to the website and to Brittany Harveys email :) She will help you with all models and prices.
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Comment by james cech on June 7, 2011 at 3:59pm -
does JH offer any other modles other then the JH-16's
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Comment by Don Lanier on June 2, 2011 at 8:09pm -
Jerry Harvey dont make no Bunk, his stuff is as good as anyones Best, great tone and fit and dependable...
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