JBL’s VTX M Series is a new line of premium low-profile stage monitoring products.

The M Series uses JBL’s Neodymium Differential Drive woofers and D2 Dual The line comprises the VTX M20 and VTX M22. The M20 features dual 10-inch woofers and a 3-inch D2 compression driver, while the VTX M22 features dual 12-inch woofers in addition to the 3-inch D2 compression driver.

The high-frequency section uses the proven D2430 Dual 3-inch compression driver (found in JBL’s large-format VTX V25-II Line Array)coupled with a newly developed 60° x 60° waveguide tailored for stage monitoring applications. The waveguide is based on JBL’s Image Control Waveguide, originally developed for the JBL M2 Master Reference studio monitor. Coupled with the D2 Driver, it delivers a coverage pattern that is spatially consistent, allowing excellent gain before feedback.

The woofers in the VTX M Series use JBL’s Differential Drive technology, allowing for excellent heat dissipation, low distortion and very high output. These Differential Drive Neodymium woofers feature dual 3-inch voice coils, more than doubling the voice coil area of traditional designs. One of the best features of this design is the unusually low weight, which make the M Series monitors some of the most lightweight in their class; nearly half the weight of some competitors. 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 50Hz with minimal port turbulence and noise.

The M Series offers Single-Channel (passive) and Dual-Channel (bi-amp) operating modes that can be set via the easily accessible selection switches. This significantly reduces the cost per mix, allowing M Series to apply to a much broader audience. When switched to Single-Channel mode, an internal passive network is engaged that allows users to drive M Series monitors with a single amplifier channel, reducing overall amplifier requirements. Unlike typical passively driven monitors, 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 linearisation 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 speaker preset while only using one amplifier channel. The frequency, phase response and max output of the M Series is identical in both modes.

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

‘The M Series is the first dedicated tour sound stage monitoring line in JBL’s VTX family of products,’ says George Georgallis, Product Manager of Tour Sound Amps, Speakers, & DSP. ‘Our goal 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, we blended the best of JBL’s proven technologies with 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.’