Array Audio Comparison with Electro Voice Evolve 50 and RCF EVOX J8

John Young does a sound demonstration comparing the Electro Voice Evolve 50 with the RCF Audio EVOX J8 array sound systems. Each speaker plays two tracks and you can compare side by side. The audio is being captured by a high end boom microphone and both speakers were hitting 90 db on the blue meter on the stool. All settings were flat and the audio was not altered in any way for this video.
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www.rcfUSA.com
Arrary Audio Comparison with Electro Voice Evolve 50 and RCF EVOX J8 #ElectroVoice #RCFAudio | DJ News

[@djrez2107]

i chose the RCF due to the fact i can swivel the head if needed, sometimes people are seated to the extreme LEFT OR RIGHT and i need to aim the speaker for better sound. Also helps tame feedback if someone is standing dead center in front of speaker. Also ive done gigs on party boats and the adjustable height is a must.

[@telefan2]

Just turn the whole speaker, bass is not directional so it doesn’t matter 👍

[@13bcoffee]

I have owned and played on both. To me both are game changers especially for wedding DJs. Compared to traditional speakers the advantages are that they are much easier to transport and setup. They also look neater. I also have found out that they disperse the sound out more evenly. The traditional setup advantage is that they can put out more in your face loud sound. The J8 comes in at a much better price point and there is a reason for that. And yes it's fair to compare it to the Evolve because they both feature a 12 inch woofer. In addition to the lower price, I found the J8 to be more rugged and reliable. As far as sound is concerned they both sound good. I will give the Evolve the edge on the high end. I also think that the wood cabinet gives warmer bass than the J8. The Evolve also features 4 music modes in it's DSP. That could come in handy. The Evolve also has Bluetooth. A big selling point is that the Evolve has a mixer. You can mix a mic, line in and aux in together. You can feature a singer or do karaoke. You need an external mixer to do that with the J8. An alternative for RCF fans is to get the JMIX8. This baby features a built in mixer for 4 mics, line in and aux in. It's priced much closer to the Evolve.

[@โมรู้โลกรู้usa]

so much help me to buy!! I was looking between both of them and I know what I like now!!!! Italy !!!

[@kellyaustin7487]

Bang per buck the rcf all day, no brainer! Thanks for sharing.

[@LeidianeRezendeOficial]

Evolve 50 disparadamente o melhor. Obrigada pelo teste. Me ajudou a decidir!!!!

[@jezamania]

Thanks. The EV Evolve 50 has a fuller sound but the RCF Evox J8 sound is more detailed and cleaner sound, particulary noticeable in the instrumental piece of music. I think the EV Evolve 50 would be good for dance floor/ party music and the RCF Evox J8 better for a solo vocalist/ guitar imho.

[@iambobby3537]

I do not own either but plan on buying something soon. But just on looks, I like the Evolve. It would be nice if those like RCF made the pole look better. There is a reason I would scrim my current speakers, the stand. just make them a little more sexier OR come up with an insert to cover the pole.

[@chrisrowley5288]

In my opinion in this test the EV system sounds better. However if an RCF Jmix8 had been used instead of the basic J8 the output mastering controls in the mixer could have been used to boost the EQ and compression at the low levels the systems are being run. That would be a more useful comparison as the EV Evove 50 obviously has more tonal control than the basic J8.

[@SCOUSERONTOUR11]

Thank you for your time producing and posting this comparison. Here in the UK the Evolve is pretty much twice the price of the Evox! The Evolve has the mixer plus more drivers which will help with dispersion. Sound wise, the Evolve does sound 'better' but whether it is twice as good as the Evox is debatable. I was listening on a good pair of AKG headphones. Not a deal-breaker but it did sound like a different mix was presented to one unit compared to the other; maybe the the Left signal of a L/ R signal was used for one unit and the Right of a L/R signal was used for the other? I already use a neat RCF sub and 2 top system. However, looking at this comparison, I am gonna get a single J8 or those smaller gigs. Thanks again.

[@rudyv6]

good comparison but if your looking for low end with more mids and highs look no further for thee RCF-EVOX-12 WITH 15INCH WOOFER and 8x- 4inch mids with highs for an amazing sound...

[@elitepartypro8133]

Well obviously the 12 is going to sound better. It’s bigger and much more expensive. The point of this test, was to compare the two that are similar in size and price point.

[@philmagnotta5553]

rcf does not have frequency dip/hole,,,rather the EV have a frequency gain in the mid. Also did you have the EV's set to flat?

[@timwilson9972]

I have the evox 8 & I've failed to clip them on any event that I have done. I've done outside events with great coverage, the evolve 50 clips pretty easy.

[@Dark0ne2099]

I've yet to clip my jmix8 and I've used it outside for a 100+ ppl wedding dance floor with a 4 piece band.

[@eduardovelazquezjr6510]

@@Dark0ne2099how do you like the jmix 8? Do you use the mixer from RCF? If so how do you like it? Or are you connecting a external mixer?

[@Dark0ne2099]

@@eduardovelazquezjr6510 I didn't really like it. I'm sure it was my mistake but I could never get the sound I wanted out of it. I used it for around 6.months and then I bought a bose l1 pro 16 and never looked back. Set and forget every time

[@eduardovelazquezjr6510]

@@Dark0ne2099thanks for the reply. Makes me feel better about the deal I got on a Evolve 50. Also I’ve heard the app is much easier to use on the evolve than the RCF

[@Dark0ne2099]

@@eduardovelazquezjr6510 I think the jmix8 just feels slightly fated in comparison with the stuff that's out now from ev/bose/Db..

[@DJShaunLouis]

Being candid - how do you impartially do a "product comparison" which includes a product that is obviously sponsored for by your channel?

[@awesometownmatt9349]

By giving a sound comparison and letting the viewers decided which is better

[@byronholman9228]

Great Sound Test

[@erikamunozmusic]

I think the RCF sounded better on the first track...

[@Torino2006]

I have been using Evox 8 wood cabinet for years now.Wonderful unit .Just bought the Evox 8 Jmix.The original has slightly crisper highs and tighter bass response.The Jmix has to be turned up a hair higher to match the original.With EQ I tweaked them ,cranked them up and they sound fantastic.To a crowd of party people there is NO WAY anyone could tell the difference. Only other DJ’s or hi-fi aficionados.With these I put a slim par on one and a special effect light on the other and I am good to go.Set up ,portability,versatility plus I use just the Jmix and a laptop for quick in & out 1 hour gigs.I am totally satisfied with this system.

[@OKthatsG00d]

How do you mount your lights on top of the J8s? Sounds like a great idea

[@FrankieSandsEntertainer]

The Evolve 50 has a fuller sound for several reasons. 1) some of the specs on the speaker cited here are inaccurate. Both have a 12 inch subwoofer, the The J8 has eight, 2 inch drivers in the array whereas the Evolve 50 has eight 3.5 inch drivers in the array not 2.5 as the narrator states. Further, the J8 has 90 degrees of horizontal coverage whereas the Evolve 50 has 120 degrees of horizontal coverage. This was important to me because one of the selling points of line arrays to begin with was greater horizontal coverage. For a solo/ musician singer, the J8 might be a better choice / price point, but if you are playing with a band, the larger drivers and wider coverage area makes a difference. The wattage is greater on the J8 (1400 peak bs 1000 peak ) but this is really irrelevant since you don’t listen to wattage you listen to SPL levels. Both speakers are at 128dB max spl vs 127dB max spl. I use my evolve 50s for the trio that backs me on a regular basis and I recently use them in a concert where I was backed by six piece band and the evolved 50s were great. Prior to this I owned a pair of K Array KB 1 line arrays. They too had a 12 inch subwoofer and eight 3 inch drivers, not three and a half. The had a very clean sound, but they were a little more "tinny" than the evolve 50's. I feel the same way about the J8. The RCF Evoke 12 would no doubt have a fuller sound, but the price point advantage over the Ev would vanish. The Evoke 12's are almost $1000 more than the Evolve 50 and I don't think they are $1000 better.

[@RustyShackleford-pf3lz]

Evolve offers 4 DSP settings affecting the EQ - all of them boost the high mids and lows fairly aggressively. RCF offers a pretty flat frequency response which should more accurately reflect what’s going into the speaker. At first, I was fooled by this comparison thinking the Evolve is brighter. While it sounds brighter, its the result of DSP. And, its not clear which setting was selected on the EV during the demo. I suspect, RCF is capable of similar frequency response if EQ’d as aggressively as the Evolve 50. Both systems sound great, just understand why each sounds the way it does.

[@Dark0ne2099]

I have the jmix and the possibilities are endless, there's several different compressor presets and levels per channel plus a master compressor (while I don't use it unless having a guest singer without their own gear). There's also per channel eq and master eq, Bluetooth, you name it. I'm very happy with it and possibly getting another one soon, if I don't find anything better at the same price range. This comparison is what it is, raw sound. The swivel head is what made the deal for me.

[@partyloudevents7947]

Does anyone know if EV is going to make a longer pole for the Evolve?I mean they have already mad a shorter one (like 6-8 inches) that sits the top almost directly on top of the 12 box. I like the evolve but I would want a pole that is at least 12 inches taller than the current main pole. Or maybe a female to male connection that will add another foot to the pole. As DJ who would be sitting this unit on the floor next to my table, i know the current pole puts the top right within ear shot of most almost anyone that would walk past it at an event.

[@discjockeynews]

I am 6 ft 1 in tall.. The top of the Evolve is over 7 foot tall. The ceiling height of the room of this video is 9.5 feet tall..

[@partyloudevents7947]

So is that a no? #HeightBuddies!

[@discjockeynews]

that is correct.. I do not know of anything longer from EV..

[@rudeboyhansley8612]

Hi guys i'm planning to buy a pair of rcf j8.... Any advise would be the most welcome....

[@johntalbott423]

If you do weddings I'd HIGHLY recommend getting the J8 in white. People at weddings love the clean look and if you place a PAR on the floor in front of the speaker is looks absolutely beautiful. Also, don't get the RCF covers. Tuki makes a far better cover than the RCF ones.

[@ramonvaldez8050]

Which one more bass?

[@Thod24]

Thank you for the video. I'm in the market for two line array PA's and the RCF EVOX J8 and the Jmix8 are in first place at this time. I would be interested in hearing a RCF Jmix 8 setup with a J8 to create a two speaker system that can be eq'd to produce better sound. I know i'm late to the party, but if anybody has experience with this setup, I'd love to hear your opinion.

[@dj2gotv]

Sure the Ev as a better performance. But with the price of 1 EV you can buy 2 RCF. Does 1 EV sound better than 2 RCF? Imagine 2 EV vs 4 RCF

[@alexmarianoribeiro]

Don't be anxious. RCF works in a big distance well as near. In a weeding with a lot of people dancing its show us why it's RCF. Dispersion with the drivers, faithful medium frequency and deep bass are the secret. Above all when we need power in the middle of the night

[@DjDre-61]

I love the Evolve 50 sounds great.

[@kellyaustin7487]

Evox 8 would also have been a better comparison vs the evolve.

[@gilbertsunee9927]

Personally the evox j8 sounds better

[@weekenddelight2489]

Agree, I feel RCF sounded slight better on the bass and much warmer feeling sound.

[@nesentertainments]

John thanks for this video I was interested in rcf j8 but I can hear the ev evolve has a better sound. After the dj expo and this video I'm convinced the ev speaker are all on steroids from the zlx all the way to top

[@partyloudevents7947]

I hope you guys also do a comparison with these speakers at volume. I mean party time/dance floor volume. They claim to have the same SPL and while the EV clearly has a brighter, cleaner high end, I'd like to know which sounds better at that after dinner volume! Does that clean top end continue to be present at higher volume on the EV? Which one gives lower sub base and better punch on the kick drum bass at when near the limit?

[@discjockeynews]

This was at 90 db at about 6 feet from the speaker.. way over dinner music volume.. but not hard hitting dance floor volume. We did do a version of that video where we opened the Evolve 50s up with real songs at: discjockeynews.com/demonstration-of-electrovoice-evolve-50-with-real-dj-music-with-john-young/ The others will be posting later.

[@partyloudevents7947]

Thank you for this ^^^^ John. Those of us that care about sound really appreciate you doing these types of videos. You could be like other tubers semi-showcasing gear but you are really giving comparisons that DJs want! Good On You fam! That being said is there any chance you ran that same real music set on the other 2 rigs?

[@discjockeynews]

Not on the Bose for sure.. I don't remember if I did the J8.. if I didn't.. I need to.. I just can't remember all of the variables I did with those speakers.. I will check and if I didn't.. I will get that done!

[@djrayinthemix4221]

I love you videos. Is there anyway you do the same thing with the RCF EVOX J8?

[@rockinroosters]

@@discjockeynews fa

[@morsymusic]

Yeah the EV's sounded louder and wider in the high frequency range but the bass response was the same on both, so RFC probably makes more sense to buy for the ease of transportation and less bags needed.... Actually damn I just listened again and not sure the RFC would cut it for the House music I like to play...Anyone play house and can tell me if 2 RCF's can do a decent job for 150 people?

[@yewfaiwan6053]

I prefer the EV50 as it has better response to the dynamic range.

[@awesometownmatt9349]

The RCF sounded much tighter and focused. The other ones sounded like it had too much of a high mid bump that to me makes them sound cheap

[@jamiestrings3354]

Anybody tried either as an electric guitar amp?

[@kevinlee6553]

You need to do the Evolve 50 and Evox 8 not the J8, Evolve 50 cost a lot more

[@DjCBlaq]

Kevin Lee the j8 is supposed to have better bass.

[@eifiondavies2662]

hi i think evolve 50 more mid and treble all round better sound

[@DJPOPAAL]

🤔Why would you not do a test playing real music that Djs play at Gigs? That music your using to test does not give an idea on sound quality in a (real world scenario!🙄🙄🙄

[@geffjoeseph4162]

Hahahahahha so true

[@johntalbott423]

Because KZbin will pull the video off of the internet because of music licensing.

[@TheHubcapdude]

Evolve 50's certainly sounded brighter to me creating a better overall sound. And i didn't even put on my good headphones. What's up with the wrestling mats?

[@canuckcurt]

They all sound just about as good as my computer speakers. KZbin evaluations like this are completely useless.

[@brianreynolds188]

J8 is better

[@oscarnorthington4093]

Evolve 50. Has better sound all around. Now i may buy these now.

[@richardfoltz1663]

Comparing music on two different speaker systems with a digital audio signal of unknown compression and fidelity, severely degenerated on a KZbin video, further comprised by an internet provider's reduction in file size and sound quality, and yet again compromised by a limited range computer digital to analog converter, pushed through typical low fidelity computer speakers or headphones, in an unknown listening enviroment......is like trying to compare a Blu-ray DVD on a 13" black and white TV from 1960.

[@marcoranierikimco8810]

Ascolti entrambe i diffusori con il medesimo mezzo (youtube ) e con lo stesso p.c. e cuffie quindi la differenza e' verificabile . Si sente benissimo che L' EV e' emette un suono piu' chiaro nei medio alti (immagino che il dimostratore abbia inserito una risposta piatta anche nel diffusore EV per un paragone corretto e la diferenza puo' piacere o meno ...io ho il Jmix 8 e per i miei gusti audio devo utilizzare il mixer per equalizzare nella gamma medio alta il suono ... ma ad eccezione di questo particolare jmix8 RCF ha una facilita' di trasporto ed adattamento nei vari contesti in netto vantaggio rispetto all'EV per cui sono soddisfattissimo del mio jmix 8 gia' predisposto per la versione stereo con l'ausilio di una J8 ..o qualsiasi diffusore a gamma completa .

[@marcoranierikimco8810]

Ascolti entrambe i diffusori con il medesimo mezzo (youtube ) e con lo stesso p.c. e cuffie quindi la differenza e' verificabile . Si sente benissimo che L' EV emette un suono piu' chiaro sulle frquenze medio alte (immagino che il dimostratore abbia inserito una risposta piatta anche nel diffusore EV per un paragone corretto ) e la diferenza puo' piacere o meno ...io ho il Jmix 8 e per i miei gusti audio devo utilizzare il mixer per equalizzare la gamma medio alta del suono ... ma ad eccezione di questo particolare jmix8 RCF ha una facilita' di trasporto ed adattamento nei vari contesti in netto vantaggio rispetto all'EV per cui sono molto soddisfatto del jmix 8 gia' predisposto per la versione stereo con l'ausilio di una J8 o altro diffusore a gamma audio completa ..( chi non conosce le caratteristiche del mixer digitale su " jmix8 " vada a verificare il manuale e rimarra' sbalordito per quante funzioni dispone) .

[@coolhand68]

The evolve speaker have must better highs and mids