JBL EON500

A Portable Professional Speaker solution that disrupted the category with world-class industrial design, sonic performance, and integrated utility and portability.

What We Did

The JBL EON speaker was created to advance portability for the professional musician and DJ without sacrificing the sound quality to enable a great entertainment experience. The system was designed to reduce the weight of the speaker solution and has integrated handles to allow easy setup for events in different locations. This JBL speaker led the portable PA market and was the best-selling powered speaker in professional audio history.

Psycho-Aesthetics™

Product design is more than just winning awards; it’s about creating emotional connections between the product and the user. Our human-centered approach, Psycho-Aesthetics, helps us understand and quantify these connections. We found that the opportunity zone for the JBL Eon Speaker line to be in the empowered section of the P/A Map. By conducting comprehensive market research, RKS identified where JBL’s existing products stood among competitors and pinpointed opportunities for differentiation. Focusing on user pain points like portability, handling, and durability, RKS crafted a design strategy that blended modern aesthetics with practical functionality.

In the initial research phase of the JBL EON 500 series project, our team at RKS Design conducted an in-depth analysis of the professional audio market, focusing on the needs of portable PA system users such as musicians, DJs, and sound engineers. We studied user behaviors, gathering insights on the challenges faced with existing speaker systems, including portability, ease of handling, and durability. This research was crucial in identifying gaps in the market and understanding the technical requirements and ergonomic needs that the new EON 500 series would need to address. By leveraging focus group feedback and rapid prototyping, we ensured that our design direction was not only innovative but also aligned with user expectations and JBL’s brand values.

Our strategy for the JBL EON 500 series centered around creating a product that advanced JBL’s legacy while addressing the practical needs of users in real-world scenarios. We aimed to develop a speaker that offered superior portability without sacrificing sonic performance. To achieve this, we focused on incorporating advanced materials that would reduce weight and improve durability. Our approach also included enhancing the ergonomics of the speaker by designing multiple grab points for versatile handling. This strategic direction allowed us to create a speaker that was not only easy to transport and set up but also capable of delivering the high-quality audio experience JBL is renowned for.

The design phase was marked by our commitment to integrating modern aesthetics with functionality. At RKS Design, we employed our Psycho-Aesthetics methodology to ensure the JBL EON 500 series resonated emotionally with users while fulfilling its technical roles. The design featured sleek lines, a balanced form, and strategically placed handles that made the speaker easy to maneuver and position in various setups. We chose injection-molded materials to offer a lightweight yet sturdy structure, incorporating design details that would protect the speaker from damage during transport and use. The design not only maintained JBL’s iconic look but also brought a fresh, contemporary feel that stood out in the market.

During the execution phase, we collaborated closely with JBL Pro to bring our design vision to life. This involved rigorous testing and refinement to ensure the speaker met all functional and aesthetic standards. The use of advanced materials and manufacturing techniques allowed us to achieve a lightweight design without compromising on strength or sound quality. We focused on precision in every aspect, from the structural integrity of the speaker’s enclosure to the clarity of its sonic output. The final product, the JBL EON 500 series, successfully combined innovation in design with practical usability, setting a new benchmark in the portable professional speaker category. The result was a highly functional, visually appealing speaker that meets the dynamic needs of professionals in the audio industry.

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JBL EON500

A Portable Professional Speaker solution that disrupted the category with world-class industrial design, sonic performance, and integrated utility and portability.