JBL MR805
The JBL MR805 is a compact two-way studio monitor from JBL's MR800 series, a lineup that spanned from small nearfields up to large-format monitors like the MR835. The MR805 sits near the smaller end of that family, built around an 8" low-frequency driver and a 1" pure titanium compression driver crossed over at 2.6 kHz. According to the JBL Professional spec sheet, it's rated for 55 Hz–20 kHz (±3 dB) with a –10 dB point of 45 Hz, sensitivity of 89 dB SPL (1W/1m), and 150 watts continuous program power (75 watts continuous pink noise). Nominal impedance is 8 ohms, with 100° horizontal and vertical dispersion from the horn-loaded tweeter. The enclosure is a tuned ported design, and inputs are handled via a ¼" phone jack or barrier strip.
The cabinet is 445 mm high by 267 mm wide by 258 mm deep and weighs 11.8 kg (26 lbs). It was clearly intended for nearfield or small-room monitoring, where accuracy at moderate levels mattered more than raw output.
Little else is documented about the MR805. No production years, original price or market context have surfaced in the available record. One dealer listing called the MR805 "the largest of the MR800 series," but the series lineup contradicts that. It includes larger models like the MR808, MR812 and MR815, so treat the claim with skepticism. Multiple sources attest to the MR800 series as a family of studio monitors, and the MR805's membership in it is solid. A period review in EQ Magazine (February 1993, p.88) listed the MR805 among compact monitor options with a 60 Hz - 20 kHz frequency response and 200W handling capacity.
Known specifications from the JBL Professional spec sheet:
- Frequency response: 55 Hz – 20 kHz (±3 dB); 45 Hz – 20 kHz (–10 dB)
- Sensitivity: 89 dB SPL (1W/1m)
- Impedance: 8 ohms nominal
- Power capacity: 150 W continuous program, 75 W continuous pink noise
- Crossover: 2.6 kHz
- Drivers: 8" (200 mm) LF, 1" (25 mm) pure titanium compression driver
- Dispersion: 100° horizontal × 100° vertical
- Inputs: ¼" phone jack, barrier strip
- Dimensions: 445 × 267 × 258 mm (H × W × D)
- Weight: 11.8 kg (26 lbs)
- Enclosure: tuned ported
For a compact professional monitor of its era, the MR805 is a straightforward design. It has no exotic materials and no gimmicks, just a two-way in a ported box. Beyond the spec sheet, the historical record is thin.
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