Short answer: the JBL CBT 70J-1. It ranks #11 of 33 column and line array PA speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $1,480; the Coda Audio CoRay4 ranks #26, rated 3.0/5, and costs $2,380, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The JBL CBT 70J-1 is the more accurate choice. A passive column with switchable vertical coverage for long or medium rooms, a speech or music switch, and a wall bracket included. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 2.95 against 1.96 for the Coda Audio CoRay4. The tradeoff: Bass measures 120Hz at -3dB and about 62Hz at -10dB, and the standalone score is only 2.95, so it needs a subwoofer for music.
The Coda Audio CoRay4 is the deeper-bass option. A touring and installation column with planar wave drivers and very high peak output, and columns link into longer arrays for big venues. Its bass reaches about 82.5Hz before falling 3dB, against 120.1Hz for the JBL CBT 70J-1. The tradeoff: High-quality manufacturer measurements give a low 1.96 standalone preference score and 5.04 with an ideal subwoofer, with a 0.619 listening-window deviation, so tonal balance is uneven.
Buy the JBL CBT 70J-1. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Coda Audio CoRay4 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full PA & Live Sound rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL CBT 70J-1 | Coda Audio CoRay4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,480.00 Passive | $2,380 Passive |
| Ranked | #11 of 33 in Column and Line Array PA Speakers | #26 of 33 in Column and Line Array PA Speakers |
| Rigging | 10 x M6 rear inserts; swivel/tilt wall bracket included | CODA mobile suspension and flange adapter; optional CF4 flying frame |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way Constant Beamwidth Technology column | Passive 2-way line source column (requires Coda controller) |
| Drivers | 4x 5” neodymium woofers, 16x 1” neodymium tweeters | 2x 4” neodymium planar wave drivers, 4x 5” woofers |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) | 80Hz - 20kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 27.3”H x 6.7”W x 9.3”D (694 x 170 x 237 mm) | 29.8”H x 6”W x 8.4”D (758 x 152 x 214 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | Passive speaker; requires a Coda Audio LINUS amplifier/controller |
| Power Handling | 500W (2,000W peak) | 700W AES / 2,800W peak |
| Maximum SPL | 131dB peak (narrow, speech mode, manufacturer specified) | 144dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | Switchable 25° or 45° vertical | 120°, 60° or 90° asymmetric horizontal x 12° vertical |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
| DSP | No (passive) | No (passive) |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) | 34.6 lbs (15.7 kg) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Microphone Input | No | No |
| Guitar Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 120.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) | 82.5Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 61.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) | about 71.6Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.95 | 1.96 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.87 | 5.04 |
| Sensitivity | - | 97dB |
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