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aDs L-810 vs. JBL 4311

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Njord Noatun

Super Member
Banned
I am considering getting a pair of JBL 4311's and may go out to audition them. My current main speaker is the aDs L-810 (Series 1). Never having owned, or let alone listened to, a pair of 4311's, would someone care to give their opinion on the sonic differences I should anticipate between these two speakers?

Thank you for any thoughts.

Best regards,
 
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I don't have either and haven't listened to either, but my guess is the ADS would be better sounding. Aren't 4311's the studio monitor version of the simple L100's? I'd say 810's are more on par with 4312's......
 
Anyone who has been used to the sound of say ADS will probably find JBL monitors harsh, but people who are used to JBL monitors would likely find ADS a little muddy. Tastes in speakers are developed most of the time.
However, if you adjust the tweet and mid-range pots, you will find the 4311 sensational and well on par or better to the ADS, but listening to them with the brilliance and prescense settings stock(on "0") is a bad idea, because JBL made them to be customizable to each listener's taste.
 
I've got both the ADS 810s (Series 1) and the JBL Century L-100s, which I think are functionally equivalent to the 4311s. Very different sounding speakers. The 810s excel in mid and high frequencies. Very sweet, very detailed. I find that I listen more to classical and, particularly, jazz on the 810s. My L-100s are rock 'n roll speakers, very punchy and in your face (not in a bad way).

I am very fond of the JBLs, but if I had to pick one pair to live with forever, it would be the ADS's, hands down.
 
i used them both for longer than some of other speakers i had. those silk dome tweets and mids are pretty detailed and have well defined tone where as 4311's tweets are smooth yet can be very sharp. biggest difference to me is the bass. 810's have faster and tighter bass which i like.
 
gogo, a common problem with alnico bass drivers is the magnets lose their magnetic properties overtime.

Trust me, the bass is very fast and tight on the 123 woofers in the 4311/L100, you just have to have the removable magnets remagnetized. Yes, 4 screws can come out to remove the magnet to avoid cone damage shipping them to be remagnetized. Be careful to pull off gently and straight up, because you wouldn't want to damage the voice coils.

JBL bass ain't famous for nothing. :D
Just seems to me you need to get the magnets remagnetized.:)
 
I've heard ADS L810s, L630s, and JBL L100s. I had wanted a pair of L100s, but didn't like the pair I heard- they were set up poorly, in a live harsh room.

I'd love to hear them in a better setting. I bet I'd like them lots more. and possibly want a pair after all.

I liked the ADS L810s- very good speaker. But I like my ADS L630s very much too, although they're considered a step down. The l630s are the early version of the L730.

I also have ADS L570 IIs and JBL L46s.

Both excellent speakers.

I find the JBLs to have a very "produced" sound to them, lending themselves to do good rock and roll like Van Halen, Ted Nugent, Asia, ect.

I find the L570 IIs to be more neutral sounding, imparting (nor not imparting!) a more natural sound to vocals, and instruments, and are preferred for most everything else I listen to.
 
alexkerhead said:
gogo, a common problem with alnico bass drivers is the magnets lose their magnetic properties overtime.

Trust me, the bass is very fast and tight on the 123 woofers in the 4311/L100, you just have to have the removable magnets remagnetized. Yes, 4 screws can come out to remove the magnet to avoid cone damage shipping them to be remagnetized. Be careful to pull off gently and straight up, because you wouldn't want to damage the voice coils.

JBL bass ain't famous for nothing. :D
Just seems to me you need to get the magnets remagnetized.:)
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thanks for the advice.
i've been thinking about that for some time now. i guess that's the next thing to do after recapping. where would i send it to, and how much would it cost me? how do i know if any magnet needs remagnetizing since i have more than a few pairs? thanks.
 
I don't think there is a test, and I can't recommend anywhere to send them though, the place that did mine closed last year. Electronics repair is a dwindling business these days, because everything is cheap enough to just buy a new one...shame really. If you can find a place I can ship them to, I would like to know for future reference. I think there is a guy on lansing heritage that does it, but I am not sure.
 
Njord,

The JBL will be louder. The L810 is in every other way a better speaker. However, with some crossover work, the 4311 can be very good sounding.

Alex, I have never heard anyone say that an ADS speaker sounded muddy, they are one of the more detailed speakers around. The only downfall of the ADS would be lower sensitivity compared to that of the 4311. Even then, it's not by much.
 
If you like the way ADS sounds, you won't understand I think.
Someone who prefers JBL will probably think ADS is muddy, if they are or not doesn't matter. If you get used to and like broad high frequency, you will undoubtably find anything less lacking in that department.
I think my large advent's highs are muddy, because of my long term usage of JBL. Does it mean the large advent is a bad speaker? heck no, I just like broad high frequency.
If I had been used to advents, I would think my JBLs were to bright, but I(note I said "I") think they are perfect sounding, I can determine sound stage, not be able to point them out with my eyes closed, and enjoy them thoroughly.

I will leave it at that.
 
gogofast said:
thanks for the advice.
i've been thinking about that for some time now. i guess that's the next thing to do after recapping. where would i send it to, and how much would it cost me? how do i know if any magnet needs remagnetizing since i have more than a few pairs? thanks.
Click to expand...


Great Plains...
 
4311's--gogofast

Here is a great place to take your speakers. If they do not remag, they'll know to whom to take them, and they're close to you. Best of luck with your JBL's. Here's the link: http://theloudspeakerstore.com/

BTW, AlNiCo magnets loose their flux density due to high current passing through the voicecoil. Compression drivers are less susceptible because it takes very little power to produce high volumes, so it is not likely, although, it can happen. It's always a good idea to do if you're rebuilding AlNiCo drivers. A remag can be done with the cone still in place, but it is less accurate due to the fact that a guassmeter cannot be inserted into the voicecoil gap to measure the flux density/strength. It should run about $25-40 per speaker on average. -S.G.-
 
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