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Dirty Weekends vs JBL Studio 590

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I can tell you already, there will be two sides to this, the owners of each on either side of the line.
I haven't seen anyone here so far that has both models. Maybe at different times, but not simultaneously.
This will be interesting regardless, both are highly rated.
 
I am not expecting the Spanish Inquisiton... lol.. just some thoughts. Pros on each, cons on each and thoughts on value

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Ok, thanks. I actually had not heard of the JBLs until I saw a thread on them being half off which puts them at the same price point.

Maybe I should have asked more about what works with my amp and system - and room size 13x 15 to get a more directed response. I also tend to listen to Jazz streaming.

I know it is all subjective and people like what they like, but I appreciate input from people who have experience with something who can recognize strengths and weaknesses.

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I Have not heard or owned the JBL 590's but have owned a pair of DW since July and I'm very impressed with them from day one. They have moved into my main system and sound better with every hour of break in. I'm sure you will not be disappointed if you decide to purchase a pair. Great quality and even better people that work there.
 
My DW Zu’s are hooked up to a McIntosh Mac 4200 receiver and they sound amazing. My wife liked them so much we ordered another set, should get those tomorrow. Zu Audio is a great company to do business with; the build quality and custom finishes are really cool as well.
 
I've had my 590's for 2 yrs now and they still amaze me.Since I've had I found I'm enjoying music more especially jazz. The vocals particulally female feel like they are in the room with you. Instruments just as good especially vibraphones ,sax and acoustic guitar, over all they just sound right. The sound stage and sweet spot is very wide and deep, and they sound good in the next room.These speakers need space the front of mine are 34 inches off the wall. my room is 18x23 with raised ceilings and they fill the room with sound. They might over power your room I can't say. Harmon also has a thirty day full refund with return shipping so you really cant' go wrong. they do need break in time, after about 2+ weeks of 3 to 4 hrs a day.I know nothing of Zu's But have heard a lot of good. Good luck and let us know what you decide
 
I suspect both will sound good, so it would be safe to purchase either on a whim. Having spend hours restoring vintage JBL speakers, they really become part of you, so my whim was to have a set of NEW JBLs that I did not need to restore (and did not cost $15,000). So that is why I went with 590s. Curiously, when I was considering buying them, I could not find any negative reviews of the audio quality. Are all speakers like that (no one gives negative reviews) or are the 590s really that good for the money?
 
This would be a no-brainer for me. I'd get the Zu and probably the shorting resistors for good measure. Those are some really nice speakers.

As for people saying good things about speakers. It depends on who says the good things. Zu seems to impress the people who listen to very expensive speakers for a living. If you want to read a genuinely bad review of speakers, look for J. Gordon Holt's review of the JBL 250Ti. I'm not sure I'd call some of the reviews of the new L100 "good" either.
 
https://www.soundstagexperience.com...se-menu/657-does-a-product-s-backstory-matter

"Decades of tests conducted by famed audio scientist Dr. Floyd Toole, first at Canada’s National Research Council and later at Harman International, show that listeners tend to prefer speakers with a smooth, even frequency response on axis, and a smooth power response that decreases gradually as the frequency rises.
When all biases are removed, it’s likely you’ll prefer Revels to Zus. But once you step out of the blind-test lab, you’re wallowing in biases instilled by a product’s appearance, marketing, reviews, etc."

:no:
:thumbsdown:
 
Hey Now,

I have a pair of 590s, but have not heard or own the DWs. I do have a pair of Tekton Lore 2.0, similar style configuration. I wanted a larger sounding speaker in the living room and something that would go a bit deeper in the low end for stereo listening. And I just retired, so the 590s were a retirement gift to myself (at half retail). I had them set up side by side and the 590s clearly sounded better than the Lores, they had a much better low end, setting the foundation to the music I listen to with much more solidity. I still like the Lores, they are in the bedroom system now.

I am enjoying the compression driver and biradial horn of the 590s so much, it is my first compression driver. The "speed, clarity and dynamics (as described by @tomlinmgt)" are some of the best I have heard. The off axis listening is very good. And they are providing me with that big sound I wanted in the living room.

I was using a McIntosh MHT-200 AVR, until just recently my volume control finally went wonky and won't stay put. It is erratic and increases/decreases on its own (I knew this when I bought it). It can be repaired, but to get it on the bench I was quoted $250 at the nearest McIntosh service center. Sheesh! Oh well, I found an inexpensive used NuForce AVP-18 pre/processor to use as the front end of the MHT-200 and just use the power amplifier sections (8 of them). I can decode all the latest HT codecs now with HDMI to boot and run direct stereo through the AVP-18. It sounds way better than I had hoped for. The 590s are rocking.

I have found myself sitting in the living room more and more listening to the 590s of late. They are non-fatiguing and fun to listen to.

--
Finest kind,
Chris
 
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