How does JBL LX300 compare to earlier titanium-domed JBLs?

[Kreshna]

How does JBL LX300 compare to earlier titanium-domed JBL models of comparable size? Does JBL LX300 sound better than, say, JBL L20T, due to more advanced technology? Or does it actually sound worse due to cheaper materials?

1. For starter, JBL LX300 uses 027Ti titanium dome tweeter, while JBL L20T and JBL L1 uses 035Ti titanium dome tweeter. Does 027Ti sound as good as 035Ti? Or better? Or worse?
2. From this thread, it seems JBL LX300 sounds better than JBL 2600, which also uses titanium dome tweeter. I'm curious how does the LX300 compare to L20T or L1, though.
3. I noticed JBL LX300 is more sensitive (90 dB / watt / meter) than both JBL L20T (87 dB / watt / meter) and JBL L1 (87 dB / watt / meter). Perhaps it's a good sign, because more sensitive speakers tend to sound more dynamics (do they?), but I wonder what sacrifice JBL made to achieve higher sensitivity on the LX300.
4. JBL LX300 also uses spring clips, which are probably cheaper than binding posts used by JBL 4408 and JBL L1. Perhaps JBL cut corners with LX300. However, connector type doesn't necessarily translate to sound quality. Sansui AU-7900 also uses spring clips, yet it sounds better than many amps that use binding post.
5. JBL LX300 also sells cheaper than both L20T and L1 in used markets. However, I'm not sure if such cheaper price actually indicates lower sound quality.

So, could anyone share their experience with JBL LX300? Are they good speakers? Has anyone got the chance to compare JBL LX300 with earlier titanium domed JBLs like L20T or L1? I don't care about bass, since I'm going to use subwoofer anyway. What I'm craving for is crisp, clean, airy highs (especially cymbals and hi-hats) and lively, dynamic vocals.

 

[xero-D-hero]

For starter, JBL LX300 uses 027Ti titanium dome tweeter, while JBL L20T and JBL L1 uses 035Ti titanium dome tweeter. Does 027Ti sound as good as 035Ti? Or better? Or worse?

No the 027Ti is not gonna sound as good as the 035Ti,really it was never intended to.
The 027Ti was good for it's price point,but the 035Ti was from a higher line model.

From this thread, it seems JBL LX300 sounds better than JBL 2600, which also uses titanium dome tweeter. I'm curious how does the LX300 compare to L20T or L1, though.

Again,the LX-300 was a mid tier model and the 2600 was an even more budget minded model,so it's drivers were cheaper to manufacture,

Th L1 & L20t were top of the line models,so they got more effort in terms of design and better materials and higher cost drivers as SOP.
The LX-300 were a model intended to get the buyer "most of the way" to the higher tier models like the L1 & L20t but at a lower buy in price.
So clearly with these models the buyer was gonna get what they paid for,literally.

I noticed JBL LX300 is more sensitive (90 dB / watt / meter) than both JBL L20T (87 dB / watt / meter) and JBL L1 (87 dB / watt / meter). Perhaps it's a good sign, because more sensitive speakers tend to sound more dynamics (do they?), but I wonder what sacrifice JBL made to achieve higher sensitivity on the LX300.

Ask me,speaker sensitivity has absolutely nothing to do with speaker dynamics.
I say that as I've had speakers with great dynamics and very poor sensitivity specs.
This is the classic "pit-fall" of trusting speaker specs too much,so yeah one should always take speaker specs w/a huge ol' grain of salt.
Sacrafice made for that ? Likely none,just a change or two in the crossovers,they would do so as a cheaper speaker typically gets used with cheaper gear.
So the amp driving a pair of LX-300 likely is'nt going to be as well built as an amp driving a pair of L1 or L20t.

JBL LX300 also uses spring clips, which are probably cheaper than binding posts used by JBL 4408 and JBL L1. Perhaps JBL cut corners with LX300. However, connector type doesn't necessarily translate to sound quality. Sansui AU-7900 also uses spring clips, yet it sounds better than many amps that use binding post.

Again,see above comment,cheaper speakers typically get used with cheaper gear,so cost saving measures count.

JBL LX300 also sells cheaper than both L20T and L1 in used markets. However, I'm not sure if such cheaper price actually indicates lower sound quality.

LX-300 has stamped frame woofers,vinyl covered cabs,no 5 way binding posts,and to many people those sorta things make a difference.
L1 & L20t have cast frame woofers,nicer finishes and better hardware,more design effort,higher quality crossovers just to name a few things.

FWIW the LX-300 was an updated model to the earlier LX-22.
They're nice sounding speakers,but were never intended to compete with the higher tier models like the L1 / L20t L20t3 / 18Ti.
Me,I really like the LX-22 so much so I own two pairs of 'em as well as a pair of LXE-330 (front ported).
I also own two pairs of LX-44 as well,and fwiw one pair uses spring clips,and the other pair came with binding posts.

The LX series morphed from the LX to the LXE to the ARC series of speakers:

Models-
LX-22 ~ 2 Way ~ 6.5" Woofer (406G) ~ 026Ti Tweeter ~ Rear Ported
LX-44 ~ 3 Way ~ 8" Woofer (408G) ~ 5" Midrange (405G) ~ 026Ti Tweeter ~ Rear Ported
LX-55 ~ 3 Way ~ 10" Woofer (410G) ~ 5" Midrange (405G) ~ 026Ti Tweeter ~ Rear Ported
LX-66 ~ 3 Way ~ 2x 8" Woofer (408G) ~ 5" Midrange (405G) ~ 026Ti Tweeter ~ Rear Ported ~ Florstanding Tower

LX-300 ~ 2 Way ~ 6.5" Woofer (406G-1) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Rear Ported
LX-440 ~ 2 Way ~ 8" Woofer (408G-1) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Rear Ported
LX-500 ~ 3 Way ~ 8" Woofer (408G-1) ~ 5" midrange (405G-1) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Rear Ported
LX-600 ~ 3 Way ~ 10" Woofer (410G-1) ~ 5" Midrange (405G-1) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Rear Ported
LX-800 ~ 2 Way ~ 8" (408G) ~ Floorstanding ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ ??? Ported

LXE-330 ~ 2 Way ~ 6.5" Woofer (406G-2) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Front Ported
LXE-550 ~ 2 Way ~ 8" Woofer (408G-2) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Front Ported
LXE-770 ~ 3 Way ~ 8" Woofer (408G-2) ~ 5" Midrange (405G-2) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Front Ported
LXE-990 ~ 3 Way ~ 10" Woofer (410G-2) ~ 5" Midrange (405G-2) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Front Ported

ARC-30 ~ 2 Way ~ 6.5" Woofer (406G-3) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Front Ported
ARC-50 ~ 2 Way ~ 8" Woofer (408G-3) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Front Ported
ARC-70 ~ 3 Way ~ 8" Woofer (408G-3) ~ 5" Midrange (405G-3) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Front Ported
ARC-90 ~ 3 Way ~ 10" Woofer (410G-3) ~ 5" Midrange (405G-3) ~ 027Ti Tweeter ~ Front Ported

FWIW ~ HTH

Bret P.

 

[Kreshna]

I see, thanks. So the LX series aren't sleepers, are they?

 

[Kreshna]

Also, @xero-D-hero , you mentioned you like the sound of LX-22 so much. Yet the model is made of lower quality materials than L20T and L1. In which way does the LX-22 sound less than L20T or L1, despite you like its sound much? Does LX-22 sound grainier? Not as clean as L20T or L1? Or perhaps the LX-22 sounds sweeter, yet less accurate?

Also, among bookshelf titanium domed tweeter JBL models, which one actually sounds best? Perhaps 4408? Or L1? How about newer titanium domed bookshelf models like L830?

 

[xero-D-hero]

I see, thanks. So the LX series aren't sleepers, are they?

IMO yes the LX series are sleepers,but that's just one man's POV and that does'nt make it universally true for everyone else.
For guys like me the LX series let me get a "taste" of what makes JBL so good,all w/o paying top dollar for the "better" models,as I cant really afford to.
It was also a way that I could make sure I enjoyed them before investing more money in those higher end models if & when I can afford such.

Also, @xero-D-hero , you mentioned you like the sound of LX-22 so much. Yet the model is made of lower quality materials than L20T and L1. In which way does the LX-22 sound less than L20T or L1, despite you like its sound much? Does LX-22 sound grainier? Not as clean as L20T or L1? Or perhaps the LX-22 sounds sweeter, yet less accurate?

I'm not going to go into detail on this one as from my POV it borders on the obsessive.
That,plus I've never done any side by side tests so any input would be largely a waste of typing here.
When I have heard some L1 or L20t or the like it was always at someone else's house using their gear ~ in their rooms.
Ask me the only way you are going to get truly reliable answers to a question like you're asking is for you to have a listen to those for yourself.

Also, among bookshelf titanium domed tweeter JBL models, which one actually sounds best? Perhaps 4408? Or L1? How about newer titanium domed bookshelf models like L830?

Well,the 4408 is a studio monitor so no doubt it would be more neutral (some call it "flat") than any of the others mentioned thus far.
Plus the 4408 have an 8" woofer,so they would also be expected to have better bass response than any of the others that use a 6.5" woofer.
Honestly the 4408 are a "class above" the others simply due to the larger woofer,,,so that becomes an apples-to-oranges comparison...

Whether any of ^^^^ that ^^^^ is good -or- bad is a person to person judgement call.

Most folks feel the L1 is the best of the bunch.
Then the next best is gonna be a close battle between the L20t / L20t3 / 18Ti with the exact order depending on who's voting.
Next would be the LX-300.
Last would be the 2600.

I'm sure the 4408 are great too,but I feel they would need to compared to something more similar (ie: 8" woofer 2 ways).

FWIW

Bret P.

 

[Kreshna]

IMO yes the LX series are sleepers,but that's just one man's POV and that does'nt make it universally true for everyone else.
For guys like me the LX series let me get a "taste" of what makes JBL so good,all w/o paying top dollar for the "better" models,as I cant really afford to.
It was also a way that I could make sure I enjoyed them before investing more money in those higher end models if & when I can afford such.

I see.

I'm not going to go into detail on this one as from my POV it borders on the obsessive.
That,plus I've never done any side by side tests so any input would be largely a waste of typing here.
When I have heard some L1 or L20t or the like it was always at someone else's house using their gear ~ in their rooms.
Ask me the only way you are going to get truly reliable answers to a question like you're asking is for you to have a listen to those for yourself.

Well, I have a pair of JBL L20Ts. They sound very neutral, perhaps 'studio monitor'-neutral. When driven by Sansui A-40, they sound warm but grainy, that makes it fatiguing to listen in the long run. When driven by Yamaha RX-V663 (Pure Direct stereo), they sound flat and competent, with strong & thumpy bass, but rather analytical, etched treble and the likes. When driven by Sansui AU-7900, now they sound really musical! Lively vocals and very airy treble.

However, there are things stay consistent with the L20T, regardless of amplifier:

1. Crisp and clean treble, especially with cymbals and hi-hats. With Sansui A-40, the treble sounds a little bit rolled off, but the crispiness stays. With Yamaha RX-V663, the treble sounds analytical, but crisp nonetheless. Of course, the best treble comes with Sansui AU-7900; really airy, crisp treble.
2. Sounds that stay clean and strain-free and loud volumes, even when driven by lowly 25 wpc Sansui A-40.
3. Very pinpointed and wide stereo imaging.
4. Rather flat, 2 dimensional sound stage.

I wonder what would I miss by moving to JBL LX300.

Most folks feel the L1 is the best of the bunch.
Then the next best is gonna be a close battle between the L20t / L20t3 / 18Ti with the exact order depending on who's voting.
Next would be the LX-300.
Last would be the 2600.

I'm sure the 4408 are great too,but I feel they would need to compared to something more similar (ie: 8" woofer 2 ways).

FWIW

Bret P.

I see. Thanks.

JBL 18Ti doesn't seem to receiver favorable review from Stereophile though.

The 18Ti didn't have quite the clarity of soundstaging featured by the Celestion SL6S that I also review in this issue, the central imaging being a little broad and there being less depth than I expect. Instruments with generous amounts of treble energy—hi-hat cymbal, for example—were projected forward a little, and my Chopin piano recording was unrealistically shallow. All in all, however, this is very good performance at the price, and, true to the JBL tradition, these speakers will play loud, despite their relatively low sensitivity.

I have never owned a pair 18Tis, but I won't say such about L20Ts. Yes, soundstage depth isn't that great, but central imaging --and any kind of stereo imaging, for that matter-- is pinpointed and precise, instead of being "a little broad" like what Stereophile described.

And:

Personally, I would have liked a less generous, better-defined upper bass, perhaps from a closed-box alignment, but the 18Ti's balance was undoubtedly chosen to give the illusion of "good" bass to non-audiophile customers. An overall performance not up to the standards set by the better, more expensive speakers in this group, but excellent value at the price.

I won't say such thing either about my L20Ts. Bass is flat, and I have never noticed any LF bump either on the L20Ts. Perhaps 18Ti and L20T were voiced differently?


Nonetheless, L1 sounds interesting.

 

[Kreshna]

Anyway, what would anyone think about JBL ES30?

 

[Harperrobin]

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