JBL 4312 or Klipsch Hersy

[dantay]

I currently run a pair of Klipsch Heresy ii with a B&W sub. Has anyone had the opportunity to listen and compare the Heresy with the vintage JBL 4312?

 

[djnagle]

I run the Heresy II for 15 years and never liked them. I couldn't turn the up without hurting my ears. Then I picked up a pair of 4312s. ......absolute night and day! You will never regret dumping your Heresys for the JBLs.

 

[E-Stat]

Just expect what I found to be a "fun house mirror" effect with imaging. Back in the Locanthi days, JBL would run the 5" midrange clear out of it's comfort zone in terms of directivity. In this case up to 6k. Crossing it over more than an octave above ideal causes the upper midrange/lower highs to shrink considerably - only to be immediately transitioned to a wide dispersion dome running in it's sweet spot.

You'll note the current JBL three way monitors now under the influence of Floyd Toole don't make that overt mistake. The LSR6332 with a similar driver complement crosses it's five incher over at 2.2k.

 

[RuralTom]

Everything is subjective, but Heresys were the one Klipsch design I owned that I hated from day one... for me the 4312s could be nothing if not a vast improvement.

 

[tonyk]

I run the Heresy II for 15 years and never liked them. I couldn't turn the up without hurting my ears.

So.....when the 14th year rolled around did you slowly reach for the volume knob and whisper to yourself, "this is gonna be the year these sound good", only to be met with disappointment again?

 

[djnagle]

Nope, we were rising 3 daughters and when they started highschool I had time to focus on my system

 

[nclh77]

The JBL 4312 is probably the best speaker I have ever heard. My college roomates had the Hereseys. They were fun. Accurate. Nope. Also, most comments on AK regarding using a sub with the Hereseys is not a good scenario.

 

[Zonker92]

I have owned both, and found the bass on the Herseys to be sorely lacking. I would take the JBLs over them without any hesitation.

 

[FONSguy]

4312's by a mile. They like being on axis to your walls, not turned in. I like mine 10" of the floor, and 2 " off the back wall.

 

[DEAFASABAT]

Who ever thought that was a good name for a speaker? Some heretic?

 

[dantay]

Thanks everyone. . I assume the JBL goes low enough that a sub is not neccesary?

 

[E-Stat]

Thanks everyone. . I assume the JBL goes low enough that a sub is not neccesary?

It all depends upon whether or not you want to hear the first octave. You'll get plenty of mid bass boom.

 

[twiiii]

The heresy I with the T-35 tweeter has a smoother response than the JBL but the JBL reaches almost a 1/2 octave lower. The advantage of the JBL is its adjustable crossover letting you balance the sound. Placing a Hersey against or on one surface helps warm up the sound. Placing then against two surfaces makes a big difference. Placing them on a stand away from any surfaces is a big no-no. I had mine mounted against the ceiling in corners and the sound was almost ideal in the master bedroom.

 

[tonyk]

FWIW, I run my 4312's with a ten inch sub. I don't think you have to, but it does fill in the bottom end quite nicely.

 

[Jayrosc]

Hey OP, can we assume that your query is due to having a chance to score a pair of 4312's?
If so, get them. Period.

 

[dantay]

Yes there is a pair available as well as a pair of JBL L96. I like the Heresy and the sub, but as usual with this hobby, always pursuing the next step. If they were nearby I would purchase but I have to travel a fair distance.

 

[dantay]

How does the 4313 or the L96 compare to the 4312?

 

[janikphoto]

Like cars, each has a strength and weakness, even a Ferrari. You could do Tobin mods on the Klipsch... you could do mods on the JBL. I didn't like the Heresy I had for a short time. I've loved my other Klipsch models. I've enjoyed pretty much every JBL model, but I recognize they aren't perfect speakers, either.

I'd go for the JBL's, but that's just me.

 

[janikphoto]

Oh, and if I e er come accross a pair of dirt cheap Heresy speakers again, I might try some cabinet mods for fun.

 

[BMWCCA]

I'd go for the L96 over the 4312. The 4313B is even better, but take either if you have the chance. You might also look for 4412 or 4412A, or L112. I find all of these to be better performers than the 4312 series. BTW, are you considering the cone-tweeter 4312 or the titanium 4312A? Both run the same woofer as the L100 Century and both run it wide-open with no filter or network. The 4411/4412/L112 run the much better 128H and 128H-1 woofer with a more sophisticated network and a flatter response. Many actually prefer the 10-inch woofer in the L96 or 4313B over the 12-inch, or the 4410 over the 4412/A but hopefully some day you'll get to experience both and make your own assessment.