JBL Apollo C51

[Tom Brennan]

No, please continue with the comments for the sake of discussion. That was my first impression but I may end up with them anyway and my opinion could change when I get them in my own environment.

Well I was gonna say I think the tweeter is one of the worst and it gives me the willys. Shrill and damned near painful.

My opinion.

 

[Altec Best]

I'd go with the JBL over the Altec... but that's just me.. .

The Altec will have a lot nicer mids, but the JBL with reach higher with the 075. ..

I'd go with the Altec over the JBL ... But that is just me ! An Altec Fan

With the 075 you will have to sit directly in front of it though as it is a very,very narrower beaming driver.The sound travels like a bullet, very,very, straight line.If your right in front of it sounds nice though :yes:

Just my .02 ya'll understand !!!

 

[BMWCCA]

I've lived in the same house as my JBL 030 system (D130, 075, N2400) for over fifty years. It was a great-sounding system back in the '50s and it's a great sounding system today. It's a vintage sound that plays so effortlessly on cello and guitar that you won't believe your ears. Not the strongest low bass but they don't have to work hard to fill a room with jazz or classical and I've rocked the neighborhood for miles with mine when we used to put them out on the back porch during our college parties running them on just one Crown D150 amp. I only retired them not quite two-years ago when I replaced them with a pair of JBL 4345s. That's about what it took to supplant them in my main system, and I purchased a pair of L112s brand new during that time, but then maybe my ears just got accustomed to the 030 sound over the years and it "tuned" my hearing.

I can't imagine why anyone would replace the fine D130 with a 123 unless the cabinets were just too small to let the D130 do its thing. Mine are in C37 cabinets.

 

[JohnMac]

I picked up the JBLs yesterday. The second impression is better than the first. Much more efficient than the other speakers that I've been using with the 5 WPC Magnavox. The overall sound is quite nice.

 

[JohnMac]

I switched sources to an 85 WPC Pioneer receiver in the same small room. Played the same records at the same moderate volume for the room. They seem to appreciate more power.

 

[barredowl]

Exactly I had the same speaker and I found that fed enough solid state watts they sounded very nice. Like BMW CCA said incredible on cello and classical, would need a sub for real rock or tehno impact. I kind of regret getting rid of them but I actually think my JBL 4408s plus a sub sound a little better, take up less space and were less expensive.

Before you sink a ton into a big tube amp try the JBLs with a big Dennon, Sansui, or Yamaha integrated solid state amp or separates, you might just be amazed how good they sound with 120 watts per channel to handle transients.

 

[JohnMac]

Came across my old thread and wanted to mention that I'm still using them with a little Magnavox 196 SE amp and have never considered looking further.

However, I'm am interested in more comments on swapping the D130 for D123s. :yes:

John

 

[similost]

I had the D123... I wish I would have had the D130... .BUT, don't get me wrong.. they are great sounding drivers.... I was surprised to learn they were meant for things like wall installations, hence being such a shallow driver.. only something like 3.5" deep or a little less..

Mine rocked though... great sounding for sure.. but I think you'd be happier with the 130 over all..

 

[JohnMac]

Although the D130 is a great driver I wonder if something else would be better suited to the Apollo cabs.

 

[similost]

That I couldn't tell you...

 

[mrskinny]

Just taking a guess that they have the N2400 crossover(?). Here's something that might interest you before thinking about swapping drivers. If nothing else, the larger guage inductor would make it a lot easier for your low powered amps to drive them. http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?12938-The-N2400-Revealed