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JBL speakers.A love hate relationship.

superdog

superdog

AK Member
When I got a set of L100s I was mesmerized by the sound.Thought it sounded real good and it did to my ears.As I moved to different music and speakers(specifically east coast sound,classical and jazz and alnicos)I found my JBLs not only the L100 but other JBLs in my stable to be almost unlistenable at times.Was ready to chuck the lot but found that JBLs can make some music sound unbelievably good at times.It does to some music what my other speakers cannot do.Anybody feel polarized by JBLs?
 
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There are so many flavors of JBL speakers that there will always be a pair to suit your listening taste at any given time.
 
You need to set up 2 systems . One for East coast sound and one for West coast sound . Is that feasible ? .
 
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I don't love or hate any of them. They are what they are. Some JBL'S are accurate others are not. All speakers are like that. Find what you like.

Rob:)
 
Since you like jazz and classical, try out a pair of JBL J325's. Typically poo-poo'ed because they're not "west coast" speakers, they excel with acoustics, vocals, jazz, and classical music. The most "east coast" JBLs that I've listened to.

//Smorgy
 
I like them all. East coast, west coast, they are all in the house and have their own setup. JBL are also quite efficiency and have pretty good clarity. My main is the 4312C through Sandui G-5000. At the end of the day I always come back to this setup.
 
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Before I bought my ADS L-810's, I auditioned JBL L-100 and L-166, they were nothing like I remembered them from "back in the day". They were just too "blary" and "in your face" for my taste
 
superdog said:
When I got a set of L100s I was mesmerized by the sound.Thought it sounded real good and it did to my ears.As I moved to different music and speakers(specifically east coast sound,classical and jazz and alnicos)I found my JBLs not only the L100 but other JBLs in my stable to be almost unlistenable at times.Was ready to chuck the lot but found that JBLs can make some music sound unbelievably good at times.It does to some music what my other speakers cannot do.Anybody feel polarized by JBLs?
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I a pair of 4412A's in my office studio and listen to them for 6-10 hours a day w/lossless files from Itunes/apogee duet/Mac G5/various amps.

They are very easy to listen to at all volume levels and I never suffer from "fatigue" (unless the original source material was poorly recorded.)

They are set up as near field monitors (the way God and JBL intended) and I absolutely love them.:banana::banana:

Also use have a set of older 4312A's I listen to upstairs with a Accuphase P300/Sony TA2000 or Pioneer SX-1250. They are postitioned about 8 feet apart and 8 feet from the couch on 10" Lovan stands (away from the walls). They also sound wonderful to me and are very neutral with good punchy bass.:music:

IMHO JBL monitors are pretty hard to beat if you use them as they were designed to be used and are very easy to listen for extended periods of time.

Just my opinion of course and, hey they're my ears....:D

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accuphase: P-300 amp
Classé: Cap-151
Harman Kardon: HK730 / 930
Hofi: Integra 5.1 Amp / Xara CD transport
Kenwood: KA907, KA-801 / KT-615
Marantz: 2230, 2240B, 2270, 2285B, 2325, 4240, 4270, 4300
Parasound: HCA 2200II AMP
Pioneer: SA-9500II / TX 9500II, SX1250, SX1010, SX980, SX950, 9930
Sansui: 9090 / 990DB / AU717
Sony: TA-3200 TA2000x2, and 2000F Pre-amp/amp, STR-6065, 7065
Yamaha: CR-1020 / 2020 / 3020

Speakers: Pioneer HPM-1500's, HPM-900's, Klipsch Heresy II, Forte II's,
KG-2's--JBL 4412A / 4312B / S-38's, Ohm Model L, Norman Labs Model 8's Advent /1 + "New" Large & KEF 103.2's
 
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Anyboby ever hear "Moonbeams" by Grover Washington Jr.? That song is one example of how the JBL excels with certain music to me.I just don't get that presence with other speakers.Butch I do have more than one system set up.In fact I have four in one room.It's just that the JBL Sansui setup has been the main systems because rock was my main listening choice.I have been gravitating to mellower sounds but still enjoy thumping rock now and then.The JBL seams to be perfect for Santana at moderate to loud volume but downright awful on some types of music at lower volumes.Maybe I am reflecting on another thread where the guy was tired of fake but fun.
 
I swear by my JBL L96...and I have had tons of vintage and modern high end speaks.
 
I just got a pair of l65a and am really surprised I would say a laid back sound I was expecting more forward sound but these are just right my wife calls them warm sounding ......give these a try super dog...........think you might like....very good with all types of music which my l100s arnt......
 
IMO they seem to run from pretty bad to very good. I never liked L-100s and the much vaunted L-300 leaves me cold. But the 3115 theater speakers I recently had for awhile were first rate.
 
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I'm with Tom on this one. They range from very colored (L100s/L200s) to very good. 250ti's, 4430, and to some extent, l300s.
 
I think listening style,music and mood play a part.I can't recall what music I did not like through JBLs because I probably changed it right away.I guess I am not telling some JBL owners something they don't already know maybe the fake but fun which is fun at times doesn't work for everything.Like I said I really like what they do for certain music but can be too forward and shrill for some at lower levels.I don't think I would know that if I didn't have other types of speakers."Moonbeams"by Grover Washington.Try it at moderate to loud on JBL.
 
What I like about JBL is that somewhere in their speaker line-up, past or present, they made a speaker that could appeal to a myriad of tastes.
 
Just to be a rebel, you should put the JBL speakers on the east side of your house, and the others on the west side of your house. :D
 
You really need two systems if JBL's are your flavor. I own both ends of the coin in two different systems in my house. Living room is a pair of 250ti's and are my main speakers I use, the other pair is a set of 4-way monitors 4340's ( this would be the L400 they never created) very different sound. There are materials that can be played on either system that the other can not match. I have both and listen to both weekly depending on what I am listning to. I do find the 250ti's are easyer to listen to for 6-7 hours at a time compared to the 4340's. :D

The 250's are on the east and the 4340's are on the west...
 
I feel the same way about my 4312a monitors. At first I really loved them, but now I am less enthusiastic. I think they are a fine speaker for what they were designed to do, but they don't work all that well in my current home.

Although I am currently looking for new speakers, I haven't ruled out JBL completely; I am interested in trying some other models.
 
wsissons said:
I just got a pair of l65a and am really surprised I would say a laid back sound I was expecting more forward sound but these are just right my wife calls them warm sounding ......give these a try super dog...........think you might like....very good with all types of music which my l100s arnt......
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I too find the L65A to be a very nice sounding speaker once raised off the ground and positioned at ear level. It took a while , but I have mine dialed in quite nicely. And I would also call them warm sounding.
 
JBL towers were ubiquitous at the many Warehouse Raves i attended in the early to mid 90's. Would i buy a pair for home use having what i have now? Urmmmm....no.
 
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