JBL speakers are they really that good?

[Uncle Paul]

Ha ha. I'd love some Arrays as well. They're coming up to ten years old now but unfortunately I don't think they sold that many as they're quite scarce in the classifieds.

My backup plan is to get a pair of SAM1HFs and DIY something with a great woofer.

Cheers,

Warren

Probably what most of us will have to do - if only JBL still sold raw drivers...

Until then I'm more than pleased with my XPL-200A's. So far, then only non horn loaded system I've heard that can keep up with the speed and detail of a compression driver. They don't have the gripping bass of the 250 Ti's my buddy has, but outclass them on the top end (and that's not easy).

 

[Ed Zeppeli]

I'm pretty sure you can still get some raw drivers from Pro and Synthesis but it's touch and go.

I've yet to hear the XPL 200s or the 250ti.....definitely curious.

 

[outlander]

I owned a pair of JBL L80t’s back in the 80’s. I’ve gone through a fair number of speakers over the years and to me the L80t’s were by the worst speaker I’ve owned. At low volume they were tolerable but at higher volumes they were so bright they made my fillings hurt.

 

[Sam Cogley]

In fact, IMHO and experience, that old canard is exclusively the result of the success of the 4311/L100 Century which in fact was voiced only to mimic the ubiquitous Altec studio monitor of that era.

And failed miserably in the attempt.

 

[Uncle Paul]

I'm pretty sure you can still get some raw drivers from Pro and Synthesis but it's touch and go.

I've yet to hear the XPL 200s or the 250ti.....definitely curious.

You can still get some things, but back in the day you could buy whatever they made. Sometimes you can get replacements for current/late model speakers, but they have tightened up on some and need the SN from the speaker before you can purchase.

250 Ti - Strong from the top to the bottom, no weaknesses. Accurate and powerful works of art. A wrecking ball of power that can be as delicate as the wings of a butterfly. Concert sound levels are for wusses. They can shake the fillings out of your teeth. You will smile then turn the volume up some more.

XPL 200 - Detailed and fast without fatigue. Seamless speaker integration. Amazing imaging. With the right amplifier (I use a Yamaha B-2) the sound is so good I swear I can see it. A good recording can bring a tear to your eye. Can be comfortable all day at near concert levels. Music is good and lively as well at low levels. Never disappoints.

 

[Ed Zeppeli]

Damn, you're selling them!

 

[Cactus Bob]

You can still get some things, but back in the day you could buy whatever they made. Sometimes you can get replacements for current/late model speakers, but they have tightened up on some and need the SN from the speaker before you can purchase.

250 Ti - Strong from the top to the bottom, no weaknesses. Accurate and powerful works of art. A wrecking ball of power that can be as delicate as the wings of a butterfly. Concert sound levels are for wusses. They can shake the fillings out of your teeth. You will smile then turn the volume up some more.

XPL 200 - Detailed and fast without fatigue. Seamless speaker integration. Amazing imaging. With the right amplifier (I use a Yamaha B-2) the sound is so good I swear I can see it. A good recording can bring a tear to your eye. Can be comfortable all day at near concert levels. Music is good and lively as well at low levels. Never disappoints.

Dam, that was good. :tresbon:

 

[BMWCCA]

Enjoyed this thread. Read the wole thing while listening to the Keith Jarrett trio through my JBL L100s. Have had these speakers since 1978 and to me, they still sound great today. Once the music is on, it's as if I can close my eyes and I'm 17 years old again disovering great music - they have been the sound of my musical journey for the last 35 years.

i recognize ther are better choices out there. Still, amazed at how often I'll play music on these when guests are at the house and the reaction is always, "wow, those speakers sound amazing." I agree.

Well, of course, you are on the West Coast, aren't you??
It's only natural.

 

[BMWCCA]

And failed miserably in the attempt.

All depends on how you measure success. It's pretty obvious the smaller JBLs pretty much took over the market but then the size was an advantage, and it worked as intended.

 

[Sam Cogley]

All depends on how you measure success. It's pretty obvious the smaller JBLs pretty much took over the market but then the size was an advantage, and it worked as intended.

But, at least to my ears, it sounds nothing like the 604. The LE25, in particular, is awful. Which makes me wonder what exactly they did to make the LE26 great.

 

[Uncle Paul]

You can still get some things, but back in the day you could buy whatever they made. Sometimes you can get replacements for current/late model speakers, but they have tightened up on some and need the SN from the speaker before you can purchase.

250 Ti - Strong from the top to the bottom, no weaknesses. Accurate and powerful works of art. A wrecking ball of power that can be as delicate as the wings of a butterfly. Concert sound levels are for wusses. They can shake the fillings out of your teeth. You will smile then turn the volume up some more.

XPL 200 - Detailed and fast without fatigue. Seamless speaker integration. Amazing imaging. With the right amplifier (I use a Yamaha B-2) the sound is so good I swear I can see it. A good recording can bring a tear to your eye. Can be comfortable all day at near concert levels. Music is good and lively as well at low levels. Never disappoints.

While I'm thinking about it, JBL did create a speaker that combined the best of the 250 Ti and XPL 200. Some bargain hunter out there is going to hate me for outing them, but the combination of the Performance Series PT-800 and PS-1400 gives you the best of both worlds, performance wise. They fly under the radar and can be had for a bargain, even though they use many of the the same drivers as Revel Studio 2's (same engineering and design team - Revel is essentially JBL's boutique line), and also a genuine late version of the LE-14. BTW - the last PS-1400 sub on that auction site sold for about $350!!!

The downside? For most of us the silver and black color scheme is just plain ugly. I mean UGLY. Also, they have a cheap vinyl finish instead of the veneer they deserve. If I found a pair I'd be inclined to build them the cabinets they deserve. At a minimum I'd put veneer on the existing cabs and refinish those awful trim rings.

Note the similarity of the $8k retail Revel Gem 2's and the PT-800 in the pix below

 

[Ed Zeppeli]

Yeah that's another sleeper from JBL from what I hear. There's a massive thread on audioheritage.org about them.

I missed a pair for $80 recently but I'm more interested in the subs and the LE14 driver.

 

[BMWCCA]

But, at least to my ears, it sounds nothing like the 604. The LE25, in particular, is awful. Which makes me wonder what exactly they did to make the LE26 great.

Oh I agree, I'm no fan of their sound, but they were a commercial success both in pro use and consumer use.

 

[tuffstuff1]

Well, I am about to find out. I just got these and sanded and oiled the cabs. I traded my Yamaha TT straight up for these. They are 4312A's. I am very impressed so far. I thought they would be a little more laid back then my Yamaha NS-1000. They are not. They may even be more forward. I am just getting to know these and have only played a few records. I was just listening to some Neil young and a sound came from a speaker and it literally frightened me. I thought it came from the other room. What a difference. The bass is more boomy for sure. That must be the west coast sound. Other than that the highs are comparable. The mid is way more forward and metallic on the Yamaha. This is very interesting to me. I never thought I would own a pair of JBL's but now I feel lucky to have them.

 

[superdog]

Most vintage JBLs are pretty good at what their intended purpose was meant to be.Even the L100.When one becomes a connoisseur things change. Can't speak for the newer ones.

 

[mech986]

Tuffstuff, the 4312 series is sort of the later versions of the 4311 with updated midrange and titanium tweeters. Voiced similarly to the L100/4311 series, maybe a tad smoother.

For a more accurate series, the 4411/4412/4410 would be the medium size monitors to look for. The 4408 would be small size, and the 4406 the mini size. They are very listenable.

 

[BMWCCA]

For a more accurate series, the 4411/4412/4410 would be the medium size monitors to look for. The 4408 would be small size, and the 4406 the mini size. They are very listenable.

For those following along at home who may not know; the consumer versions of these include L112, L96, L100T/3, L80T/3, etc.

Generally the drivers are the same with minor changes in the networks between pro and consumer. There are even 4410A and 4412A in utility cabinets (more of a gray/black plastic-y laminate, not wood) which give the same (if not improved) sound at a more affordable price.

 

[Hartsfield1]

I'm pretty sure you can still get some raw drivers from Pro and Synthesis but it's touch and go.

I've yet to hear the XPL 200s or the 250ti.....definitely curious.

There's a new review of the XPL-200s http://www.audiophilenirvana.com/audiophile-equipment-reviews/jbl-xpl-200a-holy-grail/

 

[Pio1980]

Most vintage JBLs are pretty good at what their intended purpose was meant to be.Even the L100.When one becomes a connoisseur things change. Can't speak for the newer ones.

Depending on the source, these either made or ruined JBL's rep.

 

[BMWCCA]

There's a new review of the XPL-200s http://www.audiophilenirvana.com/audiophile-equipment-reviews/jbl-xpl-200a-holy-grail/

WTF?? Too revealing?? Dumb down your speakers' response to compensate for poor recordings? Why not just stick your fingers in your ears?

The LSR6332 and M2 systems are too revealing of the recording, and allow the listener to hear every studio error. They take the enjoyment out of listening to many older recordings. Whereas the XPL-200A, by stopping just short of this level of detail, makes listening to many older recordings more pleasant than on any other loudspeaker system we’ve ever experienced.

I doubt the reviewer ever heard the M2.