JBL speakers are they really that good?

[Ken Boyd]

Which model of JBL would compare to a pair of RS-1's?

 

[tubed]

Which model of JBL would compare to a pair of RS-1's?

I havent had the pleasure to hear either but perhaps the Everests might sound as good or better?
However, in perhaps another unfair compairison, I was suprised at how much better sounding the Infinity Kappa 9 seemed when played next to a pair of JBL L-250ti.

 

[superdog]

In the strange world of speakers systems there is no king. In one's view there are good ones from infamous makers; and shits from renowned manufacturers. Your best friend is your taste and experience in deciding what is good. It's a relative matter.

So true.Owning L100,L112,L80T and L26 Decades I love them all but at lower and more relaxed listening volumes I prefer a more relaxed speaker in the mode of the East Coast sound.Bozak,AR and Advent.Just my preferences.Are JBL that good?Yes they do what they were intended to do very well.

 

[Littletoot]

Kinda like what makes a Ferrari a Ferrari... Love them or hate them, they occupy a special place in the firmament. And the price keeps going up. I have 4315's and 4344's. Wasn't especially looking for them, but when they came around, I didn't hesitate. Nothing sounds like JBL. Nothing.

 

[Littletoot]

Which model of JBL would compare to a pair of RS-1's?

Depends how loud you wanna go.

 

[Copa1934]

Not all JBL's sound alike...

...Nothing sounds like JBL. Nothing.

Which is exactly the problem. Just because nothing sounds like a JBL (including their own models by comparison), doesn't make JBL the definitive product. I own, personally, 2 pair of L88's and a pair of L3's with the latter clearly being superior, with no surprise of course. However I'm keeping neither. Overall they aren't my cup of tea. Impressive in some respects, to be sure, but overall not meeting my listening requirements or tastes. One thing they both share in common is too forward. When positioned just right the 88's image very nice for vintage.

Now, these are not respective of all models of JBL's, without a doubt, but they will command prices that are, honestly, overpriced for what you get. A Paragon is another poor example of value as most posts I've read didn't favor them at all, or very little. But these speakers are a statement, more than about execution. It was a demonstration of the effectiveness of a design, and implementation of art, in a sense.

I don't think the OP is out of line for his opinions or his questioning "value". Those who were offended clearly chimed in with little regard to the meat of the subject, which was not a blanket statement across all models of JBL's but a particular line or type of JBL. Nothing was stated about higher end JBL's, which dollar for dollar are likely fair prices compared to other similar status speakers, new or vintage.

The fact that JBL's were so widely used in recording studio's, mostly of course the 4300 series, somehow made them the defacto standard for listening. Unfortunately the demands of a studio are very clearly different from those of a typical home environment, hence so many makes and models of speakers to choose from.

Is it unfair to label all JBL's? Certainly. But should all JBL's be priced according to their notably better speakers? Heck no. There lies the dilemna.

I've owned 4 classic (vintage?) Mustangs, currently a 69 coupe. At $600 or $100k a vintage Mustang is a vintage Mustang. The rare exception being a Shelby, which is hardly representative of a typical "factory" Mustang. For the same money there are far superior vehicles available, including the latest round of Mustangs. It's Nostalgia, pure and simple. Anyone who tells you it's because of performance, handling, economy, is lying through their teeth.

Oh, I clearly do NOT hate JBL's. I have some LE10's and PR10's and would like to build something like the L77's. JBL made some awsome drivers, to be sure.

 

[nickrobotron]

I have owned 3 pairs of JBL's. The L86 (little bro to the L96), L26, and L77. All of them were completely different.

The L26 sound I would describe as others are describing the L100.

The L77 sound is very boxy. It reminds me of an east coast sound but with tinny sounding highs.

The L86 sound is very laid back. The bass was not boomy or over powering (like the L26) and the highs were not harsh in the slightest. This was the most balanced JBL I owned. It was also the only 3-way.

I'd still love to get my hands on a pair of L96's. I'm not giving up on JBL's. I'm attracted to their history and design and I know they've made some speakers that will walk all over anything I currently own. There is a fun factor and liveliness to JBL's that I haven't heard in anything else.

 

[DerekSwanson]

My friend who's a music producer and has recorded quite a few bands that have done well likes to listen to the final mixed product on factory car stereos because he says that unfortunately that's where the majority of people are listening to music nowadays, and he gets an " ACCURATE " representation of what the final product is going to sound like to most people. So there ya go for " ACCURATE " sounding speakers. HAHA

 

[hwirt]

Which model of JBL would compare to a pair of RS-1's?

I recall listening to the big Infinities RS-1's at a local dealer back in the 80's several times, and although they looked very impressive the speakers didn't quite live up to their looks sound wise. It may have had something to do with the amps driving them or maybe they didn't integrate well with the room but the system did not live up to the hype.

The comparable JBL at the time was the L250/L250i, the JBL sounded more coherent and produced a more convincing stereo image as I recall. And while not a small speaker system was able to integrate into most any room and fill that room with excellent sound.

The current high end JBL's are in a different league compared to either of those speakers and would not be a fair comparison. The newer ones are significantly better in every respect.

 

[reggaenaut]

I don't think the OP is out of line for his opinions or his questioning "value".

Value is determine by market......a large crowd at a specific time decides that they want a specific model...then the price goes up, up, up.

 

[mech986]

Here is some reference original price information. Hopefully, since this is historical only, it won't get the thread moved to D&S. If it potentially can cause it to be moved, mods, please let me know and I'll delete it and put it in D&S and we can link or reference it from this thread.

My Audio Magazine October Equipment issues listed the following period retail prices: (do remember that inflation was a bitch and mortgage rates were around 12-14% then).

1983 Infinity RS1 $5000 for the entire system. The IRS was $30,000.
1985 Infinity RS1B $5500 for the entire system. The IRS Series III was $35,000.
The RS1 has a sensitivity of 86db at 1W/1Meter and tends to go very low in impedance (below 4 ohms) - requires a very robust set of amps to run and stay alive.
http://www.infinity-classics.de/technik/manuals/RS_I_technical_sheet.pdf
http://www.davidsaudio.com/rs1b-manual.pdf


http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/reference/price-lists/1970-1999-prices.htm
At that time, JBL's best consumer loudspeaker was the JBL L250 or 250Ti.
1983 JBL L250 $3000 pr. The accessory B380 15" sub was $495, the B460 18" sub was $1250. The BX63 crossover was $255.
1985 JBL 250Ti $3400 pr. The accessory B380 15" sub was $600, the B460 18" sub was $1500. (94db/1W/1M, 8 ohm). The BX63a crossover was $355.
All 90db at 1W/1M, 8 ohm impedance.

For comparison, the last JBL L300 Summits were:
1982 JBL L300 Summits $3000 pr.

1986 saw JBL produce their TOTL statement speaker the DD5500 Everest
1986 JBL DD5500 Everest aprox. $10,000 pr. Sensitivity 100db at 1W/1M, 8 ohm impedance.
http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/specs/home-speakers/1985-everest.htm

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?349-Old-JBL-Pro-Studio-Monitor-Price-List
JBL's best professional studio monitor loudspeakers below:
1983 JBL 4345 mirror imaged $4600 pr. 93-95db/1W/m
http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/specs/pro-speakers/1981-4345.htm

1982 JBL 4355 $5600 pr. 96 db/1w/m, 4 ohm low freq, 8 ohm mids and up impedance, Biamped, crossover about $400 (5234A at the time)
http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/specs/pro-speakers/1981-4355.htm

1981-5 JBL 4435 $3450 pr. 96 db/1w/m 8 ohm
http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/specs/pro-speakers/1984-4430-35.htm

1981 JBL 4333B (L300A equivalent) $3000 pr. 93db/1W/m
http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/specs/pro-speakers/1977-4331-4333.htm

 

[similost]

Big brothers to the 2344 CD horn used in the 4430's you are familiar with, powered by a 4" compression driver. I'd guess that Simi's speakers are like 4430's on steroids. I'd also bet that they can handle just about any kind of music equally as well, and likely crystal clear at all volume levels.

The drivers on mine are 2445H drivers. A 2" compression, that weigh around 35lbs each. The horn itself is a 2360A which is a short throw horn.

Yes, everything on them is crystal clear sounding and very realistic. Not shrill on the ears, and actually very natural sounding. It's also amazing hot loud yu can get these and still be super clean sounding.

The woofers are 2235H that were reconed using factory cones. THey are a very nice sounding driver, and a lot of punch from them ,but I find my Lambda TD15M drivers to be a much much better sounding driver. I"d love to know if I could load these boxes with those.. but my bank account kinda says probably not.

 

[whoaru99]

There was a group buy on the Lambda series that just ended a short while ago. I had, momentarily, pondered how it might work in my pair of SR4719Xs to change from 2241Hs to TD18s.

 

[Uncle Paul]

The drivers on mine are 2445H drivers. A 2" compression, that weigh around 35lbs each. The horn itself is a 2360A which is a short throw horn.

Yes, everything on them is crystal clear sounding and very realistic. Not shrill on the ears, and actually very natural sounding. It's also amazing hot loud yu can get these and still be super clean sounding.

The woofers are 2235H that were reconed using factory cones. THey are a very nice sounding driver, and a lot of punch from them ,but I find my Lambda TD15M drivers to be a much much better sounding driver. I"d love to know if I could load these boxes with those.. but my bank account kinda says probably not.

That particular series of bi-radial CD horns are very smooth and easy to listen to. My 2344's produced a "sweet spot" that pretty much encompass the entire room. I suspect that the 2360's do the same.

Thanks for the correction on the driver size - don't know what I was thinking when I said it was a 4" dia :stupid:

I think it's pretty impressive how well the 2235's have stood the test of time, especially considering that they were an improved 2231, so their roots go way, way, back. I would expect that a modern driver of similar engineering commitment and construction would have to top it. They are still very, very nice.

It would be interesting to see if 2234's were used (mass ring is the difference between the two) and a 4435 network used.

 

[Uncle Paul]

Which model of JBL would compare to a pair of RS-1's?

JBL had a prototype called the Cascade that should have been pretty similar: http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/specs/home-speakers/1988-cascade.htm

The closest production match up as already said would the the 250Ti.

I'd love to hear a pair of RS-1's.

 

[ekmanning5]

I'd probably share your opinion of JBL, too, if those were the extent of my JBL experience!

Don't be too quick to judge all JBLs by that list, or the L100s.

I've only had JBLs in the house for a bit over 50-years, so what do I know? Never have been a fan of the L100 and I heard plenty of them when they were new. I'm currently quite happy with my L112s I've had since new over thirty-years ago, my L7s, L5s, L96s, and L80T/3s. And I still have that system from 50-years ago. But my main system uses these today:

I'd still be willing to give JBLs another chance, especially the one in your picture. Most of what I mentioned, I brought in, auditioned and decided what I had already was more to my liking. That said I'm sure wherever they ended up, the new owner was quite happy.

 

[Ken Boyd]

JBL had a prototype called the Cascade that should have been pretty similar: http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/specs/home-speakers/1988-cascade.htm

The closest production match up as already said would the the 250Ti.

I'd love to hear a pair of RS-1's.

Now that looks like something that I would be interesting in. Now to try and find a pair for sell for less than a grand is another story.

 

[automojo]

Japanese audiophiles IMHO probably aren't the best judge of what's good or bad (or any other audiophiles for that matter)-let your ear's be your judge.
JBL made lot's of stuff-some good some bad.
No company can be expected to make all top notch-best sounding stuff.
They have a few models I wouldn't mind having, and a couple of the newer high end ones for sure.
The L100's were made for a certain market, and certain time-they can be improved dramatically-at a price. Your ears and pocket book, among other things, have to be the judge.
I think part of it is a retro feeling-70's stuff-same with the Japanese-but some of the 3 watt BTL single driver systems are really a personal taste thing.
And perhaps their love for small tube amps is where highly efficient JBL speakers come in.....:scratch2:
I'm having enough fun with my 2 pairs of ESS AMT3's and Magnepan SMG's-so I don't have time for the JBL bug to bite me..
If your into the retro 70's speakers-try a pair of DLK 1 1/2's.
Well built-can be found for around $50, and sound very good, and give you some of the 70's sound on the cheap.

 

[mech986]

Now that looks like something that I would be interesting in. Now to try and find a pair for sell for less than a grand is another story.

The Cascade was never put into production so you won't be able to do that. Find a JBL Synthesis dealer and audition one of the Array 1400 speakers or similar.

http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/jbl_synthesis_1400_array_bg_loudspeaker

http://www.jblsynthesis.com/

 

[hatrack71]

Well, this only prods me to provide this link. You could spend the better part of the morning drooling over the JBLs these Asians have. Enjoy and post your thoughts. There are some incredible loudspeakers in here and maybe a little education for you. Hope you can speak Japanese. Keep scrolling down- it is endless, humorous and maddening all at the same time the extent these guys love JBL. Maddening because they damn near have all of the big ones in existence.

http://blog.jbl43.com/?cid=18824