JBL speakers are they really that good?
- Thread starter Ken Boyd
- Start date
Best JBLs I ever had were these tent sale 3115s, a most excellent speaker with a midrange realism that was quite lifelike. I bi-amped them with a big hog QSC on the woofers and a Teac chip-amp on the mid-treble. I'd put these up against damned near anything including the Altec 19s that were in another room.
They sounded much better than the Altec 605s I'd previously used in that room; the 605s were fine speakers but for some reason didn't work at all in that room. In other rooms the 605s would do the big "over the shoulder" imaging trick but in this one they sounded dead and flat. But the 3115s came alive there.
They sounded much better than the Altec 605s I'd previously used in that room; the 605s were fine speakers but for some reason didn't work at all in that room. In other rooms the 605s would do the big "over the shoulder" imaging trick but in this one they sounded dead and flat. But the 3115s came alive there.
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Are those a pro audio model? They don't look like a home audiophile pair of speakers. I know that QSC is a pro audio amp, along with the other rack mount gear maybe an electronic crossover. Never really like the QSC line of amps and used them quite often just because many of the music companies that I worked for used them. I preferred the Crowns or Crest Audio over the QSC's, and as far as speakers I preferred the EAW line arrays over the JBL's. But I have spoken to many people that liked the QSC's I just found them to fail more often than the Crowns or Crest amps.
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cnh2
Super Member
You mean tubes and JBLs have complimentary flaws?
Why of course!
Do you have any idea 'how long' it takes to find just the right tube amp and tubes to compliment the shortcomings of the JBLs and vice versa, there are so many to choose from--a Sysiphean task I'm afraid. lol
I am kidding here because the JBLs do sound fine with my SS amps as well.
cnh2
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Uncle Paul
Super Member
JBL Pro Audio undergoes the same measurement and analysis as the consumer gear does. In some cases the only differences is that one system wears an Armani suit and the other has a hard hat and steel toed boots. Everything else may be identical. Both are just as accurate and very fine sounding. One is furniture and the other is rugged enough for sound reinforcement use.
Yes. They were intended for permanent installations such as small motion picture theaters. Quite a few fellas have used them for hi-fi since the big JBL tent sale of about a dozen years ago.
Interesting design; the 15" woofer (a 2226) crosses to the horn loaded 8" cone around 350hz and then the 8 hands off to a 1" throat compression driver at about 1600 hz. So the 8" horn acts almost as a dedicated vocal range speaker. The 3115's sound is one of great authority; effortless and with great clarity.
The speaker has a passive crossover for the mid to tweeter but must be bi-amped woofer to mid.
I've heard several first rate hi-fis using QSC amps including this one Tom Danley brought to a Chicago Horn Club meeting. (And Mike Baker's in Lima Ohio. And my own.
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I bought a pair of JLBs from a guy in a van once. Figured "$1999 list...these HAVE to be good." He wanted $600...all I had on me was $133.28. He still sold them to me. Did I do good?
That depends. JBL made some great speakers but they also made some I consider a waste of space.
Anyway, if you think you're getting your money's worth I reckon you are. It's for you to judge
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With the high quality drivers in the Arrays...
I would imagine they take HiFi to a level rarely heard.
I would imagine they take HiFi to a level rarely heard.
similost
Rockin and Rollin....
Tom Danley. brought to a Chicago Horn Club meeting. (And Mike Baker's in Lima Ohio. And my own.
hhhmm... those look like a pair of his pro unities... I've heard a pair of his pro unities, outdoors even, and I was super impressed by the sound.. .. He does some amazing things.
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markd51
Nyuk Nyuk
True dat.
I once heard a fella, and his girl auditioning a pair of JBL CF-150's, being powered by the monster McIntosh MC-2600 at a less than stellar McIntosh Dealer in Chicago once.
While the MC-2600 was probably not the greatest SS Amp McIntosh made, it certainly was no slouch either. As many know, the JBL CF-150 was certainly not a no holds barred attempt by JBL, and I'll call them a "cheap version of an L-100", maybe not worse, but not better, them damn speakers took a beating from that 600wpc Amp (which actually displaces about 775wpc on a bench), and kept on kicking.
Certainly not a very refined speaker, but it sure could rock the house, with relatively clean, undistorted sound. Yep, it was colored, and the cabs must've been made from paper mache. Still, somebody with half a brain must've conjured up these el cheapo JBL's at a very reasonable price when they came out.
The funny thing about JBL's, is most were actually relatively cheap, considering the build quality, especially the drivers.
I've heard quite a few very expensive speakers, extremely high build quality, lots of work placed into pretty veneers, and finishes, only to be worthy of playing muzak in the doctor's office. Mark
markd51
Nyuk Nyuk
http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/specs/home-speakers/1996-century-gold.htm
Then there was these suckers. If I remember correctly, about $3200/pr when they came out. Mark
Then there was these suckers. If I remember correctly, about $3200/pr when they came out. Mark
markd51
Nyuk Nyuk
http://www.jblpro.com/pub/recording/lsr32.pdf
Another speaker which I heard was quite good. Sadly, never got a chance to hear them.
And again, sort of pricey, but I'm gathering they'd give the 4311 a run for the money, and then some. Mark
Another speaker which I heard was quite good. Sadly, never got a chance to hear them.
And again, sort of pricey, but I'm gathering they'd give the 4311 a run for the money, and then some. Mark
Although I only own one pair of JBLs ($2 garage sale 2500s...light in the bass dept. but excellent highs), I hold them in high regard. With 40+ years in the radio biz, I've seen studio monitors ranging from those wood Bogen paging speakers to 4311s. A lot of stations used (and still use) them...worked at one with L100s suspended from chains. A big fave among the jocks. In a studio environment...unbeatable. In a proper home installation...damn nice.
hatrack71
distracted by everything
There you go, get a big Audio Research amp. I have heard the D-125 and it was awesome! Would easily power those Infinities.