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JBL Vs Dahlquist

62sunbeam

62sunbeam

Raconteur
I have and enjoy very much a pair of Dahlquist DQM-9s That while not my modded DQ-10s I am quite happy with in my main system and I was wondering how these compare to L100Ts or any of the other fine and obviously well regraded JBL line?

I almost had a line on a set of super cheap Jubals that I would have loved to A/B with my DQM-9s but oh well. If I do score a set of the better JBLs it's going to have to be quite a fortuitous event as finances dictate that buying pricey speakers to try out just isn't an option so I was wondering what the discriminating ears at AK thought about the various Dahlquist models Vs. any JBLs you might have experience with.

I'm thinking more about the M (monitor) Dahlquists as it's a more valid comparison but feel free to share any and all impressions.

Thanks

Eric
 
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I have both sets and thought the L-100's were the best speaker I have heard (rock - n-roll, & blues) then I got the DQ-10's - end of story DQ-10's have so much more presence, clear, clean, that is when I had that "WOW" moment.
 
I don't really expect much to compare to the DQ-10s or other DQ series speakers but I'd like to know more about peoples experiences with the "M" or monitor Dahlquists and JBLs.

Eric
 
The L-100T is a nice speaker (and I don't hold that opinion about the L-100 without the T). I personally do not really care for the tweeter in them, but I don't care for most metal dome tweeters. I can't compare to the M series dahlquist but the 100T wouldn't be a horrible counterpart to a DQ-10. They're quite different in presentation but neither is bad...nor do I think either is perfect. But they're both good in different ways. I've never owned the L-100t but a friend of mine had a pair. I used to have DQ-10s and 30s.
 
L100s and L100ts are two entirely different beasts. L100s from the early 70s have a bloated bass, forward mids and rolled off highs, pretty meh IMO. L100ts have a much flatter frequency response and much more extended highs with their titanium tweeters. L100ts (and especially the T3s) 4410s, 4412s, L96s, L110s, 4313bs 4425s, 4430s, will hang with some pretty tough company, they have heavy sold cabinets, pro drivers with big magnets and cast aluminum frames, and very flat frequency response.
 
A pretty fair appraisal IMO Johnvf. The titanium tweeter is amp sensitive and can sound shrill with a bright amp, but sounds amazingly realistic with a good solid high current amp IMO.
 
The DQM-9 holds it's own with those JBL comparisons and probably more so depending on personal taste.
 
I had the DQ-10s, but i think my JBL-4412s outperform them. The JBLs have just as good high end, when tuned properly to your listening room, and the bass is no contest, the JBLs outperform them in that department too. YMMV
 
Look for L96s. The don't seem to command the high price of other JBLs but are fine speakers.

cubdog
 
Second cubdog L96 is very similar to the pro 4313bs I have which are among the best speakers I have ever heard and I have heard some nice ones. For example they IMO crush Linn Tukans and older Kans both of which I had.
 
I've never heard any M series Dahls, but I do have DQ-10s (best speaker I've ever owned). Just yesterday I heard a pair of JBLs for the first time, and I was VERY impressed! They were the L96. I thought the tweeter was the smoothest metal dome I've ever heard. Overall, I thought they were very good speakers... very warm though. A bit warmer than I prefer. I loved them in every other way though.
 
The only potentially-relevant comparison I can make is between Dahlquist M-907s and Pioneer HPM-100s.

There is no comparison. The Dahlquists are superior in every way. Tighter bass, more lifelike mids, more enjoyable HFs.

I sold the 100s a week after the M907s arrived. No regrets.
 
Poorman to *assume* all JBLs sound like HPM-100s is very misinformed, do you think professional studios would mix on speakers that sound as bad as the HPM-100s? The L-100s yes do sound like the HPM-100s and the later professorianal monitors of the 80s and beyond which the L96 for example are based on? Much flatter frequency response and much more refined. Not all JBLs are made the same!
 
The DQ10s and L100Ts are very good speakers at their market price points. There will always be an opening at our house for either, as an example of how good their performance and build are, and for repping their companies.:thmbsp:
 
I own many JBLs. I also owned Dahlquist DQ10 for a couple years. The DQ10 are very nice speakers and are typically high in WAF. I thought they sounded good, but not very lively or dynamic. In my mind, like looking at a picture rather than seeing the thing the picture is of. At low to medium volumes, Dahlquists sound great..

Good JBLs however, sound superb and dynamic. They can sound very lively! Please do no misread what I just said to include all JBLs or even most JBLs. They have dogs in the stable too..
 
I'm a fan of both JBL's and the DQ-10"s,although I have never owned a pair.I listen to them often,at a friends house. I do own L-96's and there big brother the L-112's,and imho, the DQ-10's are not as dynamic,and full sounding as the JBL's.
 
I'm actually interested in personal experience with the DQM line of Dahlquist speakers as this is what I have now and I figure the comparison is less apples to oranges than the DQ-10 comparison is.

I have heard the DQ-10 be called an amalgam of cheap speakers that were hobbled together to make a truly great speaker but the Dahlquist DQM and M lines of speakers used better components I'm sure to compete in what was easily JBL's territory.

I'm interested in knowing if they succeeded.

Eric
 
I thought the DQM series were Magnat speakers imported from Germany and sold under the Dahlquist name. I could be wrong.
 
62sunbeam said:
I'm actually interested in personal experience with the DQM line of Dahlquist speakers as this is what I have now and I figure the comparison is less apples to oranges than the DQ-10 comparison is.
Click to expand...

Not sure that's true, but I am no expert on the DQM line. In any case, why not ask that question? Most of us immediately think of the DQ-10 as their (Dahlquist) defining product. At least I do.. it is by far the best Dahlquist I have heard..
 
JohnVF said:
I thought the DQM series were Magnat speakers imported from Germany and sold under the Dahlquist name. I could be wrong.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you're right about that.

As for the question... I've never owned the DQM-9's but I have heard them. I have owned the M-905's, M-907's, M-909's (still have these), the DQ-10's and the DQ-8's. I've had multiple pairs of L-100T's and regular L-100's. I've also owned the L-100T3's, the L-80T3's, the L-60T's and the L-20T's among MANY other sets of vintage JBL speakers. IMO while most JBL's sound great and will get quite loud, I don't think I've ever heard one that I like as much as any of the Dahlquists of the same size. I will say that of all of the T series JBL's that the L-80T3's were my favorite of the bunch.
 
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