JM Lab Utopia Be

[Negotiableterms]

Does anyone have any experience with the JM Lab Utopia Be line? I just picked up a pair of L+Rs for my office, and I'm wondering what gear to hook them up to. McIntosh, Threshold, Audio Research?

Any suggestions?

 

[gonzomeep]

Pretty rare speakers. Spendy. Since there are no responses from actual owners, I'll relate a bit of info that I just happen to be reading in TAS. They heard the Grand Utopia at some high-end dealer show in S.F. and found that they sounded quite nice when paired with another French brand ,YBA.

 

[theophile]

I've heard the JM Lab Alto Utopia Be as part of a $93,000Aus system(ASL tube pre,Krell poweramp,Ayre disc player). The Altec Valencias stomped the Utopia Bes. Don't get your noses out-of-joint,a friend who was with me at the time heartily agreed.

***Moderator Edit***

No Attitude means not telling another member that the newly acquired gear he's so happy about is crap compared to your god-like possessions. 'My gear's better than your gear' is NOT permitted on AK. We have banned people for this exact behavior, and will do so again. You thought because this attitude was directed at a mod, it would somehow be ok or go unremarked? You got that wrong, and your Altec Valencias would look pretty stupid crammed onto the bookshelves in my office.

 

[luvvinvinyl]

Taking a deep breath,

David, you might want to give Glenn Sinclair a call, as he is a JMLabs dealer, and has a knack for getting those speakers to sound really good. I have heard him pair up gear from almost every price range in his store to different JMLabs.

I do concur with the YBA recommendation, I have heard that amp powering an unremembered model of floorstander, from a little bit down the JMLabs model range.

 

[GordonW]

The Utopias tend to be reasonably efficient, so I'd be inclined to see what good tube power would do. It'd be interesting to pair them with ARC stuff... like maybe an SP6, SP8 or SP10 preamp, and something like a D52, D70 or D79 amp, something of that like...

BTW: We may be picking up the JM Lab stuff here at Audio Atlanta. Stay tuned for details!

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[gonzomeep]

I'm curious about them myself. Not that I can afford them That inverted dome Beryllium tweeter is supposed to be extremely smooth and play past 40khz, if not to 50khz. Better get 'ol Rover some earplugs

 

[basite]

:drool::drool::drool::drool:

those are magnificent speakers. I heard a pair with pathos gear, with Mcintosh gear, with musical fidelity gear, and I think I also heard them with some other gear.

the musical fidelity gear did very good. but the Mcintosh was better IMO...

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

 

[Negotiableterms]

David, you might want to give Glenn Sinclair a call, as he is a JMLabs dealer, and has a knack for getting those speakers to sound really good. I have heard him pair up gear from almost every price range in his store to different JMLabs.

Wow...thanks Ernie! I just bought that Cambridge 840C from Glenn, at a great price and with magic delivery (thanks again), and chatted with him at the Fest. I didn't know he was a JM Lab dealer. Next year, we'll have to get him to demo some at the Fest! Off to the phone, I go...

 

[gonzomeep]

Negotiableterms

So you have the Micro Be. bookshelf models?

 

[Negotiableterms]

the musical fidelity gear did very good. but the Mcintosh was better IMO...

That's good to hear, because I have an MC-352 that's doing nothing, and I was hoping to match it to the new speakers. Thanks!

 

[gonzomeep]

Where did your post go? Hmmm... So you have the L+R? The only one I could find is already amplified internally. Oh well, you don't need me on this thread anyway. I'm more interested with reading about them than anything. That's what I'll do.

 

[Negotiableterms]

This is the model we're discussing:

L & R Utopia Be

Description

3-way bass-reflex stand-mounted speaker

Drivers 10" (25cm) W-type cone woofer, 2" (50mm) voice coil, 6-1/4" (160mm) magnets
Two 6-1/2" (16,5cm) W-type cone midranges, 1-1/2" (40mm) voice coil Focus plug, "Power Flower" magnet system
Pure Beryllium inverted dome tweeter, 3/4" (20mm) voice coil "Focus Ring", magnet system

In-room response (-6dB) 35Hz
Frequency response (+/- 3dB) 45Hz - 40kHz on reference axis
Efficiency (2,8V/1 m) 90dB
Nominal impedance 8 ohms

Minimum impedance 3,4 ohms

Maximum power 250 Watts
Crossover frequency 250Hz / 2500Hz at 24 dB/octave
Crossover technology "OPC"
Cabinet finishes Avant Garde: Natural Burr Ash and slate gray metallic lacquer
Classic: Gold Burr Ash and slate gray metallic lacquer
Signature: Burgundy Burr Ash and slate gray metallic lacquer
Dimensions (HxWxD) 27-5/8x11-3/4x17-1/2" (700x300x443mm)
Connections WBT binding post terminals, high purity silver plated copper internal wiring
Port Rear firing twin circular
Font cover Top grille for woofer
Accessories Optional SCU stand, 20" height (50cm)
net weight 85,9lbs (39kg)

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Dang, nice! One of my dream speakers...

 

[Negotiableterms]

Dang, nice! One of my dream speakers...

Thanks! In posting that info, I just noticed that the darn things weigh 86 pounds each. Time to think of relocating them to somewhere more strongly built.

 

[Yamaha B-2]

Is it Wes Phillips who uses a set of the Utopias as his reference speaker? Think he has the floor-standers, though. If not Wes, then one of the longer-term reviewers at Stereophile. And those guys get such sweet deals they can listen to about anything they want.

'Twas me, I'd be hooking them to my newly acquired Sony TAN-8550 VFET amp. That lovely sweet VFET sound and plenty of balls to push the bass. Would seem to be an excellent match.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I don't think it was the floorstanders -- I distinctly remember the review of these being that they had everything the floorstanders had for a fraction of the price...except the bottom octave or so, which could more cheaply be had with a subwoofer. In other words, he recommended a pair of these and a subwoofer over the floorstanders. (And yes, I realize these aren't the exact same speakers as the Micro Utopias, but they're close enough for all I care.)

 

[wineslob]

That's good to hear, because I have an MC-352 that's doing nothing, and I was hoping to match it to the new speakers. Thanks!

I'll give it something to do!

 

[wineslob]

All kidding aside those are going to be pretty ruthless with any equipment used. They like a gourmet diet. The Mac should be excellent with them.

 

[basite]

I'll give it something to do!

I'd give it a decent job too i think...

Rock on,
Bert.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

I think the warmth of the McIntosh amplification would mate well with JML's Beryllium tweets.