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Surround sound setup -- vintage Polk vs JBL option.

Mystery

Mystery

constantly upgrading...
Surround sound setup -- vintage Polk vs JBL option.

I'm using a full surround setup using vintage Polks and I like it but I also have or can get enough JBL speakers for the setup.
This will be 75% for HT and 25% for music.

Polk 7.1 setup is as below:
Fronts: Polk RTA-12C or Polk SDA-CRS+.
Center: Polk CS350.
Sides: Polk Monitor 7C.
Rears: Polk Monitor 5B.

Possible JBL 7.1 setup will be like below:
Fronts: JBL L166.
Center: JBL L16.
Sides: JBL L36.
Rears: JBL LX500 or I will plan on adding a pair of JBL L36 or similar size for rears.

I know nothing can beat bass of the JBL L166's and because of that, I assume they'll be great for movies.
Any opinion on either setup is appreciated.
I like Polks and would like to keep them but if JBL's are really much better setup, I'll start getting Polk out of the house.
Thank you for comments.
 
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I can't speak to the Polks, but that JBL configuration sounds mighty sweet. :D However, I think the L16 might not be optimal in the front center, with L166s on either side. Center does most of the voices. How about an L36 or L166 or L50 in the center?
 
The L166's would make good fronts, and the JBL setup appeals to me more, being a JBL fan. I'm sure the polks all sound nice too
 
Zonker92 said:
I can't speak to the Polks, but that JBL configuration sounds mighty sweet. :D However, I think the L16 might not be optimal in the front center, with L166s on either side. Center does most of the voices. How about an L36 or L166 or L50 in the center?
Click to expand...

Yeah, L16 probably can't keep up with the L166's.
That's what I currently have.
I need to buy a single L36 or similar for the center then. :scratch2:
 
I use my L166's are fronts, with ar 2ax's as rears, MCS 683-8226 as sides, a KOSS dynamite m-80 as a center (only one works) and a polk psw505 sub (don't need this either)
 
Tough call. As I am a fan of both! Just have to give both set ups a listen. I've heard most of the speakers you have but I have not heard them configured for HT. So even though I know what they sound like. I couldn't even begin to speculate on how they would recreate a HT soundtrack without "hearing" it?

Have you just tried setting both up? I know that's probably a difficult proposal!

cnh2
 
cnh2 said:
Tough call. As I am a fan of both! Just have to give both set ups a listen. I've heard most of the speakers you have but I have not heard them configured for HT. So even though I know what they sound like. I couldn't even begin to speculate on how they would recreate a HT soundtrack without "hearing" it?

Have you just tried setting both up? I know that's probably a difficult proposal!

cnh2
Click to expand...

It's not possible to have both setup at the same time for comparison in my place.
May be I have to switch fronts and use them for few days. :scratch2:
 
Mystery said:
Surround sound setup -- vintage Polk vs JBL option.

I'm using a full surround setup using vintage Polks and I like it but I also have or can get enough JBL speakers for the setup.
This will be 75% for HT and 25% for music.

Polk 7.1 setup is as below:
Fronts: Polk RTA-12C or Polk SDA-CRS+.
Center: Polk CS350.
Sides: Polk Monitor 7C.
Rears: Polk Monitor 5B.

Possible JBL 7.1 setup will be like below:
Fronts: JBL L166.
Center: JBL L16.
Sides: JBL L36.
Rears: JBL LX500 or I will plan on adding a pair of JBL L36 or similar size for rears.

I know nothing can beat bass of the JBL L166's and because of that, I assume they'll be great for movies.
Any opinion on either setup is appreciated.
I like Polks and would like to keep them but if JBL's are really much better setup, I'll start getting Polk out of the house.
Thank you for comments.
Click to expand...

I like your Polk collection as a matter of fact I'm envious. Good luck with what ever you decide. It sounds like you'll be fine either way.
 
Mystery said:
Surround sound setup -- vintage Polk vs JBL option.

I'm using a full surround setup using vintage Polks and I like it but I also have or can get enough JBL speakers for the setup.
This will be 75% for HT and 25% for music.

Polk 7.1 setup is as below:
Fronts: Polk RTA-12C or Polk SDA-CRS+.
Center: Polk CS350.
Sides: Polk Monitor 7C.
Rears: Polk Monitor 5B.

Possible JBL 7.1 setup will be like below:
Fronts: JBL L166.
Center: JBL L16.
Sides: JBL L36.
Rears: JBL LX500 or I will plan on adding a pair of JBL L36 or similar size for rears.

I know nothing can beat bass of the JBL L166's and because of that, I assume they'll be great for movies.
Any opinion on either setup is appreciated.
I like Polks and would like to keep them but if JBL's are really much better setup, I'll start getting Polk out of the house.
Thank you for comments.
Click to expand...
I'd double check the excursion on the JBL's. It's staggering what LFE will do to a "standard" speaker. Having bottom end is all fine and dandy, but the only speakers I've run that didn't bottom out the VC was my Mach One speakers. Everything else, JBL, RTR, Mach Two, and others I could hear the distinct slam of the VC. A pair of AR3a did ok but just didn't have the dynamics needed, a strong point for the JBL's. Just saying be cautious, don't want VC damage if you can avoid it.
 
Copa1934 said:
I'd double check the excursion on the JBL's. It's staggering what LFE will do to a "standard" speaker.
Click to expand...

To stick with the classic JBL theme...find/build a B380 or B460 subwoofer, set HTR crossover for 60 Hz....and forget about overexcursion :thmbsp:

I knocked the speaker grills off my L100 L/R speakers before getting the subwoofer properly setup. Or maybe they just fell off :scratch2:
 
Copa1934 said:
I'd double check the excursion on the JBL's. It's staggering what LFE will do to a "standard" speaker...
Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean here. :scratch2:
Doesn't that go with any speaker whether Polk or JBL when pushed too much?
I heard even sub-woofers bottom out when testing with high power amps beyond their spec.
 
Mystery said:
Today I picked up a pair of L26 so more options for JBL surround setup.
:scratch2:
Click to expand...

Wouldn't want to be in your shoes, so much stress! Decisions, decisions!

BTW are the woofers in the L 26's 10 or 12 inch, and how do you like them?

Glenn
 
GD70 said:
Wouldn't want to be in your shoes, so much stress! Decisions, decisions!

BTW are the woofers in the L 26's 10 or 12 inch, and how do you like them?

Glenn
Click to expand...

Glenn,
LOL...
I also added another pair of 7C's so for Polk surround, I can use RTA-12 fronts, and two pairs of 7C's as sides and rears.
Decisions and decisions. :D

L26's have 10 inch woofers. I still have to re-foam them first.
Too many things to fix and so little time. :sigh:
 
Okay I decided on Polk surround after getting Polk SDA-2B's today.
I haven't tested JBL's due to space limitations so they'll be in closet until I get more space.
So for now this is what I have setup:
Fronts: SDA 2B.
Center: CS-350LS.
Side and back surrounds: Monitor 7C.

Except the center, all have same SL2000 tweeter so sound matches all around. :thmbsp:
SDA 2B's have much more bass than RTA-12C and CRS+. :D Me like but neighbors no like. :D
 
dezmond76 said:
Sda's work great for music, but for movies you are gonna want to remove the sda cable.
Click to expand...

I actually prefer movies with IC cable hooked up.
It creates additional 3D like sound in some scenes that really add to the fun. :thmbsp:
 
Update...

Just got a pair of L80 t3 so now JBL option is even better.
L100T as fronts, L80 t3 as surrounds and L20T as center.
All matching sound. :D :D :D
 
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