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Which Speaker(s) Should I Choose?

CarnahanBB

CarnahanBB

Super Member
Hello everyone,

I have a lead on a few different pairs of speakers only one of which I have every heard before (JBL L36 - Loved them) and I would like some opinions as to which speaker "is the best" in terms of sound quality, collectability, aesthetics, etc. Any information is, of course, greatly appreciated!

Acoustic Research AR-2ax (I have AR-4ax's and really like them)
JBL L36
Wharfedale W60D
DCM Timeframe 350
Genesis Model 2
 
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The "best" of that group of nice speakers is going to be subjective as to who's giving their opinion on them. Since I only own the AR-2ax's but have heard the Genesis Model 2 and Timeframe 350's, I can only give my opinion on those. I personally don't like my AR-2ax's and will be selling them off...they just sound too bland to me even after new caps, the variable resistors cleaned, etc. (my AR11's are a whole different story) Each of those are going to have a different sound and each have their own good and bed merits. What are you going to run on them? What kind of music do you listen to mainly? What size of a room are you going to have them in? Etc, etc.

Oh...and my choice would be the Genesis Model 2's or the TF-350's.
 
Good points avguytx...I listen to a wide variety of music the only caveat being I really appreciate a SOLID bottom end. Room size is rather large and very well damped. I listen to ESS Rock Monitors and Boston A-400s currently. Driving with anything from a Pioneer SX-980, Sansui G-7700, Onkyo M-5160 power amp, Pioneer SA-9500 II, Kenwood KA-601, really whatever I think sounds best with a particular speaker.
 
@ SPL...I have literally gone off the deep end! That combined with a loving, patient, and generous wife has pretty much sealed the deal for me...plus my birthday is coming up! :banana:
 
CarnahanBB said:
@ SPL...I have literally gone off the deep end! That combined with a loving, patient, and generous wife has pretty much sealed the deal for me...plus my birthday is coming up! :banana:
Click to expand...
I second the wifey part. My problem is too many hobbies, but thankfully she's been patient and even understanding. One time SHE negotiated a nice deal on a Pioneer SX-680, tape deck, TT, etc. all for $40. Needless to say I was happy. Sold the tape deck for $40, so free TT and 680 wasn't so bad.
 
avguytx said:
The "best" of that group of nice speakers is going to be subjective as to who's giving their opinion on them.
Click to expand...

Sound advice!

I own a pair of Acoustic Research AR-5's & AR-3a's, so I am a fan of that type of sound. Also, I like the JBL sound that comes from my 2600's that do not get a lot of praise.

Some music is enhanced by the speaker chosen for the task, so it will certainly vary. Let your ears be your guide & pocketbook. The wife factor will also figure in as well. :thmbsp:

I would like to hear the DCM TF-350's & JBL L36's.

Rome
 
I can't comment on the DCMs or the Warfdales but I have the following:

- AR2AX
- JBL L50 (similar to the L36)
- EPI 120 (may be similar in sound to the Genesis) - I sold these

The EPIs (and the Genesis too if it has the inverted tweeter) have very clear and nice highs (better than the ARs). The EPIs have good lows but a bit of a dip in the mids. I like the ARs better since they sound a bit fuller and more musical to me. I'm sure others will pick the Genesis due to the detail of the inverted dome tweeter and more modern sound to them.

While I really like the ARs and have always been an East Coast fan, the JBLs beat them in almost every way to my ears. Far more lively, more accurate, bigger bass (but no boom), more modern sounding. On noisier rock and big orchestral pieces the JBLs can sometimes get a little noisy sounding. On some of that noisier orchestral music, the more laid back presentation of the ARs is nice. On everything else the JBLs are fantastic. They even give my AR-90s serious competition.

Bottom line is that I love both the ARs and the JBLs and will be keeping both. For sheer sonic capabilities though, I favor the JBLs.
 
Thanks guys! A few more to add to the potential list:
Klipsch Heresy
Infinity QA (Emit tweets)

I've heard terrible things about the Heresy? Is this criticism legit?
 
I'd describe the Heresy's sound as "physical." Big, meaty, dynamic. But not necessarily "smooth," "refined," or "transparent." For some people, in some rooms, the lack of low bass is also an issue. Heresies are popular with folks who like flea-powered amps, and folks who like it LOUD.

As always, YMMV.
 
I would be checking out the TF350a and Infinity QAs and I say that as a big JBL fan, but NOT a fan of the early 70s paper cone tweeter JBLs like L36.
 
I've had Time Frames they image amazingly well and have a big full bassy sound as a transmission line design. A real sleeper IMO. I had the larger TF 400s but I would think the 350s would be nice too. I've also met the designer Steve Eberbach at a party hell of a nice guy, willing to talk audio for hours with dilettante like me. :)
 
The weakness of the TFs is they are tall and awkward and the drivers maybe aren't quite up to the quality of time aligned crossover and cabinet design. And the black socks can attract dirt, hair, and cats. :)
 
I had Klipsch Hersies very alive and dynamic sounding, but the high horn is a buzz saw being so much louder than the somewhat anemic bass. I thought they were exciting at first but I ended up selling them as they were fatiguing to listen to. The Klipsch Fortes are MUCH better at around the same price or cheaper even. Not real familiar with Wharfdales, a lot of people here seem to like them, my understanding is that many of them have a polite mellow English sound pretty much the opposite of the Hersies. :)
 
Listen to them all to see what you like, but my guess is the TF350s and Infinites will be the most tonally balanced and accurate.
 
welll...

I've had the Wharfdales, AR's and Heresey. Out of the three, go for the Heresey...with a sub. They don't have the bass most people expect from a speaker(cabinet is too small). Also, check out Bob Crites site for upgrading the Xovers. Klipsch has both great fans as well as great haters. I upgraded to Cornwalls with a few tweaks and wouldn't get rid of them for the world.
 
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