Here, check out their facebook page. I believe they have all or most of the models on there.
https://www.facebook.com/JBLsynthesis |
Basically. See if you can get a good deal first, and go listen to them as well. You're welcome, and I appreciate that... |
Check out the current Synthesis line...1400 Array, S3900 & 4700, K29900, and Everests. You'll be pleasantly surprised! |
That's cool. Yes, those are good. I have heard the K2s but it was a while ago. |
Yes, it can get a bit complicated regarding JBL, both consumer and high end.
So, for the Hell of it, I'll try and make sense of it for you.
Top of the line: Everest 67000
2nd from top: k29900
Now, here's where it gets tricky...the middle of the line. You have the 1400 Arrays, S3900s, and S4700s all battling for prominence. Each model is comparable to the other, and each model bests the other in certain departments. It just depends on your room, your taste, and what have you. I can say that the 1400 Array and S4700s (which I use) are very close in sound, with the Arrays having a touch better midrange, but the bass in the S4700 is superior. I chose the S4700s over the Arrays because I didn't want to have to assemble anything, and with the arrays, you have to assemble the vertical horn to the bass cabinet. I'm kind of a klutz, so that was a no go. I love the sound of them, but ultimately they are not for me.
bottom of the line: there really isn't any. Unless you want to count the Studio 590s, not really a high end model, but JBL seems to think otherwise. I just heard them last weekend, and they were ok, but the mids and highs are a bit subdued for my tastes. I know other people would love it, citing it as warm and smooth.
Below that you have the Studio L890s, Studio 290s, and so on an so forth. I used to use the Studio L890s, and at the price I paid ($800 USD)they were serious bang for the buck. I still have them and I'm debating whether to sell them or not. We'll see what happens.
Anyway, I hope this helps! |
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Ptss: Those are the reasons they are considered classics, and rightfully so.
Audiolabyrinth: Exactly right. Imo, the high end JBLs hold their own and often times beat the big favorites in high end audio. For example, B&W 800 series, KEF reference, Harbeth, Avalon, ProAc, Wilson, and more. The only other 2 bands that I'll consider if I ever sell these JBLs are Tannoy Prestige and the bigger ATCs. |
Yeah, those 4365s sure are killers. I wish they were available here in the US. They're one of the best speakers that JBL makes, imo! |
Well, as far as the horns in the latest models are concerned, the horns use a material call Sonoglass. Which is a very inert compound. This translates to getting the power and realism from the horns and compression drivers without the squawk, blat, buzz, or rattle from lesser designs. And of course you have some of the best woofers in the business. All of the Synthesis models have great bass, to various degrees, but it's still there. You really need to go out and listen to the Synthesis line as I believe it will change one's negative view of JBL. I believe JBL for the most part did their homework on the Synthesis line up. They're not the best, for far from the worst. |
Thanks Audiolabryrinth, and I agree with your statement. |
4429 is a great speaker. Word has it, it's coming to the US market. The 4365s look great too. These are more studio monitors, and it would be very interesting putting them up against the Synthesis models. |
It will be here in the US soon...
The S4700s that I use have pleated surrounds on the woofers. Also, on a side note these same woofers are used in the top of the line M2 studio monitors. |
also, Dave_72, I did not know that your s4700s has the folded woofers Yep. Check out the pics out there via google images. Again, the top of the line studio monitor, the M2, uses the same woofer that the S4700 does! The M2 is considered the best sounding JBL product out there regardless of price. Only the Everest competes with it. But it's only available in packages with DSP and ampiflication either from Crown or Levinson. The M2s have no internal crossover. |
I agree. And if I had the money, I would have bought those instead of the S4700s. |
Good question. I haven't heard both side by side, so I can't give you a definite answer on that one. Just going by memory, however, the Everest is more dynamic, transparent, and more authoritative than the K2s. The K2s are no slouch, but I believe they are a bit overpriced, as are the S4700s that I use. However, it's pretty well known that JBL slashes prices quite a bit, and I was offered to buy a pair of new K2s for half off the retail price. Anyway, I don't think you can go wring with either one, but if you can swing a good deal on a pair of Everests, then by all means go for it! |
DKarmeli, how would you rate the S4700s, haha. :D |
Ok, thanks Dkarmeli. As just about everyone knows, I currently use the S4700s. It's not a bad speaker at all! Pretty damn good even. But they need a lot of break in time. They weren't very good right out of the box. Also, they're very sensitive to equipment changes and quality of said equipment. If you use a cheap receiver or amp/preamp with these, you're gonna be disappointed. So, they're very revealing. The upshot is that they're easy to drive. You can use a lower powered Class A amp with no problems. Also, they are not too sensitive to placement and they sound great off-axis. So yeah, it's a good solid choice in a high end speaker, imo. Sure, you could do better (at a higher price though,) but you can definitely do worse. At the current list price ($15k) they are a bit overpriced, but from what I understand, there's some great deals on this model as well as the rest of the Synthesis line out there. |
Thanks, I appreciate that. |
YES!
You have to hear a well implemented compression driver to comment!
The Array 1400 are a very sophisticated speaker. Paired with a low distortion system upstream they are very musical and real sounding.
The dynamics are secondary to none.
I have had Array 1400s for a couple of years now and they do things right that very few other speakers are capable of doing.
These JBL speakers are underrated! I agree with everything above. You can say the same for the rest of the JBL Synthesis line, really. And the stuff that will be unveiled in Jan. 2015 will be very nice-and well deserved-additions to the lineup. |
