You bet they get a bad rap, and some of their speakers are truly amongst the best speakers out there, and are extremely refined in sound.
However, in the USA horns became taboo, and JBL makes a lot of horns. Even when they get a great review, folks ignore it. Also, JBL does not play the "I'm a rocket scientist from NASA, Bell Labs researcher, NSA Scientist" and other false claims that so many "high end" companies' founders claim. They don't play the "super exotica" claim.
Read this review: http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/jbl_synthesis_1400_array_bg_loudspeaker/ along with John Atkinson's measurements and consider the magnitude of the accomplishment of the designer of this speaker. How many times does a Quad love say that another speaker equals or beats the Quad at what the Quad does well?
Many will dismiss this post, as they will dismiss the review I cited, and follow the trail of high end audio dogma. So be it. But don't condemn that which you have not heard just because you heard a model of a line 25 years ago and found it not to your taste. |
To the OP, I did not direct the "do not condemn" statement to you, as you are speaking positively about them. So I am "backing you up"!
Rather, I'm addressing those who would dismiss JBL or any products because they heard something by the company long ago, or because the company has not been anointed repeatedly by the USA press.
Also, a correction, in the second to last paragraph "Quad love" should read "Quad lover".
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"....at the recent San Francisco Audio Show the Pass Labs room was driving a pair of Imperials (with Tannoy drivers) with their 50 watt amp and a Technics SL 10 turntable. IMO that speaker shamed 98% of the speakers at that show."
The supposed great progress in speakers and all the horn bashing that has gone on for 30 years in the USA market: comments like this from above put it in perspective, as do comments by dyed in the wool, audiophile magazine thumping audiophiles who hear one my horn systems and go home raving.
Not only does JBL get a bad rap, all horn speaker makers get a bad rap. |
Regarding pleated surrounds, JBL and Tannoy both have at least one model with pleated surrounds. It is interesting to me that the best bass I have heard seems to come from pleated surround speakers, but of course other details have to be in order also to get great bass. |
A poster asked "How do JBL top line horn systems like Everest compare to other efforts such as Classic Audio Reproductions, Oswald's Mill, Volti, or Cogent".
Certainly Classic and Volti have great attributes, I don't know the others, best to try to get a serious listen if you are serious about buying. |
Audiolabyrinth, the 67000 does have a pleated surround! The 66000 did not, but the 67000 does.
Measurements I have seen show lower distortion at low frequencies for the pleated surround version of two identical woofers, one with pleated and one with rolled. It is only at higher frequencies, where folks want to run a woofer way up, that rolled surrounds were better, at a cost of higher distortion in the lows. But then rolled surrounds took over, they seemed to be looked at as the "modern, latest cool thing", even though in some models with low crossovers pleated still should have been used. If you are crossing over at 1khz or below pleated is open to you, assuming a good design. Note that on the Westminster model by Tannoy also went to pleated surrounds years back, after using rolled surrounds on that model. |
I don't know if they would sell the woofers. Beyond that, though, the woofers would have to be padded down as the bass is too strong if just a woofer switch is done, there seems to be a difference in efficiency of the new and old woofers. This was easily accommodated in the 67000 as it has all new crossover boards for all of the drivers. |
The 67000 is a lot better than K2. But that does not mean K2 is not good. It's not "all or nothing at all". |
Well, Ptss, I don't answer based on the assumption that here is only one answer, and only one brand. That's the all too common way for audiophile forum members, and forum members of all enthusiast products, it seems. "There is one right answer, and it's the one I own". Well, that's anti-reality, and anti-science. There is usually more than one way to apply science while working under the laws of science and engineering.
As for the particular brands I mentioned I heard, I've heard enough to know they have very nice promise. But without extensive A-B, I can't be unfair to those hard-working guys who have achieved something nice by shotgunning an answer that's fully researched, just to what, brag, that mine is the best?
And, the poster asked how do I compare, not how do I find the value.
My comparisons are based on ultimate performance, not value. I'm interested in the ultimate achievements first and foremost, not achievement per dollar. That does not mean I can afford the ultimate achievement. Whether I can or not is not the issue.
But, yes, I agree, there are some great JBL values out there, on very good, realistic speakers. |
I meant to say "I can't be unfair to those hard-working guys who have achieved something nice by shotgunning an answer that's NOT (I forgot the word "not" in my response) fully researched......" |
Macrojack, guys on forums love to proclaim winners and losers, so no response means there likely are not any people really familiar with the speakers to do a comparison.
Those are very low production, specialist companies you are talking about that don't use dealers. There is little ability to hear them.
I commented, but of course can't do so in detail unless I have those speakers at my place or unless I heard bad faults that are clearly the speakers' faults. Of the 2 I mentioned I heard no bad faults, but heard some really good sound. Further comparisons are not possible given they were not in my room and I did not have my speakers there.
As far as "well informed JBL aficionados" go, there are few in the West for JBL top line modern. JBL did not, until just a few years ago, offer them for sale in the West. Even after opening them up in the West, certainly they do not sell like hotcakes as 1. They are upper price range speakers. 2. JBL has for so long gotten a bad rap in the snobby, trendy world of high end audio that sales of a JBL, or any horn in this price range, are not easy. |
Yes, it is satisfying seeing JBL get some respect.
So much of what is perceived as good in the Western audio market is what is talked about in the magazines. And the mags measure respect just like high priced athletes: in terms of the $$ given to them. JBL does not play the game. |
