Does JBL get a bad rap?


For years, all one heard regarding almost any JBL product, especially vintage consumer grade products was that they were all boom(bass) and sizzle( highs). I feel this is an unfair generalization. Surprisingly, I find much of their budget minded gear(80s-90s) actually soft in the treble and very non-fatiguing(titanium laminate tweeters). I also have experienced the L100T and found them fairly well balanced and nuetral. The midrange does lack some realism magic especially on vocals but so do other highly touted speakers. In short, I am a little late to the game in regards to the JBL, but as a mainstream maker I am impressed. And that doesn't even take into account their 4xxx studio monitors which are highly regarded. Back me up jbl fans!
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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.
C'mon Kiddman; I think you, of all, know the "newest &best" JBL horns are a rare class of deep quality and can be bought for a reasonable (discounted) price. If anything I think they're a true bargain, and probably at least as 'musical' as any other speaker, at any price. Jimho.
at times on this thread, most do not want to accept the JBL is one of the BEST speakers in the world!, they want to give them a bad rap when they certainly do not desearve so!
JBL active pro monitors seem to get a good rap and you appear to get a lot of speaker (and amp) for the money going that way.
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......"
It's been a week now since I posed a reasonable question. Several of you have seen fit to discuss my question and comment about it, but no one has made much of an effort to answer it.

I have a hybrid system that I put together using B&C DCX 50 compression drivers, Acoustic Horn AH300 horns, an RCF 15 inch woofer in a JBL L-200 cabinets, and passive crossovers designed for me by Bill Woods. I have never experienced any of the speakers I asked about but I have read about them frequently enough.

The JBL Everest and K2 will probably remain an unrealistic consideration for me, as will the speakers I asked about. I'm just wondering what well informed JBL aficionados would have to say.
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.
Many may roll their eyes at this but I replaced my VMPS FF3 SRE powered by Classe amps with JBL PRX735 powered speakers about a month ago and really like most everything about them. For $2000 for powered speakers they are fantastic. I use a Lexicon MC8B as pre.
They may not image quite like a high end speaker but they have great bass, accurate mids and no fatigue in tweeters. I had to lower the fan noise but that was a easy mod. My main focus is rock and blues but everything sounds good to me, they just work well in my room.
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!
This thread is priceless for the exsposure JBL should have, I have been very amused at the fans and users out there that has came to this thread, I encourage many more to make your post, I have learned more about JBL speakers from this thread then any other since 2012, Bravo!
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.
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.
Dave_72, what is on the Horizon for JBL that you may know about?, can you share some insight as to what that may be?
Here, check out their facebook page. I believe they have all or most of the models on there.

https://www.facebook.com/JBLsynthesis