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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!
phasecorrect

Showing 3 responses by mattmiller

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mattmiller
1,521 posts
 
Hello Audiolabyrinth......WE WERE SPEAKING OF VINTAGE JBL"S FROM 40 YEARS AGO! I am not living under a rock! of course I know all about the new production JBL line.
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mattmiller
1,521 posts
 
My Brother has a pair of Century 100's that he loves, according to him he "couldnt justify spending $4500 on a pair of Harbeth SL5's" and the sales guys in the store agreed! IMO All you JBL lovers need to move on.... LOL. That's IF you have good electronics and your not still using some old Japanese receiver from the 70's. JBL the HARBETH KILLERS!! ROFL...Seriously if I were working at HARBETH I would jump ship to JBL!! I cant take it...LOLOLOLOLOL.
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,521 posts
 
I wanted 4311's ....WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN! Back in 1979. I'm not sold on old vintage JBL's, Save your breath for some one worthy. I think they are on a lower plateau than many speakers out there today including my Dynaudios. They don't compare when it comes to placing people with instruments in my listening room. The midrange alone in one of my speakers would blow away the sound of a classic JBL. Having said all this JBL's were some of my favorite speakers when I first started into HIFI some 35 years ago when I was just thirteen. So I am not a JBL hater. I just think its funny how some people will hang on to a $900 pair of speakers and play $8000 worth of electronics thru them....I guess they WOULD sound pretty dam good. (this is my brother, lol)
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