JBL K2 5500 anyone?


It's really weird. They were supposed to be top of the JBL line (or second from the top) in 1993 yet there is absolutely NO info or reviews on them anywhere. What's the problem? Are they an absolute disaster erased from history? Anyone heard them? I'm in the market for a big floorstanders and the local guy sells them for a decent price.
antonkk
Hello,

Quite an old topic, but I am always surprise to find so few information about JBL K2 speakers, especialy this first serie.
I owned a pair of K2 S5500 and the upper description is quite good: fast basses, good transients, low distorsion and also a great balance. Doing less, but doing good and if you want the 20Hz at home, invest in a dedicated speaker.

As I am a lucky man, I had an opportunity on a K2 S9500 pair, still an apolito design but in maxi format, with more everything (basses, energy, information, tones, dynamic...) and still the same philosophy. You can go deeper, but not in the same conditions (speaker size/volume, distorsion...).

These speakers seem to be rare in US and it's a "harm" because it's really good ones, far better from my point of view than the first Everest DD55000 (tones for example), one among the best JBL.

Thanks
Ugo
JBL specs are anechoic. Real world, in room measurements show a much deeper bass. JBL just does not want to use the "guesswork and optimism-based" phrases, like "typical in-room response......" that so many boutique manufacturers use. I've seen the Everests do 22 hertz flat in a medium room in a home.

You do not see the older speakers in the USA as JBL gave up on the USA market for the large horns due to the market's blind prejudice against horns. A dealer could not order them. But they sold plenty overseas. Just a couple of years ago JBL decided to let them be sold in the USA and started demoing them. There are several great low distortion speakers in the line, from the 1400 array up to the DD67000 Everests.

I am not a dealer, not affiliated in any way with JBL. But I appreciate excellence.
Low distortion was exactly what I said myself past week end. You can listen loudly very easily, not that you need, just that you have pleasure to increase the level song after song. It plays loud and always easy.

Now, that's doesn't significate that it's not able to be detailled or delicate.

I don't appreciate so much the K2 S9800 serie, that I consider as a little bit boring, but the first K2 (9500) is really a great speaker and it's quite sad to realise that the model is unknow (or closed) on US market.
"Now, that's doesn't significate"

Hmmm......we making up words now? Or are you channeling Archie Bunker?

Shakey
Signify.

English is not my mother tongue and I use it because most of people doesn't understand mine.