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Looking to Develop A Short List of Amplifier Candidates For A Pair Of JBL 4367 Speakers

Over a number of years I have owned JBL 4365 and eventually moved on from them. I tried a pair of Martin Longan CLX ART, but my room was not well suited for them. A failed experiment with a lot of lost hours in it. I ended up coming home to JBL and acquiring a pair of 4367.

They are a lovely speaker and are well suited for my 15' by 19' by 8' room. Controlled directivity from the horn augmented by minimal room acoustic panels and a light touch with the Trinov DSP system works for me.

The amplifiers I have been using are a pair of Classe Omega monoblocks. But the reality is they are massive, are way too much power for a pair of 94 db efficient speakers, cannot be moved by me alone, and are just wasted in this application. So they have been sold and are pending pick up when the new owner gets back from vacation.

So I am developing a short list of amplifiers. Going through the whole gamut, tube, solid state, and Class D. On the 4365 I once tried a pair of Audio Mirror Reflections since in my past I was a user of Single Ended Triode amps. But even with "larger" SET power, the woofers on the 4365 were not well controlled at all. Another failed experiment. With the 4365 I had used a PS Audio BHK250 with decent results, a pair of AVM Audio Amp Essential monoblocks with excellent results, and a H20 Audio 250 Signature Class D amp with interesting results. The AVM and Classe have provided the best results so far.

So the question is, are there Class D amplifiers that meet the sound quality requirements these days. I have seen some amps using a Hypex or Purfi module with a tube front end. Also have heard the latest generation Orchard monoblocks are worth looking at. Anyone have any other candidates, or thoughts?

In the past JBL was known to mate well with tube amplification. But I imagine this is going to have to be push/pull. In the past I have owned Dynaco and then Quicksilver before I went to explore the world of SET amplfiers. When I bought the 4365 I had thought they were going to be agood match with my Electraprint amplifier, but I was completely wrong on that one. What power level would I have to reach with tube amplification?

Finally in terms of solid state, the choices are huge. I know McIntosh was often a favored pairing, but I have never been a fan of the brand. I wonder about some of the solid state Conrad Johnson offerings, but I think they may be getting long in the tooth these days. I have thought about BAT. I actually have a First Watt F7 here that is my back up amp and it runs them better than a person would have imagined. The latest generation of AVM is now a hybrid, and ownership by Burmester might be a good thing, I would like to think I could get service in the US for them.

Any thoughts or experiences you want to pass along would be greatly appreciated.

neonknight

Showing 1 response by mr_gray

mr_gray
105 posts
 

hi

great choice in the 4367.

i have used my 4367 speakers with Gryphon Diablo and then my Audio Note SET amp (211).  the only reason i bought the 2nd hand diablo was because i had always wanted to own one and i wanted to know if my preferred amp (SET) was driving them well enough.  i figured if not i might bi-amp.

a few points

#1 - imo solid state thru the jbl 4367 isn't default pleasant, even something with a reputation for some sweetness like the diablo.  they are a neutral speaker and they don't lie or roll off much.  they can sound hard.  you can be listening, thinking "wow" but then 2 hours in you realise your ears hurt.  

#2- tonally the SET is wonderful.  never anything hard or shrill etc.  just extremely nice by default imo.  i have around same size room as you 13 foot by 16 foot with 16 feet ceilings.

#3 - in a comparison with diablo for music, i couldn't see that the 211 failed with bass woofer control.  not at all.  i didn't even bother bi-amping.  the SET sound was brilliant and i was happy with it in comparison to diablo.  for movie watching, i did however find the diablo sounded "better".  i think this is because there is so much "atmospheric bass" in movies.  so not an issue with 2 channel music in comparison but for movies etc it was discernible.  but again the hardness would come in.  so it was thrilling watching "the fly" for example with diablo and 4367, but also hurt ears slightly. this is thru a tubed abbas dac.

#4 - the 211 amp i have has huge transformers and i think this helps the 20W of SET power get the job done with these 94 dB efficient speakers.  

#5 - i found good footers helped the 4367 be a gentle giant.  i put CMS LS2.25 footers on it and this helped the whole thing.  the speakers have disappeared now and i get a wide and deep presentation with great dynamics, resolution and tone.  it's thrilling.  having the speaker elevated is also critical.  they were voiced up on cinder blocks as i recall.  

#6 - i do find i need to be at around 12 pm on the dial for them to be their absolute best and "come to life".  having said that, maybe that's the room.  12 pm is not crazy loud at all (like 80 db kind of thing at listening).  so it isn't a problem for me and i don't find that situation to be much different to any other speaker i've heard.

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