A little speaker auditioning this weekend
Polk&Beans
Posts: 94
Although I have been a Polk speaker user since 1991 and have always liked all the ones I have or had. This go round, I am going to try a couple of different branded towers out this weekend. I couldnt resist the ridiculous, bang-up, low-ball prices offered on both pairs the last 2 weeks.
One brand will take me back to my early roots of stereo music, tape and vinyl when I bought my 2nd system. That would be the literal god-father of Hi-Fi speakers JBL... My 2nd system was a set of JBL L100 Century 12 3Ways, a Marantz stereo receiver (I think it was a 4300?) My 1st was a Sansui receiver and KEF? 6x9, 3Ways.
Got the JBL Studio L890s for $355.00 each shipped from Amizoneio. The Skinny: Ultra High Frequency Transducer:19mm (3/4") Mylar Dome with Cast-Aluminum Chassis in JBL EOS Waveguide, High-Frequency Transducer: 1" Pure-Titanium Dome with Cast Aluminum Chassis in JBL EOS Waveguide, Midrange Transducer: 4" PolyPlas Cone with Rubber Surround and Cast-Aluminum Chassis; HeatScape Motor Structure; Symmetrical Field Geometry (SFG) Motor; Copper and Aluminum Magnetic Shorting Rings, Low-Frequency Transducer: Dual 8" PolyPlas Cones with Rubber Surrounds and Cast-Aluminum Chassis; HeatScape Motor Structures; Symmetrical Field Geometry Motor (SFG); Oversized Kapton Voice Coils; Copper and Aluminum Magnetic Shorting RingsBlack Vinyl Clad Cabinet. In 2006-12 they listed at $1400.00 pair. (The last of the Ti tweeter series btw)
http://www.cnet.com.au/jbl-studio-l890-339274326.htm
I tried out a set of the more highly praised Dual 6 Studio L880s and compared to my modified RTi70s, and they have a more revealing midrange section. Not drastic but, more music info is there. Makes sense, with the inclusion of the 4mid and an excellent XO. Sent them back for 3 reasons 1st) and foremost, they were not $355.00 each! 2) I got them in the cherry finish and just didnt like it at all. 3) The rubber surrounds are so large that the actual cone surface area was about 4 inches. The 8 are about 6 inches They DID sound good though. Nice & airy. We shall see with the 8 inchers
The other set has been the much discussed and sadly, bought out API Company; Energy, and the RC70 3 Way tower. Call me sentimental but, I just could not restrain myself when the last batch of em went on sale, for the 3rd time, at Fry Daddys for $299.00 each. (Third time is a charm) These are NOT refurbs either. The Skinny: Black Oak Veneer only, (Bummer, I would have cut a toe off for the Rosenut finish) Dual 6.5 Woofers, 5.25 Mid, Cast Alum Baskets, Woven Kevlar drivers with elliptical surrounds and the old school Energy VERITAS Alum Tweeter with a real magnet & dual chambered. These are the last of the REAL Energy speakers before the Klipsch acquisition then Audiovox has started tearing them down to competitive consumer pricing quality. Just picked them up Thursday In 2006-10 they listed at $2000.00 pair.
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/energy_rc70.htm
Both pair are much nicer looking in-hand than some pictures on the web reveal. Both are Dual Driver 3Ways, and both have very well built drivers, XOs and cabinets and both have the potential for improvements.
The Energys though, have the real wood veneer, the fit and finish is outstanding along with a very high end terminal block, the unusually striking drivers and magnetic grills. They are defiantly on the High end side of things. I would go as far to say in upper end Polk build range, not as curvy though. Thing is, that does not necessarily mean they will sound better than the Polks or JBLs.
Thats the point of listening in-house We shall see
One brand will take me back to my early roots of stereo music, tape and vinyl when I bought my 2nd system. That would be the literal god-father of Hi-Fi speakers JBL... My 2nd system was a set of JBL L100 Century 12 3Ways, a Marantz stereo receiver (I think it was a 4300?) My 1st was a Sansui receiver and KEF? 6x9, 3Ways.
Got the JBL Studio L890s for $355.00 each shipped from Amizoneio. The Skinny: Ultra High Frequency Transducer:19mm (3/4") Mylar Dome with Cast-Aluminum Chassis in JBL EOS Waveguide, High-Frequency Transducer: 1" Pure-Titanium Dome with Cast Aluminum Chassis in JBL EOS Waveguide, Midrange Transducer: 4" PolyPlas Cone with Rubber Surround and Cast-Aluminum Chassis; HeatScape Motor Structure; Symmetrical Field Geometry (SFG) Motor; Copper and Aluminum Magnetic Shorting Rings, Low-Frequency Transducer: Dual 8" PolyPlas Cones with Rubber Surrounds and Cast-Aluminum Chassis; HeatScape Motor Structures; Symmetrical Field Geometry Motor (SFG); Oversized Kapton Voice Coils; Copper and Aluminum Magnetic Shorting RingsBlack Vinyl Clad Cabinet. In 2006-12 they listed at $1400.00 pair. (The last of the Ti tweeter series btw)
http://www.cnet.com.au/jbl-studio-l890-339274326.htm
I tried out a set of the more highly praised Dual 6 Studio L880s and compared to my modified RTi70s, and they have a more revealing midrange section. Not drastic but, more music info is there. Makes sense, with the inclusion of the 4mid and an excellent XO. Sent them back for 3 reasons 1st) and foremost, they were not $355.00 each! 2) I got them in the cherry finish and just didnt like it at all. 3) The rubber surrounds are so large that the actual cone surface area was about 4 inches. The 8 are about 6 inches They DID sound good though. Nice & airy. We shall see with the 8 inchers
The other set has been the much discussed and sadly, bought out API Company; Energy, and the RC70 3 Way tower. Call me sentimental but, I just could not restrain myself when the last batch of em went on sale, for the 3rd time, at Fry Daddys for $299.00 each. (Third time is a charm) These are NOT refurbs either. The Skinny: Black Oak Veneer only, (Bummer, I would have cut a toe off for the Rosenut finish) Dual 6.5 Woofers, 5.25 Mid, Cast Alum Baskets, Woven Kevlar drivers with elliptical surrounds and the old school Energy VERITAS Alum Tweeter with a real magnet & dual chambered. These are the last of the REAL Energy speakers before the Klipsch acquisition then Audiovox has started tearing them down to competitive consumer pricing quality. Just picked them up Thursday In 2006-10 they listed at $2000.00 pair.
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/energy_rc70.htm
Both pair are much nicer looking in-hand than some pictures on the web reveal. Both are Dual Driver 3Ways, and both have very well built drivers, XOs and cabinets and both have the potential for improvements.
The Energys though, have the real wood veneer, the fit and finish is outstanding along with a very high end terminal block, the unusually striking drivers and magnetic grills. They are defiantly on the High end side of things. I would go as far to say in upper end Polk build range, not as curvy though. Thing is, that does not necessarily mean they will sound better than the Polks or JBLs.
Thats the point of listening in-house We shall see
Post edited by Polk&Beans on
Comments
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Marantz SR5008 tied to the exact same amp you got. Parasound HCA-1200II. I run the PC-USB-Optical,CD,DVD through a 1997 SONY SDP-EP9ES Digital preamp. I just set the volume stationary at 12 O'Clock. Makes for an EXCELLENT DAC as long as you shoot 24bit/48 or less at it. CD's are 16/44.1. It converts everything for 24bit processing. (It does stereo standing on it's head) The DVD is a DVP-NS9000ES SACD so, analog out also. Have some older 99-2000 SONY ES receivers to play with also.
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That should really be fun! Ill be interested to hear what you find!
