C40 JBL any thoughts?

Posts: 2,597
edited January 2018 in Vintage Speakers
If I invested some serious coin on these vintage JBL Lowboys Would I have to hit them up with high dollar gear to make them sing? Only vintage I have is a Pioneer SX750 to mate with them As always thanks. D
MIT Magnum MH-750, Monster HTS 5100MKII, Sony 77" Class - A80CJ Series - 4K UHD OLED,PS4, Def Tech 15” sub,LSIM 706c, Sunfire Signature Grand 425 x 4,Parasound hca 120, LSiM 702 x 4, Oppo 103D, SDA SRS 1.2, Pioneer Elite SC63 , Pioneer Elite BDP-05 “Why did you get married if you wanted big speakers?”

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Comments

  • Posts: 34,188
    You, sir, need vacuum tube amplification - from my perspective - for best results.
    Those deserve absolutely top quality electronics, too.

    I think a Marantz 8B or a McIntosh MC-225 would be very good choices.

    Were they mine -- I would be looking for a serious single-ended, direct heated
    triode amplifier. A 300B amp wouldn't be inappropriate, but big boy triodes might be even better. Maybe an SE 211 amplifier?

    Just my opinions, of course.

    Those are something.
  • Posts: 34,188
    edited January 2018
    Those JBLs can be ear gougers, just be forewarned.

    EDIT: I didn't say it explicitly, so I probably should. No, I wouldn't expect an SX-750 to exhibit a pair of C40s at their best.

    PS -- you don't have to use 'em with vintage hardware, you know? ;)


  • Posts: 34,188
    The classic domestic JBL loudspeakers had one big thing going for them -- almost all feature absolutely gorgeous cabinetry.

  • Posts: 2,597
    16th in line. Hopefully I at least get to see what they sold for? Highest I plan to go 750. Mark you always chime in on my vintage stuff. Remember the hand made set of four with all University speakers. Great to have you around!
    MIT Magnum MH-750, Monster HTS 5100MKII, Sony 77" Class - A80CJ Series - 4K UHD OLED,PS4, Def Tech 15” sub,LSIM 706c, Sunfire Signature Grand 425 x 4,Parasound hca 120, LSiM 702 x 4, Oppo 103D, SDA SRS 1.2, Pioneer Elite SC63 , Pioneer Elite BDP-05 “Why did you get married if you wanted big speakers?”
  • Posts: 34,188
    I have only recently started to drink the JBL kool-aide. I've heard so many painful sounding classic JBL loudspeakers I was writin' off the whole genre -- that was foolish on my part. They are high dollar components for a reason, and it's not just "MCM" furniture mania. :|

    They'd come home with me for $750, I am pretty sure.
    I paid more than that for a pair of "A" variant (16 ohm) Altec Valencias (happily) quite a few years back.

    39092996394_e4686b989e_h.jpgDSC_0340 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

    (that's a JBL 275 driver loaded with an H5040 horn atop the Frankenaltecs - this week)
  • Posts: 2,597
    Could of gotten them for $1700
    MIT Magnum MH-750, Monster HTS 5100MKII, Sony 77" Class - A80CJ Series - 4K UHD OLED,PS4, Def Tech 15” sub,LSIM 706c, Sunfire Signature Grand 425 x 4,Parasound hca 120, LSiM 702 x 4, Oppo 103D, SDA SRS 1.2, Pioneer Elite SC63 , Pioneer Elite BDP-05 “Why did you get married if you wanted big speakers?”
  • Posts: 34,188
    That sounds about right.
  • Posts: 26,016
    You do not even want to know what the paragons and metrogons go for....
    Craftsmanship at its finest
  • Posts: 34,188
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    You do not even want to know what the paragons and metrogons go for....
    Craftsmanship at its finest

    Freeeeaking gorgeous, they are -- don't sound great, though.

    Amusingly enough, the horns/drivers which I am listening to (as I type this), and that I posted a photo of earlier, are the Metregon treble drivers & horns. The only difference is that the Metregon H5040 horn variant has a mounting bracket associated with it.

    The Jennys are Wailin through them right now with great, breathy finesse even now...

  • Posts: 26,016
    I never heard any, but yes they are gorgeous.
  • Posts: 2,597
    Sold Saturday for $1700 asking price. Peace. D
    MIT Magnum MH-750, Monster HTS 5100MKII, Sony 77" Class - A80CJ Series - 4K UHD OLED,PS4, Def Tech 15” sub,LSIM 706c, Sunfire Signature Grand 425 x 4,Parasound hca 120, LSiM 702 x 4, Oppo 103D, SDA SRS 1.2, Pioneer Elite SC63 , Pioneer Elite BDP-05 “Why did you get married if you wanted big speakers?”
  • Posts: 34,188
    edited January 2018
    Yup!

    I am :) gonna take the JBLs down tomorrow* & put the EMILARs back! ... and get out a croquet mallet or a tire iron or somethin' to try again, with feeling, to separate the drivers & horns! :p

    On the plus side, I did get the EMILARs touch-up painted & looking rather less seedy. Pics to follow!


    _____________
    * do I sound like Wimpy and hamburgers?

    muve4i8e24hh.png

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