I get to listen to the JM Lab Grande Utopia today....

VR3
VR3 Posts: 28,781
edited April 2006 in Speakers
I am hired to help move and setup a pair...

Like holy crap batman... 500 pounds!

Will return with pics and thoughts.

Now I just gotta listen to the Avalon Sentinel... dun dun dun
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited December 2005
    I hate you.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    Well... I just got back...

    Ok - to start off...

    The JM Lab is heavy as hell. We had 6 or so guys there helping along... incredibly* heavy speakers... and incredibly large.

    They are the size of the 1.2TL - just taller... and deeper... and heavier. The 1.2TL is wider though.

    They look amazing though, EXCELLENT finish...

    The soundstage is very SDA like... very wide... oddly enough though... it wasnt that deep - possibly due to placement. But it had excellent width and seperation, each instrument had a strong, strong body.

    The tweeter though is sooooo detailed... amazingly detailed... We had some acoustic music going and there was about 4 or so guitars... each pluck... everything was large and authorative.

    The mids were very clear... very smooth... the singer was great. period.

    The bass was amazing... the hard hitting bass was a surprise... tons of bass.

    Ill have about 20 or so pics later...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited December 2005
    Airplay355 wrote:
    I hate you.
    That's not news.....lol.
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    Nah Airplay and Me are on some pretty good terms now... ;)

    Man...

    Now I just gotta hear the Avalon Sentinel and Wilson Alexandria and I'll be set.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    Pics are here!!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2005
    Dayum! nice going, Sid....how much are these beatches cost?
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    New - $90,000 (give or take)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited December 2005
    Sid -- were they the best pair of speakers you ever heard?

    For $90,000, they should be.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    Well I've heard two pairs of $90,000 speakers - and between those, yes - to me, these are the better speaker. They are not the best BUILT speaker Ive seen, the other pair weighed around 700 pounds and these are around 500. Big difference there.

    But anyways, they are definitely great speakers by far and I wouldnt mind owning the Utopia Bookshelf (2-way) one day...

    But let me just put it like this...

    Im not ashamed of my setup. I dont have a reason to be. I can still listen to my setup and be pleased. Your paying alot for that next step in audio.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2005
    thanks, Sid...for $90k our options opening up quite a bit, including a small vacation cabin in Montana wilderness! ;)
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2005
    For 90 Large, everytime I power them up there better be a naked Victoria's Secret model coming out of that cabinet, submitting to my every whim....
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    Well while I dont see speakers costing this much as a realistic adventure - even if I could afford it...

    I do think if you want to find your sound, you HAVE** to know what THE BEST sounds like. How can you know what THE BEST sounds like if you havnt heard it. Some of them might not be your sound... but all of them have two things in common - they are really freaking good and really freaking cool to listen to.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited December 2005
    Will they sound 180 times better than my SRS 2's??? :rolleyes:

    I mean, I'm sure they sound extrememly sweet, but.........................

    I'm sure it's a nice place, but that room doesn't look to be worthy of having a $90k pair of speaks. What does this person do for a living??
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited December 2005
    Serial number 9. I guess at 90 large, they wouldn't sell too many........
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    Actually...

    Considering the previous owner replaced a pair of SDAs with these things...

    I am here to tell you they kicked their ****$ from here to the yard and back again and back to the yard and back again. But the SDAs werent completely left in the dust... but were definitely out-classed as they should be.

    Same soundstage (width), but better seperation - better mids, highs, MUCH better bass response.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited December 2005
    Yeah, but were they 180 TIMES better. I paid $550 for an almost pristine pair. I'd hope that for 90 large they kick their **** up and down the block and back more than a few times.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    180 times better?

    Nah... but like I said...

    That next step - cost ALOT.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited December 2005
    10,000 posts Sid. Nice speaks........... could have bought alot of cool cars huh?
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    Thank you.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited December 2005
    Very nice, Sid. Hope you didn't drop your corner while moving them! :eek:
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited December 2005
    Like I said, don't get me wrong, they ARE REALLY nice speakers. It's just that even if I could afford those, I'd feel like a HUGE **** for spending that kind of money on just a pair of speakers when their are people without a place to live right here in my own backyard and all over the rest of the world. Plus, I'd bet there are still better sounding speakers out there that cost WAAAAAYYY less and look better, too. ;)
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    Oh definitely...

    Like I said, I still enjoy my system quite well and have no issues listening to it. But when I heard the other pair of 90,000 dollar speakers (Wilson X1) - right after it I listened to a pair of 8,000 dollar Sonus Fabors... and they sounded pretty bad in comparison after a listen minutes before. The difference is definitely there... but not a $90,000 one. They can be had substantially less on the used market... (alot less)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited December 2005
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:
    Now I just gotta hear the Avalon Sentinel and Wilson Alexandria and I'll be set.
    And the Dynaudio Evidence, and Von Schweikert VR-9 and 11's, and Sonus Faber STRADIVARI, and... ;)

    IMO he should have spent half of what he did on speakers and built a room to put them in. They are a waste in that room

    Having said that, they are amazing speakers, I'm sure.
    Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    The owner didnt pay $90,000 (not even close)...

    But your all right, the room is way to small for them (needs to be about 2 or 3 times the size actually! @_@)

    Dynaudio... I never have listened to a pair - will have to add them to my list (as the others you mentioned).

    Big, cool speakers are FUN.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited December 2005
    as I really love Jm labs, they are no compare to the mighty Dyanduio Evidence series. I mean at this level this is totally personal, but in my honest opnion nothing sounds better then Dynaudio, nothing.

    Cool man you got to listen to them. they are in fact incredible sounding speakers. They do however need the proper amp, pre , source and of course wire to hear what they can do. As in the pic's they look like there out of place. they need to get away from that cabnet and get some space around them.

    Tell your friend good luck with them . You can grow with them.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited December 2005
    do those belong to you or your dad Sid????
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited December 2005
    They belong to me.

    Leave my Dad out of this thread. Thank you!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • tntvt
    tntvt Posts: 121
    edited December 2005
    [URL=http://]http://cgi.ebay.com/JM-LAB-GRANDE-UTOPIA-Be_W0QQitemZ5840791675QQcategoryZ14993QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/URL]

    Looks like you will be moving them again.
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  • Schris22
    Schris22 Posts: 983
    edited April 2006
    just thought i'll bring this one back up...saw it on audiogon

    guess 4 months isn't long enough. Not sure if that ebay one was the exact one but this one has the same pictures that sid used.

    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1147674002

    funny...and sid isn't here

    Chris
    Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR502-S
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  • Holydoc
    Holydoc Posts: 1,048
    edited April 2006
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:
    Pics are here!!

    I bet they have quite the sound. For $90k they should sound BETTER than live. :)

    On the Flip side, they are not attractive speakers at all. For $90k they should look nice in an evening gown or thong.
    Holydoc (Home Theatre Lover)
    __________________________________________
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