The OFFICIAL JBL Owners Thread - Page 461

My S412PIIs are good for music with their 200w powered woofers but for serious HT with house shaking bass they still need a dedicated sub. Those Infinity's have 850W subs each!

The Preludes could make the PS very shy, in both bass and overall sound.

Ya, that's probably the ones I kinda remember. The Ebay ads must have been black & white. I was too scared to invest that much money on a Left and then not find a Right haha. In hindsight it would have been worth the risk.
Back then I put the S412PIIs in the bedroom. The 4 x S38IIs with the SCenterII were my gaming rig aided by an HKS12Sub or something like that. Only 150W but the S38s didn't need help with the bass ha ha. Stayed that way till I got hooked on the L series. L890s up front and the LC2 for 7.1. Should have stopped there but wanted matching surrounds hence the L820s. Then I decided I wanted Cherry instead of Black so in come the L880s, more L820s another LC2, couple of L8400Ps and what the hell, let's see what the L830/LC1 and L810s sound like ha ha ha. That's what happens when you combine pain meds and credit cards But I NEVER regretted it and enjoy the hell out of them!

The JBL 1 Studio series is stupid cheap on newegg right now.

The 190's for $155 each after the v.me 10% discount is just awesome. These are an under the radar audio gem for the price, shipped.

hey guys, i understand that it might be a bit biased for me to ask this question here. but Since i currently own the JBL Venue series for home theater (Stadium, voice, balcony, and Sub12). i am just curious on how it compares to Klipsch's F-30 series. i remember originally really wanted the F-30 series home theater system, but was swayed by JBL Venue series due to the lower price. but part of me is still wondering how they compare.

the Klipsch F-30 series are horn no? what are the benfits and cons

You would be correct. I'll even go a step further and say the S412PII sounds better than the L890. Most would not believe the difference that mid-bass driver makes in the S412PII.


If people heard them they would pay a lot more than that and still be thrilled at the deal they got. I bought a pair last month for the hell of it and cannot believe how good they sound.

Need your opinion on my proposed layout change.

Currently my setup is as follows.

- AVR = Onkyo TX-NR818
- L&R = L890's
- C = LC2
- FH L&R = S38
- S L&R = E20's
- SR L&R = S36II's (Ceiling mounted)

Proposed Change

- S L&R = Move the S38's too this position from the FH L&R and retire the E20's.
- FH L&R = Buy L820's and use in this location

Note: Still debating on getting an either a XPA-200 to just drive the front high's or an XPA-5 to drive the entire front and let the AVR drive the back section.

Any and all advise/opinions welcome, Thanks.
Edited by InfernoST - 3/16/13 at 4:00am

My advice is to collect all speakers that match - from the same line and preferably all being proper 3-way design. So L820s would be a good choice in every position. I'd even suggest that this should take priority over a new amp.

I want to make the front all from the same 4 way studio series which the L820's will complete but do not want to replace my Studio S - Series that will be in the rear. The amp is something I have to look into now so I can go from 7.1 to my installed 9.1.

I think you're under-estimating the value and benefit of a properly balanced and matched system. I'd give it greater priority than having front height or even a 7.1 system. The S38 is a fine speaker to be sure, but it's not a match for the Studio-L series. In terms of benefit and bang-for-buck, a matched system always wins. More speakers is not better, matched speakers are. So my advice would be to proceed thus:

1) do away with the height speakers and put L820 in all surround positions. If you don't have at least 6-10' behind your listening position, consider eliminating the 7.1 option.
2) Add amp(s)
3) Add height speakers if desired

+1 RD

I'm gonna crank the S412PIIs in the bedroom up to reference and the L890s in the livingroom up to reference and ask my neighbors which on they can hear, haha. You have inspired me to hook up the 412s again. They are connected to a 120w stereo (HK3480?) but the L890s have a 250w pro amp powering them. Can't wait to hear the S412PIIs again actually. Dug out a bunch of radio shows that I recorded on VHS 10 years or so ago. Mostly Blues, James Cotten, Jimmy Vaughn, Howlin' Wolf, Freddy King etc. You can get up to 8 hours of continuous music on a VHS tape! Would rather listen to them in Logic7 but this will be a Stereo battle. Will throw in some Gov't Mule-Deepest End on DVD to be sure.

I would not discount the 8" drivers in the L890 so quickly, which play up to 700 hz. I don't know that 4" or 5" driver would do any better.

Have to agree...matched all around is superior....and imo, the height/width channels are for loser systems/rooms.
When the main L/R are setup properly, you have all the soundstage width you need.

Again, imo, when one places the L/R in the corners, or less than 3 ft away from the side walls...loser system.

I think it's a 6 then a 4 then the I" tweeter
Ya, I never got any chest thumping bass (mid-bass) outa the 412PIIs like I do the L890s.

Those 8" drivers are excellent in mid-bass reproduction. I also own the ES90's which play up to 500Hz and don't sound nearly as full as the L890's in that regard. As far as the dual "8's in the L890 vs the the single 6.5" in the S412PII I'd give the edge to the L890.
However the advantage of that dedicated mid-bass driver in the S412PII is that it greatly cleans up the mid range reproduction. Which in comparison the L890's sound almost congested. I think when I have the time I'll post a "pros and cons" between the two.

That would be one of the trade offs between the two

Haha, When it comes time to drown out the neighbors lawn mower/ leaf blower, kids screaming, construction noise... the L890s are the goto equipment.

I've joined the JBL club. I've always liked the sound that JBL's gave off so when doing my own system I couldn't keep myself from going that route!

I should be making the mounting adapters today and mounting these bad boys! YEAH baby! Can't wait to hear them on the Yamaha RX-V671 Receiver. My build thread is in my sig if you wanta check out how it's going.

One can never have too many JBLs.

Congratulations, and enjoy!

hey guys.. i finally got my EC35 ordered used online. thanks for all your help. i set it up when i got home and i finally now have the broad generous sound i wanted for my center channel. it's like 10 times better than the Voice center i replaced.

but now that all my three main are perfectly generous and full, my surrounds feel small now. i want to replace the surrounds (currently JBL Balcony) with some L820's. ideally in 7.1 setup.

anyone getting rid of their L820's?

After 3 Long Months! of being on Back-order at B and H Photo, my JBL L810CH speakers are Still Not! available!

Come on JBL , ramp up production! I'm Jonesing for my JBLs!

Congrats! And so it goes!!

Have you checked all other e-tailers for the 810CH?
Both Amazon and Harman have them in stock at the same price: $550/pr.
Though I have no idea what B&H sell them for.
Edited by 4DHD - 3/21/13 at 8:07am

Yes , thats the problem. Most on line e-tailers want on average $550/pr.

I have found B and H to have the most competitive pricing at roughly $280/pr. for the 810CH.

I locked into that price back at Christmas. I'm holding on for dear life.

The Black finish 810s are readily available for about $280/pr. I want my 810s to match my L890s and LC2 which are both Cherry finish.

JBL really soaks you for the Cherry finish. I will continue to wait for my back order. Hopefully they ship soon.

Keep in mind, that the new stock that B&H might get could come at a higher price.
Who would ever have thought the Cherry Vinyl would be so much more expensive than Black Ash Vinyl.

A decade ago, real Ash Veneer cost me at least $100 per 4x8 roll. After many moves the last 3 years the speakers were looking quite bad. Then I got an idea to try using shoe leather stain, which has its own foam top applicator. Now they look better than they did when I first finished them, when I used Sherwin Williams black stain. Which was highly toxic, very flammable and took two months before the smell evaporated.
Live and learn!

man.... i knew i was going to upgrade the surrounds eventually, i didn't know it was going to be this soon. the new setup just screams for more, it's like now it's front heavy, and back feels thin.... it's killing me. i already bought a 60 inch LED flag ship TV, and now the center speaker, and now i have to buy more back ones... Wife is starting to get suspicious if i am on crack.

Since I have already paid B&H for the 810s I really hope they honor the price that was displayed on there site at the point and time of the original purchase. I will keep you posted.

You make a Great point about the Cherry "Vinyl" . Its not like the enclosures were crafted out of solid Cherry. Although the price difference compared to the Black Ash would make you think they were. That being said , I really do enjoy! the way the Cherry finish L series speakers look. Not to mention , they sound Awesome!

Amazon has the L820's for $349 a pair. I felt that was such a great deal I picked up 6 of them for my small room.

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-6-Inch-Wall-Mountable-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B000FYZ9XO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1363886327&sr=8-2&keywords=L820

yeah i was hoping i could find them for less than that, consider i just spent a ton load of money on TV and others.