The OFFICIAL JBL Owners Thread - Page 7

Thank you both for your replies. No regrets so far on this purchase -- and none to be expected.

I went ahead and got the 20-39 PC-Plus. I don't think I really need 16Hz and from what I read the 16-46 loses a dB (or two) in the upper range. Of course I paid more than filecat did for two HTPS's.

The reason I think I need a better sub now is it seems the HTs reach down as low as the CSS10 and don't even notice it anymore. It has audibly disappeared.

I noticed it with the Control monitors but it is time to put some bass back.

Let me know how you like that sub MLK, thats the exact SVS sub I plan on getting.

Yes, there were days last winter, when I had both the L890s and the PT800s, that I liked the sound of the L890 better than the PT800.
But that maybe inpart, that the 800s are now a 7 year old design and the Studio L Series is only been around for less than two years, I think. Plus the L890 is a full range speaker, not ever needing a sub.

There was a rave review on it over at the Sub forum...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=882302

... her background in music helped sway me.

Have you ever heard the SVS subs, and if so how do they compare to the HTPS400?
First time I've bothered to check out the SVS line. The PB13-Ultra has one huge ass driver.
Considering that my SUB1500 drivers weight 42lb, I'd say the Ultra 13 must be closer to 80lbs.

I heard the PB12-Ultra/2, which is/was in the same general price bracket ($2k-2.4k)as the HTPS400, but I have not heard the new PB13-Ultra. I'm not sure if it's even shipping yet.

Both the HTPS and the PB12-Ultra use a 1000W BASH® digital amp, though the back panels are configured differently according to JBL's and SVS's specifications. The SVS has PEQ. The JBL has THX.

Both the JBL and SVS have 12" rigid Aluminum metal alloy cone drivers, too, although the SVS has two that are made by San Diego car sound manufacturer TC Sounds. The JBL driver is made by JBL.

Beyond that there are few similarities. The JBL is a compact, sealed, cube. The SVS is a LARGE, tri-ported, rectangular box. The JBL is front firing; the SVS is down firing.

As you might expect, the sound is rather different. The SVS is far more flexible in terms of set up and optimization, but not flexible in its placement. The JBL has less flexibility in calibration, but its placement flexibility is almost unlimited. The SVS can produce significant LF, which if not controlled can get away from you. Poorly set up it's kind of like somebody's low rider boom-boom-booming down your street. Well set up, you'll really feel the air in the room moving in and out of the port(s), depending on which if any you've plugged in the calibration process. The JBL is faster, more nimble, and tonally a bit more precise, but it cannot move the volume of sound the SVS does, and it stops about 4Hz short of the SVS at the bottom end.

IMO a single SVS PB12 is more satisfying than a single JBL HTPS400. It will definitely create more of an impact sonically (and visually). However, I don't believe a single SVS is as effective in creating a whole room balance (eliminating nulls, etc.) as two or more HTPS400s (if you want to spend the money, or you can get them as cheaply as I did). And frankly I can't see putting more than one SVS into anything other than a really large room that your wife doesn't have any opinions about. They're just too darn big.

For a single application, I don't think you can go wrong with the SVS, as long as you use the calibration tools it has to really tame the room as much as possible.

I got one spot it can go (where the CSS10 is now). Hope it works well there.

On their web site I was looking over the PB13-Ultra and the PC-Ultra(same driver). That driver is really deep, no wonder the PB box is 27" deep.
I don't know if I'd get the box or the cylinder. I could see having the cylinder in a corner. But the box at the mid-point of a side wall.
They both are only $1399, not $2k+. Though the PB13-Ultra doesn't ship till the middle of this month and their pre-order price is $100 less, which makes it the same price as the PC, or the same as getting free shipping.

Their box doesn't ship till mid-month. The Cylinders have already shipped. There's someone in the SVS thread that already put pics up of his.

That is exactly what I already said. The PB13-Ultra(box) ships middle of this month

Is the SCS satellite better than the Venue or Monitor. I plan to replace my fronts with either Venue or Monitor and my center with Voice.

Only you can say for sure. They have a different sound than JBL speakers. You might like them better, and might not.

I know they are a good amount more expensive, but have you considered moving up to the Studio L's instead of the Venue/Arena/Stage/Balcony etc etc series?

When purchasing a sub, check out this:

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http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/subwoofer-tests/


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Bill

Looks to me like the SVS cylinders weren't tested. Or they were so bad not to make his list.

Depends on which SCS Series system you're talking about. You need to be more specific. The top of the SCS Series is arguably more attractive, with better enclosure finishes and stylish design.

For example the Venue Series Voice has two PolyPlas 5" drivers and a 3/4" Ti laminate tweeter in an EOS WaveGuide, and so does the SCS Series CS55. The CS55 has a wider frequency response, but all other parameters seem identical. The Voice is $189 and the CS55 is $349.

Hmm. Are good looks worth $140? The slightly extended frequency response is unimportant if there's a sub in your future.

I'd rather have the cheapest of the Studio L Series(L810) all around, than either the SCS or Venue .
Currently the Studio L Series is just below the Performance Series. Everything else is something less.

The L820's can be had at about $320 a pair on ebay and are a 4 way mirror image pair and are a little better than the L810's. Id go for those.

Nice to see the SVA's get mentioned. I am currently using three 1800's for L/C/R and 1600's for the rears. That are great speakers that can be had for deal if you keep your eyes open. I would love to have a couple of HTPS400's, but I am waiting to find my own $400 deal. For anyone that hasn't heard them. I recommend giving them a try, if you have the space. There is nothing small about these speakers. Not their size or their presence.

hi, there,

The JBL L8400P subwoofer has many terminal posts on the back, I'm wondering what's the easist way to hook it up with Pioneer Elite 84 receiver. I'm going to read the manual, but if you can give me some suggestion, that'll be great.

thanks,

George

Use the LFE output of the receiver. This way you can use the internalized crossover of the receiver. Hook it up to the LFE input (L or R) of the subwoofer. You will need a subwoofer cable for this. This is normally how most users hook it up but feel free to experiment.

What chaos said. Just run a decent quality RCA cable from your receiver's Subwoofer output to either the L or R input on the L8400P

I'll give it a try tonight

Just a few quick questions about the Venue series. I bought 2 complete HT setups for the master bedroom and the living room. I didnt want to break the bank as I have a HT room in my home that has higher end stuff from dynaudio and NAD and is still in need of a few more pieces, but we watch a ton of movies in the bedroom and the kids watch alot in the living room because it is by the kitchen.

I ended up with 2 Stages for fronts and a pair of monitors as a center, and a pair of balconies as surrounds and a Sub12 for the bass in the master bedroom. I am waiting to get a better receiver as I have some Motorola turd in there now thats rated at 100W/ channel. Doubt it, but we dont listen very loud because we usually are watching at night when the kids are sleeping, but we do love to have a full range of sound. So my question here is what kind of power should I look for in a reciever? As I said earlier I dont really need it loud, but I do like a full range of sound. I was looking at some Harman Kardon stuff like the AVR247 or 347. Any other idea as I dont want to spend a ton of cash.

In the living room I have the Stadiums for fronts, a pair of stages for surrounds and a set of monitors for the center channel. And a set of Tours for the other set of surrounds. It sounds pretty good, but is in a huge room. I am powering it with a H/K AVR635 rated at 75W/channel. I am thinking I need a sub for more range and a little more umph. Do these speakers draw a little more power during there initial break in or should I go bigger on the amp and move the AVR635 to the bedroom. I hate to have to spend more dough than I did on the AVR635 for a better amp, but it always seems like the more power the better the sound. I almost feel dumb asking as it seems you always can use more power for a better sound. Also on this setup should I use the stages as the SR and SL and the tour for the SBR and SBL? I was thinking this is the way to go as almost nothing is broadcast in 7.1 and that way the stages would be used more in the 5.1 setup.

My first question is why are you using two center speakers in each room? Its a bad idea having two speakers producing the same signals, unless we're talking subs.

You don't say how many cuft are in either of the rooms, but I would think the 635 would be good for the MB.
To give you an idea for LR comparision, in my LR, which I built for use as a HT, I'm pushing 3130w in a 3120cuft room, if the sliding doors to the DR are shut.
I use a 635 as a pre/pro and a 220w Parasound 5 channel amp. So the 635 is powering the back two channels.

There is also 3 subs, a pair of JBL SUB1500s powered by a Crown K2 @800wpc, plus a JBL PB12 250w, which is connected for LFE only. That system can easily hit 105~110db with the 635's volume control at only -15db. That's still a long way from being at zero reference levels.

If you had a pair of Studio L890s in the LR, I'd say you could forget a sub, if your room is less than or about the same as my LR. I had a pair of the L890s in there, as the mains, while I was veneering the sub boxes, driven by the Paraound the L890 more than covered the bass.
Being you have the Venue Series, I would think you need a sub or two.

I will have to take some measurements when I am home as I have no real guess as the size of the rooms other than a very big master bedroom and a huge living room. I am guessing the MB is at least 3600 cft and the living room is close to double that plus is open to the rest of the house.



I have heard people say it is bad to have two speakers as the center channel, but I dont understand or really know the reasoning behind that. If you could eloborate I would appreciate it.

Having two speakers playing the same source material, in this case mostly dialogue, tends to muddle the sound. So two speakers for center is just not needed.
My LR is also open to the rest of the house, but only if the sliding doors in the 9'x7' elliptical archway are open, which is most of the time. So the total size then becomes more than double the 3120cuft right behind, until going into hallways.

The majority of the high SPL needed for movies is in the bass, of my 3130w 1850w are the three subs. The two 15" subs are 4 ohm so they're not very efficient, but they play beautifully. The 12" down firing sub is 8 ohm and much more efficient.

Of coarse it really helps if the rest of the speakers have very good and powerful mid-bass drivers. Many do not. I use the JBL PS PT800s for 5 of the 7 channels, the other two are 30 year old L212s, which are very simular in sound and size. All are 3-way units.

I guess I am looking for more than it will muddle the sound. I mean there are plenty of speakers that have more than one tweeter. I guess it doesnt really matter as I just bought 2 of the voice center channels to go as centers and I will move the monitors into a rear surround spot.

BTW is my thinking on with the stage speaker as the SR and SL and using something smaller as the SBR and SBL because more movies are 5.1 instead of 7.1.

I did some measuring tonight and found the MB to be 3600 cbf and the LR to be 6075 cbf and open to at least double that through a large entry way. So I would guess I probably need quite a bit more juice for the LR application. Jeez I wasnt planning on spending alot on another receiver or pre/pro and amp, but I am guessing I need too. It looks like the rest of the stuff for the theater room will have to wait. Where did I put that winning lotto ticket?

The owners manual says nothing of break in times. What type of break in am I looking at? 100 hrs seems pretty typical. Correct me if I am wrong but, I am assuming it takes a bit more power to run a set of speakers during break in.

I connected L8400P to pioneer elite 84 A/V receiver with a monster subwoofer cable. On the subwoofer, I connected the cable to "Line Level In" L (also tried R), and set "crossover" to 50 and volume to Max. On the receiver site, I connected it to "SUB W." terminal post in the "Pre OUT" section.

However, when I ran the "Auto MCACC" setup on the receiver, the subwoofer doesn't produce much sound, and the message I got on the setup screen shows an error and says "the subwoofer output is too slow or turn up volume on subwoofer".

Anything wrong with my connection? or the L8400P is not in good condition? I got it from a clearance sale (along with the other good stuff), but didn't test it.

help me out!

George

For a room that size I would suggest getting an amp of around 200~300wpc, something like a Parasound with an AVR for the preamp. You'll need at least two subs to get an even bass through out the entire seating area, and help boost the SPL.
I was watching a couple of horror films today and with the 635 @ -15db there was plenty of SPL with 110db peaks and nothing was strained at all. If the amp was only a 100watter it would have been pushing the limits.
As it was I still had 15db left before I got to reference zero.