New JBL Synthesis Line

I was surfing the JBL website for new products and came across something interesting. A link to the ultra-high end Synthesis line is now on the site. The standard Synthesis One, Two, Three, and HT are there, but a new line called HT4V has appeared. It is interesting that the front speakers in this line are dead ringers for the old SVA 1500 and SVA Center. JBL has resurrected the SVA line as the HT4V and changed the Bi-Radial mounted cloth tweeter to titanium.


As a longtime fan of the unique sound that JBL systems bring to pro theaters, I have admired the Synthesis lines. Unable and unwilling to drop the high five-figure price for one, I did my homework and discovered that the old SVA line conforms in every way to THX specs and I wondered why JBL had not sought THX certification and marketed them as HT speakers. Be careful what you wish for. JBL has now done just that. The SVA 1500 is now the HT4V THX-Ultra Vertical Front speaker. The SVA Center reappears as the horizontal center model (not THX certified). These speakers all have a price tag of about $550.


I bought my SVA 1500s and Center in the surge of closeout sales late in 1999 for around $100/ea. I found a demo pair of JBL Synthesis One S1A surrounds for $200/ea (with factory 5 year warranty). You guessed it...they are fantastic married with two good subs, electronics, and room EQ via an Audio Control THX EQ.


My guess is the titanium tweeter sounds very good. If you like the unique character of JBL horns for HT then give these a listen and post a review. Mine sound terrific and presuming the new models are similar, I would highly recommend. Even at the new price they are a bargain. By the way, the HT4V Synthesis system is priced at $27,000. One interestingly unique component in the Synthesis package is the

THX digital EQ, but otherwise the components are Lexicon processor and good amps. I bet you can mate these speakers with other high quality components and have equal performance at a fraction of the price. I did...and then I could afford to let them perform with a Pro-710. Good luck.


Randal