Stereophile Review Of JBL 1400 Arrays Using Bryston Gear

95Dyna · « **on:** 17 Apr 2010, 02:08 pm »

I just received the May issue of Stereophile and gracing the front cover is the JBL 1400 Array. I know our buddy Laundrew has a pair he highly esteems and I think James had them in one of his listening rooms. There was only one preamp used for the review, the BP26. Among the amps used were the 3B SST2 and a pair of 7B SST2's which were described by Larry Greenhill, "the 1400's alowed me to hear these amplifiers sonic qualities: the sweetness of the 3B and the lease busting bass dynamics of the 7B". Also used in the review were the BCD-1, BDA-1, Torus RM 20 and Bryston's balanced interconnects.

An excerpt from the conclusion, "Because of these excellent qualities the 1400 Array BG deserves a top rank recommendation in Stereophile's Recommended Components". It's hard for a speaker to sing its best if the upstream components aren't of equal or better quality, eh!

James Tanner · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 03:07 pm »

Hi 95Dyna,

Yes I had the 1400's for about 6 months.

james

werd · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 03:27 pm »

Laundrew is going to luv that......

eclein · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 03:37 pm »

As a long time JBL lover I must ask if they were hard to let go of...

James Tanner · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 05:51 pm »

Quote from: eclein on 17 Apr 2010, 03:37 pm

As a long time JBL lover I must ask if they were hard to let go of...

Hi eclin,

Yes I really liked them and did an extensive review on them. The gentleman who purchased them asked me if he could post the review on the JBL owners site - I think it is still there?

james

Napalm · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 09:19 pm »

Hey Laundrew may I tempt you with a pair of these:

http://www.danielhertz.com/products/m1

they're amongst the few speakers designed these days that use a properly sized bass driver.

Nap.

vegasdave · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 10:43 pm »

I'm saving up for a pair of these. I emailed my regional JBL rep for a copy of the review. Larry Greenhill is one of my favorite reviewers, and that's way cool he used Bryston to drive the 1400s.

James, would my 4BSST be enough to drive the 1400s?

James Tanner · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 12:23 am »

Quote from: vegasdave on 17 Apr 2010, 10:43 pm

I'm saving up for a pair of these. I emailed my regional JBL rep for a copy of the review. Larry Greenhill is one of my favorite reviewers, and that's way cool he used Bryston to drive the 1400s.

James, would my 4BSST be enough to drive the 1400s?

Hi Dave,

They are only medium efficency (89dB) (surprising given they are horns)... so depending on room size and levels required...

james

vegasdave · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 12:27 am »

I take that as a yes, true?

95Dyna · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 02:11 am »

Quote from: vegasdave on 18 Apr 2010, 12:27 am

I take that as a yes, true?

Hey vegasdave,

Don't think twice. These are 8 ohm speakers. 89 db sensitivity isn't too bad. The 4B is a ballsy amp. Go for it!

Bill

vegasdave · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 05:43 am »

Cool, I will! Yeah, I can't afford both the speakers and a new Bryston amp...

Napalm · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 02:01 pm »

Quote from: vegasdave on 18 Apr 2010, 05:43 am

Cool, I will! Yeah, I can't afford both the speakers and a new Bryston amp...

Dave, use your existing speakers and save for the Daniel Hertz M1. By the time you'll have all the money, we'll all be old and deaf and wouldn't care anymore. And you could use the money for a couple of tropical vacations

nap.

vegasdave · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 10:45 pm »

Quote from: Napalm on 18 Apr 2010, 02:01 pm

Dave, use your existing speakers and save for the Daniel Hertz M1. By the time you'll have all the money, we'll all be old and deaf and wouldn't care anymore. And you could use the money for a couple of tropical vacations

nap.

Ok, haha. It won't be that long! I don't care at the moment. I gotta have those speakers!!!

Napalm · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 11:30 pm »

Quote from: vegasdave on 18 Apr 2010, 10:45 pm

Ok, haha. It won't be that long! I don't care at the moment. I gotta have those speakers!!!

Why? is there anything in the sound of your current speakers that is particularly annoying and distracts you from music and you want to fix that aspect? or is it just lust and a hope of improvement?

Don't get me wrong, I'm just trying to save you some money

nap.

vegasdave · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 Apr 2010, 12:22 am »

Well, no I like them, if that's what you're asking. But, I feel the Bryston equipment deserves a true high-end speaker. Also, my current speakers lack a bit in the frequency extremes.

Thank you though, I appreciate that.

Napalm · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Apr 2010, 12:48 am »

Quote from: vegasdave on 19 Apr 2010, 12:22 am

Also, my current speakers lack a bit in the frequency extremes.

Bah. If they don't distort all is well.

I think you are aware of these measurements:

http://www.soundstagemagazine.com/measurements/jbl_l890/

based on which I would say that you'll have plenty of treble if you give them some toe in.

As for the bass - there's only one real cure - the Velodyne fridge.

Make sure you can audition the new ones and you can return them. Compression drivers/horns are a love or hate affair.

Nap.

vegasdave · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Apr 2010, 01:36 am »

Well, they break-up at high volumes. That's what it sounds like to me. Yes, I believe I saw those.

Ok, I do have them toed-in...maybe more toe-in is needed. They sound a bit closed-in. I mean they only cost me $800 a pair, so I can't really expect the world here.

I hear ya, a sub can make a difference.

I will.

Napalm · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 Apr 2010, 02:24 am »

Quote from: vegasdave on 19 Apr 2010, 01:36 am

Well, they break-up at high volumes. That's what it sounds like to me.

Paper cone sound....(yeah I know "polyplass"). Not the best for pumping out hip-hop at high SPL, but they excel at some other things. I remember some years ago Futureshop was still selling JBL, and one day I heard a perfectly realistic, natural, be-there delicious saxophone sound coming out of their audition room. I immediately went in there to see what it was and surprise it was the JBL E80. I only heard that sound again in some mega-dollars setups.

Nap.

vegasdave · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 Apr 2010, 02:38 am »

Ok. Well, I don't listen to hip-hop...I'm a rocker, man! Yes of course, JBL is very underrated.

Napalm · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Apr 2010, 02:51 am »

Quote from: vegasdave on 19 Apr 2010, 02:38 am

Ok. Well, I don't listen to hip-hop...I'm a rocker, man! Yes of course, JBL is very underrated.

You have to try some jazz, here's a good recording that I believe will go extremely well through your setup:

The second half of the first track is drums, bass, piano and a deliciously impertinent clarinet, all taking leading role in turns. The clarinet always goes perfect through paper cones - Dynaudio, PMC etc.

I am convinced that it will raise your esteem of your own speakers.

Nap.