[mr_bill]

All the talk on Floyd Toole and powered speakers made me take a look at a few of JBLs new offerings and they look really good.

Has anyone used either the LSR708i or LSR6332 or any other of the new mid priced JBLs?  Comments?

There is a lot of know how behind these speakers with Harman Labs.

I did not include the M2 as that is pretty pricey.

[JoshK]

The LSR6332 is a bit more of a traditional 3 way.  I think it has been around for some years now.   I've heard a couple of reports that they are good, but in comparison to what I don't know. 

The LSR705i/708i are what you might call the trickle-down technology from designing the M2s.  They use a similarly designed waveguide and a variation on the D2 compressor driver (not as low of xo is needed as in the M2).   They are modern constant directivity speakers.   If you believe the research of Dr. Geddes, Dr. Toole and a whole lot of other leading experts, CD matters in music reproduction, particularly if you care about anyone sitting outside the precise sweet-spot, but also because the reflected sound will have a similar spectral content as the direct sound and our ears interpret the indirect a lot as well.

I've not heard them, but there has been some talk of them on the AVS forum whether a number of audio engineers have chimed in with high accolades.   I take their opinions as seriously if not more than a bunch of audiophiles on the internet that I don't know personally, meaning if I were looking for such a speaker, they would make my short list to audition.

[JLM]

You can go to soundonsound.com for very reasonable reviews of professional gear, including many studio monitors. 

But keep in mind that studio monitors are intended for work, not enjoyment.  Meaning that they are designed to reveal warts more than entertain (give you want to you want).  Yet just like audio companies, the manufacturers each have house sounds. 

[JeffB]

I heard the LSR705i at The Show at Newport last year.
I thought they sounded very good, but when I asked the price of the demo system, it was around $8k as I recall.
Most all of the cost was in the external amps and dsp.  These do not have a cross-over inside them.
This took the price outside my desired spending range.
I have occasionally looked on-line for a less expensive setup with the 705i but can't find one.

I am thinking about buying the JBL 530 mainly based on this sound demo.
Play it with some good earphones or headphones.
ZReview JBL 530 sound demo (passive home speaker)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlQrdSAp_LQ

ZReview Airmotiva6 sound demo (self powered studio monitor)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCsIJU_6kho

My personal opinion is that 8" drivers do not mate well with a tweeter, unless they can cross that tweeter really low with a 2" compression driver.
The 708i are crossed at 1.7k.
I lean towards the 5" midrange and subwoofers.

[JoshK]

Traditionally the LSR7 series are all passive, not active.  However, as I said on the other thread I thought this was an option.   The list price for the passive LSR705is is $687.50 each, but they are having a fiscal year end sale till the end of the month (which means you'd have to get on it fast as they have a 3-4 day processing time) for ballpark 10% off.  Just an FYI.   The LSR 708i's are list $1500/ea. 

Just mentioning the price to contrast with your experience (for the whole setup).   DCin series are pricey, the Itechs gobs more pricey. 

[Dmason]

@Josh -- where are they on offer for the price you mention?  CAD?

[JoshK]

No, this is MSRP in USD from US dealers (I'm american and own property in the US and have an American bank account still).  Then the 10% discount is what I understand authorized dealers are being offered, so many/most in turn give you a good deal.   I am not trying to get anyone in trouble but I think this is all public knowledge.    So I didn't mention any dealer nor the street prices.   

[richidoo]

My Sweetwater salesman Ryan Clapper just called me back with their price of $1200 each, for LSR708i. His asst emailed me yesterday that they wouldn't be available til fall, but Ryan says they have a pair arriving tomorrow for a customer who pre-ordered and they have more coming next week, so the delivery pipeline is starting to flow. It's a special order item, so no returns. I told him I've only heard LSR305 and he said 3 series is good 'for the money' but the 7 series is much better, he thought it sounds very similar to M2 which he has also heard.

[richidoo]

I was looking into the 708s a little more. The "i" versions available now have a passive xo, but they still need additional EQ applied. They can't be used "stand alone" with just any amp like we're used to with consumer speakers. JBL provides the preset EQ files to load into either the Crown DCi 2|300N 300wpc 2ch amplifier (~$2000,) or into BSS Soundweb London processor (~$2000) to use with your own amplifier. So the system is really ~$4400.

(edit)  The purpose of the passive xo (in JBL Pro's eyes) is to simplify installation in trucks and broadcast situations by not needing AC power at the speaker location. The recommended Crown amps have continually running cooling fan so they recommend putting the amps outside the listening room with up to 100 foot long speaker cable. (end edit)

It shouldn't be too hard to do the EQ on a PC with measurement mic, I know I'd want to bend the treble response down a bit anyway. The JBL provided EQ file for 708i can be tweaked with the JBL PC software used to install the file into the amp.

I would imagine the next version of 7 series will be fully active, with crossovers done in the Crown amps or BSS controller?