[James Romeyn]

I've not heard these.  Would appreciate comments from those who sampled them, particularly in a good demonstration, and ideally persons who own and prefer the best pro monitors, i.e. Russell Dawkins, etc...Please no comments from persons with predisposition against this genre unless the M2 shattered your preconception.   

http://www.jblpro.com/docs/default-source/News-Items/m2_soundtech_decadesexperience_april2013.pdf

[Rocket_Ronny]

Hi James:

I like what I see and read about those bad boyz. My spidey senses tell me they would be a killer speaker. I wonder how they would compare to the JBL 1400 array.

I bet there will be few comments on either speaker as they would be on the fringe of the audio community.

Rocket_Ronny

[James Romeyn]

Thanks Ronny....yeah, you're likely right.  It's more of a Gear Slutz forum subject.  I really hope Russell chimes in.

I might have a pair in my room soon.   

[Rocket_Ronny]

Where are you finding them at 15 k. Sweetwater has them at 19K. I thought they were at 12k for the pair. Opps. see them here for 12k.
http://www.musicarts.com/JBL-M2-Master-Reference-Monitor--Each--H96890-i3080603.mac

Let us know what you think of them. I doubt Russell has heard them.


Rocket_Ronny

[srb]

The Sweetwater $20K price is for a system that includes two Crown i-Tech 5000 HD amplifiers, which are ~ $5000 each.

Stever

[Rocket_Ronny]

Yes, I see that now.

So the M2s do not have passive crossovers and rely on the Crown amp's dsp for crossover details.

So James, would you get the Crown amps as well, or have another solution. You have the NCore 400s don't you?

Rocket_Ronny

[James Romeyn]

Hi James:

I like what I see and read about those bad boyz. My spidey senses tell me they would be a killer speaker. I wonder how they would compare to the JBL 1400 array.

I bet there will be few comments on either speaker as they would be on the fringe of the audio community.

Rocket_Ronny

Yes, my feelings exactly!  Love that "spidey senses."  Don't hate me if I steal that! 

[Rocket_Ronny]

I don't mind James. I stole it from some t.v. show, you know.

So would you go with the crown amps, or do you own crossover?

Rocket_Ronny

[James Romeyn]

Yes, I see that now.

So the M2s do not have passive crossovers and rely on the Crown amp's dsp for crossover details.

So James, would you get the Crown amps as well, or have another solution. You have the NCore 400s don't you?

Rocket_Ronny

Amps/xo/processor explained page 6: http://www.jblpro.com/ProductAttachments/M2_OwnersManual_RevA.pdf

Users either employ the special Crown amp with digital xo/processing, or use other amp with separate (JBL supplied) digital xo/processor (BSS Soundweb London: BLU-800 or BLU-160 or BLU-80) with Omnidrive HD software.  Unknown whether input/output is analog, digital or both. 

I use three of Earl Geddes' old trustworthy 2003-04 Pioneer VSX-D912 receivers for now, with a litany of passive mods.  #1 912 sits in the rack just off center front wall (used as analog preamp; speaker outputs convert to line level via Jack Elliano's bridging circuit at the power amp inputs), then #2 and #3 912s sit next to Dream Maker LCS L and R channels.

The 912s are almost like an OTL, quality is low-fi below 6 Ohms, while 12 Ohms sounds sweet. 

Dream Maker Main Speakers (not the Effects) have a version of Bob Carver's old amp trick, higher resistive load allows SS amps to mimic the density and texture of  tube amps.  It works well with the 912.  Removing a jumper causes the Mains' resistive loading to increase from 8 to, well a number that only me, Duke, and Jason Bourne know.

Now with three 912s, one 912 powers one Main Speaker (impedance higher than 8 Ohm) and one Effects Speaker (8 Ohm).  The Mains require more voltage/less current, while the Effects require more current/less voltage.  I estimate clean SPL jumped as much as 3 dB vs. using two 912s as before (one powered two Mains, the other powered two Effects). 

I estimate clean undistorted SPL in my room within 1 to 3 dB of live.  It's either good or bad depending on how much you value future hearing!      

[Rocket_Ronny]

Nice.

Reading the M2 owner's manual it says the BSS software is included not the hardware from what I can tell. So would you be buying the BSS hardware as well?

Rocket_Ronny

[James Romeyn]

Nice.

Reading the M2 owner's manual it says the BSS software is included not the hardware from what I can tell. So would you be buying the BSS hardware as well?

Rocket_Ronny

Interesting.  "I did not know that," (no hardware) as Johnny Carson used to say.  Please keep reading while I solder...so users employing non-Crown amp must separately purchase either BLU 800, BLU 160, or BLU 80?  What is starting MSRP?  Country of origin?  (just curious)

[srb]

The Soundweb London BLU series processors are manufactured by BSS Audio in the USA (Sandy, UT).  BSS Audio is a Harman company, as is JBL and Crown.

The BLU-800 looks to sell for ~ $5000, the BLU-80 ~ $4500 and the BLU-160 ~ $2700.  Here is a Comparison Chart.

Steve

[James Romeyn]

Thanks Steve!

Anyone know who lead the design team of this loudspeaker model?

Do the petal-like shapes within the JBL wave guide remind anyone else of the petal-shapes of KEF's tangerine wave guide on their wonderful coaxial driver?  Maybe not a coincidence? 

[AJinFLA]

Would appreciate comments from those who sampled them, particularly in a good demonstration

I (deliberately) heard them at RMAF. Sounded very good....but I don't think they were optimized (setup) for that room, so there was potential left on the table.
My 2c

cheers,

AJ

[James Romeyn]

Howdy AJ,
I'm surprised JBL/Harman employed this Pro Monitor at RMAF.  At CES circa 2012 Harman had Levinson, JBL Synthesis, and Revel's new great then-unreleased Performa3 series. 

Sidenote: apparently JBL's top consumer series Synthesis sub system employs multiple subs with digital processor with separate control of each sub's phase, EQ, xo, and level.  I can't recall the sub system cost but it's way up there, estimate $15k-20k for three subs and controller, possibly including dealer setup of the whole rig.  JBL's top tier individual Synthesis Sub is of incredible modern industrial design, with superb specs and cosmetics.   

From what I understand it seems like Earl Geddes offers similar but different service: clients purchase any three subs they desire, set them up wherever they want in one room, perform test procedure, send Earl the test results, Earl returns software program for client (for a fee, I think Earl wrote the program).  The end result is similar control and effect as JBL's above describe Synthesis Sub System controller.

Apparently, in both cases (JBL and Geddes), the fly in the ointment is as soon as you change anything, all bets off, start over. 

I asked Earl to comment on my "Successive Null Point" setup instructions for Distributed Sub Array (at my website), no dice.     

[JLM]

I suppose I'll be waiting until cows fly before the professional audio reviews try these out.

Wonder if they've thought about the prosumer market and coming out with versions based on smaller woofers.

[James Romeyn]

I suppose I'll be waiting until cows fly before the professional audio reviews try these out.

Wonder if they've thought about the prosumer market and coming out with versions based on smaller woofers.

IIRC JBL already offer two smaller models in this series. 

Someone suggested JBL might release a model following M2 architecture but in polished clothing for the domestic high-end market.