FOCAL-JM LAB Profile 908 bookshelf speakers are on their way........

Wayner · « **on:** 1 Nov 2008, 07:57 pm »

I have been looking for new speakers forever. Talked to Jim Salk a few times, but I think my studio made speakers choices a bit limited. Wish I had room for the Songtowers, but don't.

So after much research, I have taken the plunge and purchased a pair of Focal-JM Labs, Profile 908 bookshelf speakers. They are the perfect size 15-3/8"H X 9"W X 10-7/8"Deep, with a vented port out the front. Drivers include a 6-1/2" woofer and a 1" inverted domed tweeter. The cabinet is curved all around the sides and back and the front has a slope towards the top, where the tweeter is located.

I will pair it up with my Insight EC preamp and OmegaStar 170ex (soon to be Insight).

I'm wondering if anyone else is running these or other Focal speakers? I hate buying unheard speakers, but now days, that seems to be the way it is.

Wayner

gjs_cds · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Nov 2008, 01:27 am »

Hey Wayner,

That's a solid speaker design, and I'm betting that you'll be satisfied (after driver break-in). I'm also assuming that you've got a liberal return policy.

I don't particularly buy into the "matching amps with speakers" crowd, as there's a lot of foo-foo dust in that practice. People seem to believe that metal domes sound like (insert opinions here), which won't mate well with SS components. (Even though blind tests demonstrate that people can't reliably tell between metal drivers vs. other materials.)

As you know--it's all about matching speaker design (cross-over, baffle-step, etc) and room placement. I'm a builder myself, so I don't buy commercial... but the last time I heard Focal drivers, I was impressed. A little pricey for my DIY blood (I think there are other drivers that are as good or better for a lower cost), but I remember them to be quality components none the less.

I'm interested in a review after a good 72 hour break-in period.

robinje · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Nov 2008, 04:11 am »

Quote from: Wayner on 1 Nov 2008, 07:57 pm

I have been looking for new speakers forever. Talked to Jim Salk a few times, but I think my studio made speakers choices a bit limited. Wish I had room for the Songtowers, but don't.

So after much research, I have taken the plunge and purchased a pair of Focal-JM Labs, Profile 908 bookshelf speakers. They are the perfect size 15-3/8"H X 9"W X 10-7/8"Deep, with a vented port out the front. Drivers include a 6-1/2" woofer and a 1" inverted domed tweeter. The cabinet is curved all around the sides and back and the front has a slope towards the top, where the tweeter is located.

I will pair it up with my Insight EC preamp and OmegaStar 170ex (soon to be Insight).

I'm wondering if anyone else is running these or other Focal speakers? I hate buying unheard speakers, but now days, that seems to be the way it is.

Wayner

Congrats on your speaker choice decision! Curiously, on what basis did you determine lack of room for the Salk SongTowers? I have mine in a pretty small room and they sound really good with little to no bass boominess (presumably due to the QWT design and inherently easy bass integration). Once you add stands to your Focals, the "footprint" is roughly similar to the SongTowers. I'm not knocking your decision at all on the Focals (I'm sure you've given it much consideration and that they are fine speakers indeed), but I'm just curious how you determined the Salks won't work for you. Enjoy your new speakers, Wayner!

AliG · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Nov 2008, 04:21 am »

If you were looking for monitor/bookshelf, why not grab this one instead?

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1230053808&/Salk-Sound-Ellis-1801-Liquid-S

Wayner · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Nov 2008, 07:28 am »

I literally have no floor space in my listening room. The only place that I have room for speakers is on a 12" wide shelf which is at a 4 foot height. So the speakers are not in ideal conditions. These speakers will not be on stands, they will be on the shelf, right up against the wall.

The only floor space is where me and the Mrs. sit to listen, room enough for 2 nice comfy chairs. I do have a main listening room and that room is huge, but that is the theater room, where LPs are off limits (my rules) and there is no room out there either (for more equipment, speakers).

While this room is a little funky, it also has some extreme advantages. We do all of our listening in near field conditions. The speakers that are allready there (new ones go next to these) produce a beautiful 3D holographic image that we sit right inside of. If you think vinyl is awesome, try listening to it in near field. You will hear everything. So I have become accustomed to the room with its limitations, and limiting myself to bookshelf speakers with a smallish footprint and a front port. The Ellis 1801's would not fit on the shelf.

Wayner

sueata1 · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Nov 2008, 10:59 am »

How about a pair of NHT Classic Three's????
Their acoustic suspension so you could put em on a shelf too.

There really good ,,,have a 30 day return,,,and sound just wonderful with AVA equipment,,,

Just another opinion to Neurose about!!!!!

Happy listening

mel

Wayner · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Nov 2008, 11:58 am »

Yes, they were on the list. I just decided that a 2-way is better than a three way in this application with a (hopefully) less complicated cross-over network. NHT is having a sale right now and you can get the pair for $650. I may buy a pair of these too and replace an old set of speakers upstairs. I'm not wild about the gloss black finish (shows fingerprints) but they are suppose to be a great speaker (for the money).

Thanks Mel.

Wayner

gjs_cds · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Nov 2008, 01:28 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 2 Nov 2008, 07:28 am

I literally have no floor space in my listening room. The only place that I have room for speakers is on a 12" wide shelf which is at a 4 foot height. So the speakers are not in ideal conditions. These speakers will not be on stands, they will be on the shelf, right up against the wall.

You made a solid choice, Wayner. The baffle-step design on your loudspeaker design (if memory recalls) is ideal for your application. (Although there is no substitution for a liberal exchange policy--such as Audio Advisor's.)

Wayner · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Nov 2008, 09:36 pm »

We will find out Tuesday. I may be in for trouble not knowing which amp to put with which speaker. Having 3 systems in one small room just is getting too crazy...................

Wayner aa

Wayner · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Nov 2008, 10:03 pm »

Speakers.....er, speaker came today. Of course it was a subwoofer, not my 908 bookshelfs. And the monkeys that shipped it (3 of them) said they checked the order.....yep, yep, and yep.

UPS did a fine job of delivering it....the box looks like it came from France alright, back in the Revolutionary War days. side of the carton is split, styrofoam broke and the grill for the sub is missing. It's also the wrong finish so the 3 studges not only shipped the wrong model, but the wrong finish.

Little do they know, the second I get credited on my card, the order will be canceled. You can't even give people money anymore.

Wayner

sueata1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Nov 2008, 10:25 pm »

Hey Wayner,,,
Just got a pair of PSB Alpha B-1's from the Advisor $279 shipped (tightwad geek here)!
there pretty awesome for what they are and sound real good being driven with AVA

happy listening,,
mel

avahifi · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Nov 2008, 11:47 pm »

Now Wayne, be patient this time and come in and listen to the wonderful little bookshelf speakers that one of my technicians is building. I told you about them a couple of weeks ago. You just gotta hear them.

Regards,

Frank

Wayner · « **Reply #12 on:** 6 Nov 2008, 12:07 am »

Sometimes I'm not a very good student am I Frank. I just thought this was the cat's meow and now it's turned into crap.

To everyone else....do you wonder why I buy AVA? This shit doesn't happen with AVA, and if things do go wrong, there is a friendly, jolly guy that will fix it right.

OK, I surrender, I'll try get there this weekend or next.

Wayner

TomW16 · « **Reply #13 on:** 6 Nov 2008, 12:34 am »

Hey Wayner,

If you have the woodworking tools to build a speaker cabinet, check out Dennis Murphy's designs. www.murphyblaster.com. Dennis designed many of the Salk speaker crossovers and Dave Ellis's 1801b speakers.

Cheers,
Tom

Wayner · « **Reply #14 on:** 7 Nov 2008, 07:48 pm »

What a chain of events. Well, I finally sent back the subwoofer and decided this stuff must be really built especially for the subwoofer to come out of that box without a scratch. I thought the cabinet should have been split wide open. While I was arranging for the subwoofer return with the company I bought the speakers from, I suggested I might be made a happy camper if they could send me the right speakers, UPS next day air. Well they agreed!

The speakers are at home, on the shelf and playing away. They are Beautiful, heavy and so far are really happy hooked up to my Insight amp and preamp. My initial thoughts are that they may be the best speakers in my studio right now. Imagining is very nice, wide with impressive bass for such a small cabinet and the high end is truly sweet.

More to come later.

oneinthepipe · « **Reply #15 on:** 7 Nov 2008, 08:25 pm »

Wayner:

Great. Happy to hear that it worked out. It's Friday mid-afternoon; did you skip out of work?

Wayner · « **Reply #16 on:** 7 Nov 2008, 09:18 pm »

Yes!

It's deer hunting weekend so everyone (except a few of us audiophiles) are up nort. I going to stay toasty warm and break-in the new speaks.

Wayner aa

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #17 on:** 7 Nov 2008, 09:34 pm »

Very nice looking Wayner

Beryllium inverted tweeter on that?

John

Wayner · « **Reply #18 on:** 7 Nov 2008, 09:37 pm »

Yes, with Poron surround. I keep looking up to think I'm listening to way bigger speakers.

W

opnly bafld · « **Reply #19 on:** 8 Nov 2008, 12:06 am »

Quote from: TheChairGuy on 7 Nov 2008, 09:34 pm

Beryllium inverted tweeter on that?

Alu/mag

Be $$$$$$