Looking for entry / midrange speakers, but limited to Japanese brands

[ryanosaur]

I'm actually jealous if you get the JBL 6 line. A lot of us over here in the states would love to have a chance to buy them.

The studio 5 lineup I own and it's pretty awesome

I'm actually still disappointed they didn't make the HDI Towers 3-way. Huge letdown.

 

[Danzilla31]

I'm actually still disappointed they didn't make the HDI Towers 3-way. Huge letdown.

ESPECIALLY for the price they are asking for them

 

[ryanosaur]

ESPECIALLY for the price they are asking for them

They are a statement piece, to be fair. Had they went that extra step, I may well have considered buying. And for anyone to say they couldn't pull it off, proper...
I call shenanigans.
Certainly, it may have put a few more points on the ticket. But c'mon. Competing directly against MA Silver 500, ML Motion 60XTI... others...
Dialed in hard by the Harmon team, these could be killers!

I think they left something on the table.

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm actually still disappointed they didn't make the HDI Towers 3-way. Huge letdown.

And why is that? A three way design is not inherently better than a two way design. In fact the less crossover points the better.

 

[ryanosaur]

And why is that? A three way design is not inherently better than a two way design. In fact the less crossover points the better.

I don't disagree. While I am still very much a novice in this, I also know the HDIs didn't quite measure as well as some may have hoped. Perhaps a dedicated mid and proper XO could help?
I don't have the answer, but I also know I have had a very good experience with 3-way designs and I completely get that the fewer components improve the product.
There has to be a balance.
At the price point these are playing at... It is reasonable to expect and demand better.

That said, I get that a well executed 2-way can be every bit as good, if not better... but again, where is the balance point?

 

[TLS Guy]

I don't disagree. While I am still very much a novice in this, I also know the HDIs didn't quite measure as well as some may have hoped. Perhaps a dedicated mid and proper XO could help?
I don't have the answer, but I also know I have had a very good experience with 3-way designs and I completely get that the fewer components improve the product.
There has to be a balance.
At the price point these are playing at... It is reasonable to expect and demand better.

That said, I get that a well executed 2-way can be every bit as good, if not better... but again, where is the balance point?

There is NO balance point. It all comes down to a good design concept and excellent execution, not preconceived notions.

 

[Danzilla31]

And why is that? A three way design is not inherently better than a two way design. In fact the less crossover points the better.

Your right of course a "3 way design" the very word does sound more romantic but as you correctly point out that's marketing and perception. I love my 5's and there a 2.5 way horn design.

BUT

it would have been cool to hear it executed. Instead we get the replacement for the 5 line the HDI line which is priced so high compared to the 5's when they go on sale.

I just feel the 6's would have been in the middle of that pricing and it would have been cool to see what they implemented with a 3 way horn and how it sounded in our rooms

I think me and Ryan are just expressing our disappointment in not being able to hear a line we were curious about that was designed a lot different then the old one we were looking forward to seeing what JBL could do with that 3 way design. Alas it may not be I keep hearing they have no plans to release them in the States

 

[lovinthehd]

Music Direct sells the HDI speakers....altho wouldn't help the OP much https://www.musicdirect.com/Search?query=jbl speaker#/jbl speaker/0/score/desc/?tab=products

Your right of course a "3 way design" the very word does sound more romantic but as you correctly point out that's marketing and perception. I love my 5's and there a 2.5 way horn design.

BUT

it would have been cool to hear it executed. Instead we get the replacement for the 5 line the HDI line which is priced so high compared to the 5's when they go on sale.

I just feel the 6's would have been in the middle of that pricing and it would have been cool to see what they implemented with a 3 way horn and how it sounded in our rooms

I think me and Ryan are just expressing our disappointment in not being able to hear a line we were curious about that was designed a lot different then the old one we were looking forward to seeing what JBL could do with that 3 way design. Alas it may not be I keep hearing they have no plans to release them in the States

 

[Mark E. Long]

Your right of course a "3 way design" the very word does sound more romantic but as you correctly point out that's marketing and perception. I love my 5's and there a 2.5 way horn design.

BUT

it would have been cool to hear it executed. Instead we get the replacement for the 5 line the HDI line which is priced so high compared to the 5's when they go on sale.

I just feel the 6's would have been in the middle of that pricing and it would have been cool to see what they implemented with a 3 way horn and how it sounded in our rooms

I think me and Ryan are just expressing our disappointment in not being able to hear a line we were curious about that was designed a lot different then the old one we were looking forward to seeing what JBL could do with that 3 way design. Alas it may not be I keep hearing they have no plans to release them in the States

The HDI series I think would have been pretty cool in a 3 way design they should have worked in a midrange horn to complement the design . Now I’ve never herd them myself but I’ve herd good things about these speakers. I know the jbl 880 array center I use now is a 3 way with compression drivers it’s amazing on anything you put threw it . The HDI series is the low end of the synthesis lineup if that’s a thing they put really good components in them top notch drivers. To get a 3 way in this
Would be awesome the 3800 is kind of large but I could get used to looking at them lol .

 

[Eppie]

I’m pretty flexible I think (maybe up to 3k), and don’t mind spending that on a 3.1 and getting other components later.

I do have room for a ported sub!

As you can see, there are several here that really like those JBL as well. Horn loaded speakers tend to be quite efficient. Given your options either the KEFs or JBLs would do nicely and then pair with a suitable sub. Two very different designs that will have different sound signatures so ideally try and find a store were you can listen to each.

 

[Pogre]

JBL ホームエンターテイメントスピーカー: スタンダードモデルスピーカー

音楽再生だけでなくマルチチャンネル再生のホームシアターにも対応し、部屋の大きさや楽しみ方に合った最適なシステムを組むことが可能です。

jp.jbl.com

The Studio 6 line is priced similarly to the full price of our Studio 5s when not on sale. Are there other charges not included? (I don't read Japanese.)

I think I could be very happy with the Studio 6 series. If those are available over there that'd be my choice. Those aren't bad speakers to have to "settle for " at all!

 

[Mark E. Long]

I see from time to time that someone in Japan sells and ships the studio 6 bookshelves over here I can only imagine what shipping would work out to but they are very nice looking speakers. They seem to have a very good market for very high end jbl Synthesis series is very popular and none are cheap. Also see a lot of kef, B&W high end it’s weird that some lines from these manufacturers only sell to Asian and European markets. I know the HP series I use where designed for the European market, Germany mainly and Scandinavian countries a lot of parts can be found there .