JBL Disappointment?

[Bobby Anderson]

Hi all, I am happy and sad i just got a new JBL escxite 5.1 System. It was all looking and sounding good when I began to notice a very low level buzz from the amp which is housed in the sub enclosure, then came a quiet bit of the movie and there was a background hiss from the front left and right, none from the center or surrounds. The power cord is only 2 core I don't know if this is relevant or not, I shut down everything in my house and played an audio CD from my DVD player vea Digital optical powered from the same socket as the amp still a buzz and a hiss from the satellite speakers. I cant listen to it any more listening to music is a big part or my life but never have I bought a new so called calibrated system and had to encounter such back ground noise! Is the unit/amp just of low quality would JBL ship a unit knowing that it did this?
(Bobby Dundee Scotland)

 

[gmichael]

That sucks. Have you contacted who you bought it from yet? Did you get it from a brick and mortar store or online?

 

[Bobby Anderson]

Hi

I got in online from www.komplett.co.uk, I was just so happy with my Tosh MT-200 projector, and I have only ever heard good things about JBL so I just went for it I have to admit when the sound is up it sounds amazing and i dont doubt the speakers but something sucks in it. It will drive me mad if i have to listen to it, I dread the next quiet bit of a movie hissssssss.

B

 

[gmichael]

Maybe pop them off an email. You never know. They may replace them at no charge. But don't delay. Most companies expect to hear from you right away if something is wrong.

 

[Bobby Anderson]

I will ask for a swap but i have to pay for all shipping, I don't know if the next one will do the same as this one then I will have to send that one back at more expense! I have the weekend to go around my local dealers and see if I can see one in a store and have a listen to. If one in store sounds good then I will get a swap if sounds the same I will try fight for a refund.
I just with there was an simple way to fix it!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi all, I am happy and sad i just got a new JBL escxite 5.1 System. It was all looking and sounding good when I began to notice a very low level buzz from the amp which is housed in the sub enclosure, then came a quiet bit of the movie and there was a background hiss from the front left and right, none from the center or surrounds. The power cord is only 2 core I don't know if this is relevant or not, I shut down everything in my house and played an audio CD from my DVD player vea Digital optical powered from the same socket as the amp still a buzz and a hiss from the satellite speakers. I cant listen to it any more listening to music is a big part or my life but never have I bought a new so called calibrated system and had to encounter such back ground noise! Is the unit/amp just of low quality would JBL ship a unit knowing that it did this?
(Bobby Dundee Scotland)

Do you by chance have cable TV hooked up to the system? Unplug the cable feed and see what happens.

 

[Bobby Anderson]

Demo room

Hi thanks for the advice I don't have cable TV and the only in to the amp is power and Optical digital. I am just back from a local store and had a listen to one there. In the listening room there guy had the Sub/Amp, connected to a £2000 Linn CD player still hiss from speakers but the sub was not kicking out the buzz to the same level as mine at least i don't think it was very different acoustics in the room. I am Lost lol

 

[markw]

Just return it while you can. You obviously don't like it.

It seems the hum is unique to your system and exchanging it should correct that.

The hiss, however, is another situation entirely. Speakers in and of themselves don't hiss. They simply reproduce what's sent to them from the amplifier and/or source preceding them.

As such, it seems the speakers have a high end tilt that emphasises the inherent hiss from the built in amps and you find this objectionable. But, then again, what do you expect for that price?

Did you listen to these at all before deciding on them?

 

[JVC]

Do you have your speakers plugged into the sub or the receiver? If they're in the sub, try putting them in the receiver, and see if that makes a difference. I'd still see about replacing the sub though. You can get a bad one of anything. JBL is normally a quality speaker.
Good luck!

 

[markw]

If I read correctly, this is an all in one system.

Do you have your speakers plugged into the sub or the receiver? If they're in the sub, try putting them in the receiver, and see if that makes a difference. I'd still see about replacing the sub though. You can get a bad one of anything. JBL is normally a quality speaker.
Good luck!

All you add is a digital source.

http://www.misco.co.uk/productinformation/~125012~WW~/JBL home theatre speakers.htm

 

[Bobby Anderson]

Thanks Guys

Hi yes I know its cheep but I just expect things to work, this system has one task to produce audio and I expect clean audio. I don't think I am demanding much after-all its JBL that go on and on about how amassing the sound is from this system. I watched an action film and the sound was incredible but I do think this is all down to the speakers and NOT the amp I was still getting hiss from the sat speakers, after switching off the System I noticed that you still hear a hissing noise your brain tells you its still there after-all you have been listening to it for 2 1/2 hours you cant pic it out when other audio is getting produced with the hiss but it is there in the back ground.
I then played a CD as I normally would after a film Acoustic track with quiet intervals i played this at a low volume and the hiss just destroys the track as you are in high alert all the time about this hiss lol, there is a pause between strings on the guitar and all you get is hiss.
I disconnected the front left and right and connected them up to my nine year old Technics amp crystal clear audio even when the amp in turned right down so you can just hear a very low level audio I really cant fault the speakers. Which leads me to believe you are right the amp is interlay at fault. Then I connected my old Technics speakers to the Sub/Amp and the hiss was there!

I Would normally get a separate amplifier and dedicated speakers but in this installation space is a real issue, and when I seen this as an option i was skeptical at first but upon reading JBLs track record I went for it so no I did not listen to them before I purchased but I had faith in JBL.

Concussion. For the same price I can get Just the speakers, this means I will lose my built in amp but I cant live with it any way.

The speakers have impressed me enough to buy JBL speakers but the amp has let me down and the potential of this system.

So looks like I am going to send it all back at my expense
I hope the company will offer me a refund fingers crossed
and I will order the same speakers that are on this kit but without the built in amp on the sub all for the same price.
Then Find a 5.1 amp

Question?
Are 5.1 amps renowned for producing more hiss
than stereo amps???

Thanks Guys

 

[markw]

Not everybody shares the same expectations or the same priorities.

Sometimes, ya gets what ya pays for.

That's why they make different cars. Some are happy with basic transportation and Suzuki's and the like satisfy them. Others demand more refinement and won't settle for less than a Mercedes.

The same with audio. Remember, what you bought is essentially a system designed to work with a computer or video games and the wonks are simply satisfied to have 5 channels of sound. Odds are they don't even notice the hiss.

My step-son straddles these two extremes. He' quite accustomed to good audio but is much less demanding for his games.

Me? We drive a Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla and some of my audio systems are visible in my sig link.