Any updates on these speakers?
Yes. I went ahead and experimented with different toe in and position.
I like them both toed out and toed in for different reasons. Toed out widens up that Soundstage
Toed in slightly better imaging but even more detail. Imaging is good with toed out though and like I said the Soundstage is so much more spacious.
Right now I ended up toeing them in just for the incredible detail you get.
But it's a testament to how good they're wave guide is that you can be that flexible with positioning. Hopefully this is also an indicator of good on and off axis response but that needs to be confirmed with objective measurements.
Toed in they are not bright those highs are crisp and clean and very very dynamic. To the point that they are on the edge but they never cross over to sibilance or ear fatigue. Very detailed and revealing and dynamic but not to the point of bright. They remind me of my RBH with they're giant Arum Cantus tweeter in that regard.
Voices are just so they are right they're in the room. Like a live performance. The 590's did that great as well. But not to this level.
On movies they are awesome but they don't extend as deep as the Encore T6. They have the same frequency response but the Encore are designed to have a rolloff that goes deep in the room. I don't think JBL was going for that what you do get is that midbass slam around 40 or 50 hz though they will punch your guts out. I think paired with subs at 60 to 80 hz these will just be beyond awesome. I know crossovers are room dependent but a lower crossover at say 60 to 80 would be best in my opinion let the subs hit the deep deep stuff let the 698 towers shine where they really hit hard. And they do hit hard. The Encores have more extension the 698 have way way more slam.
Once again clarity clarity clarity they are so clean and detailed a very neutral sound with dynamics for days. You can get a lot of speakers that play clean and neutral but sound a Lil bit boring because it costs them dynamics but not the 698's. Not at all.
I know it was risky to cross them over where they did with that midrange driver but I think the higher crossover point for the tweeter works well because they can go much louder and smoother then the 590's with a lot less distortion
They are awesome for movies and music but they need subs with movies for the low end low end range on the bass. But for music you won't notice it and for movies with that midbass slam it's not like you won't be having fun.
