JBL Synthesis NS1M - two sets of drivers in one cabinet?

[jcl]

I noticed the Synthesis NS1M in the clearance section of harman audio's site.

Harman Audio - NS1M

The description is as follows :

The JBL Synthesis S1M theater and music speaker is a unique system that switches between two separate sets of speaker components for when the speaker is playing 2 channel music versus multi-channel movie soundtracks. This unique switching arrangement allows use of a controlled dispersion horn driver that is optimized for use when multiple channels are in use in Multi-channel or theater mode. The speaker system switches to a set of wide dispersion speaker components that are preferred if only the left and right front speakers are active in a two channel or Stereo playback, typical of serious music listening.

Crazy idea or a good compromise between home theater and stereo listening? It's different that's for sure. Don't think I've ever seen a design with a switchable driver arrangement before. Seeing as they're selling for ~ 20% of retail it appears they didn't sell so well.

 

[walter duque]

I noticed the Synthesis NS1M in the clearance section of harman audio's site.

Harman Audio - NS1M

The description is as follows :

The JBL Synthesis S1M theater and music speaker is a unique system that switches between two separate sets of speaker components for when the speaker is playing 2 channel music versus multi-channel movie soundtracks. This unique switching arrangement allows use of a controlled dispersion horn driver that is optimized for use when multiple channels are in use in Multi-channel or theater mode. The speaker system switches to a set of wide dispersion speaker components that are preferred if only the left and right front speakers are active in a two channel or Stereo playback, typical of serious music listening.

Crazy idea or a good compromise between home theater and stereo listening? It's different that's for sure. Don't think I've ever seen a design with a switchable driver arrangement before. Seeing as they're selling for ~ 20% of retail it appears they didn't sell so well.

Nice markup, no wonder the stock is up HAR. These are nice speakers, no doubt.

 

[theJman]

Crazy idea or a good compromise between home theater and stereo listening? It's different that's for sure. Don't think I've ever seen a design with a switchable driver arrangement before. Seeing as they're selling for ~ 20% of retail it appears they didn't sell so well.

I'd vote for crazy idea. Anything being sold for an 80% discount leads me to believe there was something flawed with the design and/or concept. If they were just an older model, or something that didn't catch on so well, then I could see 40%-50% savings. But fire-sale prices project a different imagine, at least to me they do.