JBL vs EMP

[Relishh13]

Hi, Right now my HT has ES80 front-ES30-rear ES25c-center.My question is What are your opinions on Switching to the EMP E5ti and there center,books, and sub instead.The reason I am thinking about this is cause The jbl's sound great for TV and movies but are a little lacking when it comes to music.Don't get me wrong I really do like them but there just something missing when I listen to music.The other thing is When I purchased the jbl set up I got the whole thing for under 700 from jbl at the time(was during winter huge sale).So the cost thing is there..but I think an 3-400 added on for better music may be worth it.Hmm I could go with the bookself system as well...Any thoughts Thanks relishh.

 

[GranteedEV]

I really can't help you. I have never heard any of the home speakers produced by JBL. If they're anything like the JBL Pro LSR speakers though, I'm surprised you don't consider them musical.

I do rather like my EMP e55tis however. For about $600/pr one couldn't ask for too much more.

Another speaker you might consider, if high output or a wide sweet spot aren't necessary, would be a Magnepan MMG.

 

[cpp]

JBL speakers

http://www.jbl.com/EN-US/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=ES80BK

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would not do it.

I believe the EMPs are great speakers as well, but I just don't see much of a difference between the EMPs and JBL ES80 speakers.

What subwoofer do you have?

Perhaps what you need is a better subwoofer.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I would not do it.

I believe the EMPs are great speakers as well, but I just don't see much of a difference between the EMPs and JBL ES80 speakers.

What subwoofer do you have?

Perhaps what you need is a better subwoofer.

+1 $400 for good sub , correct bass management setup and possibly room treatments will go long way improving the audio quality.

If you really want to bring up music performance a serious notch up with new speakers, you'd need ether to do DIY or considerably bumping the budget

 

[Relishh13]

Thanks for the info everyone.One thing I just thought of is that all of my music is my computer and I think that when I ripped it I was limited to the bit rate at the time to what ever the max wma was I think 192,So I believe that has a huge impact on the quality of it.Well unfortunately I no longer have most of my cd's...That is really a depressing revelation.I live in a larger studio app/sound/noise not a problem for me or the landlord.Right now I have a 8 or 10 inch base model definitive sub so any ideas for a replacement Thanks again!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thanks for the info everyone.One thing I just thought of is that all of my music is my computer and I think that when I ripped it I was limited to the bit rate at the time to what ever the max wma was I think 192,So I believe that has a huge impact on the quality of it.Well unfortunately I no longer have most of my cd's...That is really a depressing revelation.I live in a larger studio app/sound/noise not a problem for me or the landlord.Right now I have a 8 or 10 inch base model definitive sub so any ideas for a replacement Thanks again!

You're going to need a bigger [strike]boat[/strike] sub
What are the room size the sub is in and is it open to other spaces ?

 

[Relishh13]

16x24 but it has some odd angles because of it being above a garage.1/4 of it on 2 side has the pitch of the roof projected into the room.One side is bigger tan the other.If I can figure our how to put some pics up you will see my problems.There's only 2 areas for me to setup HT.In the space as described above and were it currently is the space between part of were the pitch is and the counter that's about 7'.Both areas I'm about 9-10' away from the viewing area.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

when I ripped it I was limited to the bit rate at the time to what ever the max wma was I think 192,So I believe that has a huge impact on the quality of it.

I don't think the bitrate was the problem.

I've ripped my CDs to compile songs and burn them into a single disc as well. They sound just like the original CD. But I play the songs back on the BD player.

Do you listen to your songs on the CD/DVD/BD player, or do you listening directly from your computer?

 

[Relishh13]

from PC to receiver via hdmi.---Is there info on how to put pics with your post instead of having to type type a url.If not just check my photo alb.You'll see my room issues.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

from PC to receiver via hdmi

When I play WAV music files from PC to AVR via HDMI usin WMP, the sound quality sucks. These files are 100% uncompressed, ripped directly from the original CDs.

But when I burn these same files onto a CD disc and play on DVD/BD player, the sound quality is awesome.

So try to burn the songs onto a disc and see if the SQ improves.

I think my PC is not bitstreaming to my AVR. I think it is processing the songs first and then sending the song to the AVR via PCM.

When I play the same files on a thumb drive connected directly to my Denon AVR's USB input, the SQ is the same as the disc.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

When I play WAV music files from PC to AVR via HDMI usin WMP, the sound quality sucks. These files are 100% uncompressed, ripped directly from the original CDs.

But when I burn these same files onto a CD disc and play on DVD/BD player, the sound quality is awesome.

So try to burn the songs onto a disc and see if the SQ improves.

I think my PC is not bitstreaming to my AVR. I think it is processing the songs first and then sending the song to the AVR via PCM.

When I play the same files on a thumb drive connected directly to my Denon AVR's USB input, the SQ is the same as the disc.

Are you bitstreaming from pc or sending decoded pcm?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Are you bitstreaming from pc or sending decoded pcm?

I know I'm bitstreaming my movies on PDVD10 because I see the Denon LCD saying "DTS-HD MASTR".

I know how to set up the audio on PDVD since I use it all the time.

But I guess I have never set up the audio on WMP.

I have played back on Winamp, and it seemed to sound like bitstream.

Is there a setting menu on both WMP & Winamp that will let you configure for bitstream vs. PCM?

I think WMP is defaulting to PCM only. I need to set it up for bitstream because the SQ is just not good.

 

[gmichael]

I have some JBL speakers. They sound great for HT. For music they are OK, but do lack a bit of midrange. Plenty of highs and plenty of lows, but the mids are just OK. I have never heard the EMP's to be able to tell you if they are an upgrade though.

 

[sterling shoote]

I've got tell ya, my JBL's, which I've enjoyed since my first HT 20 years ago, sound great with music or movies. Very inexpensive considering the time I've spent listening to them.

 

[cpp]

Hey AcuDef

give this a read, it helped

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2010/02/02/guide-setting-up-bitstreaming-with-your-windows-7-htpc-part-i/

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hey AcuDef

give this a read, it helped

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2010/02/02/guide-setting-up-bitstreaming-with-your-windows-7-htpc-part-i/

I can bitstream everything using PDVD10 Ultra.

PDVD allows you to configure the audio bitstreaming.

But does Windows Media Player allow you to configure the audio bitstreaming?

What is the best media server software?

TVersity? Asset UPnP? Messmo? Windows Home Server?

 

[GranteedEV]

I have some JBL speakers. They sound great for HT. For music they are OK, but do lack a bit of midrange. Plenty of highs and plenty of lows, but the mids are just OK. I have never heard the EMP's to be able to tell you if they are an upgrade though."

Like I said earlier, I`ve never heard JBL home offerings. they may be boom n sizzle voiced for all I know.

But

The EMPs have pretty clean highs, tight lows, and a slightly prominent, clean midrange. The first thing you`ll notice when you hear them, compared to, say, a Paradigm Monitor, is that the soundstage is very "relaxed".

The lower mids and upper bass are not prominent but still give really good impact if the signal calls for it.

The deepest notes are missing, so you won`t get the `weight` of some instruments without a subwoofer.