JMLab Vs B&W

[tritonstudio]

Hi all,
I come close to chose a pair between the JMlab electra 936 Vs B&W 804. One of my local dealer have a good deal for the 936 as the same price range of the B&W 804 ($3.5k +/-). Which one would you refer to pick personally for contemporary jazz music ? I already listened to the 804 over the wkend. It sounds very clear & efficient for jazzy music. Next, I will try to listen to the 936 in the coming wkend to get one. I read a few reviews that mention the JMlab speaker is brighter than the B&W. Is it true ?

 

[jaxvon]

At this point, only your ears can decide what's right for you. Go listen, see if maybe you can do an in-home trial with each of them so you can A/B the speakers. When you're laying down that kind of cash, the dealer should let you check them out to make sure they're right for you.

 

[voriand]

Jmlabs are brighter than B&W.

Jazz sounds great on JmLabs.

My fronts, center and rears are all colbalts and sound excellent with my denon.

If possible bring in your amp and listen to both and go what you think sounds better.

 

[tritonstudio]

Since my main listening is jazz, so the critical listening is very high for every single element sound of instruments. Anyway, I will test the JMLab and make the final selections. From Jmlab website it really look great; I think it all come to a personal choice between the 2 cabinets. Jmlab speakers and B&W 803s/804 series really look awesome. They both make the quality cabinet and finished which is so great for room design beside their technical sound ! . I will then need a good a/v receiver & amps to run these speakers. I'm not sure if the HK7300, Denon 3806 can handle these speaker or not; or I have to go w/ separate rotel stuff?

 

[jaxvon]

Is this going to be a multi-channel or HT setup at any time? If not (as in just stereo listening/monitoring), then you'd do better to get a beefy integrated amp or stereo separates.

 

[furrycute]

Forget about Rotel.

Rotel engineered their amps to sound tube like. Which is a big failure in my opinion.

With those kinds of speakers you are considering. You should look at amps from Krell, Accuphase, Mark Levinson, Rowland, etc. You are not going to do justice to those speakers with a receiver.

 

[jaxvon]

I'm not sure about some of those brands Furry. There's a lot of cash tied up in the name. But I agree, at that level, I think you should be thinking about separates from companies like Bryston,Parasound, and RE Designs.

 

[furrycute]

I used to own an Accuphase integrated. The sound was heavenly. Smooth, yet detailed. I know that's a contradiction. But there is no other way to describe the sound. Too bad it was an integrated, didn't have the juice to properly power my floorstanders. And Accuphase amps are way beyond what I can afford.


Krell has had a longstanding reputation for making some of the best amps in the industry, renowned for its bass extention and control.


As to the other brands I mentioned, I am only putting those out by reputation. These brands have been successful for so long for a reason. They must make excellent products. Otherwise they wouldn't be in business for so long.



Another thing about amps. I like to judge amps by its weight. The heavier it is, the better. I'll take a 90lb amp over a 30lb one anytime.

 

[jaxvon]

Weight, eh? How about some Boulder gear?

Boulder 2050 Monoblock (1000w into 2,4, or 8 ohms). Weighs in at 240lbs:

Boulder 2010 Preamp (96lbs):

Boulder 2020 D/A Converter (90lbs):

 

[furrycute]

Give me that Boulder!

 

[jaxvon]

Okay then, you give me $60k for the pair of monos, $36k for the preamp, $30k for the D/A converter, and another $30k for the phono pre I didn't show.

 

[furrycute]

Okay then, you give me $60k for the pair of monos, $36k for the preamp, $30k for the D/A converter, and another $30k for the phono pre I didn't show.

I was just kidding.

If someone can miraculously make $100,000 appear in my bank account, I'll jump all over this!