Klipsch vs JBL

[gailvin]

Hello,

I am upgrading my old Pioneer (10yrs old) prologic system to new and much improved hardware. The old speakers are CS-R580 12", small center and rears.

I just bought a Denon AVR-1505 6.1 receiver, and Velodyne VRP 1200 Sub. As it stands watching movies and music it is still missing something that I can't quite put my ears on. Seems like it missing midrange but it's hard for me to tell, it's just lacking.

I've been thinking up replacing my existing speakers with either Klipsch F-3, C-2, B-2 or JBL E-90, EC-35, E-10. The JBL system sells for about $900, but the Klipsch is about $1100.

How do these 2 systems compair and how well will they go with what I have? Or is there another system that is very good for around the same price?

Thank you.

Kelvin.

 

[jmanlp]

I can only comment on the Klipsch speakers since I've only briefly listened to the JBLs at a retailer. I have the same exact setup of Klipschs you are planning on buying (mated with a Velodyne vx10 sub) and I love them. They are efficent, they will play low, they will hit the highs very well with their horn tweeters, and from what I can tell all the mids are there. They are very dynamic speakers I do 50% music (every type from techno to country) and 50% movies on them and they perform very well for both.

I wanted the reference series but couldnt afford them, but these are very close. The only difference I could tell is they sound a little less "bright" to me than the reference, which is better for me (of couse I never got to audition the reference series at home). I paid $1000 shipped for the whole setup from vanns.com I would deffinately buy them again, even for more money. Give em a listen if you haven't.

 

[Tomorrow]

If it's the highs you want to hear, the Klipsch will give them to you. They are fine speakers, but personally I find them tiring and sibilant. After a while, Klipsch give me a headache and are a strain to listen to.

The JBLs are much more neutral in their presentation, and the highs-mids-lows are reasonably balanced.

If you have a bright listening room (e.g. little or no carpeting, minimal furniture and wall treatments, I'd definitely go with the JBLs. Incidentally, HarmanAudio is the name of JBL's eBay seller (HK is the owner). You can get some great prices there on refurbished JBL and Infinity speakers, and Harman Kardon amps. I bought some items from them and they were very helpful and great to deal with.

Happy hunting!

 

[brian32672]

If you are really looking into the Klipsch setup then I highly recommend looking at the Acoustech setup.
IMO, they are a much better bang for your buck setup.

The mids IMO are much better in the Acoustechs. They are a 'Cinema" sound.
They are not overly bright as I found with the Klipsch.

Now the JBL's and Klipsch really should not be mentioned in the same sentence.
They are 2 totally different designs. But rj has already pointed some of the main reasons out.
Another is, if you like reference level sound the JBL's will need a tad more power to push them.
The Klipsch and Acoustechs are fairly closely rated at 96db & 98db effiency. (94 for Klipsch lower line)
Since you know where to find those 2 brands I will not provide links for them.
But for the Acoustechs here are 2 links to look at.

1 - http://www.audaud.com/audaud/MAR04/component/comp1.html
2 - http://www.acousticsounddesign.com/index.cfm?Fuseaction=products&p=s&keyword=bic

 

[BobbyT]

Klipsch are excellent speakers. So are JBLs. As someone who has owned both I prefer the Klipsch. Your going to get opinions from people who either love or hate Klipsch. There never seems to be a middle ground. Klipsch are perfectly capable of delivering more than highs, they make well balenced speakers.

The best thing you can do is listen to both and decide what you like. No one here can tell you what you like. Just what he/she likes or doesn't like.

It sounds like your looking at the offerings from best buy. I would buy both sets on a credit card and listen to both in your house. Then return the set you don't like. Best buy has a 30 day return policy.

 

[gailvin]

Thanks for all your opinions, I appreciate it.

Bobby, good idea about buying both set but I don't have a best buy near me and I live in Canada, so it would be a hassle with the boarder.

Thanks guys.

 

[RanjeetRain]

What do you play?

Depends on what you play and what you like.

Klipsch are great for listening to in low/medium sound pressure levels. Low end JBLs aren't good. Highs are not crisp and lows are not solid. JBLs are good if you go for high end models. Also they play really well on high volume levels, but need a lot of power. I wouldn't use JBL with an Yamaha reciever.

With your Denon both will go, but Klipschs are not great for playing loudely for long durations. JBLs would not be very detailed and dynamic at low sound levels.

 

[indcrimdefense]

i have klipsch rf-7 fronts & rf-5 rears, and have not heard the particular models you are looking at purchasing. but from my experience with my speakers, they are hyper dependant on what components you pair with them. i have demoed numerous different components at home this year, and with some it was bright enough to make you wince, with others you can play as loud as you want with no listening fatigue. krell was the best, followed by cary audio, B&K, denon and rotel was the worst. oddly, they sounded great w/ my nakamichi receiver but horrible with nakamichi seperates. i have heard rotel & b&w speaker combos sound very good, so i dont blame the rotel gear, just not a good match w/ klipsch. i also have a pair of klipsch synergy mini towers which seem less prone to being as hyper component specific as my reference series speakers. with the right components klipsch can sound fantastic, with the wrong components they can sound overly bright & sharp. at a minimum, at least try & go listen to them at a dealer if you cant arrange a home demo, or find someplace with a good return policy so you can return if you dont like them at home. may also want to do a good bit of shopping, as the reference line is being revamped & may be able to find some great deals once the new reference line is launched. i saw prototypes for the new reference line this summer, and they are a completely different type of speaker, looked far more narrow than the current rf-7, with more drivers.

 

[Sheep]

Depends on what you play and what you like.

Klipsch are great for listening to in low/medium sound pressure levels. Low end JBLs aren't good. Highs are not crisp and lows are not solid. JBLs are good if you go for high end models. Also they play really well on high volume levels, but need a lot of power. I wouldn't use JBL with an Yamaha reciever.

With your Denon both will go, but Klipschs are not great for playing loudely for long durations. JBLs would not be very detailed and dynamic at low sound levels.

Man, I'm sick of people saying Yamaha Receivers are bright. Thats complete voodoo. If the Yamaha Receiver was bright, it would show up in measurements. It hasn't.

I like how JBL speakers sound for cinema. I havent heard them play music yet. I have no Klipsch experience, but I hate bright speakers, so I might not like them.

Is $1100 your maximum for your speakers? Another system you could look at is Athena. 1 pair of AS-F1.2's and and 1 pair of AS-B1.2's with an AS-C1.2

SheepStar