Looking for opinions on Jamo's D 500 THX speaker system!

[ridikas]

Here is the system: Jamo : D 500

I'm very curious to hear if anyone here has either listened to, or owned this THX Select 2 system?

Have any tests been done on any of the D 500 THX speakers?

Thanks for any and all comments!

 

[ACsGreens]

Why THX

What is your love affair with THX?

 

[ridikas]

None whatsoever. These are budget speakers and can be had for a street price of $350 each. At this price point, THX helps weed out all of the bad eggs. And let me tell you, there are tons of them!

The THX (Select 2, or Ultra 2) rating simply states that the speakers will have a sufficient output in at least a 2000 cubic foot room, good off-axis response, flat SPL of +/-1.5dB, etc.

Without the THX rating to fall back on, can you please list me all of the center channels (for $350 ea. street price) currently available on the market that will:

- Give me a peak SPL level of 105dB in a 2000 cubic foot room at a listening distance of 10ft.? That's more than 115dB at 1 meter.
- Or a continuous SPL level of 85dB in the same room and at the same listening distance, with a 20dB headroom?
- With low distortion.
- With low thermal compression.
- With smooth off-axis response. No peaks, or dips in the midrange.
- With a frequency response of +/-1.5dB from 80Hz-20kHz.

Do you see how difficult it becomes? There are actually very few speakers on the market at $350 each (street price) that can meet these very strict requirements.

 

[j_garcia]

There are literally DOZENS of speakers on the market that meet those specs, many of which are NOT THX cert. You CANNOT tell by specs how a speaker SOUNDS, and that is far more important to enjoying your system than ANY specs. Specs only tell you half the story, sort of like listening with one ear or posting random things without understanding what they mean.

 

[ridikas]

If there are dozens, then it should be easy for you to list me 2-3 center channels

I see you have the GR Research LCR speakers. How do you have your center channel positioned? If it's horizontal, it will sound and measure as poorly as it can possibly get (edit: I just saw your picture).

Some reading from this very site: http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/center-channel-designs

 

[j_garcia]

If there are dozens, then it should be easy for you to list me 2-3 center channels

You didn't ask that....

 

[ridikas]

Indeed I have...

Please take a look at Jamo: http://www.jamo.com/speaker-lines/thx-speakers/D500/?sku=D500LCR

The center channel is correctly built (true 3-way). The tweeter and higher midrange drivers are positioned vertically. The mid-woofers are crossed low. This will give a proper sound.

But what else is on the market in that price range and with those specs?

 

[j_garcia]

I've heard Jamos before and they are good speakers. Have not heard these particular ones, but the average speaker that only goes to 80Hz should have little problem meeting those specs.

Audiophile Loudspeakers and Subwoofers for Home Theater and Music - Ascend Acoustics, renowned speakers,subs,audio

http://www.nhthifi.com/

http://www.aperionaudio.com/home.aspx

http://www.mksoundsystem.com/home-products/home-loudspeakers/

Click the GR link in my sig too.

 

[ridikas]

OK, so far I have the following:

NHT TwoC
NHT ThreeC
Asperion Intimus 5C

I didn't bother looking at the ones that are over the price range, or blatantly incorrectly built, i.e. any LCR style of speaker. It must be a 3-way, where the tweeter and the upper midrange are both oriented vertically. Otherwise it's a waste of time.

Unfortunately I cannot find any anechoic tests on the above three center channel speakers to verify how flat (and smooth off-axis) the frequency response is.

I don't need a test result like that for Jamo, because I know it passed the THX requirement.

Found this for Asperion: http://www.hometheater.com/content/aperion-intimus-5t-db-hybrid-hd-speaker-system-measurements

It fails...

Yay, I also found anechoic response for NHT ThreeC: http://www.hometheater.com/content/nht-classic-four-speaker-system-controller-prepro-and-power5-amplifier-ht-labs-measures-nht-

Looks great! We have a winner

But hold on a second... Here are the off-axis plots for the HNT center channel: http://www.hometheater.com/content/nht-classic-four-surround-sound-speaker-system-measurements

Notice the off-axis dip at 800Hz? That's the crossover frequency to the woofer, it's way to high and the results are clear. Now take a look at where the Jamo's are crossed over: http://www.jamo.com/speaker-lines/thx-speakers/D500/?sku=D500LCR

That's 400Hz.

 

[j_garcia]

OK, so far I have the following:

NHT TwoC
NHT ThreeC
Asperion Intimus 5C

I didn't bother looking at the ones that are over the price range, or blatantly incorrectly built, i.e. any LCR style of speaker. It must be a 3-way, where the tweeter and the upper midrange are both oriented vertically. Otherwise it's a waste of time.

Unfortunately I cannot find any anechoic tests on the above three center channel speakers to verify how flat (and smooth off-axis) the frequency response is.

I don't need a test result like that for Jamo, because I know it passed the THX requirement.

Found this for Asperion: http://www.hometheater.com/content/aperion-intimus-5t-db-hybrid-hd-speaker-system-measurements

It fails...

Your posts are the real waste of time. Sorry, but you really have NO CLUE. And here comes the ignore list...

 

[ridikas]

For someone who lives on the Audioholics board, with 18K posts, I figured that you'd be a little more knowledgeable on the technical aspect of audio/video

 

[j_garcia]

For someone who lives on the Audioholics board, with 18K posts, I figured that you'd be a little more knowledgeable on the technical aspect of audio/video

I use my ears, not specs. You can read all you want, but until you go and listen to some speaker, you have no idea what you are talking about. Number of posts does not make me a god, but I do know the difference between pedantic window shopping and blanket statements that mean nothing and actually listening; and THAT'S why I am here.

 

[ridikas]

That is pure assumption on your end that I don't listen enough. It's not a wise move.

I always get a kick when fanboys defend till the very last breath, the nonsense(s) that they've invested in.

In all honesty, a horizontal LCR speaker doesn't even pass the most basic loudspeaker 101 design class.

 

[j_garcia]

That is pure assumption on your end that I don't listen enough. It's not a wise move.

Not saying you haven't heard x number of speakers; saying you likely haven't heard the speakers in question and you decide to dismiss them based on some foolish assumptions. I can tell that you do know some things, but it also seems quite evident that you've got room to grow. The attitude is the problem, not the knowledge.

I always get a kick when fanboys defend till the very last breath, the nonsense(s) that they've invested in.

I always get a kick out of people who use THX as a basis for audio shopping.

In all honesty, horizontal LCR speaker doesn't even pass the most basic loudspeaker 101 design class.

Yep, Joseph Di'appolito doesn't know a thing All that says is you HAVEN'T heard a properly designed MTM. NOT an LCR - Nearly all speakers can be placed LCR...

If you are here to get help, try relaxing your narrow mindedness. If you are here to stir the pot, find another pot.

 

[ridikas]

Actually, unlike some on this board, I have a very friendly attitude.

I use THX to help me weed out certain things. I would never use it for subwoofers, Blu-Ray players, HDTV displays, cables, etc.

I love having the proper THX algorithms in an A/V receiver. It makes a huge sound difference.

You are dead wrong about D'appolito. His designs are all vertical, as they should be. Again, a horizontally placed LCR speaker is the worst thing one can possibly do.

Please read this Audioholics' article if you don't believe me: Center Channel Speaker Design Additional Considerations — Reviews and News from Audioholics

I've also shown you examples with the anechoic tests that I posted earlier in this thread. After all, this is an Audioholics forum. Where facts and tests are important.

Now if you can orient the LCR center channel vertically in your home theater, then it becomes a completely different story. Like behind an acoustically transparent screen.

However this is not possible in a panel display home theater. Placing it vertically above, or below the HDTV will cause other off-axis related problems. The speaker will no longer be anywhere near ear level.

Fortunately it's not up to you to decide where, or what I post.