What's happening to JBL?

[highfigh]

Now take the Madisound kit. It makes my point. The enclosure is still pretty large, and because the speaker has to be sealed to keep it acceptable size, the F3 is only 37 Hz, which can be bested by many speakers using smaller drivers.

OK, but that 37Hz is in an anechoic environment, not a room that may reinforce the lower frequencies via reflections and modes. Smaller drivers may go lower but that's measured at 1M, not across the room and sometimes, smaller speakers don't really have the "authority" in the lower range.

Back in the '70s, most, if not all, speaker companies offered 12" 3-way and sometimes 4-way "designs". Often, these were more "We tried it and they sounded OK" than actual intentional design but they were very common. Also, they often sounded really bad, if they're compared with more recent designs but they were marketed to people who thought that "bigger is better". These were often placed in/near the room corners or against the wall, in order to augment the low end. Other than classical music, true 20Hz-20KHz range wasn't needed and if the speakers only went down to 40Hz, they sounded fine for a lot of the music that was popular- some people bought JBL 4312 monotors because so many recording studios used them and they wanted to have the same speakers, thinking they could "hear the music just like when it was recorded". I never liked them but if the frequency response of the music is limited, they're OK for some things.

The "give them what they want" marketing plan worked until quality became more important than size or quantity and speaker stands that looked like part of the speaker or furniture instead of cinder blocks or milk crates. People who weren't satisfied with commercially speakers experimented and made their own. That is the single biggest reason we have as many decent speakers available now- once the big sellers stopped being the big sellers, the speaker companies found that people wanted better. WAF matters unless the person assembling and using the system is able to have a dedicated space for it.

 

[JerryLove]

The "give them what they want" marketing plan worked until quality became more important than size or quantity and speaker stands that looked like part of the speaker or furniture instead of cinder blocks or milk crates. People who weren't satisfied with commercially speakers experimented and made their own. That is the single biggest reason we have as many decent speakers available now- once the big sellers stopped being the big sellers, the speaker companies found that people wanted better. WAF matters unless the person assembling and using the system is able to have a dedicated space for it.

When did quality become more important? Bose is still the best-selling line in the world. I still see Sony and Yamaha speakers for sale: and those "home theater in a box" things still sell everywhere (right next to the soundbars).

I don't disagree that speaker design has improved. I don't disagree that those old boxes were, by and large, bad. I just doubt the logic on how we get from there to here.

 

[ppontiac]

Everyone I know has almost no stereo in the house. If they do it's cheap HD surround stuff. My sister cannot understand why I have 10 pairs of speakers & three subs. Most people my age have kids and the TV is on all the time. No time to just sit & listen to music. It's all car stereo stuff, & portable mini junk. Sad days indeed.

 

[bikdav]

Guilty

Making things that don't sell is a good way to go under. Look around- iPods are ubiquitous and high-end audio is all but dead. Check into the number of speaker brands and then find out how many speakers are bought in a year. That alone will tell you why they're doing this.

You are so right. I'm one of the many guilty ones who has jumped onto the portable with headphones wagon. But, I don't regret it. I'm also one of the many who connects the iPod or computer to the large system to listen to music [or watch a video]. JBL knows what is happening in the market and they are responding accordingly.

 

[SafeandSound]

I had a pair of ES100's (still have under the stairs). I think a friend is planning to buy them from me. Pretty good speaker really for the money. Fairly neutral considering the JBL brand.

I suppose the recession has had it's impact and "Big Speakers" are ultimately a luxury item and so it has responded as any sensible company would do.

 

[LAB3]

Everyone I know has almost no stereo in the house. If they do it's cheap HD surround stuff. My sister cannot understand why I have 10 pairs of speakers & three subs. Most people my age have kids and the TV is on all the time. No time to just sit & listen to music. It's all car stereo stuff, & portable mini junk. Sad days indeed.

I liked my old JBL L100 I had so many years ago. I hate those small cubes for surround sound. They just don't have the sound for Bluray movies. I had a Bose Lifestyle system back in the late 1990's got it used and gave it to my daughter. I have always had good systems in my auto's too. Hooked on good Sound and 15" woofers.

 

[SafeandSound]

As I say I found the ES100 quite a neatral speaker considering they could easily have turned out to be a "party type speaker" with dual 10 inch drivers. I was actually very impressed with them. Maybe the sides could have been a little more substancial but they were pretty well built speakers.

 

[LAB3]

As I say I found the ES100 quite a neatral speaker considering they could easily have turned out to be a "party type speaker" with dual 10 inch drivers. I was actually very impressed with them. Maybe the sides could have been a little more substancial but they were pretty well built speakers.

Nice looking JBL's. I like the "tower" look for HT systems. Not saying they don't work Great for music.. jus sayin Tall stairs you have or they are laying down.

 

[ppontiac]

I think the problem is that people (young) are not staying home anymore. And if they are they have the TV on all the time. Since music can be very personal it can go against the idea of living within a family. So, since the TV is on and people want to be entertained with visual & audio movies have taken over, thanks to VCR & DVD. And since the wife & kids don't like loud music there is no need for big & loud bass. Just check out MTV. It's not music. It's all about people drama & competition. Dancing With The Stars, American Idol, X Factor, etc. Today's youthful music is more about our humanity than really listening to musical instruments. Sad. Klipsch only makes the Klipschorn by special order now instead of keeping a stock.

 

[shadyJ]

Today's youthful music is more about our humanity than really listening to musical instruments. Sad.

LOL, if "today's youthful music" was truly more about our humanity rather than listening to musical instruments, I wouldn't consider that sad, I would consider that a great improvement. However, I don't think it really is about humanity anymore than pop music from yesteryear was, and I don't think those older tunes were about "really listening to musical instruments".