I'd like to take a moment and give a round of applause to Tarun most underrated HIFI reviewer on RU-vid! I believe in no time his channel will be among the best in the field. This man makes incredible videos and takes the time to respond to his community. Just AWESOME! Much love from Texas my friend.
A very nice descriptive review. Your explanation is well thought out and precise. Keep up the great reviews and I'll keep watching. --- 5 Star Rating ---
Having a second system is a great way to appreciate your main system. I'm the type that can't listen to the same gear for too long, or I get overly critical of it. But the good thing about experimenting with other gear and living with different speakers is that you get to hear things and say to yourself "I like how THIS did THAT". Once you explore more of that you begin to hone your likes and dislikes and it helps you choose more gear and setup the gear you already may have.
Thank you, Tarun for more informative and entertaining content. Once again, I am reminded how glad I am not to be an audio reviewer. I get to listen to music for fun and inspiration. I've had two systems before, the living room system with big speakers and big amps, and the second system with small speakers and less powerful tube amplification. While the big system rocked and worked pretty well with video there was just something special about the small system.
I always enjoy your articulate take on hifi products you cover the full realm leaving us Hifi enthusiasts with a good understanding of all aspects...Cheers from Australia take care.🙏
Good Job. My second system is a vintage Marantz 2270 with Dynaco A25's. When I was 12 my neighbor's Dad had that combo and it got me hooked on audio. The sound is dynamic and a bit forward but still makes me happy. I believe thats what this hobby is all about.
High praise Taran in regards to your current benchmark speakers. Another well-constructed comprehensive review. In regards to the question of the day, I am in the process as you are aware of building a second system around my original Michi power preamp combination. I have a bit of a soft spot for quality vintage gear and just love the look and sound of quality audio equipment of that era. Great work my friend already looking forward to the next video.😁🎧👍
Thank you Tarun. I own these. Got them about Dec 21. Brilliant speakers. Great for vocals, jazz, and metal like Metallic, Slayer, Dimmu Borgir etc. Powered by a Parasound Hint 6. Works well in a small room close to the wall (1ft) due to the front firing ports. They benefit well from Bi-wiring. Second system is an ATC CA2 preamp feeding a pair of Yamaha HS7 active monitors. Brilliant match.
A really nice surprise bumping into you at the NWAS, Tarun - and thank you for the impromptu advice about the upgrade journey and where to focus my attention next. Would love to hear your thoughts on the Neat Petite stand mounts from the show - even my uneducated ears were hugely impressed!
Great review! I had my eye on a pair of Tannoy Arden, but when they never surfaced, I got my hands on Volti Vittoras with amp and elf sub. 2nd hand. Blown away by that horn sound, projection of vocals and mid range into the room is amazing, with none of the "horn tube" trouble. Horns may not suit everyone's tastes, but you should at least have a listen.
Really helpful review to set expectations for this speaker, Tarun. The speakers on my secondary system (in a larger room than my main system) are a pair of JBL L-100s that I bought in 1974. Three years ago I had them reputably rehabbed with new pots, poly caps and 5-way binding posts. The foam grilles disintegrated decades ago so they have blue fabric grilles similar to the 4309s. The amp that I'm using for the secondary system is a Yamaha A-S700 (90w/ch) but I may switch it out with a Marantz PM8005 (70w/ch) to warm up the sound a bit. When I bought the L-100s, I was 20 years old and put them in my 7'x10' bedroom. I had priorities (and better hearing) back then.
Listening your very good review on the JBL's, brought back memories of my 1970's acquisition of Altec Lansing speakers which I auditioned against JBL's.
Thank you for another discerning and comprehensive review. I have enjoyed another brand’s horn speakers and especially in more lively settings though not for my main and long term listening. Having 2 systems (passive & powered speakers), I would likely go for something quite different with a 3rd; like the new Magnepan LRS speakers or with a return to an over the ear headphone focused set-up.
Hi Tarun, thanks for another excellent review. I am lucky enough to have multiple systems and they are all different. Magnepan speakers in setup 1, JBL Studio 5 series in setup 2, and KEF LS50s on my desktop. While none are what would be considered to be high end systems, because they are all different sounding relative to each other they all engage my listening in different ways. Thanks again
I agree with Tarun. Those are not average home-gamer speakers you'd find lying around a typical house. Even the JBL studio, modestly priced sure, but seems like you have to be in the know to source those. Every time I run my 530s I get a smile as they can just do things my sonus faber can't. Like put me INSIDE the soundstage without fatiguing my ears.
Greetings - Congrats on taking a walk on the wild side by reviewing a horn speaker, and a JBL at that. I'm old enough to remember some classic designs by JBL, and they weren't "just big and loud", as their detractors once claimed. The best engineering and design documents library in speaker building and testing were a revelation to me after seeing what everyone else offered. But they were always heavily biased toward pro sound. I still have some of their drivers out in the garage for that second system you mentioned. But I'm so old that when I went to the movies as a kid, I listened to Altec and JBL horns playing the soundtrack.
Well-done review marked by clear, critical criteria. Thank you. One of the consistent things I read/hear in audiophile discussions/critiques is a condescending attitude towards equipment offered by major, mass-produced manufacturers. Pronouncements like, "This Yamaha receiver surprised this reviewer with its neutrality, almost approaching the heights established by my own [designer, small manufacture, vacuum tube] integrated amp." You've reviewed a number of large corporation designs (Yamaha amp, JBL speaker, etc.) wholeheartedly. Bravo. Second system? Would like one in my studio: KEF LS50's driven by a Rogue Audio amp, and a Lumin D2 streamer. Paradise--but way beyond my means!
Hi Tarun, this is a great review. I am happy JBL seems to be back on track. It is a brand that has always been close to my heart. And if anybody can do horns, it surely must be JBL. My system is build around Magnat Pro 15's, they are part of the "All Ribbon" series of the 80's. But I have managed to buy a pair of Goodmans Ministers from the 70's on eBay (Very British) and I am thinking to design a single ended class A FET amplifier for them. That would be my second system. I just hope find the time for it.
Great review! I have two set ups. My first is a high watt and high current system (Audio GD) with tower speakers (Xanadu HRS52BA) and SOtM streamer. My second set is a decware ZEN triode tube amp paired with fullrange high sensitive horn loudspeakers (Club of 27 Amy’s) with Rega turntable. Both sets sound beautiful but nothing like eachother. I wish I had room for a third setup haha!
Excellent review. It's nice to see jbl trying to make well balanced speakers, not always the case in the past. Hopefully they will continue to develop sound stage width, something lacking in most past designs.
JBL always had very well-balanced speakers during their whole legacy, even when the speakers were called Altec and not JBL, have a listen to the speakers from the 80s the 4425,4430 and 4435, these are the best-balanced speakers ever built. The point is that JBL (or Altec for that matter) only provide these kinds of speakers for studio use. The new thing is that with the 43xx series, they are now distributing these in regular Hifi shops.
@@snakeoilaudio yes I understand but they never paid attention to details such as driver placement on the baffle or making the mirrored pairs which hurt imaging. They may have been known for energy, jump factor, etc. but not imaging. That is part of the balance I was talking about.
@@jked7463 well a horn by default has different imaging from a dome tweeter, there is no doubt, the question is what is the correct way to present the imaging since recordings with just 2 microphones do not exist. The whole imaging is always done while mixing, so this is already extremely artificial. You could have exactly the same conversation when comparing boxed designs with dipole speakers.
@@snakeoilaudio yes, I have been in commercial audio design for decades and am very versed in horns. Because they do not radiate omni-directionally, they most definitely we will not image the same. But jbl has created many speakers in the past without horns (think L100) but because of the strange arrangement of the drivers and not mirror images pairs, they never imaged well, horns or not. Some of that is due to the multi-directional lobing between drivers. There was no way to place an L100 speaker in front of you without some of the lobing hitting your ears. If the L100 was made in mirror images pairs, the speaker could have worked well on their sides like many mix monitors. But the didn't do that. That is what I mean by a balanced design.
Great review, I’ve never spent much time listening to horns and this has made me want to! It does sound like a horn based system could make a great basis for a second system. As things stand, I’m lucky enough to have a second system in my home office, based on equipment I have upgraded over the years (vinyl based system with a Rega Elex-R, Rega RX3 speakers and a Project Debut Carbon deck). For digital music in the office I listen through my iMac, partnered with a studio power amp (via a behringer interface) and some ancient s1 B&W DM 601s that I picked up for trade price when they were first released - back in my school days when I worked in a hi fi shop as my Saturday job! Main system in my lounge is based on a T+A DAC 200 feeding some active ATC SCM40 speakers with an Auralic Aries G1 streamer and Clearaudio Concept MC on disc spinning duties. Loads of other Hi Fi bits are strewn over the house that I have collected over the years, still love the Cyrus One that supplies music in the kitchen! Hoping to get back in to the hifi world professionally again at some point in the future. Keep up the good work, love the channel.
👌👍Well done my brother another fantastic review you told me everything I needed to know and I felt that I know exactly how they sound thanks to your great vocabulary I just love your channel. PS I have the Dali minuet SE thanks to your review of them they are exactly the way you describe them I am in love ❤️ with them they are amazing when I see them how small they are and the sound They reproduce like you said hallelujah midrange lol😂😂😂
Hi Tarun I’m new you your channel. I like your review style. I own the 4309’s in my second system and drive them with McIntosh MC275 VI. It’s a nice pairing.
Very nice review Tarun. Although they are not exactly cheap, whichever way you cut it, this JBL offering appears to be reasonable value for money. I would find it tough to look past that megaphone-like characteristic though and the setup issue seems a tad fussy for me. Keep 'em coming - always welcome.
Bravo, phenomenal review!! I needed a good speaker for low to moderate since im in an apartment and thought these would fit the bill. I did notice they like to be spread apart a bit to get a good soundstage but it still had a locked in center le you said. I ended up ordering the Yamaha AS1200 which is on its way to me. Do you think it was a good choice? I'm thinking about the Triangles you mentioned as well be asked this horn loaded sound is the one I prefer. I read that the AS1200 is a match made in heaven with the Triangles.
Thank you Joaquin. Much appreciated. I can see how the warm Triangle 40th Anniversary Cométe would work with the slightly cool Yamaha A-S1200. Also, those speakers would benefit from an amp that has superb grip and control in the low frequencies. The A-S1200 has that 😊👍
JBL and Chet! What’s not to like about West Coast jazz and West Coast JBL sound? You are one step closer to bagging the Harbeths! Thanks for the great review.
Both my setups are identical, Bluesound Node 2i feeding Q Acoustics M20 powered speakers, had the speakers first in the bedroom and found them so good I decided to replace my Rega Brio/QA Concept 40 combo in the living room 3 months later, the setup in the living room sounds even better and surprisingly the M20 don't appear to have any less bass extension which was a pleasant surprise.
Great review,mate!! I have these in the black veneer. Waiting for the Yamaha AS1200 to give these guys the power they deserve. Right now they are powered by a Yamaha RV6A AVR. They sound great with it,but it's a multi channel AVR that's not powerful enough to really make these guys sing.
It is a pure joy to folow yours meticulous presentation..Just great from the first to the last word. My "A" system is: ProAc-s with integrated SET valve amp.and Schitt DAC. "B" system: Solid state british simple design interated amp. with Musical fidelity valves line preamp ...small Tannoys on stands and SVS SB type 12" activ subwoofer. Both systems offer exellent sound, but quite different one. B. Regards Tarun
My main system is in the lounge. Principle components are an Acoustic invader class A preamp, XTZ A2-300 class D power amp, an Earmen Tradutto DAC and Dali Menuet SE's. I've only had this set up for a few months, and one thing it has done has enabled me to deploy my erstwhile main amp (an Audiolab 6000A) and Quad S2 speakers, in a nearfield arrangement in my study. This replaces in turn my previous somewhat Heath Robinson arrangement based around a pair of active Edifier 1280Ts, which frankly sounded none too good, mainly used for listening to TV/RU-vid and occasionally, FLACs on my computer. I had to struggle finding room to set up this new second system, but eventually, by creating space in my Ikea Ivar desk/storage system, I now listen to the Quads nearly 5' apart at ear level. I sit about 22" from the speakers along the line that bisects them. I tried my Q Acoustics 3020i's at first, but the Quads sound significantly better. I suppose it's my first decent nearfield system, and I have learnt something from it. First, I find myself listening most of the day to music from my FLAC collection of around c2,500 tracks while piddling around on my computer. It might be nice if it comprised the same elements as the lounge system, but frankly, I couldn't justify the cost. I only decided to set it up because I was curious how it'd sound, but now it's knocked my socks off, I've kept it rather than selling the Audiolab/Quads. Very frequently I find myself pausing for a while, arrested by particular tracks -- I've just previously been listening like this to some Gilbert and Sullivan followed by Gordon Giltrap (i.e. in the alphabetical order they're stored in my AIMP player). Practically everything sounds good and I generally listen to the entire contents of a folder without skipping around. The awful truth is that if I'd had this setup right from the beginning, I might not have splashed out on my main setup. It's so very satisfying -- no, not quite as good as my primary system, but then again, I don't have to shift rooms and can still play with my computer, which I also enjoy doing. This retiree now reserves the main system for an hour or two's listening every day. It's become a special treat during which I simply listen and do little else. But now, for many other hours of the day, I can still immerse myself in glorious music. Oops - now I'm listening to Imogen Heap and I have to stop and sign off... ;-)
I was very close to buying the smaller powered 4305p model. I really like the design of those JBL models, classic and at the same time modern. Ended up with a pair of MA Silver 200 because of supergreat deal to hard to turn down. But some day I will own a pair of JBL. Cheers!
Great review, Tarun, as always. I confess to trying to replicate the sound of my main room system, in a mini-me sort of way, for my study. I liked the tonal balance and I tried several pairs of speakers, mostly from Monitor Audio and Wharfedale, before settling. So a distinct lack of horn curiosity in my choices. The rest of the system evolved by random chance, as I burned though many amps and CD players, before switching to vinyl and streaming. My primary system remains dedicated to the silver disk. This wasn’t frivolous wasting of cash, either. Most was bought second hand and broken. The pieces that were surplus being sold at a profit, the best were installed in the system and live to play me my music for another day, or month. The study system is my experimental playground, and it’s not inconceivable that, one day, it will be better than the lounge system. All great fun.
Hi Tarun, I was looking forward to this review as you had mentioned it's eventuality earlier on. The 4309s are good looking speakers but I've got this "horn" thing or better said "belief" that a horn is going to shout. I know, it isn't fair because I've never heard a good horn - not even the so positively reviewed, upper costing Klipschs. Having said all of this, your review does speak well of these speakers and if I were to be in an actual store wherein these could be listened to, I'd want to... whereas before this review - I'd tell the salesperson not to bother. I was this way with CDs when they first arrived on the market. Many were just awful ... (compared to "good" vinyl) thank God I got over that belief ... maybe I should do the same for horned speakers? Great fun your reviews (Yoda) ... stay well. (still got that little dog?)
Thank you Charles. Bob the dog is doing great. Currently, sleeping by my feet. I suspect you are very sensitive to the horn colouration. Knowing what you like and don’t like is half the battle in my opinion 😊👍
Tarun, excellent review as always! my wife and i are lucky to be musicians and music lovers. Have 3 rooms with simple music systems: a dedicated room for mixing and mastering with a pair of Neumann KH310 monitors; our living room with a pair of Q acoustics Concept 40 powered by an Audiolab 6000A (bought after your fabulous review) and a just acquired pair of Q Acoustics M20 HD in our bedroom (bought after your review!) that first replaced an Arcam SA10 powering a pair of Wharfedales diamond 11.2 and then the same Arcam powering a pair of Elac Carina BS243.4. YES, that's how good the M20s are!! I couldn't believe the M20s (to our ears) sounded slightly better than the Carinas. Sure, the carinas are very engaging with fast transient attack and fast bass response, but the overall presentation was a bit too uneven for our taste...and since we love jazz and classical, we noticed the Q acoustics offered a more natural realistic presentation of an acoustic piano than the Carinas. We are still shocked a $600US pair of powered bookshelf speakers sound a bit better than a $2000US combination between the Arcam and the Carinas. Again, thanks soooo much for your detailed reviews, your integrity, your knowledge (and good taste). Last night we were serenaded by Chet Baker in his verve jazz masters anthology (we also Love his singing!). keep them coming!
Thank you my friend. I greatly appreciate your kind words of support. I bet your house is similar to mine and music is usually playing. Great to learn about your experiences 👍😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 yes! lots of music at most times of day...listening to, or playing music.. by the way, decided to keep the arcam and the Elac carinas. they do offer a more spacious sound landscape than the little Q acoustics; with percussion and vocals, the Carinas still sound nicer.
Main system R8 with Klipsch Heresy III's. Second system Musical Fidelity (70 Watt) with a pair of Polk (Ring Radiators) stand mount speakers.. Entirely different sound, love them both.
I have been a JBL fan since my first speaker that got me into the hobby. It was JBL LSR 305 with schiit bifrost with AKM4490. I used a schiit syst knob for volume. It blew my mind. I never looked back. I've always looked towards audiophile JBL's. Ihave the JBL Studio 580's and the Jbl LSR 306's. Just amazing speakers for the price.
Great review! JBL gets the nod ;) I've had a hard time finding something in this range to replace my 4312's. I find that with a good sub the 4312's really shine. I'd characterise them up as super efficient, never boring, lively and fun. Where it lacks is the air at the top and the deep bass, the big paper drivers produce nice mid bass in spades. I've got a pair of SVS PB3000's and I think from what you said in the review this would be a similar story. They are conservatively rated down to about 45Hz. Going to keep my eyes open for these!
Oh wow you are reading my mind! I treasure my pair of 4312As, but I’ve got an itch to complement my speaker repertoire with another pair of something horn-y , and, well, just more ‘modern’. I agree with your Assessment of the character. I’m not a basshead so I’m less interested in the subs, but I wonder if the 4309 will do well powered by just an EL34 PP stereo amp?
G-day Tarun. Nice to see your production values still creeping up. You'd almost think you know what you're doing now:p I notice you're a fan of the Daki Spektor 2, well my second system ( third if one counts the home cinema) is a pair of the Spektor 1, with a cheap SMSL amp/dac and DIY subwoofer (+cheap sub amp). Testing it on stands in my main room i was amazed at how good it sounded, a fair percentage of my main setup for a tiny percentage of the price. In the bedroom I keep it in the space is limited and I can't get them far enough away from the walls for the soundstage to properly open up, but oh boy they still provide a very exciting sound in almost no space at all. I could hide one behind my foot. Highly recommended speakers if you fancy trying something really tiny that (cliche alert) punches above its weight.
I used to own martin logan electro motion esl but now have a new home with a much smaller sized room if i had an extra listening room electrostatic speakers for the imaging alone is a terrific listening experience
I read hifi magazines for years before I went to my first hifi show. Reading about the acoustic colouration added by horns led me to believe that they were to be avoided. When I actually heard speakers with horn loaded tweeters, I was surprised to find that I liked them, the treble was much cleaner than I expected. I think Steve Gutenberg summed it up well in a review of some klipsch speakers, he recalled John Atkinson explaining that the distortion was low because the driver didn't have to move very much (IIRC). So like a lot of audio technology it comes down to a trade off, less distortion from the driver itself for the acoustic issue caused by the horn. Similarly with coaxial speakers, you have a gain in dispersion at the cost of shaking the tweeter around in the middle of the woofer.
Great review Tarun. Would never have had these on my list before, but now they’re definitely up there. On a related note, you mention these are not suited for nearfield, but great at low level listening. Anything high on your list for nearfield and low level listening? The Dali Menuet perhaps? Any suggestions appreciated.
Wow, nice review. What is funny, I have just bought my first amp today (arcam a25), and guess what: one of the sample tracks have been Chet's Almost Blue! What a coincidence! Regarding speaker I am yet to decide between hdi 1600, maybe this, and Revels (m16, m105). Your reviews are very interesting and informative.
I have both the HDI 1600 and the 4309. They are both great speakers. The speakers surprisingly sound completely different from each other. The HDI 1600’s have a little better mid bass punch. The 4309 sound a little more neutral to my ears.
Hi Tarun. I once owned a large pair of Lowther Acousta horns. They were made of cheap wood and about the size of a small washing machine. They filled the room with sound and it was quite cool to have the sound as loud at the other end of the room as it was next to the speaker. They had Lowther (PM6 or PM8...or something), yellow frilly paper drivers with very heavy magnets. Yes they were "horny" and had no bass. Didn't get on with them. I dismantled them and sold the drivers. However I have sat and listened many years ago to Living Voice Air Scouts, and that was the most entertaining audio experience I ever had. They were not horny at all just indescribable presence.
Top notch review as usual ! I have been thinking of another inexpensive, higher efficiency speaker to drive with some lower wattage diy class a amplifier designs from Nelson pass. I have considered some vintage or newer jbl, vintage or newer klipsch speakers, tekton speakers etc. I'm curious how a 25 watt class a first watt amplifer would do with this jbl you reviewed or similar model. I was sorta surprised at the 87 db sensitivity of this design. Perhaps this isn't the speaker to use with lower wattage amps. I'm always on the lookout for a decent higher efficiency speaker (90 db and higher) to play with if you had any ideas? Thank you for the terrific content and wonderful channel!
Thank you Brandon. I don’t think this speaker will do well with low powered amps but it is always worth a try. I am hoping to investigate some speakers that do work with an SET amp in the coming months 😊
Nice review, as always. Would be good to get your ears and thoughts on the (relatively) new line of Klipsch Heresy speakers. I've been living with a pair of Forte IV's now for about 3 months and really enjoying them. Feels like I'm zeroing in the the sound I'm after having now lived with Thiels, Maggies, Golden Ear, Tekton. The Forte's are certainly not perfect in every way, but they sound exciting and fun every time I listen to them, and for me, that's the most important quality. To answer you question about second systems, I would go for something different. For me, that would be a system built around a ribbon speaker (LRS?) or perhaps something even more exotic like an omnidirectional speaker.
Tarun another great review.I hsve seen these and wondered how they did.As an owner of some older German Horns (Odeon Tosca's about $6500 20 years ago) I am lucky because I have the poor man's Acantegarde another great Germn horn company (I think they alo make Heco).After this review I'dd love it if you could get some Klipsch speakers and see what you think - there revamped Heresy.Forte and Cornwall IV's are making a big splash in the New World.Also the big brothers of these speakers the four times as expensive JBL 4349.Some folks "THE" studio speaker is the JBL M2 which last time I saw it was #20K US.It looks like these tradional JBL Studio monitors.At half that price one can get there entry level Everest series S3900.The other ones I'd like to hear are the horn version (though they also hae Tang Band and Voxativ) of the Pure Audio Project Trio or Quintet open baffle MTM style speakers.Along with Spatial Audio a lot of folks with the space to put them in are really liking the results especially the Valve crowd.Food for thought.Meanwhile this was delicious Best Chazz
Thank you Charles. I hope to review more horn speakers and some larger models. They will have to wait until the house renovations are completed. I didn’t have the space at the moment 😊👍
Oh BTW I agree with you on the Chet "Almost Blue"- that album has a bass lick by John Leftwich during "Moon and Sand" which may be my favorite bar of music certainly in jazz (and I own 3K Jazz LP's and just a bit less in Jazz CD's)-other late Chet to Check out are 1985's "Candy" (a drummer-less trio-great DVD available) and his gig in Tokyo a double CD made a few months before his death in '87 and "Silence" a studio date with bassist Charlie Haden.
Thank you for the heads up Charles. Silence is another one of my favourites. I have heard odd tracks off the Tokyo album but not the hole thing. I need to do that. Wow! That is some jazz collection you have. Thanks again 👍
The Triangle 40th are half,ish the price on this side of the channel, so I would go for these and a decent sub, for less of the money that the JBL,s retails for here. If I had another room,, heh, I want 10 other rooms and a hugh budget. 😅 As always Tarun. Its a pure joy to listen to your reviews. Cheers and have the best of weekends,, 🍻😎👍 ( Now I know exactly what Topping I would pair my desktop Genelecs with. The DX3 Pro+. For 200 Euro its so good it feels like its for free. 😋 )
Spot on on the stated sensitivity... JBL hangs their hat on numbers, how refreshing. Do you think the "nasality" characteristic emanated from the HF or more from both drivers? That D2/Waveguide combo is quite the tour de force. Obviously with the diminished surface area, it's not as ideally controlling as it's bigger brother M2 ... more area/lower range of controlled directivity... so curious if a change in how baffle step is executed is responsible somehow for the tonality you referenced. Good work Dig the content
Thank you. I would love to see a full set of independent measurements on the 4309. I don’t think they will reveal anything extraordinary but a well behaved speaker. There could be a little bit of stored energy energy low down in the tweeters response area that accounts for the nasal quality but these things aren’t always revealed in the measurements 😊
Hi Tarun, I own B&W DM4 and Bose 501 driven by Nad 3155 as main system I love to listen to the extreme finesse and detailed sound from the DM4 ( they are way better than many modern speakers) and then switch to the 501 with their tridimensional wide sound , I have Kef 104ab AR11 Dynaco a25 JBL L56 and Celestion 44 on my list for future purchase , it would be great if you could review also vintage speakers (and equipment like this). Then I have a second system that I use also to play guitar and keyboards composed by a Mackie pre amp and a pair of active Mackie speakers.
Hi Tarun. First time commenter, long time follower. I have a Muzishare X7, it's very similar to your Willsenton R8 paired with some Elac Un-Fi Reference bookshelf speakers. If I were to build a second system, I would try some Magnepan LRS's with a Hegel H95 or H120. I want to try a different flavor of sound just to mix things up.
Hi Tarun - thanks for yet another brilliant review. I'd hoped you might turn your attention to this speaker. There aren't very many horn speakers designed for use with stands and this one got my attention. What troubled me initially was the 87dB sensitivity rating. I've come to associate horn speakers with higher efficiency ratings. I appreciate that you took the time to discuss this. Perhaps it's less of an issue than I'd thought, though a typical 300B amp might not suffice. You also mentioned nasality. That cupped-hands sort of honky tone I've sometimes heard from horn speakers is very unwelcome. It's not a characteristic I'm able to overlook. That these speakers manage to avoid that and still retain the best features of a compression driver is to JBL's credit. That you were able to enjoy Chet Baker's playing on these speakers is for me, very high praise. His smooth, warm tone and phrasing is a gift to us all. Thank you again for what you do.
Thank you Gary. Great to get your insights on this design. I think you are right a typical low powered tube amp may not be enough but it works well with moderately power amps 😊👍
Looked at the 4309 to replace my Kef Metas which I found very fatiguing and lacking in bass. In the end I purchased the L82 Classics and I'm well pleased with them considering most of my music is old reggae and soul on vinyl 45s. So smooth and warm probably due to the bass cone, either way I'm glad I got rid of the Kefs.
Always love your reviews. Whilst all the pa's I ever ran at gigs were horn speakers, ive never heard a horn I could live with in a hi fi setting, and ive tried some well rated ones in the past. The things I care about most in my listening are not a horns strengths. I'm grateful for the insight your excellent review provides, but if were in this market, I wouldn't be looking at anything with a horn. Keep tgese excellent reviews coming, they are appreciated...
Tarun, thanks so much for the Chet Baker mention… I did find "Chet Baker in Tokyo" , a live album which includes the song "Almost Blue". Perfect description……"a much softened Miles Davis". Beautiful. Is there a studio recording?
@@abritishaudiophile7314 OK…I researched a bit…and there is an original studio recording for a documentary soundtrack "Let’s Get Lost"…which I have been unable to locate…"yet". Apparently, Elvis Costello wrote the song in the early 80s as an inspiration to Chet Baker's earlier music!…and THEN Chet "covered" Elvis' homage to himself in the late 80s for the movie soundtrack. 😎 Now that is an interesting musical journey….The song is beautiful and emotional. Thanks so much! 👍🏼
I have 3 systems in my home.... Bedroom - Arcam SA10, Wharfedale Denton 80 and Martin Logan Dynamo 400 Sub Living Room - Cambridge Audio AXA35, Schiit Modi 3+, Cambridge Minx XL speakers Office - Cambridge Audio AXA25, Schiit Modi 3+, Cambridge SX50 Speakers
I’m not sure this answers the question of the day when it comes to ‘second proper system’, but because I have two living premises, an apartment nearer the city and a house in the suburbs, I am able to maintain a second system. The key for the apartment system is simplicity and ease of placement for space efficiency. A small integrated amp and speakers which could go near walls were the priority. Listening volume would be more restricted so higher efficiency speakers which maintain dynamic expression and still sound detailed at lower levels were used. Whether it’s one’s first or second ‘proper’ system, common sense still rules and the listening environment still dictates the component selection. Maybe “pragmatic audiophile” is an oxymoron to some. I wouldn’t argue with that. If money had not been an issue, i would have gotten Kii Three active loudspeakers for both main and secondary systems. They play great loud, play great soft, whether out in free space or forced to nearly hug the front wall. I hope you get to review the active Buchardt floorstanders that have DSP based multiple voicings soon.
Yes, I do have a 2nd system. Not by design, but by circumstance. Over the years, as my children have grown and fled the nest, as e gap between my salary and my mortgage widen and disposable income increases, I’ve slowly upgraded my main system, component by component. When my youngest son left home at the age of 24, a year ago, vacating a large bedroom, I realised I had sufficient stored equipment to build a 2nd system in this pretty good listening environment. I listen to a wide and varied genre of music. The main system I find more suited to Jaz, female vocals, classical Etc. It has a very relaxed and effortless sonic reproduction. The set up in the bedroom better suits rock, metal, trance and electronic. It projects music in a much more forward manor and with a more impactful mid-bass slam. In my office, I have a small pair of active speakers, sat either side of my computer monitor. They’re driven by a premium portable DAC. They sound superb, nearfield, have an outstanding soundstage and I can listen to music I wouldn’t entertain playing on the other 2 systems, because they’re too revealing. The wife has a little Bose Acoustic Wave system on her bedside cabinet. She loves it and would listen to it all day long in preference to anything else.
I’m getting the best of many worlds with a pair of Maggie LRS, and a pair of KLH 5’s. I think a key is to save up and spend big on a top notch amp. I cannot recommend highly enough the Pass Labs X150.5. 1st 16 watts are class A for your high efficiency speakers, then it can also be a brute with over 300 AB watts into 4ohms.
4309 + Yamaha as2200=🔥 in my small living room this match has exceeded my expectations. I can only sit between 6to 8ft from the front baffle and that has proven to be a difficult room placement to perfect with other stand mount speakers. With the JBL 4309 I now listen to music at 65db to 80db peaks. I use to listen at 80db to 95db peaks. I found my endgame speakers for my difficult room.
Very interesting review! What would be the difference between the ribbon tweeters on my Quad Z-2 and the horn tweeters on the 4309s? Which would sound more life-like?
I do have the duo system. My horn's are the klipsch 280'F&FA's and are theater (7.2.4). The other hinges on Golden Ear Reference and done right, outperforms things 3x the price. The US is dropping face mask requirements so I hope to get up to PS Audio and audition the Aspen 30's as the are Planer tweeter and mid with 4 active and 4 passive bass drivers (0.8 distortion).
Thanks for the review! I love the JBL sound and have the L100 Classic 75 in my main listening room and Control Ones everywhere else. Can I ask which brand of connectors you used to replace the brass links? I want to replace the ones on my L100 75's. Thanks.
Hi Tarun, thanks for the review, it's made me a bit horn curious. I would like to try a 5.1 set up as a second system, try out Dolby Atmos for fun! Have I got to get my coat from the audiophile club now?
We have two main systems and the difference is old school charm v new school charm. Both systems are based around large 3 way speakers and the one is a pair of original Spendor S100, doped bass drivers and all, that synergise both acoustically and aesthetically with the beautiful Leben CS600 tube amplifier, Lampizator 'Fikus' DAC and Lampizator Transport, VDH Grail, Lenco 78 and Marantz cassette deck. "There's nothing like the Old School." The other system is based around my own interpretation of large three way speakers, more or less a modern floor standing version of our S100 including time-aligned ultra high quality tweeter and some rather exotic crossover components from Duelund, Path Audio etc. and they are both ultra resolving and go deeper. The real work was in seasoning the crossover to achieve the level of texture and warmth to my taste, these bad boys are paired with a Marantz PM14 MK2 KI Signature and Marantz tuner, Denafrips Terminator, Jay's CDT MK3 and my own interpretation of a PTP6 Solid 12 with parts from my old Lenco 75 idler turntable and right now I'm using a Rega RB3000 [9"] tonearm, though I've got my eye on a 12" GrooveMaster-III for the future. "Little lokes are harder than the OGs" Where I don't use Nordost Red Dawn, I use my own cables made from high quality components that are superior. Cables and connectors play a large part in system synergy IMO, like salt and pepper they season to taste, just like a great crossover. Gold warms things up, silver brings more details, high quality tin plated copper is very nice, Duelund make nice cables off the reel and MCRU also stock some very nice cables too. I rely on my modern consumer unit and well designed components to protect and use schuko plugs throughout both systems, i.e. no fuses. I do not have a preference. One system is more modern and the other is more charming, both are all one could ever want. I have two because I can't live without one, so they back eachother up in case something needs a service. I only have one hobby and the love of music is it. Best wishes to all my fellow music lovers.
Hi Angelo, thank you posting this. Great to learn about your experiences. I would love to put together another system based around tube amplification and horn speakers 😊👍
Nice speakers, as usual great review Tarun. Keep going mate. Tarun can you please help me on a hum sound from the stereo speakers set-up which is connected to a solid state INT AMP. Is the mild hum sound can be avoided? Your thoughts please Thank you
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Tarun, my speakers are rated 90db @ 4ohm . I tried with two different SS Integrated amplifier to rule out the amp issue. Hum is heard from both SS int AMP. Hum can be heard only when I keep my ears close to the tweeters when we mute hum disappears.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you so much Tarun for the very quick response. Much appreciated your time & help. Now I can understand why some manufacturers of high end speakers have 82-85db at 8 ohm. So the hum can be lowered as the sensitivity is low. In that way when we use a high gain amp still we have a black background sound without hum.
loved your review...as always! 4 months later.... wanted to upgrade my speakers in my second stereo setup and i'm debating between these jbls and the buchardt S400 MKII you also reviewed (similar price). checked your reviews more than once, both come as "highly recommended", and it's hard to make a decision! if you or anyone in your channel could offer any insight, it would be much appreciated! my room is 13 X 26 ft and i mostly listen to jazz and classical music. would love a natural sound that could also be nice at low volumes. everything from piano solo, jazz trios, small combos, bossa nova, string quartets, to symphonic and symphonic-choral music. they will be powered by a Cambridge audio CXA-81 integrated amp and its CXC v2 transport. thanks!
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Tarun, thanks so much for taking the time to respond. really appreciate it! will go then for the JBLs ...and will report later! by the way, loving this Cambridge CXA-81 I just bought. gosh, would love to know what you think...if you ever have a chance to audition one...?
Hi Tarun.. I want to ask you a recomendation fo best speaker under 8000 dol. I own a pair of Harbeths 30.2 40th a and i am not sure if there is anything better considering it is not a cheap speaker. I am planning to diy open bale with AE and Raal speakers but i wonder if i can buy something already done. Sorry for such long message. Congrats for your channel.. you are de most reliable channel for me
Thank you Jorge. Very kind. There is no such thing as “best” as it depends on so many factors. Personally, I would look at ATC SCM 40, ProAc K1, Dynaudio Confidence 20 and Dali Epicon 6. Good luck 😊👍
Hello Tarun, thanks to your content my short list is becoming actually short 😅. When you were reviewing the JBL 4309 have you had the chance to pair them with the Denafrips Ares? How do think they would sound together. Thank you.
I don't even have a decent first system, never mind a second 😃 I have a pair of 1991 Tannoy M15 speakers and change amps now and then between Reisong A10 6w tube set amp for midcentric music and during winter to warm the room, and an old Arcam Alpha 7 for summer and most music. I suppose my second system is my cheap Yamaha receiver and speakers for TV. I just watch your channel to dream and drool over the equipment.
I like the difference between my living room system harman kardon set up for stage sound with a phillips soundbar, and my bedroom set up a very inexpensive system that I play at night. I enjoy the difference. JBL and Altec Lansing speakers are used in most instrument speaker's. It's sad that this speaker doesn't have more punch in the bass.
I'd like to compare those to the ATC 19v2 I have (partially due to the review from this page) which are my current reference. Never been a big fan of horns, but I'd give those a chance.
you did that horn imitation well. ever review a horn design where the bass or mid bass cabinet is a horn like say Edgar Horn or even a single driver horn design
my system is rega rp8, croft micro25 phono pre and series 7 amp, wharfedale Linton heritage and lumin D2. very very happy with that. I won't go for a second system, however I would be curious about a pure tube amp, maybe ear yoshino
