Onkyo + JBL
 

With all the speaker talk going on around here, I thought I'd post my new recent find.

Couple weeks ago I stopped at Fry's and picked up an Onkyo surround sound system...ok, it was their lower end HT-S3300, but for under $300, it sure beats listening to the TV's speakers.
The sub is not powered, but oh well... it still beats the hell out of the TV's speakers. :D

Couple days after that, I stopped at a thrift store and spied a couple tall speakers. JBL P-50's is what they were. I popped the covers off to look. No tears. I pushed each cone in to listen for scraping noises. Hearing none, I decided to take a gamble, for $60 for the pair.. after all, they did write a "return OK if blown" note on the reciept. I'd looked them on on my cell phone and discoverd that back in the day, they were around $450. Each. In 1992. :eek:
A recent Craigslist ad is asking $300 for a pair right now...

All hooked up with the surround speakers, sub, and the JBL's on the secondary output, it don't sound half bad. In fact, it sounds prety damn good.
All for under $400. :D

Back in the day, top of the heap was JBL's

My stereo is the result of hours of thrifting. Pioneer Elite VSX-41 receiver from Goodwill: $15. Speakers are Athena S3 + P3 powered towers: - $315. Yes, that's a negative. I bought the Athenas + a Velodyne subwoofer for $185 at a garage sale, then sold the Velodyne for $500.

I also have a pair of JBL 4312 Studio Monitors I picked up from a garage sale for $50. They're some of the best sounding speakers I've ever heard.

Athena Technologies...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1253454999.jpg

I remember some JBLs that were, I think, supposed to be studio monitors. They had a oddly-shaped surround of the tweeter, it looked sort of like the cheeks of a bum with the tweeter as the, ahem, orifice. Does anyone know the model I'm talking about?

JBL 4330...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1286249399.jpg

Ah yes. Were/are they good? How would you describe their sound?

Not mine... I had just seen the pic when researching my 4312s. The 4330s were from about 1975 or so. I'd expect they were great for their time. My 4312s (circa 1983) have a pure sound like no other speaker I've heard.

If I want to crank up some music, I'm going to use the Athena's. If I want to actively listen to music I prefer the JBLs.

I never heard JBL 4XXX series speaker that did not sound EXCELLENT!!! Wish I had a pair, would like some 4312s!

I found a Nakamichi STASIS, Pioneer 7300 (first post tube), radiohack equalizer, Harmon Kardon CD101 (tape deck) for $11.00 at an auction. Equalizer was toast, tape deck needed work, Pioneer needed light cleaning, Nakamichi needed deep cleaning. JBL ProIII three for $3.00, refoamed two. Bought a re-built Nakamichi CD player ($80), had a Sherwood Receiver (mid '70s), added my old AR BX25i speakers, an old Garrard M40 (low end, I know), and I have an interesting system. Giving my Sister the Pioneer and a Garrard 74M (Wonderful unit) and they have some Wharfedale speakers. I'm sure it will be great in their home! Wife is kidding me about having two old systems in the house. I reminded her she wanted to listen to cds upstairs ;-)

Good JBL oldies
 

Here are some custom made JBL speaker systems that I have thrown together. The acoustical lenses are JBL 2395's and the tweeters are 2405 slots. The center speakers have two JBL 2402 bullit tweeters. Woofers are 2225a and 2215as 15inch.

These thing are very efficient and sound like a live band or orchestra. Four Phase Linears amps pushing them. Vinyl does sound better...IMO

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1286305337.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1286305355.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1286305372.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1286306667.jpg