Oops I did it again...

...and I am having fun.

I became interested in a speaker. A speaker of a type in the past I would not consider. An inexpensive speaker that does not detract from my dream speaker budget. This speaker received 5 stars in What Hi-Fi. They described it as fun sounding yet refined and I have been in need of fun. I purchased the JBL Studio 530 stand mount speaker.

This is my first speaker with a horn loaded tweeter. The tweeter is crossed over to the mid/woofer at 1,500 Hz and the mid/woofer is 5 1/4 inches. The speaker is not a high efficiency design as it is rated at 86 db. The enclosure is slightly over 18 inches tall and about 8 1/2 inches wide and 9 inches deep. The cabinet is made from 3/4 inch mdf. There are no parallel sides but the sides are not curved. The speaker is bi-wireable which I am happy about so I can use my best cables. Due to the height of the speakers they look better on my 22 inch stands.

My initial response to the speakers is Wow. There is nothing to the sound that has bothered me about horn loaded tweeters in the past. Sweet and detailed and combined with the mid/woofer great imaging. I know horns can control dispersion and in my small room the lack of reflections adds clarity. As good as I thought the OML1's image the JBL's are better. The detail and layering are very good. Bass sounds as extended as the OML1's but not as deep as the MA RS6's. The JBL's bass is good and quick with a little more snap than the OML1's. The Studio 530 has good instrumental textures.

I have found a fun and musical speaker at a budget price. I will write more as I listen to the speakers. I am impressed by what $600 will buy with modern speaker design.

They look like an interesting option. I'll look forward to your further impressions.

If you like the violin you would like these speakers. I have a cd of violin and piano where both instruments sound natural. The naturalness of the sound makes it easier to hear the music but also follow each instrument. The better focus and imaging creates more space and air between the instruments.

JBL suggests that the speakers be placed further apart and toed in more than I have done in the past. I must say it works. More complicated music holds up as well as small scale performances. The soundstage sounds larger but still has air and space around individual instruments.

I like the looks of the speaker with the speaker grills in place. Sadly it is not very transparent but JBL provides a solution. The top of the speaker grill is solid to complete the tweeter horn. Removing the grill would change the dispersion of the horn but a supplied solid panel can be used to complete the horn leaving the mid/woofer exposed. Even though the speaker is more attractive with the full grill the sound is better with the half grill.

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Originally Posted by JohnMichael

If you like the violin you would like these speakers. I have a cd of violin and piano where both instruments sound natural. The naturalness of the sound makes it easier to hear the music but also follow each instrument. The better focus and imaging creates more space and air between the instruments.

JBL suggests that the speakers be placed further apart and toed in more than I have done in the past. I must say it works. More complicated music holds up as well as small scale performances. The soundstage sounds larger but still has air and space around individual instruments.

I like the looks of the speaker with the speaker grills in place. Sadly it is not very transparent but JBL provides a solution. The top of the speaker grill is solid to complete the tweeter horn. Removing the grill would change the dispersion of the horn but a supplied solid panel can be used to complete the horn leaving the mid/woofer exposed. Even though the speaker is more attractive with the full grill the sound is better with the half grill.

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Presumably they will sound best with the horn exposed. Given the type of music I listen to that includes large orchestra and choral, I wouldn't accept anything less than maximum transparency.

I think it's correct to say that control-directionality speakers are generally intended to be aimed right at the listening position. As you mentioned, this also reduces first reflections which is something that always improves sound.

I think they are attractive with the horn exposed but no doubt some will object, (e.g. those with spouses who aren't sound enthusiasts).

The horn is never covered. The grill that conceals the mid/woofer is what caused a lack of transparency. The grill is on in the pictures. If you look closely you may be able to see the top of the grill is also the bottom of the horn. If you do not want the grill covering the mid/woofer you need to complete the horn using a half panel to maintain the geometry of the horn. It fits from the below the compression driver to above the mid/woofer. The mid/woofer is recessed in a shallow horn and I am curious if this time aligns the drivers?

I can't see the pictures. What's up with that?

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Originally Posted by JoeE SP9

I can't see the pictures. What's up with that?

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I can only see them on my iPhone.

Huh! I don't understand what you mean.

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Originally Posted by JoeE SP9

Huh! I don't understand what you mean.

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I am unable to see the pictures on my computer but when I use my smart phone and go to AR I can see the pictures.

I see them using firefox, must be a smart fox

The amazing clarity of the Studio 530 is still amazing clarity and has not become brightness. The speakers are incredible with well recorded jazz. Large choral ensembles are wonderful to hear. I am still impressed by the sound of well recorded piano and violin.

Attack and decay sounds correct. Bass is beginning to open up nicely. That little woofer is working hard but the sound is well balanced. The enclosure is large for a driver that size and the low efficiency creates for better bass than one might expect.

For many this speaker would be an ear opener. A great speaker for $600 a pair that many could afford. A good speaker for someone who previously did not like horn loaded drivers. I doubt they will be going back. Are they perfect? Of course not but damned enjoyable in a small room with most types of music

I guess my question is, How much will the $600 that you put out for these speakers delay you in getting your perfect pair of speakers? We all know you JM and how changable you are when it comes to speakers. Personally I would buy a nice tube integrated and hook it up to your existing speakers and I think there is more than a fair chance that you would love the sound more than what you're hearing from the JBL's.

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Originally Posted by Jack in Wilmington

I guess my question is, How much will the $600 that you put out for these speakers delay you in getting your perfect pair of speakers? We all know you JM and how changable you are when it comes to speakers. Personally I would buy a nice tube integrated and hook it up to your existing speakers and I think there is more than a fair chance that you would love the sound more than what you're hearing from the JBL's.

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$600 spent is not a delay and I do have the option of sending them back. Having time to shop and travel to other cities to hear speakers multiple times is the delay. Spending $600 on a speaker because of a review is much easier than parting with $2,500 for a speaker I was only able to hear briefly. The JBL's are merely a listening experiment on a type of speaker I had never considered. At the $600 price point I also have thought about picking up a pair of small Maggies. I have not heard a planar speaker in too long a time.

As far as amps I am sticking with the Krell. I enjoy it's neutrality and lack of noise. I obsess enough over cables, speakers, tweaks and when you throw tubes into the mix I would not have time to listen to music.

Seriously I am tweaking much less these days since the Planar 2 has the new motor and speed control. The new Rocket 44 speaker cables are damn good cables and the best soundwise I have owned. I do find it interesting that I am enjoying a $600 pair of speakers wired with $400 speaker cables and driven by a $2,500 integrated amp.

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Originally Posted by JohnMichael

$600 spent is not a delay and I do have the option of sending them back. Having time to shop and travel to other cities to hear speakers multiple times is the delay. Spending $600 on a speaker because of a review is much easier than parting with $2,500 for a speaker I was only able to hear briefly. The JBL's are merely a listening experiment on a type of speaker I had never considered. At the $600 price point I also have thought about picking up a pair of small Maggies. I have not heard a planar speaker in too long a time.

As far as amps I am sticking with the Krell. I enjoy it's neutrality and lack of noise. I obsess enough over cables, speakers, tweaks and when you throw tubes into the mix I would not have time to listen to music.

Seriously I am tweaking much less these days since the Planar 2 has the new motor and speed control. The new Rocket 44 speaker cables are damn good cables and the best soundwise I have owned. I do find it interesting that I am enjoying a $600 pair of speakers wired with $400 speaker cables and driven by a $2,500 integrated amp.

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I wasn't suggesting replacing the Krell, I just thought by adding tubes to the mix you would give the OML1's and the RS6's a different sound that you might really find appealing. It would also be something that you could use down the road when you find your ultimate speaker.

I am not sure how I could work tubes into my system since I am happy with everything in my system. I am listening to Lucinda Williams' "Blessed" cd and her voice is centered and focused in the soundstage. The horns really deliver the sounds of electric guitar as well as organ and keyboards. Lucinda is now singing softly with background singers and the band continued to play at the same level but her voice was never lost in the mix. Love the clarity.

The JBL Studio 530's offer a lot of performance for $600. Will they please long term? Well I guess we will have to wait and see. In the Studio 5 series there are towers with multiple bass drivers and the same great horn

I am feeling a little SVI with more expensive speakers in the closet and I am listening to some inexpensive JBL.

I have always had trouble listening to the Hot Club Of Detroit's "night town". It always sounded like a bunch of musicians but not music. I thought here was a good test for the Stuido 530's so I dropped it into the player. Now I was hearing them make music. For the first time I was moving with the music. Yo Yo Ma's "Soul of the Tango" also has come to life. I think the side wall reflections were interfering with the timing of some music.

I had another thought as to why this inexpensive speaker might be sounding as good as it does. Correct me if I am wrong. The speakers efficiency is 86db and I always thought horn loaded drivers were very efficient. Of course in this case I am sure output was reduced by the crossover to match the woofer. My thinking is that the compression driver is working below what it is capable of and therefore the highs are so clean and clear. I would think the driver would be making much smaller excursions and therfore more clean accurate sound.

Not my cup of tea bit just goes to show you never know what the ear will perk up to. Glad you are lovin the JBL's JM.

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Originally Posted by TheHills44060

Not my cup of tea bit just goes to show you never know what the ear will perk up to. Glad you are lovin the JBL's JM.

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Yes I never thought I would be saying I am enjoying a horn loaded pair of JBL's. When I first saw them I liked the looks. Then I read the What Hi-Fi review and they received 5 stars. I thought wow they like a JBL and a horn loaded one at that. Between the looks and some specs I found interesting I ordered a pair. They are a fun listen that seems to be growing on me. Bass is surprisingly good for a 5 1/4 inch mid/woofer. This is a very good $600 speaker.

Today the Studio 530's are amazing me with solo piano works.

Here is a video I watched on Youtube after reading a review on another site.

The New JBL Studio 5 Loudspeakers. Advanced Technology with Classic JBL Sound - YouTube

I would not mind hearing a pair of the floorstanding models, I have used JBL pro sound speakers for DJ and sound reinforcement over the years but have only heard a hand full of their home speakers and have only liked a couple of them. To me their home speakers were always on the bright side but any company can change for the better when they come out with new products and their are horn speakers out there that do sound good.

The Studio 530's are not bright but they are very coherent. I am so impressed by the high frequency detail. Detail and extension without brightness is a wonderful thing. I am also impressed with the overall balance between of the speakers. As good as the highs are the low frequencies from the small woofer are impressive. In my room they do a nice job with detail in the bass.

The bass in Rickie Lee Jones "Showbiz Kids" is very detailed, textured and fast. Vocals are incredible especially harmonies. This speaker in my room is better than the MoFi OML1's and MA RS6's. No they do not have as much bass as the RS6's but they integrate easier in my room.

If I had a bigger room I would send them back and buy the towers. Years ago I sold JBL, Bose and AR and I always preferred AR. I am surprised by how much I am liking a JBL and a horn loaded one. This is not the horn I would avoid like the plague.

Tonight I am listening to Orff's "Carmina Burana" and I am impressed. The chorus and choir along with the soloists are filling the room with their voices. When they sing softly their voices are as clear and easy to follow as when they are singing full out. The interplay among voices and orchestra is never lost. My other speakers would become congested and confused. Or once again I wonder if it was early sidewall reflections that robbed the other speakers of this level of clarity.

At this point I can not imagine sending these speakers back.

I am working but I would rather be home listening to music. I have been listening to a lot of music that I own but did not enjoy. The timing and clarity of the Studio 530's are allowing me to enjoy music I had not before. Tonight I am going to give Bela Bartok another try. I am pleased with the ability to explore and appreciate music I had not appreciated before.

I also have to say that in my room the Studio 530's image and have a better soundstage than my RS6's or OML1's.

JM speaks the truth and keep trusting your ears. What JBL is doing with horn loaded speakers is a game changer, if they had the distribution Klipsch would be in trouble, except for the efficiency thing. I heard the LS series with different electronics than the Studio, I like the LS a bit more but not sure if it was the speakers or electronics. I was not a JBL fan until hearing these speakers mentioned, and in addition, the Array. The horns JBl are using are the real deal, smooth and refined nothing like we used to think of horns. And, as JM mentioned these are a steal at the price per performance ratio. I haven't heard the 530's but have heard the floorstander with two 6" drivers.

Mr. P yes they are far different from horns of the past. I was surprised by What Hi-Fi giving an American designed speaker, let alone a JBL with a horn loaded tweeter. I just had to try a pair. I am so glad I did.

In my small room the bass is balanced but I do think of sending them back for the towers. Of course I do remember the trouble making the RS6's work in the room. I also think some of the great detail is due to the small mid/woofer. I am sure that cone of the 5 1/4 inch woofer is very low in mass and quick. In some aspects the bass sounds better because I do not think I am having any room interference.

I never thought a $600 pair of speakers wired with $400 speaker wires to a $2,500 int. amp could sound incredible. Between the design of the speakers and they being a good match to my room is making some beautiful music.

One aspect of the speakers that I have failed to mention is that they are good with both attack and decay. They are a nice mid point between the OML1's and RS6's.

I was listening to an sacd of Joshua Bell last night. As I was listening the sound of his violin the sound was so natural. Other violinists fared as well. I hear the violin as it is being played rather warm and resonant, sweet and delicate or aggressive depending on the music. The Studio 530's never make the violin sound strident unlike the metal dome tweeter in the RS6's.

I am enjoying all my music with these speakers. I just need more time to listen to them. I am confident they are broken in now and sounding very good. What a great budget speaker for a small room. Actually a good speaker regardless of budget.

Just getting caught back up on some threads now that this site's new look has got my attention, so sorry JM for the late response.

Those speakers look awesome!

I know JBL does not always get the respect of the audiophile community but they have had some good speakers in there line-ups through the years and it sounds like you found a pair. Congrats again!

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Originally Posted by thekid

Just getting caught back up on some threads now that this site's new look has got my attention, so sorry JM for the late response.

Those speakers look awesome!

I know JBL does not always get the respect of the audiophile community but they have had some good speakers in there line-ups through the years and it sounds like you found a pair. Congrats again!

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Thanks the speakers sound better than they look. I am not sure what aspect of the design makes them so succesful in my room but something is working well.

As impressed as I am by the Studio 530's when I purchased them for $599 a pair I am even happier that they are now selling for $479 a pair. I am also pleased with Crutchfield who is crediting my account for $120. These are absolutely killer speakers for $479 a pair. The tower models have also been reduced in price.

Congrats on the new speakers...especially when they send you money back.

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Originally Posted by frenchmon

Congrats on the new speakers...especially when they send you money back.

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I ordered them out of curiosity and never expected to like them so much. Now I need to sell the Monitor Audio RS6's and the Mobile Fidelity OML1's. They work so well in my room and give me all that I was looking for in a pair of speakers.

I budgeted $2,500 for a pair of speakers but now have no interest in shopping since I would rather be home listening. They do not do loud or very low well but in the range I listen they are just right. The RS6's could easily drown out the neighbors by playing the Black Eyed Peas and the Studio 530's are heard but they compress and will not shake the walls. Oh but they do music so well.

as long as you are happy.

Yes I am very happy with the Studio 530's. I was listening to Beethoven's 9th and it sounded so good. That little 5 1/4 driver is pretty amazing. Of course this is my first speaker with no parallel surfaces with the top angled down and the sides angle in towards the back of the enclosure. The cabinets use 3/4 inch thick mdf and bracing but sadly no real wood veneer. I guess they had to reduce costs somewhere.

I will still shop for speakers when time permits

I began to notice that the 530's could use a little more sparkle. Using the Micropurls the upper range was a little dry. I pulled out the DNM Reson IC's and hooked them up. All the benefits of the speakers I had posted with more open high frequencies were on hand.

The Resons were okay with the Mobile Fidelity OML1's but not good with the RS6's. They seem to be a good match with the JBL's. Back to a night of Dwight Yoakam Live.

Wow, JM, I would have never guessed you a Dwight fan. I guess we all have to deal with our inner honky tonk man occasionally :).

I enjoy a little twang and early country music. I have attended many Blue Grass festivals in my day. Growing up I watched Hee Haw and the Grand Ole Opry. I loved Minnie Pearl and the tag hanging from her hat. Of course I watched Lawrence Welk, Andy Williams, Jackie Gleeson and any show with music or dancing. Oh and the Porter Wagoner show with Dolly Parton. As I grew older there was the Ed Sullivan show. The Beatles, Janis Joplin and many others. If a show had music I watched it.

I am glad I tried the DNM Reson IC's to connect the SA 8001 to the Krell S-300i. The slight increase in treble openess kicks the performance up a notch. Oh and one thing the speakers have returned to their higher price.

Tonight I am listening to Bernstein: The Best Of All Possible Worlds. This is a cd I did not enjoy when it first arrived but with the Studio 530's I am enjoying the music. Bernstein's conducting Copland's "Fanfare For The Common Man" is incredible. I must say the Studio series does a fine job of making sense out of the music