JBL's strange upgrade path...

[Phelonious Ponk]

When JBL introduced the M2, with it, they introduce a new wave form design meant to deliver even better, smoother, more consistent off-axis response. I love to see these things happen, then trickle down. But the new wave form jumped from the M2 all the way down to JBL's 3-series, skipping their most interesting group of active monitors, the LSR series. These little monitors are SOTA, with great drivers, very good accuracy and dispersion, and built-in DSP to correct them for your room. But they currently seem to be discontinued. I can only hope that soon, they will come out with a series to replace them, with the power and the DSP of the LSR, and the new wave form. That might really get me interested in upgrading.

http://www.jblpro.com/www/products/recording-broadcast/lsr4300-series#.VpcGWzb8jzI

Tim

 

[Old Listener]

They introduced the unpowered 7 series last year.

http://www.jblpro.com/www/products/recording-broadcast/7-series#.VpfT8fkrKAk

They tout the virtue of not needing electrical power at every speaker. There is probably an interesting story there about their market and customer feedback from their customers.

Powered speakers suit my needs better so I too would like to see a 4 series replacement.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

They introduced the unpowered 7 series last year.

http://www.jblpro.com/www/products/recording-broadcast/7-series#.VpfT8fkrKAk

They tout the virtue of not needing electrical power at every speaker. There is probably an interesting story there about their market and customer feedback from their customers.

Powered speakers suit my needs better so I too would like to see a 4 series replacement.

Those are very nice, but only surround benefits from not needing electrical power at every speaker. Bring me that new 4 series!

Tim

 

[Old Listener]

Those are very nice, but only surround benefits from not needing electrical power at every speaker. Bring me that new 4 series!

Tim

I'm surprised by your reply. You seem to be spreaking of your own situation as though it applies to everyone. Further, you seem completely uninterested in why JBL has gone in their current direction.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

I'm surprised by your reply. You seem to be spreaking of your own situation as though it applies to everyone. Further, you seem completely uninterested in why JBL has gone in their current direction.

Didn't mean to imply that my needs apply to everyone, but I'm just running stereo, the power supply needs to not exceed those of an amp and a pre, so that particular advantage is not an advantage to me. The advantages of fully active design and on-board DSP are very attractive, though. I'm very curious as to why JBL has taken their next generation wave form from the TOTL down to the entry level skipping the 4 series. Any clues?

Tim

 

[esldude]

I have had the same thoughts about the jump in models that use the LSR waveguide, and what you call a curious upgrade path. I had hoped it was just a business thing needing to get returns from investment of existing models. So over time they would fill in that gap. So far it is either very slow or not what they are doing.

I could use an updated 4 series replacement myself. Something more capable than the LSR3xx series, but not up to the $10k plus range of the other JBL choices.

It is also curious the LSR7 series quotes nearly identical basic specs as the LSR3 series. These are non-powered and apparently setup to use the DSP of course. So one does wonder exactly what they are thinking in the line up.

 

[Old Listener]

I have had the same thoughts about the jump in models that use the LSR waveguide, and what you call a curious upgrade path. I had hoped it was just a business thing needing to get returns from investment of existing models. So over time they would fill in that gap. So far it is either very slow or not what they are doing.

I could use an updated 4 series replacement myself. Something more capable than the LSR3xx series, but not up to the $10k plus range of the other JBL choices.

It is also curious the LSR7 series quotes nearly identical basic specs as the LSR3 series. These are non-powered and apparently setup to use the DSP of course. So one does wonder exactly what they are thinking in the line up.

I think that the specs that are different are things like how loud the monitors can play, distortion levels at dBl levels and presence of resonances.

I've been curious about JBL's pro audio monitor strategy for some time. I think that they have rather long product cycles for their monitors. I wonder if the 3 series sells to would-be audio professionals and hobbyists while the market for $ 1500 / pr. monitors is now connected to building new control/mixing/mastering rooms or new sound trucks. That market might be as much about video and surround sound as plain audio. I'm not proposing these thoughts as answers but as a basis for asking questions.