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View Full Version : JBL 250TI'S Up And Running



kingjames
12-23-2006, 07:15 PM
I finally got to unpack these giant's and hooked them to my ole trusty Pioneer SX1250. My first impression was that these are overkill. I am not used to a 4 way system and noticed the difference right away.It took some getting use to.

After playing several of my favorite pieces my ears came inline with these speakers and now my ears are tuned to them.

They play exceptionally well and their overall performance IMO is stunning. I think the difference between these and my SOV II'S was that at high volume my Sov II's sounded good but they also sounded strained,these 250's at high volume sound like they want more. I like the high end on these 250's better than the Sov II's,this might be because I am dealing with a 4 way versus my old 2 way soverigns.The low end seems to be more than enough.

My room where these sit is heavily carpeted with very heavy drapes, they are in the same spot as were my sov II's, sitting at my desk these speakers have a distant sound to me which I like,they are not overpowering at a moderate volume setting.

I am running these with the L96's that I just bought and it seems they are a perfect match. I can run both A&B at the same time with no problem's on this SX1250 contrary to some opinions here on the subject.

These sound better than all my expectations and though maybe high in price but then again I don't feel I need to upgrade further as these will bless my ears into infinity.

Merry Christmas Everyone and to Everyone A Happy New Year.

Note... I noticed that the serial numbers are quite low 583 and 534 is this good or bad?

Andyoz
12-23-2006, 07:29 PM
My first impression was that these are overkill. I am not used to a 4 way system and noticed the difference right away.It took some getting use to.

The ony way to describe the sound of these guys is ...BIG.

I also have a pair of PMC OB1's (a fairly well regarded English 3-way - http://www.pmcloudspeaker.com/ob1.html) and they were fired up today for comparison. The PMC's sounded really lightweight compared to the 250Ti's.

I find the 250Ti's presentation of percussion, particularly snare and kick drum, completely addictive. A rockers dream but their ability to dig out low-level information on recordings is amazing. Enjoy

Chas
12-23-2006, 09:47 PM
Nice to hear you got them before Christmas and that your ears are "recalibrating" in a positive direction.

Good luck and enjoy them over the holidays.:)

opimax
12-24-2006, 06:55 AM
A great holiday present to yourself!! enjoy them

Mark

John
12-25-2006, 12:03 AM
Yes merry-xmas and don't worry the serial # will not effect the sound!!!;)

kingjames
12-25-2006, 08:52 AM
Yes merry-xmas and don't worry the serial # will not effect the sound!!!;)

This is good,John:D

I don't know if having an early serial number meant having early problems,hell, I'm not really sure if these are early serial numbers.

Can someone tell me when these were made by the serial numbers?

Glen, are you still keeping the serial numbers of all speakers?

briang
12-25-2006, 09:45 AM
I'm glad you've got them running, kingjames. By your description, the wait was worth it. Time to change that Avatar.:)

Andyoz
12-25-2006, 03:47 PM
I don't know if having an early serial number meant having early problems,hell, I'm not really sure if these are early serial numbers.


The Serial No's of my pair are 06511 & 06512 and the seller told me they were built towards the end of the original 250Ti series run (late 80's?). You could work back from there to get the approx. build date I guess.

Any more comments re. the general sound? Anyone that hears mine are generally amazed, even non-audio types. With the recent trend for smaller speakers in the UK, I think people forget what good FULL bass should sound like..:D

mike
12-26-2006, 03:23 PM
When I bought mine the original owner told me that he bought them new in the late 80's. The serial no.s are just over 1000. He said that he had a tough time getting them and had to special order them through a place called Pointe Electronics in Grosse Pointe Michigan. I would be curious to know roughly how many of the original 250Ti's were made.

Mike

Titanium Dome
12-28-2006, 01:18 AM
Still lovin' 'em? How is your appreciation changing as time goes by?

Hofmannhp
12-28-2006, 03:50 AM
This is good,John:D

I don't know if having an early serial number meant having early problems,hell, I'm not really sure if these are early serial numbers.

Can someone tell me when these were made by the serial numbers?

Glen, are you still keeping the serial numbers of all speakers?

Hi James,

there are only a few in the registry....you may know some..:)
We can only tell you more about the date when there are more.
Here's the 250Ti part

regards
HP

Andyoz
12-28-2006, 04:34 AM
Am I right in assuming that the original 250Ti's finished in 1989 when the LE edition then came in?

Also, I have the original 250Ti instruction manual (document ref. 'IM250Ti/8-84') which I am happy to scan. Is there an area of the forum where these are posted as I expect many manuals would have been lost over the years and 250Ti owners would be interested.

I also have another small foldout called "Technical Note, Danger: Low Power" (document ref. 50777 TM2 5/77) and the original warranty card. Might be of interest to some?

kingjames
01-30-2007, 08:00 PM
I've noticed that some of the 044ti's that sold on ebay had dates on the back of them. I wonder if I should pull the tweeters to see if there is a date on the back of them and if there is would it be helpful to the registry. The one's I have are awful low serial numbers.

leif
02-03-2007, 06:53 AM
It is many years since I saw/heard a pair 250Ti.
I would love to try out a pair and see how they would be compare to my 4430 (that my wife are not too happy about having in the living room).
They are two completely different constructions. 2 way horn compare to 4 way non-horn.
89db efficiency vs 93 db efficiency.
One should think from techical datas that the 4430 play louder, but it sounds odd that this 4 way system should not beat the 4430 on who play louder.
The only thing the two constructions seem to have in common is the brand (JBL)

Leif

kingjames
02-03-2007, 12:33 PM
It is many years since I saw/heard a pair 250Ti.
I would love to try out a pair and see how they would be compare to my 4430 (that my wife are not too happy about having in the living room).
They are two completely different constructions. 2 way horn compare to 4 way non-horn.
89db efficiency vs 93 db efficiency.
One should think from techical datas that the 4430 play louder, but it sounds odd that this 4 way system should not beat the 4430 on who play louder.
The only thing the two constructions seem to have in common is the brand (JBL)

Leif
If the 4430's sound anywhere near the same as my 4425's did ,then I will say there is no comparison, my 250ti's beat my old pair of 4425's without even a strain.:p

Zilch
02-03-2007, 12:47 PM
If the 4430's sound anywhere near the same as my 4425's did....They don't.... ;)

hjames
02-03-2007, 12:56 PM
They don't.... ;)
Wait -
4425s are the small bookshelf ones,
but 4430s are larger floor monitors, right?

Nightbrace
02-03-2007, 01:09 PM
Great to see you are getting used to your new speakers. They must look like monsters compared to your L96's, and sound like monsters too :D.

Are you getting used to them yet?? They should have a lot more midbass impact than any of those speakers you mentioned. It'll take time to adjust, but luckily it seems like you'll be keeping them for awhile, if you ever decide to want to sell, you know who to reach :).. They are truly beautiful speakers and are really works of art and beautiful pieces of furniture as well.

Titanium Dome
02-03-2007, 01:14 PM
Wait -
4425s are the small bookshelf ones,
but 4430s are larger floor monitors, right?

I wouldn't say 4425s are small (16x25x13 I think), but they are smaller than 4430s. 4425s have 12s while 4430s have 15s. I've seen stands for 4425s, but I've not seen them on shelves, though I'm sure they could fit on the right shelf.

An L100 is about 14x23x14 IIRC, and it is considered a bookshelf, so the 4425 isn't much bigger. But I'd have to say I never owned a bookshelf that comfortably held an L100.

IMO there is a major difference in sound between the 4425 and 4430, and, for the record, I'd take a 250Ti over a 4430 in almost any situation.

kingjames
02-03-2007, 01:46 PM
my 4425's were a little heavy for bookshelf use. I can only see a difference in the lower end with a 15 in the 4430's. Am I correct to say that?

Even with the lower base I still don't believe they sound as good as these 250ti's. These things grow on you. I don't believe I ever need to go back to a 2 way or 3 way system again.

I can't say for sure because I never heard a 4430 and only basing my experience with my 4425's and trying to guess what they would have sounded like with a 15 inch woofer.

My 4425's weren't as efficient as my SOV II'S. I thought the high end of my 4425's was over bearing and did not please me in that area. The low end was good but nowhere what it was with my SOVII'S. Maybe I just couldn't get my ears tuned to those butt cheeks.

My 250ti's on the other hand please me in every area, the highs are mellow but crisp,the mids blend in perfectly and the low end is extremely accurate. These are definately keepers.:D

hjames
02-03-2007, 01:50 PM
I wouldn't say 4425s are small (16x25x13 I think), but they are smaller than 4430s. 4425s have 12s while 4430s have 15s. I've seen stands for 4425s, but I've not seen them on shelves, though I'm sure they could fit on the right shelf.

An L100 is about 14x23x14 IIRC, and it is considered a bookshelf, so the 4425 isn't much bigger. But I'd have to say I never owned a bookshelf that comfortable held an L100.

IMO there is a major difference in sound between the 4425 and 4430, and, for the record, I'd take a 250Ti over a 4430 in almost situation.


Thanks for the informative heads up - it does sound like the 250s would be the way to go. Before you posted I did Google for JBL 4425s and found this image of a home system, tho I suspect they are way too close together.

kingjames
02-03-2007, 01:55 PM
maybe those are mini 4425's:p

hjames
02-03-2007, 02:03 PM
maybe those are mini 4425's:p

Why, you're RIGHT - its probably the Zilch video lab! I think he had a set of the midget 4425s, right?

Nightbrace
02-03-2007, 02:04 PM
These things grow on you. I don't believe I ever need to go back to a 2 way or 3 way system again.


There are plenty of great 2-way and 3-way systems out there that have their benefits, no reason to give up on them completely, more transducers doesn't always mean better sound... Its how well the drivers are balanced via the crossover that makes the system come together. Thats "really" what makes the 250Ti come together so well, but having world class transducers doesn't hurt either. I hope you enjoy them for years to come..

Just because these speakers are the "bees knees" that doesn't mean you should forget entirely about everything else, from what I gather you really had some great experiences with your older speakers. And as you said you "grew" along with them. No shame in enjoying them.

Just because you have a Corvette now, that doesn't mean you can't take the Cavalier out for a spin every once and a while for old times' sake. Those L96's you currently have are stellar performers in their own right, especially for such a small footprint.

johnaec
02-03-2007, 02:27 PM
my 4425's were a little heavy for bookshelf use. I can only see a difference in the lower end with a 15 in the 4430's. Am I correct to say that? Nope. The 4425 used the smaller 2342 horn and 2416H-1 driver, while the 4430's use the larger 2344 horn and the heavier HF drivers, (2421A, and 2426H in the later versions).

John

kingjames
02-03-2007, 02:33 PM
I stand corrected. Thanks for the info!

leif
02-03-2007, 03:02 PM
Thanks for the informative heads up - it does sound like the 250s would be the way to go. Before you posted I did Google for JBL 4425s and found this image of a home system, tho I suspect they are way too close together.


Perhaps those speakers works as center channel?

Zilch
02-03-2007, 03:17 PM
Perhaps those speakers works as center channel?Bad idea, if so.... :(