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JeffW
02-16-2011, 02:40 PM
After all the nightmare horror stories of Harman's shipping department, not sure what you'd end up with at your door...

But you get free UPS shipping! :applaud:

K2 S5800 for $3505.76 ea (http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=S5800&status=)

K2 S9800SE for $5674.26 ea (http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=K2S9800SE-BG&status=)

OOps, almost missed these little guys

800 Arrays for $1126.90 ea (http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=800%20ARRAY%2 0BG&status=)

hjames
02-16-2011, 03:34 PM
A pair of 800 Arrays for just under $2260 - SWEET!!
And all you need do is play UPS shipping Bingo!!


After all the nightmare horror stories of Harman's shipping department, not sure what you'd end up with at your door...

But you get free UPS shipping! :applaud:

K2 S5800 for $3505.76 ea (http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=S5800&status=)

K2 S9800SE for $5674.26 ea (http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=K2S9800SE-BG&status=)

OOps, almost missed these little guys

800 Arrays for $1126.90 ea (http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=800%20ARRAY%2 0BG&status=)

MikeBrewster77
02-16-2011, 03:34 PM
WOW!!! :jawdrop:

I truly mean this with all sincerity, if I had not been laid off two weeks ago, I swear the 9800's would have been ordered the second I saw this post. Alas, my "upgrade" money is now "pay the mortgage" money until I'm working again. But this is a major value (at least I think it is -- don't know if there is a street price for these.) It would be phenomenal if someone here might just be able to score them.

JeffW
02-16-2011, 03:41 PM
I just tried to add (2) of the 9800s to my shopping cart, it appears they only have (1) unit.

Figures.

I could add (2) 5800s.

But the 880 Array center is just a little more $$ than the 800 Arrays, you could still have a dang fine L-C-R HT setup.

MikeBrewster77
02-16-2011, 03:44 PM
I just tried to add (2) of the 9800s to my shopping cart, it appears they only have (1) unit.

Figures.


That truly sucks! :(

farleybob
02-16-2011, 05:35 PM
I was just able to put two 9800SE's in my shopping cart. All the credit card information is entered and I'm fighting with myself over whether to push the "send" button. So...much...money

Robh3606
02-16-2011, 08:25 PM
I just ordered an 880 Center. I just couldn't pass it up.

Rob:)

Titanium Dome
02-16-2011, 09:33 PM
I was just able to put two 9800SE's in my shopping cart. All the credit card information is entered and I'm fighting with myself over whether to push the "send" button. So...much...money

So? What did you do?

tom1040
02-17-2011, 05:32 AM
If I just didn't spend a good chunk of change on amps I would have pulled the trigger. Some people will get a great deal....if they do, in fact, survive the trip home.

Robh3606
02-17-2011, 05:43 AM
if they do, in fact, survive the trip home.

Here's to hoping they do for all of us:cheers:

Rob:)

richluvsound
02-17-2011, 05:56 AM
Its about time something good came your way !
Enjoy your good fortune Gentlemen .:applaud:

Rich

Valentin
02-17-2011, 07:44 AM
a does K25800 are killers

but well i have the arrays and i am happy with them .

farleybob
02-17-2011, 12:05 PM
So? What did you do?

I couldn't do it. I kept imagining telling my wife, "...but you don't understand... $11,000 was such a great deal!" And I've never actually had a chance to hear them, although I'm sure they're amazing".

Titanium Dome
02-17-2011, 02:59 PM
I couldn't do it. I kept imagining telling my wife, "...but you don't understand... $11,000 was such a great deal!" And I've never actually had a chance to hear them, although I'm sure they're amazing".

It's good that she keeps your priorities straight. :D

Know what you mean, though. I would have faced the same dilemma ten years ago.





Before the divorce.

:banana:

allen mueller
02-17-2011, 03:35 PM
Those 800 Arrays are tempting. Does anyone have experiences they would like to share?

Allen

Slare
02-18-2011, 08:25 AM
You know, if I was currently living in the house I thought I had some chance of dying/retiring in, I would have a really, really hard time resisting this.

For now the only one within semi-reach for me would be the 800, and while I really like the concept of it, I have never really been pleased with a sub/sat system for music and doubt the 8" would cut it for me.

I also find it entertaining they classify a 30" tall speaker as a bookshelf speaker. I thought the E50/S38 as a "bookshelf" was a reach.

Titanium Dome
02-18-2011, 09:48 AM
Brother, you live in Detroit. That could be the house you die in.

Okay, the same could be written of LA. :p There've been a couple of times when I thought so, anyway.

I guess my somewhat smarty point is that (at least at my age) the time and place of our demise is rarely chosen or known by us. So live!

Robh3606
02-18-2011, 10:06 AM
Has anyone else purchased the Array 880 Center?? I received a tracking number this morning so I have one on the way. They seem to have dropped out of the sale so I am wondering how many they might have had up for grabs in the first place??

Rob:)

4313B
02-18-2011, 10:11 AM
Just yours Rob. I went to order one right after you said you had ordered one and they told me that "Rob" had taken the only one they had. :banghead:

Robh3606
02-18-2011, 12:01 PM
Hello 4313B

Wow glad I didn't hesitate, sorry that there were not more available.

Rob:)

4313B
02-18-2011, 12:42 PM
;)

Slare
02-18-2011, 01:53 PM
Brother, you live in Detroit. That could be the house you die in.

Okay, the same could be written of LA. :p There've been a couple of times when I thought so, anyway.

I guess my somewhat smarty point is that (at least at my age) the time and place of our demise is rarely chosen or known by us. So live!

Lol well I don't live in Detroit, nobody really does. Just a suburb, no different than suburb anywhere else imho. However I've found that when you say you are from Detroit people tend to sort of leave you be, which is nice. I'm also armed and a very light sleeper, so I think my odds are pretty good. Got more a chance of going in a car crash, I think.

My real point was that I'm pretty far away from the point of spending that amount of cash on speakers. Gotta have something to look forward to.


Just yours Rob. I went to order one right after you said you had ordered one and they told me that "Rob" had taken the only one they had. :banghead:

That is absolutely hilarious.

hwirt
02-18-2011, 04:21 PM
Just ordered my K2S9800SE-BG speakers......:bouncy:

tom1040
02-18-2011, 04:45 PM
Just ordered my K2S9800SE-BG speakers......:bouncy:



Sweet! That must feel awesome!!:applaud:

hwirt
02-18-2011, 04:53 PM
Sweet! That must feel awesome!!:applaud:

Thanks. Yes indeed it does, It certainly is a major investment but it's been a long time coming. My last JBL purchase was in 1979 a pair of L220 Oracles. These (9800SE) will fit in the same footprint as the L220's. Just got the order confirmation, I'm excited..

JeffW
02-18-2011, 04:59 PM
I'm glad somebody was able to take the plunge.

The funny thing was, I saw a link to the closeout sale in one of those ads along the margin of some webpage I hit when just surfing around. I don't know how long it'd been running or anything, just stumbled onto it.

But I'll keep an eye peeled from here on out :D

hwirt
02-18-2011, 05:19 PM
I found the link here in this thread yesterday morning, it took me until tonight to finally pull the trigger. I've been considering a pair of Array 1400's but did not find the right deal. Special thanks to JeffW and Lansing Heritage Forum for the tip.

Robh3606
02-18-2011, 05:30 PM
I don't know how long it'd been running or anything, just stumbled onto it.

Hello Jeff

Thanks for posting the links. I had no idea they had them up there,





Just ordered my K2S9800SE-BG speakers......:bouncy:


Great to see someone get a pair of them .

Rob:)

Titanium Dome
02-18-2011, 05:40 PM
Just ordered my K2S9800SE-BG speakers......:bouncy:

Terrific! :applaud: I know you're pumped. :banana:

Now, you have to do your duty to Lansing Heritage and give us a pictorial blow-by-blow so we can all participate vicariously.

hwirt
02-18-2011, 05:48 PM
Terrific! :applaud: I know you're pumped. :banana:

Now, you have to do your duty to Lansing Heritage and give us a pictorial blow-by-blow so we can all participate vicariously.

Will do....:D

hwirt
02-19-2011, 07:40 AM
Checked the link this morning and this was the result:

You have searched for: K2S9800SE-BG.
Sorry, this product is currently unavailable.
Please use the pulldown menus on the left to find other products by brand or category.
Guess they are all gone....:crying:

K25800's & Array 800's still available.

hwirt
02-19-2011, 08:13 AM
Oh Oh ..that phrase brings up the recent MikeB Ti10k fiasco :o:....hope not.

Just read through the MikeB Ti10K thread, what a mess! The packing job was definitely hap hazard at best with much of the original packing material missing or damaged. Thankfully MikeB got everything corrected and is enjoying a beautiful set of speakers.

Hopefully my K29800SE's being new will be properly packaged an arrive in good condition. I'm not sure what would be the best course of action if the boxes arrive damaged, reject the shipment outright or unpack and make a claim. Any suggestions???

MikeBrewster77
02-19-2011, 08:32 AM
... if the boxes arrive damaged, reject the shipment outright or unpack and make a claim. Any suggestions???

First off, Congratulations on your purchase!!! :thmbsup: I can't wait to hear all about it.

I think with the speakers being new there's very little chance that you'll run into what I ran into. That said, there's clearly not a lot of these laying around at this price (complete with a full factory warranty nonetheless) -- my suggestion is that if there is any damage, accept what's sent and work through Harman to resolve any issues. Surprisingly, once I got in touch with the right folks, they were more than willing to help and the issue was resolved expeditiously. In the end, it was well worth it.

P.S., if it makes you feel better, know that I would have been more than willing to take the gamble again if the timing was a little different. ;)

hwirt
02-19-2011, 08:35 AM
Thanks Mike..

moparfan
02-19-2011, 10:02 AM
For the people who have heard all of these and are willing to engage in ranking possibilities ...

The array 800 has years advancements in drivers, crossovers, and horns - how do you think a 4430 w just beryllium match up? Assume, as mentioned above, that maybe you could get away with a l-pad level adjustment, because if you have to buy dias and change the network maybe costs start to weigh against it.

In either case I would crossover (and currently do) the 4430 and array 800 to integrate it into a music and theater system. I do remember reading elsewhere on here that it was thought by someone that the array 800 might have had the smoothest sound of the family. I am not sure whether that means better.

Another question, is harmanaudio limiting an order to 2 speakers max or is that all they have in stock?

hwirt
02-19-2011, 10:18 AM
Another question, is harmanaudio limiting an order to 2 speakers max or is that all they have in stock?

I was only able to add two speakers to my cart at a time, must be the ordering limit. You may be able to make two separate orders if you need a greater quantity.

JBLAddict
02-20-2011, 06:45 PM
so what is the general opinion of the S5800?

when I heard the high end lineup in Japan, the 4338 left the biggest impression on me in terms of value/dollar, even compared to the E2 and K2(2).....for 14K, the ease and natural state of sound was really something I just wasn't expecting.

for that reason I always assumed a 1400 array with the same MF/HF would be similarly awesome though I only know their sound from the praise here.

I see now the S5800 differs from the 4338 only by two 1200FE's compared to the one 1500FE, wondering if this might be the better sounding/celebrated speaker compared to the 9800SE? If that round about logic makes any sense :blink:

SEAWOLF97
02-20-2011, 07:23 PM
so what is the general opinion of the S5800?

Frequency Response (–6dB): 50Hz – 40kHz (Anechoeic)

needs a sub ? :dont-know:

Valentin
02-20-2011, 07:40 PM
for music i dont think you will need one
it goes lower than the K2 9800se

POWER HANDLING: 300W (RMS)**
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 50Hz – 40kHz (–6dB)
LOW-FREQUENCY EXTENSION: 28Hz (–10dB)
SENSITIVITY: 95dB (2.83V/1m)
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE: 8 Ohms
CROSSOVER FREQUENCY: 800Hz, 10kHz
LOW-FREQUENCY DRIVERS: Dual 12-inch (300mm) Kevlar-composite
cone woofers (1200Fe)
HIGH-FREQUENCY DRIVER: 3-Inch (75mm) aluminum compression
driver (435Al) in 1-1/2-inch (38mm)
throat Bi-Radial horn
ULTRAHIGH-FREQUENCY DRIVER 1-Inch (25mm) pure-titanium compression
driver (045Ti) in 0.35-inch (8.9mm)
throat Bi-Radial horn
DIMENSIONS (H X W X D): 49" x 17" x 16-1/4" (16-3/4" with grille)
1245mm x 432mm x 413mm
(425mm with grille)
WEIGHT: 185 lb (84kg) per speaker

martin_wu99
02-21-2011, 05:54 AM
So tempting news:eek: thank you,jeff!
but seems k2s9800 sold out:banghead:
comparing the k2S5800 and arry 800's price, which one is more cost-effective?
How about custom tax and tranport fee outside the US?

martin_wu99
02-21-2011, 06:51 AM
for music i dont think you will need one
it goes lower than the K2 9800se

POWER HANDLING: 300W (RMS)**
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 50Hz – 40kHz (–6dB)
LOW-FREQUENCY EXTENSION: 28Hz (–10dB)
SENSITIVITY: 95dB (2.83V/1m)
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE: 8 Ohms
CROSSOVER FREQUENCY: 800Hz, 10kHz
LOW-FREQUENCY DRIVERS: Dual 12-inch (300mm) Kevlar-composite
cone woofers (1200Fe)
HIGH-FREQUENCY DRIVER: 3-Inch (75mm) aluminum compression
driver (435Al) in 1-1/2-inch (38mm)
throat Bi-Radial horn
ULTRAHIGH-FREQUENCY DRIVER 1-Inch (25mm) pure-titanium compression
driver (045Ti) in 0.35-inch (8.9mm)
throat Bi-Radial horn
DIMENSIONS (H X W X D): 49" x 17" x 16-1/4" (16-3/4" with grille)
1245mm x 432mm x 413mm
(425mm with grille)
WEIGHT: 185 lb (84kg) per speaker
Why ARRY800 specifitions(Frequency Response (-3dB): 55Hz – 40kHz) seems more superior than K2S5800?(Frequency Response (–6dB): 50Hz – 40kHz (Anechoeic) :confused:

martin_wu99
02-21-2011, 07:30 AM
I just ordered an 880 Center. I just couldn't pass it up.

Rob:)

How to order an 880 Center?I can not find the website:banghead:

Robh3606
02-21-2011, 08:09 AM
Well so far so good. I got the 880 this morning. It's in what looks like an unopened original shipping box:D. I have to take it out to look it over but at least some of the clearance speakers are shipping in their original shipping boxes.

Rob:)

martin_wu99
02-21-2011, 08:17 AM
Well so far so good. I got the 880 this morning. It's in what looks like an unopened original shipping box:D. I have to take it out to look it over but at least some of the clearance speakers are shipping in their original shipping boxes.

Rob:)
Rob,i need this little guy indeed,can you transfer it to me?:D:blink:
It seems out of stock:banghead:

4313B
02-21-2011, 08:31 AM
Well so far so good. I got the 880 this morning.:bouncy:

I'm very excited for you! Now you can have three Arrays across the front. Very cool!

4313B
02-21-2011, 08:33 AM
Just ordered my K2S9800SE-BG speakers......:bouncy: Awesome! :bouncy:

4313B
02-21-2011, 08:43 AM
Frequency Response (–6dB): 50Hz – 40kHz (Anechoeic)

needs a sub ? :dont-know:



Why ARRY800 specifitions(Frequency Response (-3dB): 55Hz – 40kHz) seems more superior than K2S5800?(Frequency Response (–6dB): 50Hz – 40kHz (Anechoeic) :confused:The K2-S5800 doesn't require a sub for normal music listening. It equalizes very nicely with a typical listening room and has quite decent bottom end.

For movies, subs would very probably be desired.

hwirt
02-21-2011, 08:56 AM
So tempting news:eek: thank you,jeff!
but seems k2s9800 sold out:banghead:
comparing the k2S5800 and arry 800's price, which one is more cost-effective?
How about custom tax and tranport fee outside the US?

Martin, found this on the Harman Audio sight, hope it helps answer your question:

Outside the U.S.
Welcome to the International Help Desk. The Harman Audio website is currently only able to process sales within the 48 states of the contiguous/continental US. If you wish to purchase these products outside the United States, or have any questions or comments you would like to send us, please use the e-mail link on this page. These e-mails will be routed out to international divisions and you will receive an answer as soon as possible. Please feel free to communicate with us in the language most comfortable to you.

http://www.harmanaudio.com/site_info/outside_us.asp

martin_wu99
02-21-2011, 09:02 AM
The K2-S5800 doesn't require a sub for normal music listening. It equalizes very nicely with a typical listening room and has quite decent bottom end.

For movies, subs would very probably be desired.
But what's the K2S5800 frenqucy respond when at -3db?:confused:

martin_wu99
02-21-2011, 09:10 AM
Martin, found this on the Harman Audio sight, hope it helps answer your question:

Outside the U.S.
Welcome to the International Help Desk. The Harman Audio website is currently only able to process sales within the 48 states of the contiguous/continental US. If you wish to purchase these products outside the United States, or have any questions or comments you would like to send us, please use the e-mail link on this page. These e-mails will be routed out to international divisions and you will receive an answer as soon as possible. Please feel free to communicate with us in the language most comfortable to you.

http://www.harmanaudio.com/site_info/outside_us.asp
Hwirt,thank you.
I fond this page too,so I just wrote a letter to '[email protected]', does it work?can you give me the right service phone number and e-mai box?
Thank you
martin

Valentin
02-21-2011, 09:16 AM
-3db @ 60hz
-6db @ 50hz
-10db@ 28hz

it rolls of very slowly and that is a very good thing since it will blend well in a large number of different acoustic environments.

this also provides very natural sounding bass

just my opinion

martin_wu99
02-21-2011, 09:26 AM
-3db @ 60hz
-6db @ 50hz
-10db@ 28hz

it rolls of very slowly and that is a very good thing since it will blend well in a large number of different acoustic environments.

this also provides very natural sounding bass

just my opinion
Notice that 800 ARRAY -3db@55hz,seems impossible:eek::confused:

Valentin
02-21-2011, 09:42 AM
you are forgetting that these levels are measured @ 1 watt

things get allot more complicated at higher levels and small woofers just cant keep up with big ones in bass response

big woofer keep being linear to the response and small woofers just cant fiscally displace the air needed With out haven thermal and displacement distorion issues

array 800 are very nice speakers i have had them but the K2 5800 are much better performers

Titanium Dome
02-21-2011, 09:51 AM
Frequency Response (–6dB): 50Hz – 40kHz (Anechoeic)

needs a sub ? :dont-know:



Why ARRY800 specifitions(Frequency Response (-3dB): 55Hz – 40kHz) seems more superior than K2S5800?(Frequency Response (–6dB): 50Hz – 40kHz (Anechoeic) :confused:


The K2-S5800 doesn't require a sub for normal music listening. It equalizes very nicely with a typical listening room and has quite decent bottom end.

For movies, subs would very probably be desired.


-3db @ 60hz
-6db @ 50hz
-10db@ 28hz

it rolls of very slowly and that is a very good thing since it will blend well in a large number of different acoustic environments.

this also provides very natural sounding bass

just my opinion

Good answers have been given. In my experience, there's nothing to worry about.

The K2 S9900 specs out similar to this according to JBL.(48Hz–50kHz -6dB) With proper placement, it's more than sufficient for music, except for my addiction to dance and trance with their unnatural bottom end. Even then the subs are only operating below 40 Hz and most of the time are inaudible. They're more for feel than hearing.

As stated by 4313B and Valentin, normal music does not require any help with these beauties.

Like action movies and B-movie actresses, dance/trance/hip-hop have augmented, artificial bottoms, so subs help.

Slare
02-21-2011, 07:16 PM
Somehow I expected Array boxes to be nicer. Something like this:

50061

hwirt
02-22-2011, 02:31 AM
Received an email this morning stating that my order has shipped, the shipper is listed as "DAYL" and the tracking number is 869XXXXX. I have no idea and could not find any listing online for this shipper. Anyone know who "DAYL" is (full name) or website? Thanks.

Robh3606
02-22-2011, 04:36 AM
Why don't you just call Harman? There is a help number right on the e-mail.

Rob:)

richluvsound
02-22-2011, 06:07 AM
Received an email this morning stating that my order has shipped, the shipper is listed as "DAYL" and the tracking number is 869XXXXX. I have no idea and could not find any listing online for this shipper. Anyone know who "DAYL" is (full name) or website? Thanks.

Hope everything goes well for you and I look forward to your updates

Rich

hwirt
02-22-2011, 06:21 AM
Why don't you just call Harman? There is a help number right on the e-mail.

Rob:)

Thanks for the response and advice.

Found the shipper; Daylight Transport. Standard Delivery Date*: 02/28/2011 :applaud:

martin_wu99
02-22-2011, 07:26 AM
Why don't you just call Harman? There is a help number right on the e-mail.

Rob:)
what's number?:dont-know:i can not see it:banghead:

hwirt
02-22-2011, 07:32 AM
what's number?:dont-know:i can not see it:banghead:

Harman Audio?

HarmanAudio.com
400 Atlantic Street
Stamford, CT 06901 U.S.
(516) 682 6438

martin_wu99
02-22-2011, 07:34 AM
Thanks for the response and advice.

Found the shipper; Daylight Transport. Standard Delivery Date*: 02/28/2011 :applaud:
So lucky you are!hope you can receive your beauties very soon:applaud:

martin_wu99
02-22-2011, 08:32 AM
I'v just made some IDD calls,using this number:1,800,336,4525,but nobody can help purchasing JBL speakers:banghead:the operator gave the number 971 4883,7776,can not be reached.
who can help me here?:dont-know:

martin_wu99
02-22-2011, 09:00 AM
They told me again that they can not shipping JBL speakers outside the US.:confused:
The only way is to find a friend in the US,then he can ship to me:blink:

martin_wu99
02-22-2011, 09:09 AM
Harman Audio?

HarmanAudio.com
400 Atlantic Street
Stamford, CT 06901 U.S.
(516) 682 6438
The JBL call center seems locate in India,they tranfered my call for several times,finally a product advisor told me "that's impossible shipping outside the US":eek::banghead:

mikebake
02-22-2011, 02:25 PM
The JBL call center seems locate in India,they tranfered my call for several times,finally a product advisor told me "that's impossible shipping outside the US":eek::banghead:
I figured that was the way it was.

martin_wu99
02-23-2011, 12:34 AM
I figured that was the way it was.
Then who would like to give me a hand located in the US on this forum?:p:o:

pos
02-23-2011, 06:19 AM
Martin,

There are several company that can provide a US postal adress and then resend you the item to your international adress.
Here is a small list I got after a google search (I don't know if them and never used them, so be careful) :
http://www.usamail1.com/
http://myus2.myus.com/
http://www.shipito.com/

But I am curious: why would you want to buy these new JBL speakers when you said you liked the vintage speakers (and cabaret serie on that!) better?

martin_wu99
02-24-2011, 06:34 AM
Martin,

There are several company that can provide a US postal adress and then resend you the item to your international adress.
Here is a small list I got after a google search (I don't know if them and never used them, so be careful) :
http://www.usamail1.com/
http://myus2.myus.com/
http://www.shipito.com/

But I am curious: why would you want to buy these new JBL speakers when you said you liked the vintage speakers (and cabaret serie on that!) better?

Thanks so much for you warm-hearted person!:D
Alas,you have a good memory indeed,i once said i like the old ones.but i want buy these beauties just because they so cheap:eek:

martin_wu99
02-24-2011, 06:40 AM
I figured that was the way it was.

Today,the expert replied me,thanks him anyawy!

Hello Martin,

Thank you for contacting us. I am sorry but we do not offer any direct retail sales outside of the USA. Please visit our main website for more information and contact information for the authorized JBL distributor in China.

Hello again Martin,

I forgot to include a URL for the main website for China.

http://www.jbl.com/zh-CN/Pages/home.aspx (http://www.jbl.com/zh-CN/Pages/home.aspx)

I am sorry that we are not able to help you further directly.

Sincerely,

8500 Balboa Boulevard
Northridge, CA 91329
Phone: +1 516 682 6438
Email: [email protected] ([email protected])
Web: www.harmanaudio.com (http://www.harmanaudio.com/)

HAROLD KEVELOS
Technical Support Specialist
Harman Consumer Group

martin_wu99
02-24-2011, 07:00 AM
One of my friend is a JBL lover too(he has L300).he said array 800 is a AV box,not a HIFI box,i don't think so,what's your opinions?:confused:

4313B
02-24-2011, 07:30 AM
One of my friend is a JBL lover too(he has L300).he said array 800 is a AV box,not a HIFI box,i don't think so,what's your opinions?:confused:Actually he has it backwards. The older 43xx series (and the L300 falls into that category) is arguably better suited for AV use than HiFi use.

The entire Array Series is better suited to fill either role. The Synthesis counterparts are arguably more AV oriented.

The 1400 Array is the model to compare to the L300. Keep in mind that Greg has advanced considerably between the years of his L300/4333 designs and his Array Series designs. To suggest that he hasn't would be quite insulting, not to mention utterly baseless. And the technology he has to work with now is simply better than the technology he had to work with back then. It just is.

martin_wu99
02-24-2011, 07:39 AM
Actually he has it backwards. The older 43xx series (and the L300 falls into that category) is better suited for AV use than HiFi use.

The entire Array Series is much better suited to play either role.
Really?who told you that?:confused:
In China,most people use their old precious 43xx(such as 4343\4344) as HIFI box,few of them use it as AV box:blink:

4313B
02-24-2011, 07:59 AM
Really?who told you that?:confused:
In China,most people use their old precious 43xx(such as 4343\4344) as HIFI box,few of them use it as AV box:blink:
In my experience the difference between the newest systems and the legacy systems is much more apparent in two-channel HiFi than it is in AV.

Robh3606
02-24-2011, 08:27 AM
In China,most people use their old precious 43xx(such as 4343\4344) as HIFI box,few of them use it as AV box:blink:

I can understand that however if you compare them in a dedicated 2 channel set up in my opinion the newer Arrays will beat them out. I have both Array 1400 clones and 4344 clones. If I could only keep one pair it would be the Arrays. They are smoother both on and off axis and frankly just sound better.

Rob:)

martin_wu99
02-24-2011, 09:47 AM
I can understand that however if you compare them in a dedicated 2 channel set up in my opinion the newer Arrays will beat them out. I have both Array 1400 clones and 4344 clones. If I could only keep one pair it would be the Arrays. They are smoother both on and off axis and frankly just sound better.

Rob:)
Modern JBL speakers have better frenquncy response definitely,they are dynamic,accurate,but they seems lack of some taste:blink:
In China,most people like vintage JBL than the new ones not only because of the new ones' expensive price,but also their tastes:dont-know:

Valentin
02-24-2011, 10:03 AM
na

its the price peple try to go around the bush

but you get wath you pay for

moparfan
02-24-2011, 02:03 PM
You've had direct experience with both, albeit not at the same time. Could you speak a little about what you remember are the strong points of the S5800 and how that might compare to the 1400 Array?

Titanium Dome
02-24-2011, 02:07 PM
Modern JBL speakers have better frenquncy response definitely,they are dynamic,accurate,but they seems lack of some taste:blink:
In China,most people like vintage JBL than the new ones not only because of the new ones' expensive price,but also their tastes:dont-know:

I find the K2 S9900 to be tasteful both in its looks and its sound.

You could feel differently about the man in the picture, of course.

jblnut
02-24-2011, 03:14 PM
Wow, 186lbs per for the K2 5800's! That's one solid speaker!

If I hadn't just blown my tax money on a Mac MC275 this would have been very tempting. But I'm happy to say that the 250ti's with the "Giskard XOvers" are still continuing to make beautiful music. No matter what I bring into the system, I'm able to hear and appreciate the upgrades. I don't know if they will *ever* be the weak link....

Congrats to all that were able to take advantage of this sale! More high-end JBLs in the states is a good thing !


jblnut

JeffW
02-24-2011, 03:58 PM
I find the K2 S9900 to be tasteful both in its looks and its sound.



And when they get down to $6K/ea, I'll be lighting up a Visa card :bouncy:

hwirt
02-25-2011, 08:42 AM
I find the K2 S9900 to be tasteful both in its looks and its sound.

You could feel differently about the man in the picture, of course.

The gentleman reminds me of Mitch Miller.

hjames
02-25-2011, 09:05 AM
The gentleman reminds me of Mitch Miller.

Nah ... more like Toby Ziegler on West Wing ... Quite handsome!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0771493/
50169

Don C
02-26-2011, 01:49 PM
More deals:
4312DBKER 327.40 each,
http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=4312DBKR&status=

PS1400s for 681.82, Beech finish.
http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=PS1400BE&status=

And for some reason, they have the P81 in-wall speaker for only 5674.36 each.

JeffW
02-26-2011, 02:44 PM
That website hates me. I tried to add two of those PS1400s to my basket and no matter what, I could only get one to enter. But I didn't want just one, so I guess they still have one.

And the shipping ain't free on the PS1400, it was $70 to here.

Titanium Dome
02-26-2011, 05:32 PM
More deals:
4312DBKER 327.40 each,
http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=4312DBKR&status=




those 4312D's look like a reasonable deal in todays audio climate
( new for less than some raggedy L100's I've seen)

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=4312DBKR&status=

$327.40 /Each
FREE UPS Ground Shipping!

Too bad no 4312DBKL models are offered.

SEAWOLF97
02-26-2011, 05:57 PM
whats the story on this ??

P81
Mfg Model: P81 2-Way 7-1/2" (190mm) In-Wall System

http://www.harmanaudio.com/images/products/P81.jpg $5,674.36 /Each

CauYem
02-26-2011, 06:19 PM
Too bad no 4312DBKL models are offered.

Here they are:
http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=4312DBKL&status=

JeffW
02-26-2011, 07:13 PM
whats the story on this ??

P81
Mfg Model: P81 2-Way 7-1/2" (190mm) In-Wall System

http://www.harmanaudio.com/images/products/P81.jpg $5,674.36 /Each

Same price as the now sold-out K29800 that was the last item in the list on sale. Looks like the website author just changed the title and description, but not the price.

SEAWOLF97
02-26-2011, 07:46 PM
Same price as the now sold-out K29800 that was the last item in the list on sale. Looks like the website author just changed the title and description, but not the price.

nice catch...seemed a little pricey for a 2 way 8 inch LF'er

4312Dleft=$389.36
right=$327.40

must be better drivers in that left one ???? :crying:

and the 12inch sub is cheaper than the 10 of the same model line ??

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=ES250PCH&status=
http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=ES150PCH&status=

BMWCCA
02-26-2011, 07:54 PM
Here they are:
http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=4312DBKL&status=

Don't forget to get one right-hand version with that: http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=4312DBKR&status=

Slare
02-26-2011, 11:30 PM
Some really weird stuff popping up! Is this clearing out the facility or what?

The dual 8" in wall is a pretty good deal too:

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=HTI88

Might make in-walls livable, tossing them under smaller conventional in-walls?

4313B
02-27-2011, 09:25 AM
Some really weird stuff popping up! Is this clearing out the facility or what?

The dual 8" in wall is a pretty good deal too:

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=HTI88

Might make in-walls livable, tossing them under smaller conventional in-walls?I'm not sure. These could be refurbs. I ordered one just for fun. Thanks for the heads up.

I suspect that price is an error though. I guess I'll find out soon enough. If you click on the More Models in This Category link the sale price for this item comes up as $349.00

hjames
02-27-2011, 09:43 AM
Some really weird stuff popping up! Is this clearing out the facility or what?

The dual 8" in wall is a pretty good deal too:

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=HTI88

Might make in-walls livable, tossing them under smaller conventional in-walls?

Thanks for the heads up on this - for that price, I'm in for a pair of them!
(Had a coupon I had to use soon anyway)

'Spose I'll get rid of the B380, if they play well enough!

4313B
02-27-2011, 10:03 AM
Thanks for the heads up on this - for that price, I'm in for a pair of them!
(Had a coupon I had to use soon anyway)

'Spose I'll get rid of the B380, if they play well enough!It looks like a pair of those eights are supposed to work in a sealed 2.2 cubic foot volume just in case you'd rather try them out in a box instead of in a wall.

hjames
02-27-2011, 10:21 AM
It looks like a pair of those eights are supposed to work in a sealed 2.2 cubic foot volume just in case you'd rather try them out in a box instead of in a wall.

Thanks - that sounds like a promising concept too!
I can take the HK Citation22 out of Mono mode and use it to drive them in dual channel mode!

SEAWOLF97
02-27-2011, 10:30 AM
'Spose I'll get rid of the B380, if they play well enough!


>>outstanding clarity and definition down to 35Hz.

I always thought 35hz was within most HT speakers range and not really considered sub ?

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/productspecs.asp?product=HTI88



I suspect that price is an error though. I guess I'll find out soon enough. If you click on the More Models in This Category link the sale price for this item comes up as $349.00

the dual 5 comes up even higher than that . think Harman needs to hire HJ to clean up their site.

JBL HTI55
2-Way, Dual 5" (130mm) Vertical/Horizontal LCR In-Wall Loudspeaker
$199.00/Each

Titanium Dome
02-27-2011, 11:26 AM
Some really weird stuff popping up! Is this clearing out the facility or what?

The dual 8" in wall is a pretty good deal too:

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=HTI88

Might make in-walls livable, tossing them under smaller conventional in-walls?

I've got (at least) three of those, maybe four. They flooded the market a few months back, and I got them at similar prices but no tax. I also picked up the back box, which is being sold for less than I paid. It works great in an unfinished garage or basement.

The drivers themselves are interesting, and at this price point are a steal.

It's like Janis sang, "Get it while you can."

Slare
02-27-2011, 01:01 PM
I've got (at least) three of those, maybe four. They flooded the market a few months back, and I got them at similar prices but no tax.

I ordered a couple, figured if I ever (shiver) end up using in walls, they could fill them out nicely enough. At those prices I also figure I can just sell them should I never find a use for them.

If it's a price mistake they are either honoring it or I have some unknown items in-transit. :blink:

Maybe I'll get some Arrays.

mikebake
02-27-2011, 04:03 PM
Anybody order the 4312DBKL?

martin_wu99
02-28-2011, 04:24 AM
I find the K2 S9900 to be tasteful both in its looks and its sound.

You could feel differently about the man in the picture, of course.
I don't think so:crying:maybe it's price is tasty:D
The man in the picture is both tasteful and millionaireful:eek:He doesn't look like a american,does he?:dont-know:

martin_wu99
02-28-2011, 05:07 AM
More deals:
4312DBKER 327.40 each,
http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=4312DBKR&status=

PS1400s for 681.82, Beech finish.
http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=PS1400BE&status=

And for some reason, they have the P81 in-wall speaker for only 5674.36 each.
So many good things:banghead:
Blessed are the those in mainland of the United States : for theirs free UPS ground shipping:applaud:.

martin_wu99
02-28-2011, 05:09 AM
That website hates me. I tried to add two of those PS1400s to my basket and no matter what, I could only get one to enter. But I didn't want just one, so I guess they still have one.

And the shipping ain't free on the PS1400, it was $70 to here.
you konw too much,you get too much:D

martin_wu99
02-28-2011, 05:32 AM
Same price as the now sold-out K29800 that was the last item in the list on sale. Looks like the website author just changed the title and description, but not the price.
It must be true.the price is ridiculous:eek:
I think the most cost/effective JBL speakers of this time JBL clearence are ARRAY 800,880center and 5800,9800,1400:dont-know:almost 70% off,but they are meaningless to me!

martin_wu99
02-28-2011, 05:55 AM
kevelos is a responsible Specialist,he replied me again,

Martin,

We certainly appreciate your loyalty and admiration of JBL products. Unfortunately, we do not handle any kind of export sales and we rely heavily upon the regional distributor to make the most desirable products available for you in China. The only way around this is to have a friend or relative that lives in the USA purchase the speakers here and arrange for the export and required customs processes to send them to you in China. I know this is not a simple process but we are not able to help with that in any way. Have you been in touch with the distributor in China regarding what products are available locally?






8500 Balboa Boulevard
Northridge, CA 91329
Phone: +1 203 328 4202
Email: [email protected] ([email protected])
Web: www.harman.com (http://www.harman.com/)

HAROLD KEVELOS
Technical Support Specialist
Harman Consumer Group

martin_wu99
02-28-2011, 06:02 AM
a pair of second hand K2S9500 appears on the Chinese HIFI website,priced 86000RMB:banghead:
What's the main differences between9500,9800,9800SE and 9900?:confused:

hwirt
02-28-2011, 11:57 AM
Truck pulled up at 12:58 EDT

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/DSC02602.jpg


Me and my neighbor Nick moved the speakers up to the second floor using a two wheel dolly.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/DSC02603.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/DSC02606.jpg

Man these speakers are heavy, had to take a short break between lifts. The boxes were in excellent shape almost perfect but very dusty. Light rain outside so the rug is a bit of a mess. Get out the rug doctor. :)

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/DSC02608.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/DSC02609.jpg

Shadow waits patiently for a demo....:) Going to take a few minutes to refresh then open the boxes.

richluvsound
02-28-2011, 12:09 PM
a pair of second hand K2S9500 appears on the Chinese HIFI website,priced 86000RMB:banghead:
What's the main differences between9500,9800,9800SE and 9900?:confused:

Come on Martin , your asking us to write you a book...... USE THE SEARCH and the rest of the internet. .
Better still , just stick to the Vintage gear you love so much !

Rich;)

Valentin
02-28-2011, 12:30 PM
Nice condition on the boxes

your going to be a very happy man even shadow is going to like the sound

you will hear the diference in tech in the las 30 years

hwirt
02-28-2011, 01:58 PM
Removing the speakers from the boxes:

One side of the box is marked "open this side", using a razor knife I carefully cut the clear tape around the perimeter. The flaps of the box open in sequence.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/DSC02610.jpg

Working using two hands I carefully rock the speaker from side to side until out of the box.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/DSC02615.jpg

Removing the packing is straight forward with the exception of the bottom foam. To remove the bottom foam I laid three couch cushions on the floor, rotated the speaker and carefully laid it on its back. This allowed the removal of the bottom foam piece.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/DSC02620.jpg

Some observations; the speakers are very well packaged, in fact it takes some time to carefully cut the clear tape to remove the covering especially on the grill. Moving them around the room takes quit a bit of strength in fact my L220's felt comparatively light!

Here's a rear view & front view fully unpackaged:

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/DSC02618.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/DSC02627.jpg

Here's the pair moved into the listening position.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/DSC02623.jpg

tom1040
02-28-2011, 02:13 PM
Looking good. Real good.:applaud:

Slare
02-28-2011, 02:26 PM
Thanks for posting the unpacking pictures, I love seeing real user pics of such gear. The craftsmanship on those cabs looks amazing, certainly puts some perspective on my performance series stuff...

On a much more humble note my hit88's arrived today. Not refurb packing, seems no price mixup. Hope to be able to order a couple back boxes next week if they still got them.

Why no interest in the 4312's? Isn't it pretty odd to see them offered?

Robh3606
02-28-2011, 02:28 PM
Those look great!!!!!!!!! Good for you:applaud:

Rob:D

Valentin
02-28-2011, 02:31 PM
that wood grain is very nice indeed

dont forget to change the 9 volt battery in the charge coppled XO it propably in good condition but it must be several years old.

i would cretanly do it just to be shure of propper funtion

have you pluged them in :)

JeffW
02-28-2011, 02:34 PM
I'm SO glad they arrived unscathed.

One thing I'm wondering... The sticker on the box says Black Gloss and the model has a "BG" suffix, but they both appear to be Wood Grain, which is a "WG" suffix I thought.

Those look awesome!

4313B
02-28-2011, 02:38 PM
Here's the pair moved into the listening position.Awesome! :applaud:


On a much more humble note my hit88's arrived today. Not refurb packing, seems no price mixup.Cool! Depending on the quality of the drivers I'll order another one if they are still available.

Mr. Widget
02-28-2011, 03:02 PM
One thing I'm wondering... The sticker on the box says Black Gloss and the model has a "BG" suffix, but they both appear to be Wood Grain, which is a "WG" suffix I thought.Nope... "BG" is the same finish that all current Array Series speakers come in as well. It is a "zebra wood" that has been stained charcoal and has a high gloss finish on it. The "WG" finish is the same thing but with a reddish stain.

Yes, those do look nice, Congratulations!!!


Widget

hwirt
02-28-2011, 04:28 PM
Nope... "BG" is the same finish that all current Array Series speakers come in as well. It is a "zebra wood" that has been stained charcoal and has a high gloss finish on it. The "WG" finish is the same thing but with a reddish stain.

Yes, those do look nice, Congratulations!!!


Widget

Thank you to everyone for the kind comments. I was surprised at the cabinet finish expecting black with a wood grain pattern but glad to see a more conventional finish. The fit and finish on the speakers is amazing!

Oh by the way they sound fantastic, just playing random songs and some high resolution 24/96 digital tracks. Need a little time to settle in and find the correct settings and positions. As they came from the factory the midrange and high end is a little too up front for my room. I'll comment further when they are dialed in. Thanks again to Lansing Heritage Forum for the tip, I couldn't be happier.

And thanks to Greg Timbers and staff for another great JBL product.

Titanium Dome
02-28-2011, 05:23 PM
Looks good! Congratulations!

First thing I'd recommend, after replacing the batteries, is to move them out from the wall. You saw where I started when I first got my K2s--way too far back. Once they came out about 18" they started to take on a new character and now at about three feet they really can breathe and sing.

Good luck, good fun. :)

Slare
02-28-2011, 07:25 PM
HTI88's are fine, no refurbs, factory new. A little bigger than I expected really, but I suppose that is just because I'm not used to seeing in-walls that have dual 8" drivers. Nice aluminum cones and a very hefty crossover. Nice bit of kit for $80.

Not $500 nice. But nice.

martin_wu99
02-28-2011, 09:33 PM
Great!Wirt,seems dream come to truth;)

martin_wu99
02-28-2011, 09:40 PM
Come on Martin , your asking us to write you a book...... USE THE SEARCH and the rest of the internet. .
Better still , just stick to the Vintage gear you love so much !

Rich;)
Not a book,just a few words:banghead: i will do it by myself:bouncy:
Of course,i still insist that the old is better:eek::p

Titanium Dome
02-28-2011, 09:45 PM
Martin:

您是滑稽的。 我享受您的幽默。:)

(I hope I got that right. 我的中国人不是好。)

MikeBrewster77
02-28-2011, 09:50 PM
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! :)

And thanks for sharing -- can't wait for a detailed report once they're dialed in!

Mr. Widget
02-28-2011, 09:57 PM
i still insist that the old is better:eek::pAnd you are entitled to your opinion... and you might even still have that opinion if you had the opportunity to audition your favorite vintage system and a modern system in the same room, but I know for a fact that most people would definitely prefer the modern system over the older system.

I have heard all of the higher end contemporary JBLs numerous times and I have heard quite a few vintage systems over the years... for me the decision is an easy one.


Widget

martin_wu99
02-28-2011, 10:18 PM
Martin:

您是滑稽的。 我享受您的幽默。:)

(I hope I got that right. 我的中国人不是好。)
真令人吃惊,球顶钛膜,您竟然会说中文!:eek:
不是我的中国人不好,是我的汉语不好:banghead:
But i'm serious indeed,what's that fun?:crying:

martin_wu99
02-28-2011, 10:37 PM
And you are entitled to your opinion... and you might even still have that opinion if you had the opportunity to audition your favorite vintage system and a modern system in the same room, but I know for a fact that most people would definitely prefer the modern system over the older system.

I have heard all of the higher end contemporary JBLs numerous times and I have heard quite a few vintage systems over the years... for me the decision is an easy one.


Widget
I think a JBL without connections of the traditional JBL is not a JBL anymore,many modern speakers can beat it away:crying:
Agian,secifications are not everything:blink:
BTW,many todays JBL products are just pure industies rubbish(such as E,N,S,LS ES series) except 4312,4338,4348,4307 5800,9800 etc.

Titanium Dome
02-28-2011, 10:51 PM
不是我的中国人不好,是我的汉语不好:banghead:


你懂我说的话吗

My girlfriend's mom is half Chinese and half Korean. 맙소사 나는 둘 다 알아야 한다!

It's crazy!

Here are a few words about the K2 S9500. It is a good design in the M-T-M fashion, but refined. Its advantage is great imaging at a central point. Some background is here:

http://www.birotechnology.com/articles/VSTWLA.html

I find it enjoyable, but its drawback is that the tweeter and UHF height can be too low unless the enclosure is elevated or tilted to bring the HF/UHF drivers close to ear height. Otherwise, I slouch in my chair to get the "sweet spot."

If I did not have the K2 S9900 pair in my home, I would have jumped on the K2 S9500 even before the K2 S9800. At the clearance price it would have been irresistible. It is a beautiful looking speaker. It sounds beautiful, too. :yes:

EDIT: I meant to write S5800.

caladois
03-01-2011, 03:53 AM
Thanks for sharing. What a nice set up !!!

18" from the back wall seems too short. 30" would be far better !!!!

Then I agree with Titanium dome, K2 s9500 are beautiful looking speaker. But I am sure that s9900 and 9800 too are more accurate and plug and play system than S9500.

4313B
03-01-2011, 08:17 AM
I think a JBL without connections of the traditional JBL is not a JBL anymore,many modern speakers can beat it away:crying:
Agian,secifications are not everything:blink:
BTW,many todays JBL products are just pure industies rubbish(such as E,N,S,LS ES series) except 4312,4338,4348,4307 5800,9800 etc.Well yeah, I think everyone gets your point. JBL as we know it is Done. Gone. Finished. And on that note there is alot to be said for the legacy systems.

I wonder if these systems were the last of the Made in U.S.A. stock. :dont-know:

richluvsound
03-01-2011, 08:47 AM
.

You must feel wonderful , just sit listen and smile for weeks ,then every now and then, Giggle like a little child ... BTW, the veneer must be a bonus suprise

Beautiful , I'm genuinely delighted for you sir !

Rich

jblnut
03-01-2011, 08:50 AM
Well yeah, I think everyone gets your point. JBL as we know it is Done. Gone. Finished. And on that note there is alot to be said for the legacy systems.

I wonder if these systems were the last of the Made in U.S.A. stock. :dont-know:

A moment of silent reflection for the audio company we all knew and loved. They will be sorely missed, but not forgotten (here at least). Those on this thread that can afford to take advantage of this sell off are getting some killer deals. One wonders where JBL might have been if they had been able to get these units into the "high end" audio ecosystem instead of just producing them for Asia.

All water under the bridge now....flushed away like so many other great American companies....

jblnut

hwirt
03-01-2011, 09:50 AM
A moment of silent reflection for the audio company we all knew and loved. They will be sorely missed, but not forgotten (here at least). Those on this thread that can afford to take advantage of this sell off are getting some killer deals. One wonders where JBL might have been if they had been able to get these units into the "high end" audio ecosystem instead of just producing them for Asia.

All water under the bridge now....flushed away like so many other great American companies....

jblnut


During the 24 hours spent contemplating whether or not to make my purchase of the K2-9800SE, I consider the fact that this may be the last opportunity to own a new made in America JBL product built by the craftsman at Northridge CA. As 4313B stated these closeouts may very well be the last of a dying breed. Sad really…

Titanium Dome
03-01-2011, 11:02 AM
During the 24 hours spent contemplating whether or not to make my purchase of the K2-9800SE, I consider the fact that this may be the last opportunity to own a made in America JBL product built by the craftsman at Northridge CA. As 4313B stated these closeouts may very well be the last of a dying breed. Sad really…

Sad, and yet that sad fact produced some of the happiest acquisitions of my life. Perhaps it is the same for you now.

hwirt
03-01-2011, 02:58 PM
Sad, and yet that sad fact produced some of the happiest acquisitions of my life. Perhaps it is the same for you now.


Your absolutely right Dome; was happy when I got my first set of L100's, even happier when upgrading to the L220's and now the K2's. This must be as good as it gets. :) Is for me.

martin_wu99
03-02-2011, 12:35 AM
你懂我说的话吗

My girlfriend's mom is half Chinese and half Korean. 맙소사 나는 둘 다 알아야 한다!

It's crazy!

Here are a few words about the K2 S9500. It is a good design in the M-T-M fashion, but refined. Its advantage is great imaging at a central point. Some background is here:

http://www.birotechnology.com/articles/VSTWLA.html

I find it enjoyable, but its drawback is that the tweeter and UHF height can be too low unless the enclosure is elevated or tilted to bring the HF/UHF drivers close to ear height. Otherwise, I slouch in my chair to get the "sweet spot."

If I did not have the K2 S9900 pair in my home, I would have jumped on the K2 S9500 even before the K2 S9800. At the clearance price it would have been irresistible. It is a beautiful looking speaker. It sounds beautiful, too. :yes:

EDIT: I meant to write S5800.
那我确实不懂你说的中文:confused:希望你的女朋友多教你一些汉语:crying:
If only the height of the S9500 is too low,it's not the shortcoming at all for me.S9900 must have many improved.

Titanium Dome
03-02-2011, 11:44 AM
那我确实不懂你说的中文:confused:

Lost in translation then. :)

希望你的女朋友多教你一些汉语:crying:

She has a hard enough time teaching me Hangul (Korean). ;)

JeffW
03-02-2011, 03:29 PM
UPS just dropped a pair of 800 Arrays off at the house. If they're still there when I get off, I'll give 'em a whirl!

4313B
03-02-2011, 04:26 PM
UPS just dropped a pair of 800 Arrays off at the house.Did you order them or did UPS just happen to have a pair on the truck and picked your house to unload them at? :rotfl:
If they're still there when I get off, I'll give 'em a whirl!Well hopefully they will be and you can tell us all about them! :yes:

JeffW
03-02-2011, 04:37 PM
They shipped last Friday, just been waiting until they actually got here to say anything.

But these came in full-on stock packing, already assembled, and in perfect condition.

I'll get them hooked up and playing shortly.

They are just as cute as they can be! Smart looking and surprisingly heavy.

JeffW
03-02-2011, 05:50 PM
OK, these things are some kind of clean. As I imagined, they aren't going to blow the doors off the house as far as loud, but they are just incredible little buggers on some nice jazz. Piano, sax, cymbals, right there in the room. Just beautiful sounding.

That's why I tried so hard to get 2 of those clearance priced PS1400 subs, these have the mid and highs covered in spades.

My first new JBLs in decades, and all I can say is... damn.

You can see 250tis right behind these. No comparison. With a 14" woofer below these, they'd eat the 250ti for lunch and spit out change. Let's me know I need to clean the funk out of the 044ti, update the X-over, both, something. There's so much more info coming from the 800 Array.

Impromptu set up, card table chairs for speaker stands, an old TV stand for the amp.

My dad's old MCS 6720 (Technics SL-Q3) table, AT95HE cart., PS Audio GCPH phono stage, Pass XP-20 pre, Pass XA30.5, JBL 800 Array.

Sounds great!

4313B
03-02-2011, 06:28 PM
Sounds great!:hurray:

My first new JBLs in decades, and all I can say is... damn.So you'll agree then when I say that Greg's been busy? :D

Titanium Dome
03-02-2011, 06:37 PM
You've got some great electronics feeding them. No doubt they're giving you their best. Congrats!

As for the 250Ti... it's had its day. :o:

JeffW
03-02-2011, 06:54 PM
:hurray:
So you'll agree then when I say that Greg's been busy? :D

You guys kept telling me, but no. I was confident I had some pretty good speakers.

Ignorance ain't bliss, boys.

And what really sucks is... the runts of the litter are doing the ass kicking.

Now it's Oppo BDP-83SE, digital into Bryston BDA-1, XP-20, XA30.5, 800 Array.

I'd been griping forever that that dang Oppo 83SE just didn't have the sound I thought it should have. So I got a Bryston DAC. Better, but not as good as the turntable. Well fiddlesticks, it sounds excellent now. And the turntable sounds even better.

Sucks being an idiot out in the sticks. The "don't believe everything you read on the internet" thing kept me boxed in. I got fairly decent front end stuff and just couldn't wrap my head around how much my speakers were holding me back.

4313B
03-03-2011, 10:21 AM
Not $500 nice. But nice.They're a little bit disappointing with those exposed voice coil gaps but the cost on the raw drivers is $34 each so one can't expect too much. By comparison, the 8-inch in the 800 Array costs twice as much and the 8-inch in the SAM2LF costs four times as much.

I'll probably put each driver into a 1.1 cubic foot sealed box with polyfill (instead of fiberglass) and hope nothing ever makes its way into the gap. They should work fine in a little 5.2 computer sound system. I'll use five little Tannoy 4" DC's for the surrounds. :rotfl: It should be fun.

And what really sucks is... the runts of the litter are doing the ass kicking.I thought it was interesting that Greg stated that they were considered the best balanced of the Series by the various listening panels.

KCM
03-03-2011, 01:01 PM
OK, these things are some kind of clean. As I imagined, they aren't going to blow the doors off the house as far as loud, but they are just incredible little buggers on some nice jazz. Piano, sax, cymbals, right there in the room. Just beautiful sounding.

That's why I tried so hard to get 2 of those clearance priced PS1400 subs, these have the mid and highs covered in spades.

My first new JBLs in decades, and all I can say is... damn.

You can see 250tis right behind these. No comparison. With a 14" woofer below these, they'd eat the 250ti for lunch and spit out change. Let's me know I need to clean the funk out of the 044ti, update the X-over, both, something. There's so much more info coming from the 800 Array.

Impromptu set up, card table chairs for speaker stands, an old TV stand for the amp.

My dad's old MCS 6720 (Technics SL-Q3) table, AT95HE cart., PS Audio GCPH phono stage, Pass XP-20 pre, Pass XA30.5, JBL 800 Array.

Sounds great!



This is where I bought mine. Mine were not B stock and I paid less, for what it's worth.

http://www.msshifi.com/crazy-super-insane-sales/speakers/subwoofers/jbl-ps1400-subwoofer-black.html

pos
03-03-2011, 01:45 PM
and the 8-inch in the SAM2LF costs four times as much.
And cannot be obtained (http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?22534-Synthesis-8) :(

Titanium Dome
03-03-2011, 01:48 PM
This is where I bought mine. Mine were not B stock and I paid less, for what it's worth.

http://www.msshifi.com/crazy-super-insane-sales/speakers/subwoofers/jbl-ps1400-subwoofer-black.html

I just bought something from them. It came pretty quickly from the East Coast to the West Coast, and it was perfect. I'm not saying what it is yet, but it was less than half what I paid for the same item a little while back.

Mr. Widget
03-03-2011, 01:56 PM
This is where I bought mine. Mine were not B stock and I paid less, for what it's worth.

http://www.msshifi.com/crazy-super-insane-sales/speakers/subwoofers/jbl-ps1400-subwoofer-black.htmlWere they new or used?

As for B stock... it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. For the most part B stock gear is equipment that was sent to CES or some other show and then was boxed up and shipped back to the warehouse... it is almost always in virtually brand new condition. JBL has been funny about labeling brand new never opened merchandise as B stock just so that they can dump it at deep discounts. I have no idea why they do it, but they seem to do it whenever they want to clear out a line of products.


Widget

KCM
03-03-2011, 02:02 PM
Were they new or used?

As for B stock... it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. For the most part B stock gear is equipment that was sent to CES or some other show and then was boxed up and shipped back to the warehouse... it is almost always in virtually brand new condition. JBL has been funny about labeling brand new never opened merchandise as B stock just so that they can dump it at deep discounts. I have no idea why they do it, but they seem to do it whenever they want to clear out a line of products.


Widget


I should be more clear; they were claimed to be new and they were. Whether JBL dumped them as B stock I don't know. However, right after I bought mine MSS updated the listing, now noting them as B stock and raising the price. :dont-know:

JeffW
03-04-2011, 09:07 PM
I thought it was interesting that Greg stated that they were considered the best balanced of the Series by the various listening panels.

Well I've got a couple of days on them now, and it's just ridiculous how much I'm enjoying them. I still kick myself for not getting the 1400 Array, but for what these little dudes are, they do it. I'm kinda going off onto a fusion jazz spree lately, and these just do that so well.

And Buck Owens! My dad liked Buck Owens and had a decent selection of Capitol albums featuring Buck. Well, a fellow forumite mentioned an affinity for the leader of the Buckaroos, so I boxed them bad boys up. But not before spinning a couple.

Ah-Haa! :applaud:

martin_wu99
03-05-2011, 04:19 AM
This is where I bought mine. Mine were not B stock and I paid less, for what it's worth.

http://www.msshifi.com/crazy-super-insane-sales/speakers/subwoofers/jbl-ps1400-subwoofer-black.html

Some real good bargains appear again?:confused::eek:

hwirt
03-05-2011, 06:20 AM
My K2's have been here 5 days now, after experimenting with placement and the crossover adjustments I believe I found the optimum settings. The high end sounds a bit forward for my tastes and the range of adjustment is limited to - 1.5 db. My listening room has too many hard surfaces so some wall and ceiling treatment is in order, this should tame the high end a bit.

Left the speaker (woofer) dampening set to the "H" position, this allows for the flattest bass response curve. Settings "M" & "L" allow the woofer output to rise about .5 db per increment over a range of 200 to 600 cycles. The bass sounds fine in my room; deep tight and plenty of it. Overall the sound of the speakers exceeded my expectations, in terms of imaging and clarity its just unbelievable. Also I like the fact that the sound is great at low volumes and when the mood requires can play at concert levels without strain.

My McIntosh MC-352 amp drives the speakers effortlessly; even after an hour of high volume playback the heat sinks are barely warm to the touch. The 350 watts per channel is plenty of power for these speakers in my room.

I keep the speakers covered with the cotton socks provided with the original packing when not in use keeping them dust free. Each time the cover is removed it reminds me of the shock of seeing the speakers for the first time, the over the top workmanship and flawless fit and finish.

I've always regretted not getting a pair of L300's back in the day, now if feel vindicated. :)

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/K29800se/DSC02675.jpg

hwirt
03-05-2011, 06:42 AM
I still kick myself for not getting the 1400 Array, but for what these little dudes are, they do it.

Glad to hear your enjoying the new speakers, I would have been perfectly happy with the Array 1400 myself. But circumstances beyond my control took over. :)

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/K29800se/AVplaza_03.jpg

Maybe it was for the better.

jerry_rig
03-05-2011, 09:11 AM
Congratulations on your beautiful new speakers. When you get a chance, you should do yourself a favor and try out a nice tube power amplifier. They are especially well suited to efficient horn systems. You may never go back to SS.

hwirt
03-05-2011, 09:56 AM
Congratulations on your beautiful new speakers. When you get a chance, you should do yourself a favor and try out a nice tube power amplifier. They are especially well suited to efficient horn systems. You may never go back to SS.

Thanks for the reply and compliment Jerry, unfortunately my stereo budget is tapped out for while but a friend at work uses a MC240 for his office system, perhaps I could talk him into letting me bring it home for the weekend for a trial. Think it would be a fun experiment, maybe try bi-amping using the solid state for bass and the tubes for top end. Hmmmm.... I'll even shine up the chrome for him..:)

Titanium Dome
03-05-2011, 10:11 AM
That amp's a beauty and reminds me of my many-decades dream of having one of the big Macs as a sign I'd finally made it in hi-fi.

timc
03-05-2011, 10:30 AM
Thanks for the reply and compliment Jerry, unfortunately my stereo budget is tapped out for while but a friend at work uses a MC240 for his office system, perhaps I could talk him into letting me bring it home for the weekend for a trial. Think it would be a fun experiment, maybe try bi-amping using the solid state for bass and the tubes for top end. Hmmmm.... I'll even shine up the chrome for him..:)

I would recomend trying a ARC VT100 MK2/3 for the horn. That sounds very good. I would guess that MC2102 would also be a killer combo.

hwirt
03-05-2011, 12:17 PM
I would recomend trying a ARC VT100 MK2/3 for the horn. That sounds very good. I would guess that MC2102 would also be a killer combo.

I see one (MK3) for sale on Audiog__, nice looking amp. Reasonable $$, but like I said tapped out for the time being. Something to think about for future reference.

JBLAddict
03-06-2011, 09:24 AM
reposting this from my mispost to the K29900 thread:
-----------------------------------------------------------------

it's been asked a few times in this thread without an answer that I can see

K25800 and the Array 1400 share the 435AL and 045Ti, how much better if at all is the Array 1400, which has heaps and heaps of praise, with very little being said about the 19yr old(?) 5800

at 3.5K each, still seems like a fantastic bargain but folks are only jumping at the 800 and 9800 that was available

BMWCCA
03-06-2011, 09:36 AM
K25800 and the Array 1400 share the 435AL and 045Ti, how much better if at all is the Array 1400, which has heaps and heaps of praise, with very little being said about the 19yr old(?) 5800

at 3.5K each, still seems like a fantastic bargain but folks are only jumping at the 800 and 9800 that was available

Then there's a nearly-new Array 1400 pair currently on Audiogon with an asking-price of $5,500 which reminds me I passed on a nearly-new pair two years ago for $3,900. :dont-know:

JBLAddict
03-06-2011, 09:40 AM
you are forgetting that these levels are measured @ 1 watt

things get allot more complicated at higher levels and small woofers just cant keep up with big ones in bass response

big woofer keep being linear to the response and small woofers just cant fiscally displace the air needed With out haven thermal and displacement distorion issues

array 800 are very nice speakers i have had them but the K2 5800 are much better performers

valentin, I know you've had/have the 1400, have you heard or owned the 5800 for direct comparison, thank you

JBLAddict
03-06-2011, 09:55 AM
Then there's a nearly-new Array 1400 pair currently on Audiogon with an asking-price of $5,500 which reminds me I passed on a nearly-new pair two years ago for $3,900. :dont-know:

thanks for that reminder, I forget that there are still 1400s coming up for sale in the <6K range.

I might be confused about something. There's a PS literature packet that shows the 5800 on a timeline at 1991, and the 9800 in 2003?? and I found an web announcement that both would be for US sale in 2003? Is the 5800 truly 12yrs older than the 9800?

all along I believed the 5800 was a 10K per side speaker from 1991 that is being offered for now for 3.5K per side

BMWCCA
03-06-2011, 10:13 AM
all along I believed the 5800 was a 10K per side speaker from 1991 that is being offered for now for 3.5K per side I think part of the problem is Harman only has one. If you try to put "2" in the cart on the clearance site, it auto-reverts to "1". Not a great buy unless you just love mono.

HCSGuy
03-06-2011, 11:35 AM
I think part of the problem is Harman only has one. If you try to put "2" in the cart on the clearance site, it auto-reverts to "1". Not a great buy unless you just love mono. Maybe I'll put it together with the one Ti10k Harman has on clearance on Ebay to make a pair. If someone boxes me real hard on one side of the head, they might sound pretty close:)

KCM
03-06-2011, 02:39 PM
I think part of the problem is Harman only has one. If you try to put "2" in the cart on the clearance site, it auto-reverts to "1". Not a great buy unless you just love mono.



The 800 Array cart was doing that, too. I sent them a message to inquire if there was, in fact, only one left. They didn't reply, but by Saturday morning I was able to buy a pair. Anxious to compare them to my PT800's.

JeffW
03-06-2011, 02:50 PM
The 9800s did that to me long before hwirt bought his pair. It's just a screwy shopping cart I guess.

martin_wu99
03-07-2011, 12:30 AM
Congratulations on your beautiful new speakers. When you get a chance, you should do yourself a favor and try out a nice tube power amplifier. They are especially well suited to efficient horn systems. You may never go back to SS.
yes,in China,we have this saying:

JBL can not work happily without tube:applaud:

martin_wu99
03-07-2011, 12:44 AM
:banghead:
My K2's have been here 5 days now, after experimenting with placement and the crossover adjustments I believe I found the optimum settings. The high end sounds a bit forward for my tastes and the range of adjustment is limited to - 1.5 db. My listening room has too many hard surfaces so some wall and ceiling treatment is in order, this should tame the high end a bit.

Left the speaker (woofer) dampening set to the "H" position, this allows for the flattest bass response curve. Settings "M" & "L" allow the woofer output to rise about .5 db per increment over a range of 200 to 600 cycles. The bass sounds fine in my room; deep tight and plenty of it. Overall the sound of the speakers exceeded my expectations, in terms of imaging and clarity its just unbelievable. Also I like the fact that the sound is great at low volumes and when the mood requires can play at concert levels without strain.

My McIntosh MC-352 amp drives the speakers effortlessly; even after an hour of high volume playback the heat sinks are barely warm to the touch. The 350 watts per channel is plenty of power for these speakers in my room.

I keep the speakers covered with the cotton socks provided with the original packing when not in use keeping them dust free. Each time the cover is removed it reminds me of the shock of seeing the speakers for the first time, the over the top workmanship and flawless fit and finish.

I've always regretted not getting a pair of L300's back in the day, now if feel vindicated. :)

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/Hwirt/K29800se/DSC02675.jpg
So beautiful,what a temptation to me:banghead:
In high end level,environment is more important than gears:crying:
Do some acoustic processing for your room:D

martin_wu99
03-07-2011, 12:47 AM
I would recomend trying a ARC VT100 MK2/3 for the horn. That sounds very good. I would guess that MC2102 would also be a killer combo.
JADIS and AUDIO NOTE are also the good choises:D

martin_wu99
03-07-2011, 12:51 AM
Then there's a nearly-new Array 1400 pair currently on Audiogon with an asking-price of $5,500 which reminds me I passed on a nearly-new pair two years ago for $3,900. :dont-know:
what a pity,I wish i knew you when:blink:

JBLAddict
03-07-2011, 07:17 PM
Then there's a nearly-new Array 1400 pair currently on Audiogon with an asking-price of $5,500 which reminds me I passed on a nearly-new pair two years ago for $3,900. :dont-know:

don't see it? see only a pair for 11K?

BMWCCA
03-07-2011, 09:58 PM
don't see it? see only a pair for 11K?

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1303999288&/Jbl-Synthesis-Project-Array-14


Asking$5500.00 New Retail$11500.00 Condition8/10 (http://www.audiogon.com/scale.html#8) Days/Views8 / 759 Ship costPlus shipping (http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/ship.pl?spkrfull&1303999288&class&3&4&&gz) Ship from240 lbs from 06492 (http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/ship.pl?06492&&zip) Ship toNoShip IncludedBox, Manual About Seller Klipschfan (270) (http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fb.pl?user=Klipschfan)
(send email) (http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/email.pl?spkrfull&1303999288&class&Klipschfan&form&) (view feedback) (http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fb.pl?user=Klipschfan) (other items) (http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/search2.pl?seller&Klipschfan)
Pay Terms (http://www.audiogon.com/help/paymeth.html) Money Order, PayPal

Make an Offer (http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl_offr.pl?spkrfull&1303999288&initoffr)

KCM
03-09-2011, 10:50 AM
After all the nightmare horror stories of Harman's shipping department, not sure what you'd end up with at your door...

But you get free UPS shipping! :applaud:

K2 S5800 for $3505.76 ea (http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=S5800&status=)

K2 S9800SE for $5674.26 ea (http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=K2S9800SE-BG&status=)

OOps, almost missed these little guys

800 Arrays for $1126.90 ea (http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=800%20ARRAY%2 0BG&status=)



Looks like I drew the short straw this time. Just received my 800 Arrays and both are damaged. The horns are broken right off the tops of the cabinets. The packaging is ridiculously inadequate. There's some superficial protection around the horns, but nothing to really support them and keep the cabinet mounting from seeing the force that UPS can apply.

I'm doing the India to Tech Support indefinite hold now....

JeffW
03-09-2011, 10:59 AM
Use 1-800-336-4525

At least the indefinte hold will be on their dime.

I sure hate to hear about your little 800's. Mine were really well packed, about like hwirt's K2s, sounds like they used standard Harman packing on yours. :crying:

MikeBrewster77
03-09-2011, 11:05 AM
Just received my 800 Arrays and both are damaged

That flat out sucks -- sorry to hear it! I hope the resolution is as quick & painless as possible.

4313B
03-09-2011, 12:21 PM
Looks like I drew the short straw this time.Yeah but there shouldn't be any short straws. I'm sick and tired of Harman's short straws. I'm sorry to hear that you are yet another victim.

Feel free to post photos, alot of people won't believe it until they see it.

KCM
03-09-2011, 12:36 PM
Yeah but there shouldn't be any short straws. I'm sick and tired of Harman's short straws. I'm sorry to hear that you are yet another victim.

Feel free to post photos, alot of people won't believe it until they see it.


http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/KCM_album/800ArrayDamage1.jpg


http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/KCM_album/800ArrayDamage2.jpg


This is why the packaging is inadequate. It's just superficial, no real support for the horn, and nothing to prevent the cabinet from taking the force should the package be dropped upside down:

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/KCM_album/800ArrayPackaging.jpg

Titanium Dome
03-09-2011, 01:55 PM
Seriously, it was shipped assembled in that box? :wtf:

hwirt
03-09-2011, 01:58 PM
KCM, sorry to see your speakers arrived damage. Hopefully the problem will be corrected quickly. Seeing those beautiful speakers like that is just awful, I thought the horns were shipped detached and had to be assembled. Guess that's not the case.

MikeBrewster77
03-09-2011, 02:03 PM
I thought the horns were shipped detached and had to be assembled.

Only the 1400 does, not the 1000 or 800. Clearly, not a good choice..........

hjames
03-09-2011, 02:06 PM
Wow, so sorry to see your dream shattered like that!
Its a real WTF moment - seriously, unless they give you HUGE additional rebates/discounts,
Call your bank and get a charge-back on your VISA card PRONTO!
Just refuse to own them and drop kick those suckers back to the factory
anyway that Harman wants to pay to get them back.
Not a PENNY for them!!
That's just inexcusable!!

KCM
03-09-2011, 02:37 PM
Wow, so sorry to see your dream shattered like that!
Its a real WTF moment - seriously, unless they give you HUGE additional rebates/discounts,
Call your bank and get a charge-back on your VISA card PRONTO!
Just refuse to own them and drop kick those suckers back to the factory anyway way Harman wants to pay to get them back.
That's just inexcusable!!



There are three possible ways to resolve it. I did not accept their first offer (yet), return these and they ship another pair. I pointed out that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity....... Plus, who knows where they've been ? They may already be damaged.

There is the option to ship replacements via motor freight, but they want me to pay for that. Maybe......

Or, maybe they offer me a partial refund and I fix them, sorta'.......

JeffW
03-09-2011, 03:10 PM
It bums me out since I have really enjoyed mine so far. To see such killer little speakers all mashed up like that just sucks.

Since shipping is free, I'd still consider the send them back and get a new pair strategy. That's the same packing mine had and they survived. I described the packing of mine as great, but obviously it ain't so great when they are upside down.

I'd kinda like to have a busted set to experiment with. That tweeter is like $331 without the horn, but I sure wouldn't pay $2300 for them :blink:

vettedrummer
03-10-2011, 12:40 PM
Here is my story regarding the sale. I thought about it too long ( kept thinking about how the TiK10 came all messed up for our fellow JBLer on here.) so I missed the 9800's. I decided to go with the 5800's and placed my order. No problems with that part at all. Everything lined up just right and the white Roadrunner truck pulled up at my place on Tuesday. I had been told by the guy at the trucking office here in the Metro Detroit area that the speakers would be moved to the rear of the truck and it would be up to me to get them off the truck and moved into the house. he said the truck would not have a lift gate. As it turned out the truck did have a lift gate and one of those small hand fork lifts. The driver was only too happy to bring them into my garage. I had gone out an bought a new 2 wheel hand truck just for this occassion. I used it to bring the speakers to the front step, but couldn't pull them up so I slid them in the front door on a rug lifting when necessary. The unpacking was very easy and I used the pillow method as well. Once they were all unpacked I changed the 9 volt battery on both of them and hooked them up to my McIntosh MC 501's. This was on the second day since I didn't feel like going out for the new battery Tuesday night. OK, they sound wonderful. The speakers that are in there right now are the 250Ti's cause they are teak and our furniture is teak see how this works??? Wife loves the looks of the 250's. At any rate they blow the 250's away. No contest! The best sounding JBL's in the house right now and I do also have a set of L-300's! The Project Array 1000's that I got last spring are in the same ball park as the 5800's but the 5800's win on looks! OK, so what is the problem??? The finish on one of the 5800's on the top of the speaker has pooled clear coating finish on the edges left and right side and alot more on the back left corner looking from the front. I thought it would go away after the speakers warmed up, but no such luck. I sent an email to Harman cause I don't speak Indian and I felt this way I could send photo's of the problem area. They got back to me and agreed that this needed to be replaced. The guy said they had never come across this issue before. I get to send this one speaker back to them and once it gets back to Alt., Ga. they will inspect it and then ship a new one out to me all at no cost whats so ever. I'm just not clear yet on how the picking up of the bad speaker will be handled since they keep talking about a UPS mailing address that will be emailed to me. I can't figure out how UPS will ever get this 185# speaker on the brown truck. Maybe they have another way??? I guess I'll see when the shipping label gets here. I already have the RA number from them and 30 days for it to get there before the deal is off. They have sent me the new order number for the replacement speaker and so it has been put aside so they don't sell out of them before I get my replacement. They were very nice about the whole issue and moved very fast. This was not shipping damage, but a quality control issue. Now as for the top breaking off of the PA800's my 1000's came in the same kind of packing and there was no issue. I think the difference was they were sent frieght and not by UPS so they were on a pallet and didn't get turned upside down. Sorry to hear about that problem, but as long a Harman is paying for all the shipping let them do it their way. I just hope you get a good set before they run out. Cheers, Frank

vettedrummer
03-10-2011, 12:49 PM
Oh yes, you'll want to see a photo of the pooling. OK let's see if I can do that on here.

hwirt
03-10-2011, 12:58 PM
OK, they sound wonderful. The speakers that are in there right now are the 250Ti's cause they are teak and our furniture is teak see how this works??? Wife loves the looks of the 250's. At any rate they blow the 250's away. No contest! The best sounding JBL's in the house right now and I do also have a set of L-300's! -snip- Cheers, Frank

Vettdrummer,
Great to hear you like the new K2S5800’s, they are beautiful speakers and If the 9800 were sold out would have definitely pick up a pair myself. Your system looks great. J

jblnut
03-10-2011, 01:32 PM
Note to self, stop reading this thread before a large bill appears on credit card and two large boxes appear in the drive way. Just keep repeating "the 250Ti was JBL's top of the line, the 250Ti was JBL's top of the line...."


:D

Congrats vettedrummer!!!!


jblnut

4313B
03-10-2011, 01:40 PM
Congratulations on your purchase! It's nice to see you guys taking advantage of this sale.

vettedrummer
03-10-2011, 01:45 PM
Hey thanks hwirt, JBLnut, (The 250Ti is still a great speaker with great looks) and 4313B

JBLAddict
03-10-2011, 01:52 PM
Note to self, stop reading this thread before a large bill appears on credit card and two large boxes appear in the drive way. Just keep repeating "the 250Ti was JBL's top of the line, the 250Ti was JBL's top of the line...."


:D

Congrats vettedrummer!!!!


jblnut

No Kidding, this is contagious!! So far 800Array, Ti10K, 880Array, 9800, 5800 through these deals, ~$25K spent..... only 2/5 by the way shipped without damage :eek:

It's only unfortunate that it took the demise of NR and these deals to get a Lansing product dedicated forum to move beyond monitors and into synthesis gear. There may be enough new purchases and followon purchases to keep a next generation of discussion going here, which IMO would be great :applaud: I never seriously considered spending so much coin until this spicket opened.....if I can get a few additional job security feelers soon, I'm jumping in.....

vettedrummer
03-10-2011, 02:07 PM
Hey, I even got my childhood friend out in California to pick up a set of the 5800's. He said he was looking for a new set of speakers after getting some new McIntosh gear. He said he was looking in the $8,000.00 range so my first suggestion was the Project Array 1400, but he just couldn't take the look of it. When this sale came up I knew that the 5800 would be just the ticket for him. He is getting his today so I'll let ya know if his got there OK. He like me is getting our last equipment to enjoy in our retirement years. I'm already in mine and his starts in 22 months. I had him join up here already plus Ivans McIntosh forum AudioAficionado.

jblnut
03-10-2011, 02:20 PM
Congratulations on your purchase! It's nice to see you guys taking advantage of this sale.
JBL "horns done right" versus JBL direct radiators... if you don't compare them directly in the same room you should be ok. I will admit though that it did take me awhile to get over Greg's 1200 Array system. That was a rough year. All my legacy JBL's sounded dead. :rotfl: The fix was to go listen to a few other sound systems and then my old JBL's sounded really good again. :D

BTW - Greg's 1200 Array used the same twelve that was used in the K2-S5800, 4428 and 4429.

That's the only thing that's saved me thusfar - all the time spent listening to my buddy's Klipsch Fortes. Now don't get me wrong as these are a fabulously revealing speaker and can really sing. But they are always SHOUTING AT YOU and for me, that sonic memory of horns is something I can't easily shake.

I'm sure the new JBL's have the best of both worlds - great "live" dynamics without that bullhorn sound, but I'm going to put my head back into the audio sand and pretend the problem hasn't been solved yet. The risk of shipping damange is also a big factor here as its far from certain that these will arrive they way they left the factory.

There's no realistic hope of me avoiding this thread. Like many of us I'm THRILLED that JBL produced some really high-end speakers to forever silence the "junk but loud" critics.
I'm really happy that they sound as good as they look and I couldn't be more envious of those of you who have taken the plunge.

Just be nice and stop telling me how much better they are than 250's, OK ? I'm only human and it's only credit card debt :).

jblnut

JBLAddict
03-10-2011, 02:21 PM
only disappointment so far is expecting more up close photos and detailed listening observations like this:

"imaging and retrieval of ambience were equally good. I could make out the many layers of voices of the Turtle Creek Chorale in the Rutter piece. And when I played the L.A. Four's Going Home (Japanese CD, Ai Music 3 2JD-10043), the JBLs laid out the group as follows: Shelly Manne's drum kit at rear center, Ray Brown's bowed bass at front center, Bud Shank's alto sax and flute to extreme right, and Laurindo Almeida's guitar to the left. Willie Nelson's cover of Bob Dylan's "What Was It You Wanted," from Nelson's Across the Borderline (CD, Columbia CK 52752), benefited from the recording's deep, wide soundstage: Debra Dobkin's voice was off to the right rear, and Jim Keltner's drums and percussion at rear center.

Hearing Suzanne Vega sing "Tom's Diner" a cappella on her Solitude Standing (CD, A&M CD5136) was a revelation—the speakers disappeared to reveal a floating, three-dimensional, strikingly realistic and natural-sounding voice. "

jblnut
03-10-2011, 02:28 PM
I come here so I don't have to read audio reviews like that !

:)

jblnut

vettedrummer
03-10-2011, 02:35 PM
Hey JBL addict, I too used to own a set of Klipsch Forte II's and these are nothing like those! These are like a beautiful woman whispering into your ear. You just want it to go on forever! I'm just sayin....... Cheers, Frank

JeffW
03-10-2011, 02:58 PM
Just be nice and stop telling me how much better they are than 250's, OK ? I'm only human and it's only credit card debt :).

jblnut

I hooked the 250tis back up since the 800 Arrays were sitting on chairs in the living room. Not a very aesthetically pleasing presentation. Well, long story short...the 800 Arrays are still sitting on chairs in the living room while I debate what to do with the 250tis.

To be fair, I know the 250tis are 30 years old and haven't had a lick of work done on the crossover or anything. Refoamed the woofers maybe 10 years ago. So it's not really a fair fight, but there's still going to be a winner even in an unfair fight.

Titanium Dome
03-10-2011, 03:17 PM
'Tis true, 'tis true, the 250s do not fare so well in comparison. I've a friend who has 250Tis, and I felt like I was being tortured by listening to them last week. I've always loved the L250 and the 250Ti, both sonically and visually. Now, I can honestly say I still love them visually. :p

Of course, I've got two pairs of L250s, one of which is in my midtown office. I can hardly listen to them anymore. They're dead to me now. (JBLAddict, do you get the "sample"?)

The other pair is still waiting for the evolution of a slow rebirth by Grumpy and me with new Performance Series drivers and active quad-amplification. This gives me hope the 250 can live on in some visually and aurally pleasing form, since I have the K2s and the Performance Series in the same space and I don't feel the PS is boring or dead in any way.

All you bargain-grabbing dudes are getting the deal of the Century on these great products, and now you know what JBL and Greg Timbers and let's not forget Jerry Moro have been doing the past twenty years while everyone was assuming JBL was dormant or dead.

Congratulations to all the new owners, and for the rest of you, there's one thing I know: if you don't grab an opportunity when it's in front of you, you'll never run fast enough to catch it again.

(Of course, if you can't afford it, it's not an opportunity; it's a mistake. Opportunity requires capability as well, or it does not make sense.)

vettedrummer
03-10-2011, 04:21 PM
OK all my good buddies here on the forum now the fun begins. I was having dinner with my daughter (wife at dentist) and she says, "OK Dad what are you getting now" It seems the UPS truck was backing into my driveway. I could not think of any reason he'd be there today. I had nothing on order from anyone that couldn't come by mail. OK, so the driver is a friend of mine. He's here so much with all the ebay buying and selling I do that we've gotten to know each other pretty well. He opens up the back of the truck and is getting the dolly out. I ask him what he's doing and he says he's here to pick up a return. Mind you Harman has yet to send me out a shipping label for the 5800 that is going back to be replaced. Yeah I have the RA number but no label. I tell him to leave the hand dolly and come on in to see just what he thinks he's picking up. His paperwork says he's picking up a 150# box for return to Alt., Ga.. I show him the 5800's and just how big the box is that it goes in. He asks about their weight and I tell him out of the box they are 185# so an easy 200+ packed. It seems who ever set this up at Harman has no idea of what these speakers look like or just how heavy they are. Or they are trying to get around using the frieght divison. The UPS guy says, " I can't take them, 150# is my limit and never nothing that big." He says I need to get in touch with UPS frieght division and get them out here to pick it up. I mean you can already see the problems this is going to be getting them back to Atlanta with no damage. The info that came with my RA number says I'm responsible for having them arrive in good condition in Atlanta. Yeah right with UPS shipping them. Looks like another email to Harman to get this straightened out. I have to admit they did act fast. they jusy didn't let me know when I should expect to see the shipper. I still have the speakers set up in the living room listening to them and lovin the sound! OK, I'll let ya know what happens next. Cheers, Frank

Titanium Dome
03-10-2011, 05:51 PM
Are you sure it wouldn't be better to ask Harman to pay for a professional finisher to simply fix the finish? That would be cheaper than the shipping for them.

Right now you have two beautiful speakers, perfect in every way except for a a cosmetic flaw. IME, it's a flaw that's easier to fix right than it is to box it up, send it back, hope that it doesn't get damaged on the way there and muck up your exchange process, hope that they still have the "set aside" speaker when it gets there, hope the set aside speaker isn't some demo unit, hope it doesn't have some other defect when it arrives, AND hope it survives the transit back to you.

I imagine when Harman gets it back they'll have it refinished anyway, OR set it side for the next return. :blink: So why not see if they'll pay for a pro to refinish the section in question instead of all that?

SEAWOLF97
03-10-2011, 06:24 PM
'Tis true, 'tis true, the 250s do not fare so well in comparison. I've a friend who has 250Tis, and I felt like I was being tortured by listening to them last week. I've always loved the L250 and the 250Ti, both sonically and visually. Now, I can honestly say I still love them visually. :p

Of course, I've got two pairs of L250s, one of which is in my midtown office. I can hardly listen to them anymore. They're dead to me now.

Yeah man ....kick ALL that old shit out to the curb ...NOTHING is as good as what you've got.:barf:

Titanium Dome
03-10-2011, 09:49 PM
Yeah man ....kick ALL that old shit out to the curb ...NOTHING is as good as what you've got.:barf:

Yes, that's exactly what I meant to write. Thanks for so graciously putting it into such honest terminology. You're the best!

KCM
03-11-2011, 04:49 AM
Are you sure it wouldn't be better to ask Harman to pay for a professional finisher to simply fix the finish? That would be cheaper than the shipping for them.

Right now you have two beautiful speakers, perfect in every way except for a a cosmetic flaw. IME, it's a flaw that's easier to fix right than it is to box it up, send it back, hope that it doesn't get damaged on the way there and muck up your exchange process, hope that they still have the "set aside" speaker when it gets there, hope the set aside speaker isn't some demo unit, hope it doesn't have some other defect when it arrives, AND hope it survives the transit back to you.

I imagine when Harman gets it back they'll have it refinished anyway, OR set it side for the next return. :blink: So why not see if they'll pay for a pro to refinish the section in question instead of all that?


I tried that with my damaged 800's. They wouldn't go for it, something to do with them not supporting these any longer and not wanting to drag HPAV group into a warranty obligation on damaged goods. Might be different in his case since it's just a finish issue, not a hole in the cabinet :dont-know:


BTW, I am listening to them while I await resolution. JEEZ, do these little buggers sound great ! :applaud:

vettedrummer
03-11-2011, 07:20 AM
Ti Dome, I've thought about all sorts of ways to do this. The big problem is not being able to talk to someone here in the USA. Emails just don't give you any way to bargain with them. While the written word is much clearer it just doesn't give you the, "Yeah but" ability. I have thought that they might just send something really bad back to me. Or.. that, yes the speaker they are holding somehow got taken and shipped someplace else and I'll end up getting this one back after a round trip to Atlanta in UPS hell. I liked the old JBL where you could call up and talk to someone that knew the product line and they could really understand what was wrong and how you wanted to have it fixed. It's still that way with McIntosh. You call Chuck Hinton and you talk to him. You don't send emails back and forth. He knows their whole product line current and vintage and why something may or may not work. If you need to speak to the engineer that built your product he's there too and he will talk to you or at least tell Check what the answer is to any questions you might have. Yeah, the old ways are best. Modern technology is good for some things like building the current line of great JBL products, but not for customer service or puting a knowlegable human voice to a problem. All these companies that move there ops to India or someplace where the English language gets murdered makes no sense. I packed up the speaker this morning, but still not sure what to do. I'll tell ya packing it up is way harder than un-packing it! Should I just overlook the cloudy top finish on the speaker and just enjoy what it does best or will it keep bugging me that it's not perfect? Having a pro refinish the top also has no guarantee it will look better or that it won't even be more noticeable. I thought about having thick glass tops made for these to protect them and also to hide the clouds, but I'd still know it was under there. It's hard when you seek perfection. Cheers, Frank

KCM
03-11-2011, 07:29 AM
I've been talking to them. Just tell the person in India that you need to speak with tech support in New York and they'll transfer you. Use the 800 number as you will be on hold for a while.

I've got a RA# for my damaged Array's, just waiting on a upcharge quote to ship the last two in existance via motor freight to "hopefully" avoid damaging them in transit. :crying:

vettedrummer
03-11-2011, 11:03 AM
Seawolf,
so sorry.
OK, I have a new idea that seems to make sense to me. I'll try it on them if you think it would be better.
I would have them send me the new speaker first. Which I would pay for by credit card. Once it gets here I get to inspect it and if it was the mint one I'm seeking and has no issues, then I would return the cloudy one back to them.
(This way I know what I'm getting up front.) If the new one from them is even worse then, I'd send that one right back, keep what I have and persue the refinishing method.
They are paid so they are not sending out another speaker for free and my mind would rest easier! Once it gets back to them then have them issue a credit to my credit card.
Problem, what if the one I send back gets messed up on the way back. (This could happen in either situation.) Does their Insurance cover this since they are the ones footing the bill for a poor quality product sent out in the first place??? They are picking the shipper to use so I'm the inocent party, Right? Will I have a problem getting them to issue a credit once said speaker gets back there? (I can always have the credit card company put a stop on the transaction and that plus the RA number should put me in the clear.) Any comments are welcomed! Cheers, Frank

vettedrummer
03-11-2011, 12:04 PM
OK, I did what KCM said to do and got a gentleman in New York City.

I told him what's been going on with the regular UPS guy coming to pick up my return. He said that should of never have happened and he will have frieght pick it up.

I spoke of my lack of faith in UPS getting something this large to Atlanta safely and I didn't want to be responsible for their messing this all up.

I asked if it was possible for the replacement speaker be sent to me before I return the cloudy one to them. I offered to even pay for it first and he said it would not be necessary. He will refer this to the right people and the one that is on hold (it really is on hold or so he said) will be shipped to me first so I can do the inspection and be satisfied with what is happening prior to my sending my S5800 to them. That way I wouldn't get stuck with a bad speaker and my good one (except for the cloudy top)already in Atlanta and who knows where after that. He said that the one on hold is the last single S5800 they have and it really is marked for shipment to Michigan and I could expect a call from Atlanta later to set up the exchange. Sounds good in theory let's see if it all comes together like I see it happening. Cause I love it when a plan comes together! So can I trust all of this to happen? I'll wait and see. Cheers, Frank

Titanium Dome
03-11-2011, 12:12 PM
Good luck! Let's hope it all comes together. :bouncy:

hwirt
03-11-2011, 12:16 PM
(it really is on hold or so he said) will be shipped to me first so I can do the inspection and be satisfied with what is happening prior to my sending my S5800 to them.

Sounds like a good plan Frank, hope it gets delivered promptly and in good condition. Seems like Harman is trying to make things right. Keep us informed...

Slare
03-11-2011, 03:18 PM
Vette, I assume you have/had a Vette and it seems you are in Michigan. So I think you should know your paint care.

Have you thought about trying a very light polish on a small area to see if you can clear it up? I know it isn't right, but as others have pointed out it may be the easiest/safest path overall to end up with a solid pair.

I just went through a shipping/exchange nightmare on simple $200 sub enclosures. I would jump through a lot of hoops to minimize transit of 200lb, $4k a pop speakers.

vettedrummer
03-11-2011, 03:31 PM
Slare, I will wait and see if it goes OK with the replacement. As of 5:28PM Friday no call back, but at least they now know why the speakers were not picked up yet. I figure sometime on Monday I'll hear from them.

If I have to keep the one I have then I'll start to figure out what my next move will be. Rubbing out will not fix these however it will require sanding and maybe a high speed buffer once they are sanded level.

Perhaps I should contact Wilson speakers and ask them how to go about fixing this. They are another company where they will talk to you and not send you to India! Man that bugs me!

washnak
03-12-2011, 06:41 AM
Frank's friend here(yes, he does actually have one). I've been lurking in stealth mode and learning from everyone. My freight driver was also happy to take my 5800's off the truck and put them in my garage. I used my hand truck to wheel them from the garage and put them close to their final position where I removed them from their shipping boxes, not without a bit of concern based on what Frank found with his. My concern was unfounded, they are both perfect. The fit and finish is outstanding, and they sound absolutely amazing. In fact the only problem I encountered was that my wife came home from work and drove up exactly as I was was wheeling the last box into the garage to put it away. As Ricky used to say in old TV show "Lucy, you've got some 'splainin to do ..."

hwirt
03-12-2011, 07:14 AM
Great! Now we need some pictures so we can share in the excitement.

washnak
03-12-2011, 07:27 AM
50375

Here you go.

hwirt
03-12-2011, 07:31 AM
WOW:applaud:

Amnes
03-12-2011, 05:52 PM
I can't recall ever seeing speakers being placed worse. Ever. I hope it's just temporary and has to do with the wife part thingy. :) If not I encourage you to buy headphones.

Titanium Dome
03-12-2011, 06:17 PM
I can't recall ever seeing speakers being placed worse. Ever. I hope it's just temporary and has to do with the wife part thingy. :) If not I encourage you to buy headphones.

I believe they're aimed at the blue chair.

Amnes
03-12-2011, 06:44 PM
Exactly. I know not every room is ideal for good playback quality as I myself don't have a satisfactory, but there are some basics in stereo reproduction when overlooked make my eyes bleed.

hwirt
03-12-2011, 07:18 PM
That room is definitely a challenge for a stereo setup; it appears to be open on two sides and the third wall is almost completely covered with windows. The speakers certainly fit with the decor but the placement is not doing them justice. The combination of the McIntosh amp & preamp should match well to the new JBL's.

MikeBrewster77
03-12-2011, 08:06 PM
Just to clarify Mr/Mrs/Miss Washnak (since you are a welcome new member here) the comments around placement are I'm sure all well-intentioned thoughts on optimizing your experience with a fantastic pair of new speakers and what looks like an impressive array of upstream equipment.

Perhaps you're open to suggestions, or perhaps they simply can't be accomodated in your space and situation. If you do have some flexibility, there are some amazingly knowledgeable folks here on the forums who can provide very sound advice (yes, the pun was intended)

And lastly, congratulations on the purchase and welcome to LH. :)

JeffW
03-12-2011, 08:21 PM
Frank's friend here(yes, he does actually have one).

Do you live close enough for him to sneak over with his hand truck and scarf one of your cosmetically shiny ones? :D

4313B
03-13-2011, 10:08 AM
Congratulations on your purchase Washnak! :)

Guido
03-13-2011, 12:11 PM
Congratulations on your purchase Washnak! :)

Ditto!

Enjoy your speakers and don't care for the negative comments :)

JBLAddict
03-13-2011, 01:02 PM
The OM says these can be placed very close to the back wall, stating 2-3" is adequate, allowing enough room only for connections........ how is that possible as a rear ported design? why wouldn't standard coupling conventions apply here?

tom1040
03-13-2011, 03:53 PM
Ditto!

Enjoy your speakers and don't care for the negative comments :)


Agreed. Looks good to me. My Arrays would be happy in that room.

4313B
03-14-2011, 07:40 AM
The OM says these can be placed very close to the back wall, stating 2-3" is adequate, allowing enough room only for connections........ how is that possible as a rear ported design? why wouldn't standard coupling conventions apply here?Having the port on the back of a loudspeaker means that you theoretically have to have the loudspeaker at least a port diameter's width away from any flat surface. If you have a 3" diameter rear port then it should theoretically be at least 3" away from a back wall. I believe that the K2-S5800 uses two 2.75" diameter ports to tune a 4.5 cubic foot volume to 30 Hz. At one point it appears those flared ports are just 2" in diameter.

If rear ported loudspeakers have to be backed right up next to a wall for whatever reason then you are probably better off stuffing the ports and using a subwoofer.

One argument for rear porting is that it marginalizes any internal reflections exiting the port. Another argument is that it doesn't visually impact an otherwise perfectly finished baffle. It also decreases the relative efficiency of the port with respect to the drive unit.

washnak
03-14-2011, 08:52 AM
Hi all: My first name is George. Sorry for the tardy reply, but I just got back from Reno where I was at a gun show for two days. Another of my hobbies is collecting antique firearms. I don't want to hi-jack this thread, but I'm a mature adult who is definitely open to any and all suggestions. If you think it would be better to start a new thread, let me know and I would be happy to do so. Maybe we could call it "Help George place his speakers". As for the room, yes, it's open on two sides with one wall essentially all windows. The picture is deceiving. the left speaker is placed 18" from the wall (such as it is between the two windows) and right speaker is 15" from the wall. Both are toed in to the blue arm chair which is my listening position. I would welcome and consider any suggestions that you may have to improve the listening performance of my system. I do appreciate all of your help.
EDIT: I forgot to add that I'm also running a Velodyn 12" 200 watt subwoofer, that is placed under the table between the two couches.

hjames
03-14-2011, 09:24 AM
Having the port on the back of a loudspeaker means that you theoretically have to have the loudspeaker at least a port diameter's width away from any flat surface. If you have a 3" diameter rear port then it should theoretically be at least 3" away from a back wall. I believe that the K2-S5800 uses two 2.75" diameter ports to tune a 4.5 cubic foot volume to 30 Hz. At one point it appears those flared ports are just 2" in diameter.

If rear ported loudspeakers have to be backed right up next to a wall for whatever reason then you are probably better off stuffing the ports and using a subwoofer.


What about biting the bullet (on lesser models, of course) and using a hole saw to put a new port on the front of the speaker, and using the "plug" the hole saw creates to plug the rear port? Not on a K2, of course(!!!), but just in general ...

Amnes
03-14-2011, 12:35 PM
What about biting the bullet (on lesser models, of course) and using a hole saw to put a new port on the front of the speaker, and using the "plug" the hole saw creates to plug the rear port? Not on a K2, of course(!!!), but just in general ...

That could cause phase problems.

pos
03-14-2011, 01:02 PM
I don't think this could cause any phase problem. At these frequency the radiation in 360° anyway, so the direction of the port does not matter: it is a pusling sphere. And the wavelength are so long that the distance with the woofer does not matter much either.

Slare
03-14-2011, 01:44 PM
EDIT: I forgot to add that I'm also running a Velodyn 12" 200 watt subwoofer, that is placed under the table between the two couches.

I won't critique your positioning setup because it seems like you are doing the best you can with room and furniture constraints. I do think it is a little humorous to have such wonderful speakers setup with only one good listening position, but the king of the castle is the king, after all.

What I will say is that it is probably high time to ditch the velodyne sub for 100% of your music listening. It may still have a tiny bit of usefullness for movies, but should be completely removed for music duties. Even the highest end velodyne is a mud factory compared to what you just bought.

richluvsound
03-14-2011, 02:12 PM
I won't critique your positioning setup because it seems like you are doing the best you can with room and furniture constraints. I do think it is a little humorous to have such wonderful speakers setup with only one good listening position, but the king of the castle is the king, after all.

What I will say is that it is probably high time to ditch the velodyne sub for 100% of your music listening. It may still have a tiny bit of usefullness for movies, but should be completely removed for music duties. Even the highest end velodyne is a mud factory compared to what you just bought.

Agreed..... I have never heard one that convinced me . To me the music always had a synthetic quality to it .
... The last one heard was in and B&W, Gryphon, Esoteric rig ...in my opinion, it ruined 70K worth of quality 2 channel audio .

Rich

hwirt
03-14-2011, 02:21 PM
Hello George, thanks again for the response and pictures. My post in regard to your room (open sides, window location etc.) was not meant as a critique just an observation. All that really matters is if you are happy with your setup and I see now that the "blue chair" is the official listening position.

I'm sure your going to be enjoying these fine speakers for many years and no doubt will be experimenting with different locations and furniture arrangements. The speakers look great and I like the horn location which appears to be at the ideal height (ear level) for the seating positions.

Your McIntosh equipment also looks really nice and I wonder which model amplifier and preamp you have in your rack? Oh and BTW I agree with Slare in thinking that the Velodyn sub is not up to the quality level of the rest of your equipment.

HCSGuy
03-14-2011, 10:58 PM
A pair showed up here Friday, I just got around to opening them - they're both bobble-heads :crying:. Not as bad as KCM's -it looks like the threaded insert just got bumped loose - there's sawdust floating around and the holes will need to be filled, but no chunks where it's visible. I'm assuming there are no replacements, so I get the decision to fix this pair or return them. Kudos to my friend, whoever you are, who spent a whole 45 minutes designing the box for this, as well as your pal who decided to support the head with one threaded insert into MDF and a second adjustment screw to hold it in place. It's probably good that few of these sold, as the dealers probably had to check each one on arrival. Lastly, I like that you have to peel off the array emblem on the horn to get to the screw to remove and reattached the threaded insert - very disappointing. Can you buy the emblem separately? - no parts seem to be available from JBL Parts.

Titanium Dome
03-15-2011, 05:13 AM
Wowee! That's just appalling. No wonder they discontinued them. Can you imagine shipping them all the way from China?

It's good that they're salvageable. I'd do the same, but what a pain for a NIB item.

4313B
03-15-2011, 06:00 AM
A pair showed up here Friday, I just got around to opening them - they're both bobble-heads :crying:. Not as bad as KCM's -it looks like the threaded insert just got bumped loose - there's sawdust floating around and the holes will need to be filled, but no chunks where it's visible. I'm assuming there are no replacements, so I get the decision to fix this pair or return them. Kudos to my friend, whoever you are, who spent a whole 45 minutes designing the box for this, as well as your pal who decided to support the head with one threaded insert into MDF and a second adjustment screw to hold it in place. It's probably good that few of these sold, as the dealers probably had to check each one on arrival. Lastly, I like that you have to peel off the array emblem on the horn to get to the screw to remove and reattached the threaded insert - very disappointing. Can you buy the emblem separately? - no parts seem to be available from JBL Parts.Dude... I'm confused... Why these when you have what you have? :blink:

I don't have any spare emplems, sorry. You can call Crown and see if they can get you some. All you need to do is provide them with the S/N of the loudspeaker(s) that is/are broken.

Can you imagine shipping them all the way from China?Um, no... I don't buy my JBL's from China so it isn't an issue for me. Thanks for asking though.

BMWCCA
03-15-2011, 06:07 AM
Lastly, I like that you have to peel off the array emblem on the horn to get to the screw to remove and reattached the threaded insert - very disappointing. Can you buy the emblem separately? - no parts seem to be available from JBL Parts.Sorry for your problems. I'd be pissed!

I believe the emblems are available. Believe it or not, having to peel and replace those badges every time the system got moved was what caused me to pause back when I had the opportunity to buy the $3900 pair of Array 1400s two-years ago. I believe at that time the badges were available at about $35 each. The whole thread is interesting, including comments from two forum members who have since passed, but here's a link to the post with the part number for the 1400 as quoted by JBL: http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?23210-Project-Array-1400-in-Va.&p=232392&viewfull=1#post232392

KCM
03-15-2011, 07:10 AM
A pair showed up here Friday, I just got around to opening them - they're both bobble-heads :crying:. Not as bad as KCM's -it looks like the threaded insert just got bumped loose - there's sawdust floating around and the holes will need to be filled, but no chunks where it's visible. I'm assuming there are no replacements, so I get the decision to fix this pair or return them. Kudos to my friend, whoever you are, who spent a whole 45 minutes designing the box for this, as well as your pal who decided to support the head with one threaded insert into MDF and a second adjustment screw to hold it in place. It's probably good that few of these sold, as the dealers probably had to check each one on arrival. Lastly, I like that you have to peel off the array emblem on the horn to get to the screw to remove and reattached the threaded insert - very disappointing. Can you buy the emblem separately? - no parts seem to be available from JBL Parts.


Wow, sorry to see that :( Actually, they look exactly like mine. I'm really glad now that I didn't just let them ship replacements via UPS. I'm still holding out for motor freight shipment, and still waiting on more information regarding that process.............

What would you use to fill the holes if you keep them ?

JeffW
03-15-2011, 07:26 AM
Man, 4 out of 4 busted for you guys...I must be the luckiest guy around!

4313B
03-15-2011, 07:39 AM
Man, 4 out of 4 busted for you guys...Sounds about right. Went through the same debacle with just the horns by themselves. Same with just the drivers by themselves. I can't imagine having Harman ship the whole thing all put together. :rotfl:

But hey, it's free shipping and you get what you pay for. Some reassembly required. :banghead:

Mr. Widget
03-15-2011, 12:04 PM
Believe it or not, having to peel and replace those badges every time the system got moved was what caused me to pause back when I had the opportunity to buy the $3900 pair of Array 1400s two-years ago. I just wouldn't keep admitting that you missed such an opportunity... it's like admitting you're the guy who refused to sign the Beatles. ;)

As for the badges, demand that Harman send you some, they are not the same ones as the ones used on the much larger 1400 Array horn, but I am sure that the right person at customer service should be able to get you a pair for free... it's the least they can do for you!


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BMWCCA
03-15-2011, 01:43 PM
I just wouldn't keep admitting that you missed such an opportunity... it's like admitting you're the guy who refused to sign the Beatles. ;)
I don't place that much importance on it. But I'm happy if you derive some pleasure in using it this way. ;) If you read the thread, at that time no one was moving on them. Not you, not anyone. The deal was presented on this forum and sat for nearly a week before one forum member pulled the trigger. They never got a bid on Ebay at $3999. One suggestion was made that perhaps a Synthesis dealer should buy them for demos. None did. Today, after more discussion on this system, they'd not last a day . . . maybe. My how times change. All it takes is a little fire sale to move this stuff. Does anyone buy them at list price? Did they ever?

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a pair of 1400s. Even at that low price they turned out to be over 35% more than what I did buy less than two-months later. It's always those with money who can take advantage of the financial hardship of others (Harman), not us schlemiels. :D

So, as a JBL dealer, what do you think of the manufacturer dumping their flagship systems for quarters on the dollar? Give you a warm-and-fuzzy about the future of your investment? Or is the markup so much that even a dealer would do well dumping these as Harman has? Maybe that's part of the problem: They're asking too much. When a luxury car carries only 7% profit at list and the public demands most of that, why is it surprising that JBL cuts prices in half and, for a while, sells some dated production? Time was when a Mercedes held 20% and a BMW about 15%. The manufacturers got tired of the dealers giving it away and halved the markup. Maybe that's just Harman's way of telling its dealers they're not getting the job done. Regardless, they're likely done now and won't even enter that market again. Sad, but had they priced them like this from the start and bypassed their dealers, maybe they'd not be a dead shell of a company today. :dont-know:

And I'm happy with what I have now. Something about seeing all that broken SonoGlass or whatever those horns are made of reminds me of an Autobahn crash involving a Trabant. All so much paper-maché if you ask me. In the future it won't be surrounds that need repair, but the entire horn as it biodegrades! :eek:

Mr. Widget
03-15-2011, 02:08 PM
The deal was presented on this forum and sat for nearly a week before one forum member pulled the trigger. They never got a bid on Ebay at $3999.Oh, did a forum member get them... that's great. I don't remember the details, and wouldn't be poking fun at you except that you have brought them up several times and I think it's great you are cool with it. I'd still be kicking myself.

You are absolutely right about what an unknown quantity they were. Between being unknown and rather odd looking, I doubt I would have bought them... though I might have risked it. At the time I wasn't in the market for new speakers though and never gave it a thought.

Now about car dealers' mark up vs. the audio industry... I doubt car dealers could stay in business if they didn't have a lock on the new car repair market. In the audio biz, there is no comparable revenue stream... having a pair of $60K, (Lexus prices) Everests sitting in your showroom and only having 7% markup would certainly not make business sense.



So, as a JBL dealer, what do you think of the manufacturer dumping their flagship systems for quarters on the dollar? I think it is the same short sighted thinking they use to outsource and shut down their domestic manufacturing.



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hwirt
03-15-2011, 02:29 PM
So, as a JBL dealer, what do you think of the manufacturer dumping their flagship systems for quarters on the dollar?


I'm OK with it, but not a dealer. :bouncy:

4313B
03-15-2011, 02:40 PM
Maybe that's just Harman's way of telling its dealers they're not getting the job done.I highly doubt that Harman thinks even that deep dude. Someone decided to dump stock in a warehouse and they didn't even think about dealers. Hell, they didn't even think about how they were going to properly ship product once they sold it. There isn't a whole lot of deep thought going on here. I think all their attention is rivited on stocks and shareholders.

Its kind of like when they decide to dump tons of service parts into the garbage bins without checking whether or not anyone else on the planet might want or need said parts...

JeffW
03-15-2011, 03:00 PM
I also bought a pair of the 4312DBKs for a shop system. They shipped from southern California instead of Atlanta and had a tag on them saying they were designed and engineered by JBL and made in Mexico. So maybe they were clearing out their warehouses of stuff they just built, I don't know. And these also arrived in great shape. Haven't hooked them up yet.


Something about seeing all that broken SonoGlass or whatever those horns are made of reminds me of an Autobahn crash involving a Trabant. All so much paper-maché if you ask me. In the future it won't be surrounds that need repair, but the entire horn as it biodegrades!

Looks to me like it's the cabinets that are busted, not the horns. The cabinets are not made from sonoglass.

hwirt
03-15-2011, 03:18 PM
Looks to me like it's the cabinets that are busted, not the horns. The cabinets are not made from sonoglass.

If the cabinets were made of sonoglass they probably would have survived.

BMWCCA
03-15-2011, 03:36 PM
OBTW: I passed up a MB GullWing 300SL for $5K in the 70's .....Yeah, me, too, in St. Louis. The dealer had three of them. I bought my 2-year-old BMW for $1295 instead. It was on the showroom floor right next to a brand new Dino with a sticker price of an unobtainable $12,000. I also passed on a BMW 507 for $12,000 while I was in college around 1974. Check out those prices today! :banghead:

One of my favorite flea-market finds is an NADA Blue Book of car values dated 1962. Amazing what some of that stuff was valued then. I think the BMW Isetta was listed for $25. :p

SEAWOLF97
03-15-2011, 03:52 PM
Yeah, me, too, in St. Louis. The dealer had three of them.

yeah, I said "$5K for a used coupe ?? .....I can get a new Jag XKE for $6K" ....'couse I was making abt $6k/yr. :o:

Mr. Widget
03-15-2011, 04:03 PM
yeah, I said "$5K for a used coupe ?? .....I can get a new Jag XKE for $6K" ....'couse I was making abt $6k/yr. :o:Well sure... and my old multi-millionaire boss bought up a couple of office towers in Phoenix for pennies on the dollar from the Federal Government after the S&L bailout fiasco... I couldn't even afford a starter home at that point.

I think those "missed opportunities" are a very different thing. ;)


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