Technical Ref Threads for 434x monitors
Giskard had said (probably kiddingly) that he was waiting for more threads like the 4341 TechRef thread i did a few weeks back.
http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/s...highlight=4341
The helpful thing about the 4341s was I had a pair of them on hand, and had been collecting info on them for about 8 months before I bought them. But I'm not as well funded or schooled on the other big 4 way pro monitors of that series - I need some help and tips from the owners of those speakers to do it properly. As in the other thread I will give credit when I quote other folks thoughts and use images of their speakers.
I'm thing of doing separate threads (linked to the pre-existing threads on crossover upgrades and such, of course) for the Model 4343 and Model 4345 - maybe something for the 4344s, and because of the recent interest, probably a thread for the Model 4315 as well.
Comments, thoughts? PM me and let me know what you'd like to see!
Like the other thread - I plan to accumulate links and info, then build the index thread over a weekend ...
I know there are other JBL 4-ways that are quite nice (the 250TI series for instance) but the 250ti is a consumer model and I only have so much time ... so, I'll be staying with the 4-way Pro Monitors, at least for now.
434x - Setting it up properly!
Yesterday I wound up taking another conversation off-topic ("What is an Audiophile"), but the resulting information seemed so good that I wanted to put it here where it belongs.
As Bo says, the 434x Studio Monitors weren't made for living room use - they were designed to be used in a studio setting where the sound engineer
would put them in place, then calibrate the audio system with an analyzer and use an equalizer or comparable gear to pre-adjust the source-audio and compensate for speaker and room conditions so it would result in flat sound response within the listening environment. That just makes perfect sense!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boputnam
To me, "audiophile" conjurs the image of a high-end stereo buff - a person with very discerning taste, and who deploys costly gear and trunk-line sized cabling and all-too-often loves cabinets with multiple mid-bass drivers, no sub and limited cabinet volume.
Most commonly, to my chagrin, they will not acknowledge the importance of signal-path EQ to optimize for room response. A few have allowed me to insert an EQ and tune to the room - with vastly improved response - but they devoutly prefer the purist approach.
... They get the mid-bass and HF fine, but most typically there is a great deal of LF missing in their approach.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hjames
Not trying to be combative, but further enlightenment would be welcomed.
I had thought that unless you were above a certain price-point with EQ (an active component) you ran the risk of degrading the sound with noise while adjusting the spectrum to match the room response. What kind of EQ is suitable - Behringer? Rane? White? Something else?
Can such adjustment/room calibration be done by the end user with a Radio Shark db meter and some test tones/test record? Or is this something that needs calibrated gear and an ear for hire every time there is a major change in the system?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boputnam
Good question. Of the three, the White would be best. Rane are OK for starters, too. Nothing Behringer I have tried is acceptible for me. dbx has a good model in the 1231, and Ashly, further up the cost curve with their GQX3102. All EQ's introduce phase distortion by their filters - so, less is more. Top shelf are parametrics, particularly the Meyer CP-10 if you can find and afford such - they are phase coherant and wonderful.
A dB meter has no application, here - that is merely a reading of loudness, not a measurement of response.
While a nice calibration set-up, comparing the reference and measurement signals, is ideal, a simple RTA can provide a great deal of information. Using Pink Noise, you should see a flat response across the frequency spectrum. Where you see peaks/bumps, you should reduce (notch) that frequency in the signal path (insert the EQ between the pre-amp and amps) - these are areas that are being excited either in the room or the cabinet (or could be transducer anomalies, too...) and are being over represented; same (reverse) for valleys, although most users try and notch, only.
There are some reasonable handheld RTA's out there - I think Phonic makes a good one (PAA2). Once you begin tweaking/optimizing your system response, your ears will learn and be more critical of unintended resonances.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hjames
Okay - just to get some dollar figures recorded and put Bo's comments in perspective (I am not advocating any particular brands, just trying to get a feel for the figure$)
A few quick googles show the Phonic PAA2 runs around $250 or so. It looks like a neat little unit - its handheld and has a built in mike - looks kind of like a Blackberry or PDA ...
I did some other quick searches - (as of Aug 28th, 2007)
I found a Meyer CP-10 used, selling for about $1500 (!)
Sweetwater has the Ashley GQX3102 for about $950
Sweetwater has the dbx 1231 unit - for around $350
So a dbx 1231 and a Phonic unit would be around $600 (new)
I could see buying an EQ if its in that kind of range, but it would be harder to justify buying the PAA if I couldn't do a few "tweak for hire" jobs to help pay for it ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boputnam
Yea, costs always awaken a dream...
The PAA2 you will get plenty of fun from - it has an SPL meter too, so you could do the stuff grumpy mentioned (in his now deleted post... :dont-know ). It is a great tool that has many applications. Once you get it, you'll wonder why you waited.
Yea, I know. I've got five of them - all were sent for full check-ups/refurbishing at Meyer (they do great work!) - and they have become my favorite. They've replaced GEQ's in my racks - I have grown to require/prefer the exactness of a parametric.
Check eBay for EQ's - stick with highly reputable sellers. I've had good luck.
In any event, your first results I am almost certain will be enjoyable. You might find your results "open" the sound, by the removal/lessening of resonance(s). You will also surely see how the LF rolls-off, and then we'll just have to start talking about 2245's... lol
And from another thread asking for a source of pink noise, test tones and such
"Can someone point me towards me a good Pink Noise file/cd rip?"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hoerninger