Hi JBL folks
I have just acquired a pair of JBL HP 420 for $200 locally from another audiophile. I know I paid more than what they worth since with Orion Blue Book Value these guys are worth probably somewhere less than $60 but they are JBL so....
I brought them home give them a listen and then did the A/B comparison with my bookshelf Dynaudio DM 2/10. To my surprise the bass of the JBL was not that deep and tight as I expected even they are floorstanders. Compared to my cheap Dynaudio DM 2/10, they are just one or two level lower than the Dyns which has something to do with the cheap stock xover network and drivers I guess????
I tried walking the speakers. I tried adjusting the crossover dial on the speakers. I changed the speaker wire and what have you to no avail. Please note I used the very same NAD C372 integrated amp to do the A/B testing and I think the NAD gives the JBL enough power to sing. Yet either the bass is really boomy or it feels like no bass at all despite the fact listed in the technical sheet that the HP 420 can reach the 40 cycles (40Hz). I am in a dilemma
I figure with the stamped drivers and the cheap crossovers that they used (to cut cost) it is time to service such components. But the cabinet is just like that of the L26 or L100, built to last (built in Denmark), almost in minty condition.
This is what I am thinking to do. The 026TI tweeters are surprisingly still pretty smooth compared to other metal dome tweeters so I will keep them. I plan to replace the original midrange 405G and original woofer 506G with maybe something from Scanspeak/Peerless??? Or is it better to upgrade the crossover network.
I never mess around with driver replacement before (zero experience). However, I wonder if I could disassemble the speakers (I got the technical sheets from JBL website) and replace the speakers with something different (non JBL stock drivers/woofers)
Greatly appreciate any feedback, concern, and input.
KR
PS I mostly listen to rock, vocal, hip hop, and some classical in this respective order.
I have listened to Totem Mani 2. I owned Totem Rainmakers and Dynaudio Audience 52 and DM 2/10 so I think I could tell whether bass could go to the low 40 cycle or not.
Thank you, thank you