Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: L Pads Setting

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Land of Sunshine
    Posts
    423

    L Pads Setting

    I tried the L PADS at neutral position and find that there is sibilence in the highs for CD replay.

    I read somewhere before that old JBL speakers were made in the heyday of vinyl and tapes and were thus made to sound good with those sources. But with the advent of digital technology, the highs of CDs could be too much for the old JBL mid and tweeters.

    Anybody has the same experience?

    David

  2. #2
    Administrator Robh3606's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Rocinante
    Posts
    8,163
    Hello David

    I agree with Giskard garbage in garbage out. That said I have found the 0 setting on L100's and L65A to be hot. By hot I mean the upper treble ranges are up above midrange when viewed with an RTA. That will certainly make matters worse with poorly recorded material. So I think its a combination of how some of the vintage systems were voiced and lousy recordings. Another possibility is working the pots through there whole range. Sometimes they can get noisey and this seems to smooth things out a bit.

    Rob

  3. #3
    Senior Señor boputnam's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    northern california
    Posts
    6,142

    Re: Re: L Pads Setting

    Originally posted by Giskard
    [i]The JBL's sound only as good as the source. They aren't going to lie to you. Good source = good sound, garbage in = garbage out.

    And, this affect increases as you move-up the JBL food chain. If you're able to enter the realm of the large-format 4-way Studio Monitor cabinets, you may find much of your CD library barely listenable...
    bo

    "Indeed, not!!"

  4. #4
    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    9,715

    Re: Re: Re: L Pads Setting

    Originally posted by boputnam

    And, this affect increases as you move-up the JBL food chain. If you're able to enter the realm of the large-format 4-way Studio Monitor cabinets, you may find much of your CD library barely listenable...
    See.... another good reason to buy Bose speakers. They won't show the flaws in all of those CDs.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Land of Sunshine
    Posts
    423
    Most CD's are simply junk media so don't feel too bad if they sound like crap on your JBL's.
    Don't tell me all you guys are playing only vinyl? How to overcome the nasties of CDs?

  6. #6
    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    9,715
    I play both. I have noticed that newer CDs sound noticably better than those pressed in the 80s and early 90s. SACDs also sound great.

    Widget

  7. #7
    Senior Señor boputnam's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    northern california
    Posts
    6,142
    Originally posted by ngccglp
    ...How to overcome the nasties of CDs?
    I'll admit, that some of the material I felt less listenable, became MUCH more listenable after replacing the JBL 5234A active crossover with the Ashly XR1001. The upper ranges of the 4345's are notably smoother, and more crisp at the same time - the horn is less horny...

    Ian attributed this to better "behaviour" of the harmonics to the crossover frequency (my pedestrian paraphrasing...). I'm not knowledgable enough on networks to better explain nor understand why/how, but my ears know plenty, and they're very pleased.
    bo

    "Indeed, not!!"

  8. #8
    Administrator Robh3606's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Rocinante
    Posts
    8,163
    Good sounding CD's

    Steely Dan Two Against Nature
    Tommy Remastered
    Roger Waters Amused to Death
    Eltons Johns remasters
    Peter Gabriel remasters
    James Taylor Hourglass

    Awful beyond belief Geneisis Invisible Touch

    SACD's are a crap shoot the good ones are great some just plain suck.

    When you hear it done right you have to wonder what the hell were they thinking the way some material is released.

    Rob

  9. #9
    Senior Member DavidF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Sonoma County CA
    Posts
    946
    Originally posted by Robh3606
    [B]Good sounding CD's

    Steely Dan Two Against Nature
    Tommy Remastered
    Roger Waters Amused to Death
    Eltons Johns remasters
    Peter Gabriel remasters
    James Taylor Hourglass
    ____________________________________________

    I just recently received the Tommy remaster having recently read a lengthy interview with Pete Townsend in UNCUT magazine which included some comments about the process. I admit to a heavy bias in favor of the Who so no doubt I hold the album in due esteem. I have not listened to any of the album, save excerpts on the radio on occasions, for at least 25 years. So it was both enjoyable to revisit the songs as well as try a digital version. I agree with Rob’s assessment on this CD. I was truly surprised at the nuances never noticed (heard?) before. The production is better than I ever realized especially when you consider that the bank intentionally limited instruments and overdubs used. The sound is open with none of the hash typical of moving old analog recordings to digital. The dynamics are much improved. If you can believe one story related in the insert, the original master was destroyed. This rework was from a first-generation copy.

    If you enjoy the band and the music, this CD is worthy. Bought this with the Derek and the Dominos 20th Anniversary Edition of Layla. Includes out-takes and jam sessions, so more to like if you like the band enough to cover the $45 cost for the package.

    DavidF

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Land of Sunshine
    Posts
    423
    Thanks guys for the advice.

    I have both Steely Dan latest albums, I must say if I ever wanted to sell my 4333As, I will use them as demo, they sound awesome on the JBLs. This could be due to the mix, on other systems, the highs are less pronounced.

    I have Tommy on vinyl so I'll give that a miss for now. I also JBL does choral extremely well. I bought some Proprius CDs and believe it or not, I can pick out each voice in the choir, remarkable.

    Now I have the mid and hi L Pads turned to -3 position and that seems to tame the highs of CDs for now. It also allow me to crank a bit louder.

    David

  11. #11
    Senior Member lpd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Beautiful BC
    Posts
    181
    Interesting thread. I have found one 80's cd that sounds great on my JBL's. Its a Woodie Guthrie tribute cd. A track I particularly like is I ain't got no home by Bruce Springsteen...fantastic. I did notice that once I entered JBL horn realm that alot of my cd's just sounded horrible, and I think I will eventually eq the room to try and smooth things out. My faves right now...

    Holly Cole Trio: Don't Smoke In Bed
    Ben Harper: Diamonds On The Inside
    McCoy Tyner: Predlude and Sonata
    Van Morrison: Whats Wrong With This Picture
    Willie Nelson: Milk Cow Blues (damn I can't believe I'm listening to ol' Willie cranking out the blues)

  12. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Land of Sunshine
    Posts
    423
    So I'm not the only one...guess we need to be a bit more careful when buying CDs.

    Will bi-amping help? Guess not...

    David

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 2 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 2 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. L100A brilliance and presence setting help
    By Viking in forum Lansing Product General Information
    Replies: 31
    Last Post: 12-11-2007, 10:15 AM
  2. Setting avatar?
    By Donald in forum Forum Feedback
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 11-14-2004, 06:16 PM
  3. 16-ohm L pads
    By jim henderson in forum Lansing Product Technical Help
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-06-2003, 11:10 AM
  4. L Pad removal
    By roundnyellow in forum Lansing Product Technical Help
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 10-02-2003, 01:51 AM
  5. Replace 2420 foam pads?
    By Tom Loizeaux in forum Lansing Product Technical Help
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 05-13-2003, 06:32 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •