K2-9800se vs K2-9900

[Titanium Dome]

I was selling JBL and loving their products while in High School working at Burstein Applebee in the former Southwyck Mall in the early 70s and elsewhere through the remaining 70s.

I remember that store, even though I bought my first brand new JBLs from Woodlville Appliance over on the east side of Toledo. I thought that was a long trip from Monclova to Woodville, but it's nothing like the trip to Toronto.

Recently I got to hear the K2 S9900 and was really impressed. Since there were some S9800s right next to them, I asked if we could hook them up, but the gentleman said, "You don't want to do that. Trust me. Maybe if you'd asked me that first."

Of course, I've heard K2 S9800s, but it's been a while and audio memory is a fickle thing. However I have no doubt the gentleman knew exactly what he was talking about.

[Chas]

No, not going to happen for me.


Widget

Oh c'mon Widget, you know you and Mrs. Widget have a place to crash nearby! It's only about 15 minutes away from here.

[ronaltronics]

Hi Jerry rig...

Just wired up a Krell 302 and Krell 222 pre amp, the source was a Esoteric X-03se with a Esoteric G-03 word clock.

Well the speakers JBL K2-9900's

All I can say is Absolutly Awesome and I have heard alot of systems.

Keep in mind this is the entry level Krell Evolution.

[jerry_rig]

Hi Jerry rig...

Just wired up a Krell 302 and Krell 222 pre amp, the source was a Esoteric X-03se with a Esoteric G-03 word clock.

Well the speakers JBL K2-9900's

All I can say is Absolutly Awesome and I have heard alot of systems.

Keep in mind this is the entry level Krell Evolution.

That sounds like a great combination! I'm seeing used 402s going for around $8K. Maybe once they drop a bit more.

[ronaltronics]

Hi Jerry rig....

Instead of a 402 krell you should hold out for a set of Krell evolution mono blocks, preferably 600's. I use these amplifiers with the 202 krell pre amp on my DD66000 JbL"S wired in CAST with a 525 source..

Life Changing.

[pos]

When comaring the S9900 to the S9800 people always comment how much better they are. The differences between these two speakers are sparse:

1- smaller cabs, but almost the same weight (-> stiffer)
2- longer woofer voice coil (-> lower power compression)
3- super tweeter evolution (-> extension improved for the bats)
4- bigger compression driver, with all the 476 features, but with Mg
5- higher crossover point for the super tweeter (10khz -> 15khz)
6- higher crossover point for the compression driver (800hz -> 900hz)
7- steeper slopes for the woofer/compression driver (-> less stress and excursion for the CD)
8- somewhat wider dispersion for the horn (not sure about that one)

In your opinion, what in those differences plays the most important role?

I am betting on a combination of 7 and 4, in that order.
The electrical 800Hz HP slope of the S9800 was only -6dB/oct !

[timc]

Isn't the horn geometry also slightly changed?

If so i would say that the combination of that, and the new Mg driver.

[pos]

looking at the S9800 and S9900 (lower graph) acoustical crossover curves for the 800Hz/900Hz HP, the S9800 looks like a -24db/oct, whereas the S9900 looks like a -36dB/oct (similar to the everest 2). Both are -6db at the crossover point (LR).

Now looking at the S9800 and S9900 (upper graph) electrical slopes for the same crossover, the S9800 looks like a -6db/oct, whereas the S9900 looks like a -18dB/oct. The shematics as well as the biamp target curves seem to confirm this.

So the acoustical slopes are obtained by adding the electrical slopes to the natural rolloff of the horns (-18dB/oct).
S9800: 6+18=24
S9900: 18+18=36

But only the electrical crossover can prevent the CD to suffer from excursion in the low frequencies. The excursion will quadruple every time the frequency is halved. So a -12dB/oct electrical slope will produce a constant excursion at low and high frequencies.
At -6db/oct (S9800) the CD excursion will be higher at 100Hz than at 1000Hz, whereas it will be lower at -18dB/oct (S9900).
I bet that plays a big part in the "efforless" sensation of the S9900.

[4313B]

The network and the four-inch compression driver seal the deal.

[ronaltronics]

Hello Gentlemen,

Thank you for your very valuable info on the evaluation of these two speakers. Yes your specs are bang on and yes it is the larger midrange driver and X-over are the differences. If you ever had the chance to compare the two from my experience the larger midrange makes the most difference but the three inch driver in the 9800's is still amazing because beryllium still seems to make this loudspeaker shine.

If you really think about it they are both Amazing and I state Amazing because what other speakers out there on the market can even come close IMO to there type of technology. I know no other consumer loudspeakers with there attributes.

Has anyone ever had a chance to hear either pair?

[Mr. Widget]

Has anyone ever had a chance to hear either pair?

I've heard the K2-S9800 a few times... I've never actually liked it. I have heard the Everest II a couple of times and have been very impressed with it. In fact I much prefer the much less expensive 1400 Array to the 9800.

From all accounts the K2-S9900 is much closer to the Everest than the 9800... and I am glad to hear it.



Widget

[JBLAddict]

Has anyone ever had a chance to hear either pair?

was able to hear both the E2 for ~2 hrs, then the 9900 for about an hour immediately after, in Japan last August.

The E2 was in a phenomenal demo room, very well treated, with 80K in electronics hooked to it, including a Dartzeel amp + preamp, Luxman SACD, and some tube amps for the high end that I could not make out by brand. The employee left me in the closed room, alone, to put on whatever discs I wanted, at any volume I wanted, so I obliged to the fullest. The experience cannot be described in words, other than I contemplated chaining myself to a radiator

The 9900 was in an open untreated room, kind of smacked in the middle, though hooked to a bunch of McIntosh gear. In that setup the sound was pretty diffuse, though of the same cleanliness as the E2. There was a clerk in the room busily doing paperwork, so I only played them at very low volume and therefore did not get anywhere near the blissful euphoria the E2 provided. I could feel that the potential was there but honestly did not get the time to fully explore it....

[pos]

I've heard the K2-S9800 a few times... I've never actually liked it. I have heard the Everest II a couple of times and have been very impressed with it. In fact I much prefer the much less expensive 1400 Array to the 9800.

From all accounts the K2-S9900 is much closer to the Everest than the 9800... and I am glad to hear it.



Widget

The Array 1400 HP slope looks like a 30dB/oct: 12dB from the network + 18dB from the horn

[pos]

Has anyone ever had a chance to hear either pair?

I only heard the S9800, but here in France a lot of people did hear both pairs.
I think member Caladois did.
On a french forum some membrers had the chance to compare the S9800, S9900 and everst 2 in good conditions, and they all reported a net improvement between the S9800 and S9900.

[Ian Mackenzie]

I've heard the K2-S9800 a few times... I've never actually liked it. In fact I much prefer the much less expensive 1400 Array to the 9800.


Widget

I guess that is where you and Giskard must have parted company.