To 1400 Array, or not to 1400 Array. That is the question?

[kelossus]

Having had a good run with vintage JBL's and a brief foray with modern JBL's the Arrays have always intrigued me. I am considering a purchase and potential upgrade to my current main speakers. Listening before hand is not an option and I'll be buying blind, not ideal but it's the way it is where I live and can't be avoided.

Before purchasing I want to get opinions on whether the speakers will be an actual upgrade. I currently run a pair of Duntech Sovereign's and have fallen in love with the house sound of the original Dunlavy designed speakers. I have just come from a pair of 4350's and the Duntech's were a significant upgrade. The 4350's have significantly more bass slam but that's the only area I would give them the nod.

The thing the Sovereign's do so well and I just couldn't do with out, the soundstage. They are big speakers but they sound even bigger. The 250TI's did this but nothing like the Sovereign's. The height of the sound stage is as tall as my room will allow. Voices are unrestricted within the image. They render a sound stage as large and open as any modern speaker I have heard. Will the 1400 Array's do the same but with that added punch I want back? I had a pair of S3900's a few years ago and did not like them at all. The bass was excellent but the mid-range had absolutely no color to it and lacked personality. My ancillary components are all neutrally voiced so I don't want the same from my speakers. Do the 1400 Arrays have a bit more spark and personality than the S3900's? I haven't heard a system with the 175ND's that has blown me away. It may be that particular driver just doesn't do it for me.

Not expecting the 1400 Arrays to extend as low as the Sovereign's but that doesn't bother me.

[1audiohack]

I have no experience with the Dunalv’s. I do have 1400 Arrays and 4350’s.

As you have undoubtably read the 1400’s deliver on the imaging front, they excel there. Punch? Nope. The driver compliment simply cannot deliver the dynamics of large format drivers.

Don’t get me wrong, I think they sound very nice, better than most but they don’t have much get up and go, even on big amps so if it’s dynamics you are after, I strongly suggest you find a way to hear a pair before you buy.

Barry.

[kelossus]

Mate that is interesting. I know the 1400 Array use the LE14H-4 driver which is virtually identical to the 250TI driver. Very familiar with the 250's infact I am going to a mates tonight who has a pair. His 250's have way more punch than my Duntech's so if the 1400's are on par with the 250's I'll be happy. I don't know how much of the punch of the 250's is attributed to the mid-bass driver.

[JeffW]

I have 250Ti and I think a lot of the punch comes from that 8" midbass driver. Probably my favorite part of the 250Ti.

[rdgrimes]

The only way you get my Array gear away from me is with something higher up the Synthesis food chain. Barring that I plan to die with them playing. Offer me something from the Summit Series and I'll try it but the Array still have a home.
The 1400 do suffer from a bit of compression at high levels, but you only notice it right before your ears start bleeding. In normal use its never an issue.

[Mr. Widget]

I am also a 1400 Array fan. The imaging and voicing are both excellent. The bass extension is quite adequate, not the last word in deep bass, but quite good. As Barry said, the weakest thing about the 1400 Arrays is their dynamic punch. Not having heard the Dunlavies or Duntechs, I can’t say how they compare, but the 1400 Arrays probably match or exceed their ability in this area, but that is only speculation. When I say the 1400 Arrays are lacking in dynamic punch, I am comparing them with 4350s or DD6600/DD6700 systems... both are systems with dual 15” woofers and massive 4” compression drivers.

All that said, if I had to choose only one pair of speakers, and the two choices were 4350s or 1400 Arrays, I would go with the Arrays.


Widget

[DavidF]

The Sovereign isn't likely to be in many folk's listening experience making it difficult to comment appropriately.

I am no different. The Sovereign by reputation was meant to offer up just about everything you wanted in a speaker and is a soundstage champ.

My sense is that given your high satisfaction with the Sovereign's imaging you are not likely to match that with the JBL.

The Array 1400 does image very well but likely the advantage over the Sovereign MAY be found in better dynamics and clarity over the Sovereign.

If you are OK with the HUGE size of the Sovereigns and can fit into it's narrow sweet spot then it would be seem better to stick with them. They are a pretty rare animal which makes it even more difficult to move them out.

[kelossus]

By the time I sourced all the components to build a quasi 1400 Array it would cost more than buying a pair. Also I am left with a pair of speakers that have little resale value here in Australia, only worth the sum of their parts.

[Mr. Widget]

By the time I sourced all the components to build a quasi 1400 Array it would cost more than buying a pair. Also I am left with a pair of speakers that have little resale value here in Australia, only worth the sum of their parts.

No arguments here... many have spent more to only end up with far less.

DIY can be very rewarding, but quite costly at the same time. Costly in terms of both time and money!


Widget

[sweet212]

I intend to box up my 250ti's, return to and unbox my old 1400's. I prefer the admittedly less efficient but more polite sound of the 1400's.

The 1400's do have a subdued top end, exacerbated by too much soft furnishings in my man cave. I wish they had treble control on their tweeters.

[jblnut]

I was a longtime 250Ti owner who wanted to move on to something newer. I listened to the Array 1400 years ago and liked it quite a bit, but not enough to make the move. It was the Salon 2's that finally got my checkbook out and I'm very happy with the swap. They are much more "modern" and "hifi" in their presentation than what I was used to. What they do best (imaging, soundstage and unbelievably uncolored sound) may not be the top things on everyone's list though. In fact if you are after that "large format" sound, these may not do it for you. I just bring them into the discussion as there is a lot of JBL DNA in these and they've been gushingly reviewed for nearly a decade now.

It's well worth hearing a pair if you can....

jblnut

[doodle6]

I own, listen to, and love an assortment of vintage and modern JBLs - L110, L220, L300, 4350, Array 1400, Everest DD67000. IMO, for the money, best are Array 1400. Price aside, Everest.

Imaging on the last two is awesome.

[g_t_r]

JBL Array 1400 is far, far more superior than Ti250/L250 model, different league - simply conventional speaker cannot compete with compression drivers / horn design in newer Array model. This is different class. Arrays with proper system (I'm recommending strong Levinson amps) and clean signal (no tubes etc.), in proper room - are able to blow your mind

[cooky1257]

FWIW. After quite a few years use I'm still very happy with my active DIY take on the Array 1400 using 2206 bass mid with the SAM1/2435Be and the bottom end below 80hz taken care of by a BK XXL400 sub.
The SAM1 is very polite and un hornlike, after lots of tweaking they ended up crossed at 1050hz and in terms of mid punch are not found wanting.
I tried the SAM1 with a 2452/Be @750hz and it was this upper mid solidity that was very persuasive over the 3",crossing the 2435 higher with the 2206 filling the gap seemed to work in a similar way.