Hi Ari,
You can attempt to set the loudspeaker by ear. However this is not a simple two way loudspeaker.
There are four drivers in each enclosure so you need to set a total of eight driver levels. This is so they not only have the correct tonal balance but also match left and right precisely.
The Lpads are not calibrated reliably for any kind of accurate adjustment. They never were and they never will be. References provided below for Rane and JBL guide to level adjustments. You will note these references are over 30 years old. In recent times free down load software such as REW and Dayton Audio test equipment eclipses these old style spectrum analysers and are now affordable to diy audio amateurs. A foundation skill set and understanding of measurements and the internal loudspeaker crossover is required. Otherwise your walking in the dark and might get lost.
I can offer you technical guidance in obtaining useful measurements and how to set the levels within 1.00 dB.
Most spectrum analysers only have resolution of +-3 dB and are used for pro sound reinforcement setup. A loudspeaker studio monitor requires a resolution of +-2.00 dB or better for accurate adjustments.
Imagine the left loudspeaker is set within a tolerance of +-2.00 dB and the midrange is actually set at +2.00 dB the resolution of the analyser. The right loudspeaker midrange is set to -2.00 dB which is within the resolution of the analyser. But you have a discrepancy of 4.00 dB in midrange level with the left and right midrange drivers. This will result in a tilt in the tonal balance of each enclosure in opposite directions and displacement of the stereo image.
This situation also applies to the horn and the slot radiator and the woofers where careful balance of both channels had not been tested. Using specific techniques high resolution level testing can be made. This requires a deeper understanding of the techniques involved and is beyond the scope of posting on forums.
The notion that you can do that reliably by ear is not realistic and users have struggled with this for decades.
I am not going to waste any more of my time on this kind of topic on a public forum. It’s relatively involved and requires a detailed explanation.
Those who are serious and invested in their project and want to get it right without trawling through post after post of opinions based on opinions night after night or for months contact me directly.
I’m not interested in a debate, an argument when there’s nothing to debate or argue. Unfortunately there are those who’s sole cause is to engage in anti social behaviour rather than collaborate and work together. The moderators here have a view it’s a jungle and that what for the problem to get out of hand before dealing with it. Nor am l going to be the subject of ongoing criticism, trolling and agitation by those who are here only to get off on abuse towards myself and others. The day RMC arrived on these forums he declared non of us had any idea of what we were talking about and made a vow to make this place a toxic culture with personal attacks towards Greg Timber’s, myself snd others. This guy is a narcissistic personality. It’s not okay and it will never be okay. I don’t have to put up with scene where those types of people are welcome.
Here in Australia we have laws against those behaviours and the government has taken Facebook head on to deal with that and many other issue related to online social media. The USA is riddled with social divisions, racism and other appalling crimes. The people behind this place are are obviously tolerant of those kinds of behaviours because they live in it and they have grown to accept. There’s no respect.
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“Why have l spent five years trying to figure something out by ear?”
That was the comment from a hi end project loudspeaker user in China after l spent an afternoon with him.
While there are a number of contributions to the forums it’s not an environment where you can ask specific questions relating to your specific scenario and get one answer from on poster that will cover everything correctly. It’s a really inefficient means of communication. What you end up with is a lot of generalities that don’t address you questions.
So why do that?
The other guy here has no direct experience with these systems nor has he demonstrated any detailed understanding of these systems. What you get is read this page in this book and then you will understand.
That’s absolutely rubbish because you still don’t have the skills to use the tools for measurements or a detailed understanding of exactly how these things work. They are really complicated things to figure out and work on.
The other guy isn’t doing any work. Instead he’s handing the problem back to you to figure out for your self. Your on your own.
Reference to a document is NOT proof that you are a credible source of information or an understanding of the question and the answer being raised.
This guy’s posts are only generalisations and opinions. He’s only here to make a noise.
That’s why the Ferrari owner goes to a Ferrari service centre instead of calling Lubemobile so he knows it’s going to be worked on by a Ferrari trained mechanic.
The approach to moderation here is very laid back and that in itself is not conducive to a place that was originally intended as a factual source of information on JBL legacy systems. Most of the truly invested people in this area have left and or no longer choose to post here. I can reliably point to that as fact given the volume on user enquires l receive annually.
They have the responsibility to lift their game or just get out of this type of forum. Sell to someone who is invested in making it work. There are other excellent forums much larger th as n this such as Diyaudio.com that have gone from strength to strength in the way they manage forum membership while the Lansing Heritage Forum remain dormant.
At this point in time l an touring in Outback Australia where internet coverage is virtually non existent. I hardly have time or the means to post on the LHS.
See edits to content and attachments- measurements
Reference to level adjustment Rane, JBL
https://www.ranecommercial.com/legac...ac23bman03.pdf
Pages 14-15 level adjustments
https://vdocuments.mx/reader/full/jbl-5235-manual
Section 3-5,3-6, 3-7 level adjustment