laurie
01-08-2010, 03:32 PM
Its something I've always wondered about. I've read many times over the years that speakers manufactured for European markets are "tuned" differently - usually taken to mean that living rooms are generally smaller in Europe (Britain anyway) and therefore speakers can have a slightly dry tone. As a result bi-amping and bi-wiring are quite common among specialist Hifi equipment.
I bought my speakers 20 years ago (1989). I've always thought they sound better with age, like a fine wine, I've never felt the need to replace them with something "better" or more expensive (I've listened to many speakers over the years including Monitor Audio, ProAc, BMW, Epos - all excellent brands). During the late 1980s the speakers were still being shipped over from the States. I remember 10 years ago when I was looking to replace my pre-amplfier, a well known local Hifi Shop near me called Billy Vee told me back then that if I wanted to replace my speakers I would have to pay £1000 to get the sound I was used to. Ten years on I like to joke that I would have to pay £2000 now to get the sound I want....hehe.
What I like is the open soundstage, the often holographic soundstage, deep bass but fast bass right in the heart of the mix adaptable to any type of music or voice broadcast and capable of sub woofer dynamics when called for (synth bass, drum solos etc). I have used these speakers for parties and all sorts and I have never heard them sound stressed in 20 years no matter the volume level, in fact the louder they get, the clearer they sound plus they also sound great at very low late night levels too. I have also seen them used as studio monitors, one studio in Sheffield uses them.
I saw on Google today JBL TLX 14s that were made in Denmark (during the 1990s?), a guy from a forum posted them. Here are the images http://img.muare.vn/ntuonghn/ResizeofRotationofSNC00200.jpg
http://www.phenom.vn/upload/2009-04-11/8467276406f2c3fd5c31bc8d223d72c15774.jpg. It just got me thinking and wondering whether both TLX 14s would sound the same or have a different presentation. Obviously I would have to hear them in the same system but as I said the specialist Hifi mags here in Britain have always emphasized the differences between speakers manufactured in Europe and the States.
Here are my TLX 14s
I wonder if there is anyone out there who has been able to do a like for like comparison of the same or similar speakers but manufactured in different countries or catering for different environments? Or if you have any thoughts about where speakers are manufactured taking into account slightly different methods of production, raw materials etc etc.
I bought my speakers 20 years ago (1989). I've always thought they sound better with age, like a fine wine, I've never felt the need to replace them with something "better" or more expensive (I've listened to many speakers over the years including Monitor Audio, ProAc, BMW, Epos - all excellent brands). During the late 1980s the speakers were still being shipped over from the States. I remember 10 years ago when I was looking to replace my pre-amplfier, a well known local Hifi Shop near me called Billy Vee told me back then that if I wanted to replace my speakers I would have to pay £1000 to get the sound I was used to. Ten years on I like to joke that I would have to pay £2000 now to get the sound I want....hehe.
What I like is the open soundstage, the often holographic soundstage, deep bass but fast bass right in the heart of the mix adaptable to any type of music or voice broadcast and capable of sub woofer dynamics when called for (synth bass, drum solos etc). I have used these speakers for parties and all sorts and I have never heard them sound stressed in 20 years no matter the volume level, in fact the louder they get, the clearer they sound plus they also sound great at very low late night levels too. I have also seen them used as studio monitors, one studio in Sheffield uses them.
I saw on Google today JBL TLX 14s that were made in Denmark (during the 1990s?), a guy from a forum posted them. Here are the images http://img.muare.vn/ntuonghn/ResizeofRotationofSNC00200.jpg
http://www.phenom.vn/upload/2009-04-11/8467276406f2c3fd5c31bc8d223d72c15774.jpg. It just got me thinking and wondering whether both TLX 14s would sound the same or have a different presentation. Obviously I would have to hear them in the same system but as I said the specialist Hifi mags here in Britain have always emphasized the differences between speakers manufactured in Europe and the States.
Here are my TLX 14s
I wonder if there is anyone out there who has been able to do a like for like comparison of the same or similar speakers but manufactured in different countries or catering for different environments? Or if you have any thoughts about where speakers are manufactured taking into account slightly different methods of production, raw materials etc etc.