JBL 308P and 708P

[FairPlayMotty]

My experience with miniDSP is not positive.

What was that experience Jajo? Apparently the JBL DSP code has been hacked and verified by JBL.

I’ve owned one miniDSP and tested a few more and they never performed well. Even in passthrough mode they destroy the musicality.

Thanks Jajo, I really appreciate your advice!

[Azazello]

I'm really tempted to get rid of my 3677 and Tundras and replace them with a pair of 708's (or 308's + sub). The problem for me is that it would be impossible to keep them on a pair of Kan/109/Katan stands, since the risk of them falling down would be too big (kids and dog).

What do you guys say? Are there any other viable options available on the market? I'm thinking that the only solution might be to order custom stands with the same general construction and height as the kan stands (like the ones I have for the 3677's), but with a bottom plate and base in the correct size for 708?

[jajo]

I'm really tempted to get rid of my 3677 and Tundras and replace them with a pair of 708's (or 308's + sub). The problem for me is that it would be impossible to keep them on a pair of Kan/109/Katan stands, since the risk of them falling down would be too big (kids and dog).

What do you guys say? Are there any other viable options available on the market? I'm thinking that the only solution might be to order custom stands with the same general construction and height as the kan stands (like the ones I have for the 3677's), but with a bottom plate and base in the correct size for 708?

This is pretty much uncharted territory. The only stands I've tested with 308P are Kan and Katan-stands and they are both good but I prefer Kan. With 708P I have only used Kan-stands with great results.

Height and stability are important parameters. I had one screw loose on the top plate of the Kan-stand and it affected the performance more than any other speaker I tested.

708P has screw holes on the bottom and can easily be mounted on an arm that is attached to the wall. No idea how it will sound though and I expect it to create lots of vibrations that will be heard in the rest of the house. Wall mounting speakers is rarely the way to go.

[matthias]

Can not Linnofil build stands for 708P as he did for 3677?

Matt

[Azazello]

Can not Linnofil build stands for 708P as he did for 3677?

Matt

I've asked him, but no reply so far...

[Azazello]

This is pretty much uncharted territory. The only stands I've tested with 308P are Kan and Katan-stands and they are both good but I prefer Kan. With 708P I have only used Kan-stands with great results.

Height and stability are important parameters. I had one screw loose on the top plate of the Kan-stand and it affected the performance more than any other speaker I tested.

708P has screw holes on the bottom and can easily be mounted on an arm that is attached to the wall. No idea how it will sound though and I expect it to create lots of vibrations that will be heard in the rest of the house. Wall mounting speakers is rarely the way to go.

Got it. Thank you! I do have a pair of a rare version of the tri-point stand Linn sold for Tukan (with square profiles, not the round ones), maybe I could jerry-rig those to fit the JBL's... I was happy enough with those stands for my 109's, and as I remember I managed to get them to the same height.

[u252agz]

great find! so does the smallest most musical system look like Källa directly connected to the JBL 308p and using the volume on the speakers - does that work and do we know how this influences musicality?

I would say probably not. For one thing I would guess (though I'm not sure) that the volume control on the 308P is a DVC and would likely be much less musical than a Kikkin or especially a Giella ∏. Even if it is not a DVC it is still highly unlikely to be near as musical as those devices. Then there is also the usability aspect with the knobs on the back of each one changing volume will be a PIA and trying to keep the two channels balance as you change the volume is likely to be an even bigger PIA. But you could do it if you really wanted to.

I have now moved My Giella Pi to join the JBl 308s - it sounds great even with the sneaky (huge improvement compared to the Schitt Magni as expected ) and Giella will definitely be staying here.

Now the 308s have the preamp they deserve - I am going to have to address the streamer.

In the short term my KDS/2 will come up, as I will be unable to use it in the main system downstairs next week-( mother in law returning).

[Lego]

great find! so does the smallest most musical system look like Källa directly connected to the JBL 308p and using the volume on the speakers - does that work and do we know how this influences musicality?

I would say probably not. For one thing I would guess (though I'm not sure) that the volume control on the 308P is a DVC and would likely be much less musical than a Kikkin or especially a Giella ∏. Even if it is not a DVC it is still highly unlikely to be near as musical as those devices. Then there is also the usability aspect with the knobs on the back of each one changing volume will be a PIA and trying to keep the two channels balance as you change the volume is likely to be an even bigger PIA. But you could do it if you really wanted to.

I have now moved My Giella Pi to join the JBl 308s - it sounds great even with the sneaky (huge improvement compared to the Schitt Magni as expected ) and Giella will definitely be staying here.

Now the 308s have the preamp they deserve - I am going to have to address the streamer.

In the short term my KDS/2 will come up, as I will be unable to use it in the main system downstairs next week-( mother in law returning).

I'm not sure what you mean by sounding great .What are the 308s doing that your past setup wasn't ?

[ThomasOK]

great find! so does the smallest most musical system look like Källa directly connected to the JBL 308p and using the volume on the speakers - does that work and do we know how this influences musicality?

I would say probably not. For one thing I would guess (though I'm not sure) that the volume control on the 308P is a DVC and would likely be much less musical than a Kikkin or especially a Giella ∏. Even if it is not a DVC it is still highly unlikely to be near as musical as those devices. Then there is also the usability aspect with the knobs on the back of each one changing volume will be a PIA and trying to keep the two channels balance as you change the volume is likely to be an even bigger PIA. But you could do it if you really wanted to.

I have now moved My Giella Pi to join the JBl 308s - it sounds great even with the sneaky (huge improvement compared to the Schitt Magni as expected ) and Giella will definitely be staying here.

Now the 308s have the preamp they deserve - I am going to have to address the streamer.

Gee, I wonder how you could best address that? :-)

[macrotech2]

Gee, I wonder how you could best address that? :-)

I believe an assessment is being made by u252agz very shortly!

[FairPlayMotty]

I have now moved My Giella Pi to join the JBl 308s - it sounds great

Can you describe what "great" sounds like with the JBLs or perhaps post comparative clips please? This JBL thread would be more meaningful if we had more of an idea of what they sound like.

[Azazello]

I have now moved My Giella Pi to join the JBl 308s - it sounds great

Can you describe what "great" sounds like with the JBLs or perhaps post comparative clips please? This JBL thread would be more meaningful if we had more of an idea of what they sound like.

I assume that “great” means that they convey the emotion of the music in a convincing way. Aren’t we all supposed to judge performance by musicality in this forum?

[FairPlayMotty]

I have now moved My Giella Pi to join the JBl 308s - it sounds great

Can you describe what "great" sounds like with the JBLs or perhaps post comparative clips please? This JBL thread would be more meaningful if we had more of an idea of what they sound like.

Aren’t we all supposed to judge performance by musicality in this forum?

Of course but there are components that get polarisation on the forum (e.g. Karousel). I have a set of JBLs being delivered. In the absence of comparative clips I've no detailed idea of how they'll sound relative to the six sets of loudspeakers I own. The best impression of how they'll sound has come from the review of JBL speakers I read in a HiFi News review.

https://www.hifinews.com/content/jbl-pr ... C2%A370000

[matthias]

In the absence of comparative clips I've no detailed idea of how they'll sound relative to the six sets of loudspeakers I own.

With my 3677s I trusted jajo and other members here a few years ago and would most certainly do as well with the 708P.
I would always prefer the comments from members here to a professional review.

Matt

[FairPlayMotty]

In the absence of comparative clips I've no detailed idea of how they'll sound relative to the six sets of loudspeakers I own.

With my 3677s I trusted jajo and other members here a few years ago and would most certainly do as well with the 708P.
I would always prefer the comments from members here to a professional review.

Matt

Ditto but the lexicon used to describe the JBLs on the forum is somewhat limited.

[matthias]

Ditto but the lexicon used to describe the JBLs on the forum is somewhat limited.

Maybe you get some specific feedback about the JBLs via PM?

Matt

[markiteight]

In the absence of comparative clips I've no detailed idea of how they'll sound relative to the six sets of loudspeakers I own.

With my 3677s I trusted jajo and other members here a few years ago and would most certainly do as well with the 708P.
I would always prefer the comments from members here to a professional review.

Matt

As did I, and I'm glad I did. How they sound is irrelevant. How they convey music is all that matters, and that they do extremely well.

[FairPlayMotty]

In the absence of comparative clips I've no detailed idea of how they'll sound relative to the six sets of loudspeakers I own.

With my 3677s I trusted jajo and other members here a few years ago and would most certainly do as well with the 708P.
I would always prefer the comments from members here to a professional review.

Matt

As did I, and I'm glad I did. How they sound is irrelevant. How they convey music is all that matters, and that they do extremely well.

IME it's pretty tricky for a speaker to convey music without sound.

[markiteight]

IME it's pretty tricky for a speaker to convey music without sound.

Yep. That is obviously the case with any component. A musical component sounds the way it sounds because of the music. No more, no less.

[FairPlayMotty]

IME it's pretty tricky for a speaker to convey music without sound.

Yep. That is obviously the case with any component. A musical component sounds the way it sounds because of the music. No more, no less.

We agree!

[Lego]

In the absence of comparative clips I've no detailed idea of how they'll sound relative to the six sets of loudspeakers I own.

With my 3677s I trusted jajo and other members here a few years ago and would most certainly do as well with the 708P.
I would always prefer the comments from members here to a professional review.

Matt

As did I, and I'm glad I did. How they sound is irrelevant. How they convey music is all that matters, and that they do extremely well.

Any chance of getting clips of them playing that Billie Holiday track you posted with your previous setup ?

[markiteight]

Any chance of getting clips of them playing that Billie Holiday track you posted with your previous setup ?

Absolutely. My intention was to give everything a month (which I believe it's been) to settle in before making any more clips. Problem is we now have a parade of builders traipsing through the house making some much needed emergency repairs. Things are just too chaotic at the moment but as soon as the dust has settled (literally) I'll get some clips out.

[Lego]

Any chance of getting clips of them playing that Billie Holiday track you posted with your previous setup ?

Absolutely. My intention was to give everything a month (which I believe it's been) to settle in before making any more clips. Problem is we now have a parade of builders traipsing through the house making some much needed emergency repairs. Things are just too chaotic at the moment but as soon as the dust has settled (literally) I'll get some clips out.

Yes indeed of course,thanks

[u252agz]

I have now moved My Giella Pi to join the JBl 308s - it sounds great

Can you describe what "great" sounds like with the JBLs or perhaps post comparative clips please? This JBL thread would be more meaningful if we had more of an idea of what they sound like.

Hi

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you - I have been distracted with Kalla 007 which is currently with The JBLs ( and Giella Pi) .

As Azazello correctly said - by ‘sounds great ‘ I mean musical and (always) use the tune dem method.

The JBLs are beautifully balanced and coherent speakers with great bass ( more than enough for me in a 5x4m room) and a fantastic midrange and treble. And all this appears to gel into an effortless and quite addictive output, with the ability to really show just exactly what the source is getting out of the music.

When I compared them with my 242s, using LP12 , Sagatun monos and Tundra monos they are different In nature ( in a good way) but just as musical and enjoyable - I am fairly sure that with optimal installation , they are more musical than the 2242s - which I am very fond of and will be keeping.

With Kalla and Giella Pi they show just how great these two units are and leave you wanting for nothing.

In terms of value for money- even with the import costs from the USA, they must be one of the bargain of the century.

[FairPlayMotty]

I have now moved My Giella Pi to join the JBl 308s - it sounds great

Can you describe what "great" sounds like with the JBLs or perhaps post comparative clips please? This JBL thread would be more meaningful if we had more of an idea of what they sound like.

Hi

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you - I have been distracted with Kalla 007 which is currently with The JBLs ( and Giella Pi) .

As Azazello correctly said - by ‘sounds great ‘ I mean musical and (always) use the tune dem method.

The JBLs are beautifully balanced and coherent speakers with great bass ( more than enough for me in a 5x4m room) and a fantastic midrange and treble. And all this appears to gel into an effortless and quite addictive output, with the ability to really show just exactly what the source is getting out of the music.

When I compared them with my 242s, using LP12 , Sagatun monos and Tundra monos they are different In nature ( in a good way) but just as musical and enjoyable - I am fairly sure that with optimal installation , they are more musical than the 2242s - which I am very fond of and will be keeping.

With Kalla and Giella Pi they show just how great these two units are and leave you wanting for nothing.

In terms of value for money- even with the import costs from the USA, they must be one of the bargain of the century.

Thanks for your description!