JBL 308P and 708P

[Azazello]

For the same reason I use 708P and I doubt that I would be much happier with a fully loaded 4675C system in my normal sized living room.

The thing I miss from 3677/TM is the physical feeling of someone playing an instrument. The 308’s just don’t give me that at all. Would you say that 708 will bring that back?

[jajo]

For the same reason I use 708P and I doubt that I would be much happier with a fully loaded 4675C system in my normal sized living room.

The thing I miss from 3677/TM is the physical feeling of someone playing an instrument. The 308’s just don’t give me that at all. Would you say that 708 will bring that back?

708P is closer to the "live" feeling of 3677 and other JBL Pro Cinema-speakers thanks to the better drivers and having a real compression driver and horn (that is almost as big as the one in 3677).

However the 15" bass driver in 3677 sounds very different. It has less low bass extension but a much more powerful midbass with more "slam" and "attack". This undoubtedly gives more live feeling. I think perhaps this is what you are missing when you are listening to 308P.

But overall 708P is a better and more musical speaker than 3677 with a more pleasant sound in midrange/treble (3677 can sound a bit harsh in the lower range of the horn). 708P can play incredibly loud (308P cannot) so it could perhaps be worth a try. But from what I am reading, I believe you need 15" bass drivers and a real CF-driver+horn to be happy. 708P will only give you half of that.

[FairPlayMotty]

Indeed.

For the same reason I use 708P and I doubt that I would be much happier with a fully loaded 4675C system in my normal sized living room.

I like simplicity and as few boxes as possible for my apartment setup.

Same here. Getting much joy from the 308s and a subwoofer.

If anyone in the UK wants to know about the £850 bundle pm me.

Two speakers and a subwoofer.

Is the bundle the speakers in the picture? Not stereo pairs?

[jajo]

Two speakers and a subwoofer.

Ah, so two different speakers and a subwoofer. Would have been better if it was a stereo pair of the same speaker. :)

[ThomasOK]

Looks like markiteight is a lucky man. Currently on eBay out of Atlanta, GA is this sale of the JBL 4645C with two left and they look pretty clean.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255054215121#shpCntId

You would need crossovers, but that seams like a reasonable price from what Jajo says about their perfromance.

[FairPlayMotty]

Two speakers and a subwoofer.

Ah, so two different speakers and a subwoofer. Would have been better if it was a stereo pair of the same speaker. :)

Matching pair plus subwoofer now sold.

[FairPlayMotty]

708P is closer to the "live" feeling of 3677 and other JBL Pro Cinema-speakers thanks to the better drivers and having a real compression driver and horn (that is almost as big as the one in 3677).

However the 15" bass driver in 3677 sounds very different. It has less low bass extension but a much more powerful midbass with more "slam" and "attack". This undoubtedly gives more live feeling. I think perhaps this is what you are missing when you are listening to 308P.

But overall 708P is a better and more musical speaker than 3677 with a more pleasant sound in midrange/treble (3677 can sound a bit harsh in the lower range of the horn). 708P can play incredibly loud (308P cannot) so it could perhaps be worth a try. But from what I am reading, I believe you need 15" bass drivers and a real CF-driver+horn to be happy. 708P will only give you half of that.

Thanks Jajo once again. That comparative description helped a heap for me.

[Azazello]

Thanks Jajo once again. That comparative description helped a heap for me.

+1 ☺️

[Azazello]

Two speakers and a subwoofer.

Ah, so two different speakers and a subwoofer. Would have been better if it was a stereo pair of the same speaker. :)

But still. I believe it’s a fair price for only the subwoofer (it’s a 4645?) if it’s not in bad shape. And since 4675 and 4670 share the same bass module you only have to get another horn.

If they are within driving distance it might be worth it…?

[jajo]

Looks like markiteight is a lucky man. Currently on eBay out of Atlanta, GA is this sale of the JBL 4645C with two left and they look pretty clean.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255054215121#shpCntId

You would need crossovers, but that seams like a reasonable price from what Jajo says about their perfromance.

Incredible price. I would buy them for spare parts in a second if it wasn't for the shipping.

[FairPlayMotty]

Have you heard the 705P Jajo?

I read Floyd Toole's account of a demonstration of the M2, 708P and 705P. Supposedly the audience thought they were listening to the M2. They asked when they could hear the smaller boxes. They were already listening to the 705P :)

[markiteight]

Looks like markiteight is a lucky man.

How do you figure that, then?

Currently on eBay out of Atlanta, GA is this sale of the JBL 4645C with two left and they look pretty clean.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255054215121#shpCntId

You would need crossovers, but that seams like a reasonable price from what Jajo says about their perfromance.

Unfortunately I don't even have the space for a 310S, let alone that monstrosity! It's too bad, though...would be fun to give them a go.

[jajo]

Have you heard the 705P Jajo?

I read Floyd Toole's account of a demonstration of the M2, 708P and 705P. Supposedly the audience thought they were listening to the M2. They asked when they could hear the smaller boxes. They were already listening to the 705P :)

Yes, I actually bought 705P over a year ago but decided not to keep them.

I think the main issue was that I didn't give them enough time. 7-series sound pretty bad straight out of the box. They need a week or so to fully come to life and continue to improve for months.

I have heard burned-in 705P after that and they did improve quite a bit from what I heard in my own system.

705P is tonally very similar to 708P on normal listening levels but musically worse across the entire volume range, especially in the bass which is another level on 708P. The CF driver is the same with a smaller horn. 705P can play insanely loud for their size but since the HF is more powerful than the LF, it does not give the same "big speaker" feeling as 708P does when maxing them out. They are more "bright" sounding which to me gives a little more listening fatigue - something 708P has no problems with whatsoever. Also, voices in both music and movies have more "body" with 708P and gives that crisp, clear, emotional dialogue like being in a real cinema.

Also, 708P goes noticeably deeper which was one of my reasons for upgrading from 308 (watching many movies and no space for a subwoofer).

I have heard the M2s and I can absolutely understand why people compare the 7-series with them. They share the same technology and are tuned to perform similar. I would still hold 708P a bit higher than M2, mainly because the external amps that are recommended to use with M2 are not top performing from my experience. Using M2 with Tundra Mono and an analogue filter would be very interesting. I don't doubt that it would be a real knock out.

[Azazello]

The dynamics of my 308s has improved dramatically (easily evaluated by turning on Netflix)! I suspect the guy that had them before me only listened on low volume and they were not at all broken in when I got them.

Beginning to think I’ll be happy with the 708s after all … Just wish I didn’t have to wait for over two months for them.

[Discodave]

Can you describe the improvements while listening to music? Ta

[Azazello]

Can you describe the improvements while listening to music? Ta

The smile on my face is back.

[Discodave]

👍

[FairPlayMotty]

Set of 305P on the way for the secondary system.

Now for the selling :)

[Azazello]

Ok.

308P are insanely good. Clearly better than TM/3677 (although I still miss them on some recordings). It’s nuts.

My pair must have been more or less new, and apparently they need quite some time to break in.

I have made some adjustments during the weekend, tightening some screws and adding nuts on the stands and so on but that’s not it. I just placed them on the floor just do double check and it’s another speaker altogether than what I had a few days ago.

Sorry about the fuss. I just assumed they where used since, well, I bought used speakers.

It’s so good I find myself considering not buying 708 (although I will since I can 😂).

[FairPlayMotty]

Ok.

308P are insanely good. Clearly better than TM/3677 (although I still miss them on some recordings). It’s nuts.

My pair must have been more or less new, and apparently they need quite some time to break in.

I have made some adjustments during the weekend, tightening some screws and adding nuts on the stands and so on but that’s not it. I just placed them on the floor just do double check and it’s another speaker altogether than what I had a few days ago.

Sorry about the fuss. I just assumed they where used since, well, I bought used speakers.

It’s so good I find myself considering not buying 708 (although I will since I can 😂).

They're brilliant!

[Spannko]

Ok.

308P are insanely good. Clearly better than TM/3677 (although I still miss them on some recordings). It’s nuts.

My pair must have been more or less new, and apparently they need quite some time to break in.

I have made some adjustments during the weekend, tightening some screws and adding nuts on the stands and so on but that’s not it. I just placed them on the floor just do double check and it’s another speaker altogether than what I had a few days ago.

Sorry about the fuss. I just assumed they where used since, well, I bought used speakers.

It’s so good I find myself considering not buying 708 (although I will since I can 😂).

What do they sound like when they’re not fully run in?

[FairPlayMotty]

What do they sound like when they’re not fully run in?

I can't answer your question, mine were fully run in. But getting these for silly money is a surreal audio experience. I questioned my initial impressions for a few days. Could they really be better than extremely good floorstanders and two Linn power amps? The answer was yes, it was no contest. That they allow a turntable to perform seamlessly with an ADC/DAC circuit is a tribute to the engineering.

[Azazello]

Ok.

308P are insanely good. Clearly better than TM/3677 (although I still miss them on some recordings). It’s nuts.

My pair must have been more or less new, and apparently they need quite some time to break in.

I have made some adjustments during the weekend, tightening some screws and adding nuts on the stands and so on but that’s not it. I just placed them on the floor just do double check and it’s another speaker altogether than what I had a few days ago.

Sorry about the fuss. I just assumed they where used since, well, I bought used speakers.

It’s so good I find myself considering not buying 708 (although I will since I can 😂).

What do they sound like when they’re not fully run in?

Muffled. No dynamics at all.

[Lego]

Ok.

308P are insanely good. Clearly better than TM/3677 (although I still miss them on some recordings). It’s nuts.

My pair must have been more or less new, and apparently they need quite some time to break in.

I have made some adjustments during the weekend, tightening some screws and adding nuts on the stands and so on but that’s not it. I just placed them on the floor just do double check and it’s another speaker altogether than what I had a few days ago.

Sorry about the fuss. I just assumed they where used since, well, I bought used speakers.

It’s so good I find myself considering not buying 708 (although I will since I can 😂).

Please buy them Azazello so you can describe to us the ~£3500 improvement over 308Ps.

[Lego]

Can you describe the improvements while listening to music? Ta

The smile on my face is back.

Do they remind you of an early 90s lp12 ,a bit like hearing the album for the first time,or more like replicating the highest enjoyment period !?