Anyone experienced JBL's K2 S9800?


There is such a dearth of commentary on this speaker anywhere, and yet I have some reason to believe that this may be one of the finest speakers currently in production. I recently was able to audition a pair in a most unusual setting--an art gallery.

The speakers were raised up off the floor on pedestals (perhaps 18 inches) with no walls or corners within 10 feet or more. All the front-end equipment, including amplifiers, were Mark Levinson, but I later learned that in order to hide the speaker cabling, there was approx. 80 feet of speaker cable running up vertical columns and then across the ceiling and down other columns in order to reach the speakers. Now that's gotta hurt.

Nonetheless, during that audition, I was blown away by this speaker's ability to resolve complex orchestral passages, its dynamic capability, and its overall neutrality (though it was distinctly lacking in warmth), but I was also completely non-plussed by a lack of transparency that I heard in two separate piano recordings of the highest quality (the pianos sounded muffled and much low level detail was missing). I found this mix of good and bad to be most unusual.

Is there anyone out there who owns these speakers and could comment on their performance relative to others they have owned or listened to? I have a feeling this one may be a real sleeper that, by virtue of its price tag, has been overlooked by most. If I could resolve the transparency issue, I just might blow my life's savings a buy a pair. Any commentary from anyone with actual experience would be most welcomed and appreciated. Thanks!
theloveman
Dan,

Thanks for the link to the review in Ultra Audio. I had actually seen that review before arranging to go listen to the K2s. I wonder if that is the same review that Jond was referring to? I believe the Ultra review and the Hi Fi Choice review were written by the same reviewer, Paul Messenger.

Have you ever tried bi-amping your K2s? I'm completely unfamiliar with the JBL S800 monoblock amps you mentioned, but those on the bottom with the CJs on the mid and tweet should be AGAIG (as good as it gets).

You mentioned Quad 989s. Have you ever owned the Quads or spent significant time with them? If so, do you feel the K2s have a comparable level of transparency? I currently own Beveridge 2SW electrostats, and to my ears, these are the most transparent speakers I've experienced. Unfortunately they are old and not entirely up to their level of performance when in their prime--thus my quest for new speakers and amplifiers. The only dynamic driver speakers I've heard that can compete, more or less, with the Beveridges in transparency are the Linkwitz Orion and the Zu loudspeakers.

BTW, the K2s I auditioned were SEs done in Zebrawood. The finish is absolutely gorgeous. JBL has done a superb job in the fit and finish department on the K2s.

Thanks again for your comments. What part of the country do you live in? Just curious if there might be an opportunity to hook up for another audition.

Dean
Dean,
The HiFi+ K2 review is in issue no. 21, from January 2003. You should be able to order the issue online at www.hifiplus.com. Happy listening!
Does the woofers handle up to 800 hz like the rest of JBL's Line? ( Not Good )
Dean,
My apologies, I just looked at the UltraAudio review, and the reviewer, Paul Messenger, is the same guy who did the HiFi+ review. Therefore I would assume that it's pretty much the same. That being said I really think that HiFi+ is a great magazine, the best audio mag out there for my money. Happy listening!
Jond,
Thanks for the follow-up on the review. That makes 3 separate reviews in three separate publications by the same reviewer on the same speaker. It would have been nice to have had someone else's perspective in a formal review.

Have you ever had the opportunity to audition the K2s yourself?

Dean