Ntscdan, you have the basis for an outstanding audio playback system. If you did not, I would not have been so quick to recommend you change your speakers. If you think your system sounds great w/ the JBL 4311 (which are not a bad speaker, but they are a 25 year old design), then you will be thoroughly amazed by what can be acheived with an up to date speaker design. There has been significant progress in speaker materials since the 4311 first left the JBL factory. Witness the carbon fiber construction of the JBL LSR series with their molded tweeter wave guide. My suggestion is to hook up with a good dealer who will let you do at home auditions. Try a number of different brands and models and compare them to your 4311s. Some may not sound better, but I would truly be surprised if you quickly didn't hit upon some model that makes the 4311 sound relatively unlistenable. The 4311 are holding your system back.
I am nuts to use these speakers?
I fell into the world of "high end" audio by accident. I've always had mediocre Japanese gear with the exception of a Thorens 125 turntable and Altec Lansing speakers. Then I bought a used ARC Ref1 and an ARC Phono 2, tweaked the 25 year old Thorens with a new Goldring cartridge and it changed everything. I also picked up a used ARC CD1 but vinyl sounded so good that I went off the deep end and bought a VPI TNT 3.5 and replaced the Phono 2 with a ARC Ref Phone Preamp. My power amp is an ARC D130. I am using a pair of JBL 4311 studio monitors for speakers and assorted Cardas Hexlink for cables. I think the system sounds great. The JBL's are sitting on some lead shot filled target stands which also have spikes. My room has a concrete floor and I have separate power outlets run from the fuse box for all the gear. Anyhow I think that the speakers which I paid 300 bucks for from a radio station could probably use an upgrade considering the rest of the system. BUT I think they sound great. Basically if the vinyl is great it sounds great, if it is lousy vinyl the speakers seem unforgiving. ANY SUGGESTIONS on where to start looking? There seem to be a million speaker lines out there so any advice is appreciated.
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- 21 posts total
- 21 posts total