Article: KEF LS50 (David) Versus JBL 4722 Cinema (Goliath) Speaker Comparison with Binaural Recordings

[EMA]

Hello
Congratulations on your article!
I wish to acquire the JBL 4722, and would like to be able to hear them without the "Rythmik" sub. Did you make the sound recording?
In your photographs, I believe I recognize the 3739 boxes (intended for the 3722) because the speakers are very black. Can you confirm that these are the 4739 (original bass from the 4722)?

Please excuse my rough English, I am French

[mikewxyz]

This is fabulous!  I’ve been wondering what well set-up subwoofers might sound like in my system and now I have some idea.  I was surprised how close these speaker configurations sounded.  Yes, I can hear differences but it is not night and day.  I think it was easier to distinguish between the JBL and KEF than between KEF with and without subs.  Although, different music selections might highlight these difference more and I would imagine that the differences would be greater still listening in your room.  Thanks for doing this.

[mitchco]

@EMA specs here: https://jblpro.com/en/products/4722-4722n

 

[EMA]

Hello
Congratulations on your article!
I wish to acquire the JBL 4722, and would like to be able to hear them without the "Rythmik" sub. Did you make the sound recording?
In your photographs, I believe I recognize the 3739 boxes (intended for the 3722) because the speakers are very black. Can you confirm that these are the 4739 (original bass from the 4722)?

 

Hello mitchco
- Yes, thank you, I know this documentation. And as you can see, the speaker membranes are lighter than yours. In addition, it seems to me that they are ribbed, not yours.

- Did you make a sound recording of the JBL without sub ?

[mitchco]

Hi @EMA the pics are from the old versions of the woofers, but the specs are the same. Perhaps this thread on AVSforum may be of interest: https://www.avsforum.com/forum/89-speakers/1925586-just-purchased-pair-jbl-4722n-speakers.html

 

No, I did not make a recording of just the JBL. However, I used an XO of 40 Hz to the subs, so other than the last low bass octave, the recording will sound the same without them.

[EMA]

Thanks for this feedback mitchco.
I think I'm going to buy them anyway ... (It is almost impossible to hear them in France). I will try to use them without sub, just with a small equalization at 30Hz if necessary.
I hope the boomers will be gray ... for a better wife acceptance factor (waf) this is not a joke !

[mitchco]

Hi @EMA I am pretty sure they will be black drivers... Also, you should be aware there are two versions of these speakers, one with a passive crossover network and one without. The one without means you need to "biamp" these speakers. Finally, I have modified mine with different JBL compression drivers. I would not recommend using the "stock" compression drivers. Please see the AVSForum link in my previous reply as you should know what you are getting into...

[EMA]

Hi @mitchco , thank you very much for your answer.
For the choice of my low frequency transducers, I hesitate between the JBL 4739 (equipping the 4722) and the 5739 (equipping the 5732) with its 2 x 2226H. I specify that I buy for the moment only the low section (on active filter (LPF = 200Hz) and amplifier), which I want to couple with my existing speakers (Eve Audio), and that the system will evolve gradually, but without sub-bass.
My listening room is 3.8x7.6x2.9m.
Have you ever heard the 5739 and would it be a good choice?

[mitchco]

The JBL 2226H are good old school 15" drivers. The JBL 2265H in the 4739 is the modern neo driver with dual voice coil. I have heard both over the years, I prefer the more transient response and smoother midrange of the 2265H. But that is just my preference, yours may be different. Both sound good.

[EMA]

Thank you for your answer.
* Concerning the 4739, the JBL technical documentation says that they are equipped with 2 x 265H-2. This reference does exist (MMS = 103g, BL = 19.7). Perhaps there has been a change of reference because the 2020 commercial documentation says that they are indeed 2 x 2065H-2 ?
* As long as we are in the comparisons between identical dimension boxes (case 4509LF) what do you think of the M115-8A speakers that equip the 3722 and 3730 systems ?
Their membranes are light : only 53g vs 112g for 2265H and 98g for 2226H.
The 2265H and 2226H have an identical BL factor (19.5-19.2) on the other hand, that of the M115-8A is less good (13.9) ... but the numbers do not say everything !

[mitchco]

@EMA I suggest asking http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/activity.php

 

[asdf1000]

Hi @mitchco

 

Do you have the impulse response measurement of your LS50 + 2 x subs, using Audiolense digital EQ?

 

I assume it came out looking pretty close to perfect?

[asdf1000]

On 1/5/2019 at 2:39 PM, mitchco said:

You can find the amps I used in other articles...

 

Hi mitchco, did you use your Crown or Nelson Pass amp with the LS50 in this review?

 

Also, what amp are you using now with your LS50 in nearfield setup?

 

Thanks!

[STC]

Hi @mitchco, did you use correction filter for the binaural recordings with 3Dio mics? Or these recordings without any EQ at all for correction? The 3Dio mic response is 60Hz to 20kHz but I am not sure if their flat as I can find their measurement chart. 

 

Thank you. 

[mitchco]

Hi @STC, I did not use the 3Dio mics. I used these ones: https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/objective-audeze-lcd-4z-headphone-review-with-measurements-r839/#1

 

 

Kind regards,

Mitch

[Iansr]

Great idea Mitch and very interesting results.  Toole’s research certainly seems to tell us a lot about what makes a speaker sound “good”, but I suspect that there is still a lot to learn.  Further experiments using this kind of methodology might well provide greater insights and point the way to establishing more of the key parameters for great speaker performance.