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I need to get rid of my JBL 4311s don't I?

I have a pretty decent system and can't help thinking that my 70's JBL 4311's from a radio station are holding me back.
I have them perched on some leadshot filled Target stands...toed in about eighteen inches from the wall. To my ears they sound great if the vinyl I am spinning is great. They seem to be a very revealing, flat, near field monitors. What speakers should I be checking out as replacements? I have an ARC Ref1, VPI TNT 3.5, ARC Ref Phono, ARC D130, old Cardas Hexlink interconnects. My local hifi emporium has a pair of used Quad EL63's that they are asking fifteen hundred bucks for...I listen mostly to jazz...lots of mono....and soul from the 60s...any suggestions? I am not concerned about cost but do like to get some bang for my buck. I have considered going all out for Wilson's, Revel, or B&W but really don't know where to begin. My next purchase is certain to be some kind of monoblock tube amplification but I guess that is for another thread. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
ntscdan
dr_joe
160 posts
 
If your 4311s are working fine, don't need the woofer surrounds replaced and you're enjoying them, I'd say don't spend money you don't have to spend. If you wish to try something else, I'd say stick with high sensitivity speakers like you already have: pick up a pair of JBL L300s, a nice pair of Tannoys (System 15 DMT, for e.g.) or a pair of Altec 604-8G.

If you like the overall sound of your JBLs, I don't think the other speakers you mention will offer the dynamics and excitement that you're used to.

Happy listening,

Joel.
jsujo
348 posts
 
I would check instead a pair of JBL L-96's which actually many studios preferred over the professional monitors...i find them satisfying on any music, CD or vinyl....Also, if you are considering getting tube monos in the future, I would say that anything that is dynamic, efficient and timbrally accurate is a good match,,,if you go for something that is a little thicker ot mellower, when you add the tubes, you may find yourself with too much midrange emphasis....

I think that that era JBL's with tubes is a good match,,,my L-96's are 89dB/w...and i know plenty of people who are using tubes with them...
satch
329 posts
 
The JBL's are genuine studio-monitors, and designed to reveal every detail a recording has in it. There was not much focus on soundstage and depth etc. If you change your JBL's for the Quad's..... well, it's hard to come up with more different-sounding speakers. In my view, if you already know that you are going to buy monoblock tube-amps, try to listen to them in combination with the speakers you fancy. I really like B&W's N802, who'll need a lot of power, so maybe tubes aren't right for them.
What I'm trying to say is that you should trust your own ears. If you want detail, go for some Revels, if you want low-end and incredible drive, go for the B&W's, and if you want all of the above, go for Wilson (and pay the price....). If you want perfect soundstaging.... well, there are worse things then Quad ESL 63 powered by some tube monoblocks. Find a friendly dealer and listen to 2 or 3 combinations, preferably with your own pre-amp and VPI. See what you prefer, buy and enjoy!!
xiekitchen
821 posts
 
I have two pairs of 70's JBL's I use just for fun: L-166 Horizons, and a pair of huge L-200's. Why not keep the JBL's for when you want to crank up some rock and roll and also look into a pair of very revealing timbre-correct huge soundstage minimonitors like Ensembles, Chario, ect.
I would recommend putting high end jacks on the jbls, replacing the internal wiring.
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