JBL S38II: Superior Sound for a (Sturdy) Bookshelf
Written: Aug 20 '02 (Updated Oct 16 '02)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
| Durability: |
|
|
| Flatness: |
 |
|
| Imaging: |
|
|
| Overall Sound: |
|
|
|
Pros: Very musical, very precise bookshelf speakers.
Cons: Oversized for a bookshelf speaker. Difficult to place on stands.
The Bottom Line: JBL is back with a vengeance with the Studio series, and the S38 II "bookshelf" speaker is more than worth a listen-to.
|
|
|
| m001's Full Review: JBL S38II Main / Stereo Speaker |
JBL's reputation in consumer speakers has taken a hit over the Net in the past few years, although few argue that they continue to produce sensational speakers for professional/movie theater/studio use. What I've always liked about their consumer line is that the "JBL sound," whatever that is, is particularly well-suited to people who need to cover a wide range of dynamics in their home audio/video systems. That is, they're great if you listen to a wide variety of music and you need killer 5.1 theater sound as well.
According to their press, JBL has adapted some the of design philosophy of their professional studio monitors for the Studio series of consumer speakers. The S38 II, which replaces the S38, is a 3-way (8" woofer driver), front-ported bookshelf speaker, sold in mirror-image pairs (like studio monitors). Well, whatever JBL did, in their (reportedly) amazing design facility in Northridge CA, they did exceptionally well. The S38 II is a top-notch, if top-heavy, "bookshelf" speaker that have really impressed me.
These are very capable music speakers for 2-channel listening; when compared with JBL's N38 II's they seem somewhat laid-back but with a larger soundstage (the N38 II is also a 3-way speaker with an 8" woofer driver, but it's a floor-standing design). What surprised me upon initial listening was the bass response of the S38 II's. The bass track of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue remaster seemed denser and beefier and much more alive than I had recalled. I don't care for subwoofers while listening to music, and, with good tweaking of your amplifier, you probably won't need one for most occasions with the S38 II's.
Dolby Digital soundtracks also shine with the S38 II's. The Usual Suspects was rich and vivid, with a broad soundstage and great dynamics, during intense action, during dialogue and during swells of the soundtrack. There was nothing brittle or fatiguing about the S38 II's, and the "brightness" that some associate with JBL seems to have been reconfigured as sonic detail--there was nothing harsh or in-your-face about the sound.
Be warned: these are big speakers for "bookshelf" models. You'll need a reliable shelf or a reliable stand for them; they're not for wall-mounting. Interestingly, I tried floor placement for them and found fairly limited decline in the size of the soundstage, a testament to their thoughtful design. They can be oriented vertically or horizontally (like studio monitors), and the tweeters can "face in" or "face out" (they're mirror-images, not identical speakers). Each tweek will modify the sound, to adapt to different rooms and different ears.
I'm sold on the Studio series; for mass-consumer speakers, the S38 II's hold their own against anything at or above their price range. These are terrific speakers; JBL has a real winner on their hands.
Stereophile and Sound and Vision both gave the S38 II's pretty stellar write-ups. Seek them out for detailed specs and rigorous testing--I think you'll be surprised at what they've reported, particularly if "audiophile" and "JBL" seem to be contradictory concepts (they're not).
Used for auditioning: JBL S38 II (left and right), JBL N Center (center), Sony STR-DA1ES receiver and Harman Kardon 225 receiver, Radio Shack 16-guage speaker cable with gold-plated banana connectors, Acoustic Research interconnects.
Enjoy...
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 299.99
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
m001
|
|
Location: NYC, New York
Reviews written: 151
Trusted by: 43 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.