JBL's with a bad rap.

[kve777 6,888]

I just picked up a pair of JBL J350A's. Local GoodWill Thrift Store for $19.99/pr. I almost said no, too crappy, as I remember reading reviews of the J series being consumer grade fodder for the big box stores and lacked any redeeming qualities for the $325.00 each they were sold for back in the mid 80's. I hooked them up to a Receiver 900, which is my go-to tester now, and as expected, they made no sounds at all.

        oh wait! The 900 was missing it's jumpers. Duh!

OK, now sound, but badly distorted...

         it's the 900 again! A dirty Tape Monitor switch.

Finally, I have a clean signal to the JBL's. Put my ear to each driver, damn! They all work! Not even a dented dust cap!

 

Hey, these things sound pretty good. No, really good. Much, much better than one would expect, based on those reviews. Clean, clear highs, solid mids, decent bass. SCORE!

 

 

So-If you happen upon a pair of J-series, give 'em a listen, they might surprise you. 

 

The ONLY reason I bought them- 

  I really needed to find a pair of speakers for a system I'm putting together for a local record store where I might be able to move some gear out of, if the owner isn't too greedy. I figure I'll put in a system, replace each component as they sell. I know I'll need a TT, preamp, amp, CDP, tape deck, maybe even an EQ, along with the speakers. I just don't want to put really good gear in until I know how it's going to go. If I have a whole system in there and I'm into it for under $100.00, I won't be out much if it gets 'lost' or wrecked. These JBL's will be perfect.

[zumbini 6,147]

Nice score Kevin. Hope your plan to move some gear works out.

[chiroacademy 833]

Vey nice indeed!

[massastan 50]

Nice set of drivers

[danowood 2,167]

Very nice score Kev. I would have jumped all over them for my shop.

 

[4krow 6,605]

  Sometimes I miss my JBL 4343 speakers. Fact is, I haven't owned a house big enough for them in years. 

[kve777 6,888]

  Sometimes I miss my JBL 4343 speakers. Fact is, I haven't owned a house big enough for them in years. 

Those are many steps up from the J350A's!

[4krow 6,605]

No doubt, but they were also many pounds heavier (at 175 lbs. each!) than a few other models as well.I moved too often to justify it all. Interestingly, they never got the bass that you might expect that they should. Even Mac amps didn't bring out the bass that I wanted. Anyway, I was very lucky to own them living in WY. A guy had bought them a few years before, and had them totally hooked up incorrectly. I bought his entire SAE/JBL system and found that the electronic crossover was really messed up. A lucky break for me.

[kve777 6,888]

No doubt, but they were also many pounds heavier (at 175 lbs. each!) than a few other models as well.I moved too often to justify it all. Interestingly, they never got the bass that you might expect that they should. Even Mac amps didn't bring out the bass that I wanted. Anyway, I was very lucky to own them living in WY. A guy had bought them a few years before, and had them totally hooked up incorrectly. I bought his entire SAE/JBL system and found that the electronic crossover was really messed up. A lucky break for me.

I miss my JBL C-60 Sovereign's the same way. Crystal clear sound to very high levels with very little power. Bass was a little better with the added passive radiator of the C-60's.

A messed up crossover will ruin the sound.

[niccolosito 328]

Excellent catch there, Kevin. The drivers look like they'll last for another twenty years.

My very first decent speakers were a pair of JBL L-166's which I bought on sale at Pacific Stereo in San Francisco back in '76. It took me a long time doing A/B comparison but ultimately picked them over the 901's. Coincidentally, my first born's nickname is JB but prefers to be called Jon now that he's older.

Still have the JBL's, probably for life as I'm a sentimental guy.