Harman graph is much more filtered than mine. If you do that, the ups and downs average and so the deviation reduces.Does this show a dip at 2k on the JBL official measurements.....but that it then recovers less than in Amirm's measurements as one goes higher in the frequency range?
Wait, are we to conclude that you will not saw holes into the walls of your home to further the collective knowledge of your readers?Because they are supposed to be mounted in a wall with closed back. For measurements, I just have them on a flat panel as you see with open back so won't be representative.
Don't laugh but I looked into this type of measurement. Unfortunately it is destructive due to requirement to increase contrast of the cone with chalk powder and such. Sure would be cool to do secondary investigation like this.Not seeing any 4th harmonic response, though, even if I squint. Amir, time to break out that interferometer you have been saving for a "spatial" occasion!
I like his Dynamic range/compression measurement a lot.Behavior of distortion seems to be similiar here:
https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/jbl_scl-6/
Or the Front Left and Right speakers, without requiring any toe-in, or a Center speaker that is above a screen.....thought the "off axis" response makes me nervous about using it in a horizontal position.This is really a clever design for specific use case such as front wide speakers and surrounds. Getting an in wall to point at the listening position is a nice option to have if you want a clean inwall install. Distortion is higher than it should be and it is expensive but I can see a specific use case where it would be a nice option for FW or surround in some rooms.
You are using the word "filtered" and I am interpreting that as "smoothed" but maybe "filtered" means something else....since "smoothed" would mean (to me) that the general shape is the same but the more smoothed graph would show less fluctuation within that overall shape.Harman graph is much more filtered than mine. If you do that, the ups and downs average and so the deviation reduces.
So maybe "filtered" means something different from "smoothed"?
"Filtered" means exactly what the marketing department wants to see...
e.g.:
marketing: "I want a flat response, not too flat mind you, but pretty decent and enough to silence those pixel-peepers out there"
'research': "OK, we've tweaked the numbers, blurred the aberrations, zoomed out a bit (quite a bit, but don't worry) and smoothed out a few glitches nobody will really notice." We think you'll be really happy with the results...
Could the 2 khz dip be the well publicized Mid-range compensation that many designers (mainly BBC types) factor into their designs? Just curious since it was so constant.This is a review and detailed measurements of the JBL SCL-7 in-wall "custom" home theater speakers. It was purchased new by a member and kindly sent to me for testing. It costs US $1,100 each.
View attachment 197717
It is an interesting design with two mid-woofers and asymmetrical waveguide/horn. There is a near/far boundary setting. I tested it in far mode.
Measurements were performed using special mode of Klippel Near-Field Scanner which ignores everything outside of a radius in front of the speaker. As such it simulates speaker being mounted on infinitely large wall. Edge diffractions are also removed as are reflections.
Note: our company, Madrona Digital, is a dealer for Harman products including JBL line. While there is little subjective opinion in this write-up, feel free to read what level of bias you like.
JBL SCL-7 Measurements
As usual we start with our frequency response measurements:
View attachment 197718
Response is nice and even until we get to crossover region around 2 kHz. Response droops there and becomes variable, likely due to resonances from the woofers:
View attachment 197719
Please note that the baffler that I made for it may be responsible for that. Then again, you are also going to have such resonances when you mount it on your wall.
Near-field response unfortunately worsens that dip:
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This translates the same into predicted in-room response although both it, and above graph represent speaker away from the wall:
View attachment 197721
I found a strange source of distortion:
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Is this the woofer distorting or is it the tweeter?
Horizontal beam width is good but offset due to tweeter being so placed:
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Typical of dual woofer configuration, vertical dispersion is quite narrow:
View attachment 197726
Be sure to have the tweeter at your ear angle.
CSD/Waterfall shows some of the resonances we have seen already:
View attachment 197727
Conclusions
I wish had ability to listen to these speakers but I do not. Going by the measurements, it seems to be less perfect than what I expect form JBL at this price. I know you can do a lot worse though with many in-walls sold in the custom market so the news is not bad overall.
Without listening tests, I am withholding any recommendation.
You are starting to sound like ME now......I see we DO agree on this for sure.I've got to say it. USD$1100 for a single (1) in wall speaker, comprising two woofers and one tweeter in a plastic/composite moulded frame is utter and complete theft. Seriously, Harman is taking the p#ss. It makes me laugh.
That it has a ton of HD (likely a nasty driver resonance, voice coil rub, or general design failure) at a specific frequency is even worse.
In-wall speakers should be cheap. I mean really cheap. No cabinets, no massive shipping costs and little or no risk of damage in transit. All rated specs can be out the window because they can blame the 'installation' and its 'shortcomings'.
These things should be USD$199 each MSRP and $299 a pair. Anything else is a joke.
Can you put some examples of inwall speakerYou are starting to sound like ME now......I see we DO agree on this for sure.
Do you think having an open back panel would have any effect on the measurements apposed to having a solid structure constructed similar to how the SCL-6 was measured by Erin?Because they are supposed to be mounted in a wall with closed back. For measurements, I just have them on a flat panel as you see with open back so won't be representative.