Is the Kali Audio IN-8 v2 an Upgrade from the JBL 308P MkII

[barry59]

Current set up HP laptop --> SMSL DO100 PRO 2 DAC --> JBL LSR310S 10-inch Sub via XLR --> JBL 308's via XLR streaming mostly with Tidal Connect.
Home office is a rectangular 11 x 13 room with only a smallish dresser and another small desk in it in addition to my work desk and a carpeted floor.

I find that as long as I am in the "sweet spot" in my nearfield set up, the JBL's sound fantastic. However, if I move out of that sweet spot, the JBL's do not sound as good.

I am wondering if Kali's 3 way design will widen that sweet spot and create a wider soundstage..

Thanks in advance for thoughts and opinions.

 

[dfuller]

Yes, but really more of a side grade.

The IN-8 is an upgrade.

 

[barry59]

Thank you dfuller for pointing that out. Me and my old eyes....I meant the IN-8's.

ETA - changed thread title to Kali Audio IN 8 from Kali Audio LP 8

 

[AnalogSteph]

While IN-8v2s would definitely be an improvement in some respects such as level handling (JBL and Kali woofer are decidedly not the last word in electrical linearity, and NoAudiophile begrudgingly resorted to crossing his LSR308s over to subs in the living room in order to keep the midrange from falling apart), they are only slightly wider in the treble. And they have some other quirks.

You can try taking a page out of Dr. Geddes' book and toe in your JBLs considerably, to the point that their axes are crossing in front of your main listening position. That's what he recommends for extending the sweetspot of narrow directivity speakers.

We may be able to give more advice with a picture or sketch of speaker and listening positions with distances.

If you need monitors with wide but even dispersion and the bass extension of LSR308s, things get expensive very quickly. You can probably add a grand each. ADAM A8H or something.

 

[2020]

You could upgrade your current speakers with room calibration software instead of buying new ones immediately.

 

[staticV3]

I am wondering if Kali's 3 way design will widen that sweet spot and create a wider soundstage..

->not really.

Only the vertical directivity error at 1.5-2.0kHz is filled in by the Coax driver.

In return, directivity is overall more erratic.

 

[Ziltoe]

I have both the Kalis and JBLs including its Sub here. I would go for the JBLs plus Sub. The IN-8 vs 2 is easier to integrate [a little peak +10KHz you need to figure out] but in my opinion the JBLs incl. the Sub [better you have more] sounds better. No help obviously, just give it a try.

 

[barry59]

Thanks for the advice, all. Someone in another thread posted an article about speaker placement in a rectangular room like mine, Recommendation was to place speakers facing out from the shorter wall. Currently I have them facing out from the longer wall...I'm going to give that a go.

 

[barry59]

just to close the loop, I got the room rearranged, speakers facing out against the shorter wall..... results are exactly what I was looking for.