JBL 4329p or KEF LS50 Wireless II

[phrwn]

I'm looking for a simple wireless setup for a living room, no TV, just music. Inputs will be phone and laptop. That's it.
It's a mid-sized room, open plan with kitchen along one wall, but not huge. I listen to electronic music, from ambient to dub techno, drum & bass, Aphex, BoC, anything by Andrew Weatherall; the usual bleep bloop racket.

All other considerations not considered, any recommendations on which way to go between these two?

EDIT: or, looking a bit more, maybe LS60 Wireless should be in the running since they are more comparable to the JBL's and cost about the same by the time you've added stands for the latter.

 

[terryforsythe]

I'm looking for a simple wireless setup for a living room, no TV, just music. Inputs will be phone and laptop. That's it.
It's a mid-sized room, open plan with kitchen along one wall, but not huge. I listen to electronic music, from ambient to dub techno, drum & bass, Aphex, BoC, anything by Andrew Weatherall; the usual bleep bloop racket.

All other considerations not considered, any recommendations on which way to go between these two?

EDIT: or, looking a bit more, maybe LS60 Wireless should be in the running since they are more comparable to the JBL's and cost about the same by the time you've added stands for the latter.

Here is a review of the LS50 Wireless II: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/kef_wireless_ii/

Here is a review of the JBL 4329p: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/jbl_4329p/

Here is a review of the LS60 Wireless: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/kef_ls60/

Within those reviews are links to the reviews on YouTube if you prefer to watch the reviews.

I have not heard the LS50 Wireless II but, based on the data, it looks to be a little weak in the bass response for my taste. You probably would want to run a subwoofer. With a subwoofer they probably are good (assuming you are able to properly tune the subwoofer/speaker crossover and phase alignment).

I have the LS60 Wireless speakers and they play down into the 20s without a subwoofer, but not at high volume levels. I have them in my office, which is not very large, and they sound fantastic and will play louder than I will ever listen to them. In a living room, though, they also may benefit from a subwoofer if you want to play them loud.

I have not heard the JBL 4329p. It looks like they will play louder than the KEF speakers mentioned above without a subwoofer. The JBLs use a horn tweeter, whereas the KEFs are concentric drivers. Both have their benefits and weaknesses. The reviews above will discuss those.

 

[TurtlePaul]

Electronic music and any type of LS50 without sub sounds like a bad time.

 

[ehabheikal]

I'm looking for a simple wireless setup for a living room, no TV, just music. Inputs will be phone and laptop. That's it.
It's a mid-sized room, open plan with kitchen along one wall, but not huge. I listen to electronic music, from ambient to dub techno, drum & bass, Aphex, BoC, anything by Andrew Weatherall; the usual bleep bloop racket.

All other considerations not considered, any recommendations on which way to go between these two?

EDIT: or, looking a bit more, maybe LS60 Wireless should be in the running since they are more comparable to the JBL's and cost about the same by the time you've added stands for the latter.

ls50 wireless with 2 subs would better suit your musical tastes and be cheaper.

 

[phrwn]

Thanks all. I think the LS60 is the way to go for me. Aesthetics are also an issue in this space.

 

[Paffi]

With your music - honestly, I would try to get the chance to listen to the JBL. Auditioned them some days ago and currently have the LS50 meta (with several subs).

 

[phrwn]

It’s become rather moot - my aesthetic director has nixed the JBL and I’ve put the brakes on until I can get the echo reduced in the room. But I think the LS60’s are my best option, all things considered (including all non-audio things).

 

[TurtlePaul]

edit: wrong post

 

[terryforsythe]

I’ve put the brakes on until I can get the echo reduced in the room.

If you have a USB microphone (e.g., UMIK) and currently have a sound source, you probably should measure your RT60 decay using REW.

My office has a RT60 decay close to about 600 ms, which is a little higher than what is considered by many to be optimum. My family room is larger and the RT60 measures closer to 1.15 s. I actually prefer the acoustics of the family room for music.

 

[JustJones]

You just missed a sale on the JBL 4329P they were $3500. Sweetwater has a demo pair for $2975.