JBL 705P Studio Monitor Review

[RobL]

Digital connections contain more than one channel. AFAIK both SPDIF and AES contain 2 channels ( and ADAM 8 channels). That's the reason why speakers with digital input usually have a switch where you select which channel it shall reproduce.

Ahhh, ok that makes sense. I wondered why you designate left or fight in the speaker’s menu.

 

[beefkabob]

It's certainly more elegant to go AES to all components, and great for long runs, but as a home user, you can save much money and get a more-powerful and lower distortion sub for much less money. You just need to buy a DAC. A solid DAC with XLR outputs is around $150, and it will be arguably cleaner than anything a sub would need. A $15 DAC running of USB will probably be good enough, TBH.

 

[Rahan]

I just sold my dac to remove the extra conversion. I won't stepback! I don't really need a tone of power. I use my 705p as a nearfield monitor. I won't blow my ears away with a hight spl sub. I'm looking for a full digital solution with all moderne facilities. No need for a 12" sub, my room is small. An 8 or maybe 10 sealed sub will be enought.

 

[richard12511]

Subwoofers from non-subwoofer specific companies almost always suck or are very overpriced. That Hedd sub is overpriced. "Studio" subwoofers are all over priced and are honestly not that great.

Take a look at what Rythmik has to offer. For the price of the Hedd you could have two Rythmik L12's or a single F15HP. Other good options from HSU or SVS.

Which is a shame. I wish there were studio subs with decent performance .

 

[richard12511]

I agree. I'd not buy a sub from a non-sub company, unless it was for a low-end system or I wanted the looks.

Unfortunately, a lot of the subwoofer company subs don’t have the connections and features of studio subs. They mostly rely on the user having an AVR(which has those features).

 

[Rahan]

Do the studio subwoofers mesure that bad?

 

[CumSum]

Do the studio subwoofers mesure that bad?

A 12" sealed subwoofer is small. And that is the smallest I'd ever be willing to go on a subwoofer given any room size. Plus the Rythmik L12, a 12" sealed sub, is physically smaller than the 8" ported sub of the Hedd. You will not have too much power. I have two Rythmik F12's in my bedroom and I can go from whispering to shaking the room as I please. It's all about how you set it up.

The problem with studio subwoofers is they are egregiously over priced (reminds me of REL). They are almost always ported, and they use very small drivers. So they don't play very deep, and past the tuning frequency you get no output. In a small room, a 12" sealed sub could go down as low as 15Hz, even down to 10Hz. That is overkill, but the point is you can get usable output down to 20Hz which is audible. With these 8" or 10" ported studio subs, you can easily start losing output past 35Hz.

Plus being ported, there is always the possibility it will not sound as good as one of these sealed subs from a subwoofer specialist like Rythmik. The sealed sub going deeper alone will probably make it subjectively sound better, but it will also probably sound cleaner.

Just do not get suckered into buying a studio subwoofer just because they have "bass management" on the back of them. Anytime you have speakers and subs, you'll want something along the lines of a MiniDSP 2x4HD, DDRC-24 or SHD. They provides real bass management and allows you to perform proper room correction.

And I wouldn't obsess over the JBL's having digital inputs. You could actually feed the JBL's with a digital input from a MiniDSP SHD Studio. Then feed a separate DAC feeding your subwoofer. You would have the bass management and room correction money can buy.

 

[CumSum]

Unfortunately, a lot of the subwoofer company subs don’t have the connections and features of studio subs. They mostly rely on the user having an AVR(which has those features).

I would say fortunately as a lover of MiniDSP. But for the masses who want a simpler (though compromised) setup it is handy to have such connections on the back, even though they are inferior.

 

[Rahan]

A 12" sealed subwoofer is small. And that is the smallest I'd ever be willing to go on a subwoofer given any room size. Plus the Rythmik L12, a 12" sealed sub, is physically smaller than the 8" ported sub of the Hedd. You will not have too much power. I have two Rythmik F12's in my bedroom and I can go from whispering to shaking the room as I please. It's all about how you set it up.
.

And I wouldn't obsess over the JBL's having digital inputs. You could actually feed the JBL's with a digital input from a MiniDSP SHD Studio. Then feed a separate DAC feeding your subwoofer. You would have the bass management and room correction money can buy.

Well 35hz is enough for music if it's clean and detailed. And 12" is huge for me. I don't want anything ported. for a music purpose sealed is the way to go for me. I like the idea of feeding a dac from the AES out of the JBL. It will give me a much bigger choice. A smsl dac will do the job. Thx!

 

[beefkabob]

Do the studio subwoofers mesure that bad?

From what I've seen, they can perform well in absolute terms but don't perform well per dollar.

You don't get a bigger sup just for SPL. You get a bigger sub for lower distortion at an SPL and for frequency response that goes lower.

I have no problem with ported subs other than the size.

 

[richard12511]

Do the studio subwoofers mesure that bad?

I've never seen any that I would consider even "decent" for the price. It's not just extension and spl that you lose either(likely due to less distortion and lower port tuning). It's a shame, though, as I'm not aware of any of the HT subs that offer digital connection.

It's a crappy situation where you have to choose between better sound quality(HSU, Rythmik, etc.) and better connectivity (Genelec, JBL, etc.). There is no best of both worlds(afaik). This is from someone who owns both(JTR RS2, Rythmik FV25 and Genelec 7370, 7050, JBL LS310).

 

[richard12511]

Well 35hz is enough for music if it's clean and detailed. And 12" is huge for me. I don't want anything ported. for a music purpose sealed is the way to go for me. I like the idea of feeding a dac from the AES out of the JBL. It will give me a much bigger choice. A smsl dac will do the job. Thx!

35Hz is (imo) fine for music, but doesn't sound as good. I regularly test this with a 30Hz high pass filter I use to test speed. Some music sounds identical with or without it, but I'd say 50%+ of modern music sounds much better with that filter off. Low tuned ported vs sealed makes no difference for music. This is a common audiophile myth. Only advantage sealed has is being smaller(which is very important for some). If price is the constant, ported sounds better. This is from someone who's main subs are sealed(JTR RS2). The Captivator 4000ULF would be even better for music.

 

[Jim Matthews]

It's a shame, though, as I'm not aware of any of the HT subs that offer digital connection.

There is no best of both worlds(afaik). This is from someone who owns both(JTR RS2, Rythmik FV25 and Genelec 7370, 7050, JBL LS310).

I built a pair of Bill Fitz Maurice Tuba HT subs and drive them with MiniDSP plate amps. The data stays digital over AES until the moment of amplification.

I *could* apply DSP at the first stage or at the amps.

In my room, only digital crossovers are deployed.

 

[Rahan]

Diy maybe the way. Hypex makes the fusion amp series. With all the connection we dream. The idea is really to have a low distortion. The 5" of the 705p is amazing but to achieve the 40hz it get a bit distorted. The mids and low mids are fantastics. I hope released from the lows the speaker would be even clearer!

 

[Sal1950]

If price is the constant, ported sounds better.

What evidence do you have to support that? The general consensus is that sealed "sounds" a little better, being tighter and faster on the very bottom though loosing some efficiency.

 

[Rahan]

in the tune region on the port the speaker is much mudder, slower etc. this is basic physic. An helmholtz resonator has an inertie to resonate and a roll off. This is not playing what is actualy on the track. IMO To get the best sound of a ported sub you need to tune it in very low frequencies like 15Hz which you can't hear. That works fine. But you get big beast of a sub. In a small to medium environnement it's easy to have. Theory crossed my experiences so far.

 

[Frank Dernie]

in the tune region on the port the speaker is much mudder, slower etc. this is basic physic. An helmholtz resonator has an inertie to resonate and a roll off. This is not playing what is actualy on the track. IMO To get the best sound of a ported sub you need to tune it in very low frequencies like 15Hz which you can't hear. That works fine. But you get big beast of a sub. In a small to medium environnement it's easy to have. Theory crossed my experiences so far.

Your theory is not supported by physics.
In the range it is working the radiation from the port is exactly equivalent to radiation from a speaker driver.
A reflex enclosure works on a well known principle of physics, there is no mystery.
OTOH because a lot of people do not understand dynamics there is variability because the science is not always properly implemented.

 

[Rahan]

There is no mystery indeed. Helmotz resonator has a bad Implus response. It's a fact. Like every resonator at the critical frequency. It s not a big deal.

 

[richard12511]

What evidence do you have to support that? The general consensus is that sealed "sounds" a little better, being tighter and faster on the very bottom though loosing some efficiency.

I do hear that a lot, and that seems to be the consensus. I've just yet to see good evidence to support. It seems unlikely to me that the extra group delay from a really low tuned sub(below 20Hz) could be audible. Geddes has some great research about how insensitive we are to time issues in low bass. It takes a very long time for us to even perceive it at all. I don't think Geddes even recommends messing about with time aligning subs, as he says it makes no difference, and he may be right. I know Toole did some ported vs sealed blind tests, and no one could tell them apart.

Why I say ported is better(for a given price) is because they have more output and lower distortion. More distortion limited output(in my mind) allows more headroom for EQ, making it more likely that you'll achieve a flat in room response.

I could be wrong, though, and I'm definitely willing to change my mind with good evidence. My main subs are sealed(JTR RS2), but I always push people to spend the extra few hundred for the Captivator 4000ULF if space is of no concern. In my view(mainly looking at CEA2010), it's just a better sub, and given the 10Hz port tuning, it even has better extension.

 

[Rahan]

You're right. sadly a lot of subwoofer are tuned in the audible range. That's why generally they are mudder. Like always the trap is in the word : generaly. I'm still looking for the perfect partner for my 705