JBL 708P Review (Professional Monitor)

[Robbo99999]

Yup! Very weird.

And on top of that, the boxes had some new tape on top of older, cut tape, closing them.
There is a possible explanation for that, though, which is that JBL opens them up for including a manual in portuguese and a power cable with our standard plug. I'm telling them I don't need the manual or cable, just send them sealed straight from the factory.

Thank god I filmed myself opening the box and showing them the stripped screws.

Sounds like it could be a bit of minefield buying speakers in your country! Good that you're on the ball!

 

[sheeple]

Regarding "old design", I don't really see anything newer or better at this pricepoint. At least around here. Neumanns KH120II are 3x the price I got for these, Genelecs are double the price and smaller, etc. I mean, it maybe old, but surely not really outdated, right?

Just from a previous generation. Especially when you use them as tools in production and want the headroom, they are powerful. They just come to be less advanced than the Neumanns, also the current Genelecs with the focus on point source monitors.

The port design was mentioned before, they are not FIR phase-corrected, no intelligent limiting as with the 6.5-inch woofer of the KH 150, wich is distorting less than this 8-inch, et cetera. I wouldn't worry if you like them, they will be good!

I would not even know if the condition is deal-breaker, maybe ask the seller if he has some which are clean and ask you local electronics friend if this is problem.

 

[Tom C]

Just from a previous generation. Especially when you use them as tools in production and want the headroom, they are powerful. They just come to be less advanced than the Neumanns, also the current Genelecs with the focus on point source monitors.

The port design was mentioned before, they are not FIR phase-corrected, no intelligent limiting as with the 6.5-inch woofer of the KH 150, wich is distorting less than this 8-inch, et cetera. I wouldn't worry if you like them, they will be good!

I would not even know if the condition is deal-breaker, maybe ask the seller if he has some which are clean and ask you local electronics friend if this is problem.

Aren’t the 708P’s current generation JBL’s? Have they been replaced by something newer? You may prefer Neumann or Genelec, or feel they are better products with better features than JBL (at a higher cost), but AFAIK they JBL’s latest offering in that segment.

 

[sheeple]

It should not be too hard to understand what I have written:

The current generation of JBL monitors is a generation behind their competitors. This is a management decision, I suppose. It is easy to compare, on an objective level, the performance and technological advancements of competing products from the reviews on this message board.

By the way, my car was build in 2003 and does what I need it to do, drive. The JBL 708P is certainly a great product, but has aged, just as the bigger M2.

 

[henriquestaino]

It should not be too hard to understand what I have written:

The current generation of JBL monitors is a generation behind their competitors. This is a management decision, I suppose. It is easy to compare, on an objective level, the performance and technological advancements of competing products from the reviews on this message board.

By the way, my car was build in 2003 and does what I need it to do, drive. The JBL 708P is certainly a great product, but has aged, just as the bigger M2.

yeah I understand what you are saying and I agree completely.

the thing is that I'm in a peculiar situation where I'm getting the 708s for the price of a genelec 8020d, 15% less than an 8030c, almost half of what a 8040b costs, less than half of the price of a KH120II and almost one fourth of a KH150, IF I can even get one..

I scan the market here and I really don't see anything else that would make sense, really.

Not to mention that if even two of the five fail permanently, I can still get 308p mkII for surrounds and be OK with a reasonably coherent set without breaking the bank.

The only other option I see, but getting mixed reviews is the iLoud Precision MTMs, for the same price I'm getting the 708s, but for now I'm still far from considering this a worthwhile path. The MSP7s I have are so damn revealing that I doubt the MTMs would be an upgrade from what I've read. Not to mention the issues inherent to their design.

 

[henriquestaino]

Sounds like it could be a bit of minefield buying speakers in your country! Good that you're on the ball!

yes, unfortunately it is. Not only we usually get 100% increase in price compared to prices in US ( if it costs US$1k, we pay 2k), but if we consider the average wages in each country, it is like we have to work 15x as much to pay for equipment here compared to united states of americans. I'm not exaggerating!

 

[jhaider]

It should not be too hard to understand what I have written:

The current generation of JBL monitors is a generation behind their competitors. This is a management decision, I suppose. It is easy to compare, on an objective level, the performance and technological advancements of competing products from the reviews on this message board.

By the way, my car was build in 2003 and does what I need it to do, drive. The JBL 708P is certainly a great product, but has aged, just as the bigger M2.

I’m going to push back a little on that. Where JBL leapfrogged the field with 7-series is in providing incredible headroom for the size as well as smooth response and constant directivity in the MF/HF. Look, for example, at Erin’s compression data for 708P.

In the smaller category, one can fairly argue that Neumann KH 120 II gives up little to 705 in headroom if anything, and has smoother response as well as avoiding the offensive-to-the-eye vent cancellation notch 705 has. (IMO this notch is audibly irrelevant.)

But in the larger category, Neumann’s nearest peer to 708, KH 310, is not updated yet and doesn’t have the same headroom. Genelec’s nearest peer is S360, which is a lot more expensive.

Otherwise, 7-Series now have the same flaws they did before compared to N/G: inferior build quality, lesser unit-unit consistency, etc. That’s not age, just reality from the start.

 

[henriquestaino]

Hey just an update with my case, JBL has asked me to simply send the speakers back for a full refund. It seems to me they have no other speakers in stock nor any perspective on having them, so that is it for my journey with JBL 7 series.

Regarding the iLouds, from what I've read they don't sell spare parts and have NO support after warranty ends, so that is a BIG no no for me.

I guess my destiny is using my beloved MSP7s (that translate superbly for me) untill they give up and getting Neumanns for a shit load of money when the time comes. Compound interest will come to my rescue then, hehehe!

Thank you all for your help!

 

[sheeple]

At that price point, I would get one of the speakers checked by a knowledgeable shop in your area. I could imagine that the corrosion on the screws is because of the metal used, and the electronics wouldn't be affected. Have you tested them?

If there were not the new generation of cardioid hifi speakers, the 708p was still at the top of my list.

 

[henriquestaino]

Hey just an update with my case, JBL has asked me to simply send the speakers back for a full refund. It seems to me they have no other speakers in stock nor any perspective on having them, so that is it for my journey with JBL 7 series.

Regarding the iLouds, from what I've read they don't sell spare parts and have NO support after warranty ends, so that is a BIG no no for me.

I guess my destiny is using my beloved MSP7s (that translate superbly for me) untill they give up and getting Neumanns for a shit load of money when the time comes. Compound interest will come to my rescue then, hehehe!

Thank you all for your help!

At that price point, I would get one of the speakers checked by a knowledgeable shop in your area. I could imagine that the corrosion on the screws is because of the metal used, and the electronics wouldn't be affected. Have you tested them?

If there were not the new generation of cardioid hifi speakers, the 708p was still at the top of my list.

Wow really?

I don't know.. I mean, I live in a small town and the return window from JBL is only seven days, so no way to get it checked.

I must say I'm a bit scared to take a chance with these speakers having probably been stored in bad conditions for two years given their questionable reliability. I mean, its pretty rare that I see corroded paper staples, even in old stuff that has been kept god knows how. Did they store them in a swamp?

It definitely is a tempting perspective, given the scarcity of the market where I live, and the fact that they cost me half of a KH120II, but still...

Maybe I'll open the rest of the boxes tonight and see how they are.

Oh, doubts!...
Thanks for chiming in!

Edit:
I talked to a friend that does maintenance on electronics and he has told me of some questionable practices he has found in several JBL speakers here in Brazil. He told me that going by his experience, he is absolutely sure the speakers I got are refurbished being sold as new. For me this seals the deal. I'm returning them as instructed by JBL themselves (they said technical department analysed the case and recommended the refund, they didn't try to play it down or justify or convince me or anything, so maybe they know something I don't about them heh). I'd be completely paranoid about them failing any minute anyways so...Best to just be done with it! Thanks again for all the input!

 

[Edgar]

I have two 708P since almost 3 years and they work fine.
But just in case I would have a problem with the electronic, are there any circuit diagrams out there? Did anybody here try to fix them without new parts from JBL?
I like to know just in case I ever have problems.

 

[Tom C]

I have two 708P since almost 3 years and they work fine.
But just in case I would have a problem with the electronic, are there any circuit diagrams out there? Did anybody here try to fix them without new parts from JBL?
I like to know just in case I ever have problems.

My own, not expert, opinion is that these days, it’s usually not worth the effort to repair. If you can identify an obviously failed part on inspection, like a capacitor that has exploded, you could try to replace, but beyond that, it’s just not worth the time and effort. It is much easier to simply replace the whole board, assuming it is made available by the manufacturer. Such replacement boards are typically, for me, cheap enough that I’d rather just have the all new guts.

 

[Ktacos]

My own, not expert, opinion is that these days, it’s usually not worth the effort to repair. If you can identify an obviously failed part on inspection, like a capacitor that has exploded, you could try to replace, but beyond that, it’s just not worth the time and effort. It is much easier to simply replace the whole board, assuming it is made available by the manufacturer. Such replacement boards are typically, for me, cheap enough that I’d rather just have the all new guts.

One site has the 708p amp at $579, pretty pricey for what it is.

 

[Tom C]

One site has the 708p amp at $579, pretty pricey for what it is.

Maybe to you, but it is just a bit over 25% of a new unit, and contains preamp, dac, adc, multiple EQ filters, two inputs, AES pass through, and power amp. Perhaps you can provide the circuit diagrams @Edgar requested. Any trouble shooting tips you can impart are also much appreciated.

 

[Ktacos]

Maybe to you

I think it is in general and not just to me. That's pretty much the same price as a hypex FA123 which has a complete additional amp + DSP channel over the JBL and includes every other feature you mentioned. One could even buy the hypex and just input JBL's filters and still have another channel left for a sub. Considering economies of scale and the fact that Harman controls production and distribution of an entire amplifier company, the 708 amp module is priced a little high.

you can provide the circuit diagrams @Edgar requested. Any trouble shooting tips you can impart are also much appreciated.

I think only JBL has those, which they may or may not provide upon request. It seems a lot of the pro companies only provide that info to authorized repair centers but who knows. I find it a little difficult to offer troubleshooting on issues that have yet to occur

 

[sheeple]

It depends on your income and social net, I guess.

I have a small salary and if in my extended circle of friends there is someone who has got the tools and specialist knowledge I would ask them if they did it for me off the books.

If I were a professional and not a music lover, I would certainly not waste time on unnecessary skills, like learning electronics diagnostics, and have them quickly repaired, even if it meant that I have to price my services higher.

I once bought an old AB amp that had a failed power transistor, but it turned out when it went, quite a few more components did so too and I capitulated quickly and sold it to someone who had the electronics friend that did him this repair. I once let DiY my speaker fall onto the back where the Hypex module sits and the USB connector got loose. I did not have it soldered and tinkered with it until the contact wasn't working anymore at all. Went to an electronics shop and payed 60 Euros to have it soldered back in place, but the guy had warned me that the loose contact could have created a secondary damage, which was the case. I had to buy the DSP board from Hypex and replace the whole component.

The Hypex plate amps are still the biggest bang for the buck, probably, because they are marketed for consumers. JBL is selling a professional tool to audio industry professionals. Their price is one for a business to business market.

 

[Tom C]

I guess what I’m saying is that it would take me a lot of time to try to do a repair, and there is a high likelihood I wouldn’t succeed in fixing the problem. And for me, the same would be true for a Hypex amp. But I can replace the whole board without too much time or trouble, so that would be my choice. If you feel there are better value choices than 708P, well of course, that is up to you. You might be able to do 708i with external amps of your choice, e.g.Hypex, for a similar total system cost vs. 708P, so that may be better for some folks. The 708i with “official” JBL external amps costs a lot more vs. 708P, though.

 

[Edgar]

Thanks for your answers about the possible repair. Looking at electronic repair channels on the internet, i.e. Mend It Mark, the problems are often a few parts which cost only a few USD. But then there is obviously the knowledge to find out what is wrong and how to repair it. I do hobby electronics and I guess there are still a lot of people out there who know how to use an oscilloscope and a soldering iron. If we have the time to DIY, why not? But it's a lot easier with circuit diagrams.
I ask now out of interest, lots of people in this forum had problems with the electronic and I would be surprised if nobody had the idea to fix it himself. It's interesting, it's fun. That's why I ask.

 

[Tom C]

Thanks for your answers about the possible repair. Looking at electronic repair channels on the internet, i.e. Mend It Mark, the problems are often a few parts which cost only a few USD. But then there is obviously the knowledge to find out what is wrong and how to repair it. I do hobby electronics and I guess there are still a lot of people out there who know how to use an oscilloscope and a soldering iron. If we have the time to DIY, why not? But it's a lot easier with circuit diagrams.
I ask now out of interest, lots of people in this forum had problems with the electronic and I would be surprised if nobody had the idea to fix it himself. It's interesting, it's fun. That's why I ask.

You might try starting a dedicated thread. Sometimes it helps to get the attention of people who are able to give the answer you’re seeking, but they are just not aware of your question because they haven’t seen your post.

 

[Jonazkur]

Imo response is quite choppy for active dsp speaker.