JBL A130, KEF Q 150 or Q Acoustics 3020?

[vinnik]

Hi everyone.

Sorry about the english, not a native speaker.

I'm moving to a very small house and don't have space anymore to my Pioneer's SP-FS 52. So a bookshelf is a must. I Like the sound of my Pioneer's. What speaker would fit best my personal reference (the Pioneer's)? The JBL A130, KEF Q 150 or Q Acoustics 3020/30i?
The JBL A130 is the cheaper one. Next come 3020i. At last KEF Q150. My doubt: Are the JBL's so much good? The price is good, but i don't like too much bright treble (i'm used to the Pioneer's). The KEF and the Q Acoustics are more or less the same price around here. Now... what will be the best for me? I can't listen any of them around here.

Oh, my main goal is classical music and some rock. Nothing very loud, just moderate volume levels.

Thanks!

 

[vinnik]

If you like the FS-22's and now need a bookshelf speaker, you might try to search online on various used market places for the bookshelf version, the BS-22 which got a decent review here at ASR. Another alternative is the Elac Debut series, which are designed by the same designer as your FS-52's

Can't find the BS 22's here. I already did this. And they seem to be very weak in the bass response. That 4 inch woofer... I can't find the Elac debut too. The ones i've mentioned are easely available to me. Tuff choice.

 

[Tio]

In my place, kef q150 is much more expensive than 3020i. If at your place they are the same price, I'll choose kef Q150.

 

[Cool Runnings]

Do consider active speakers like the Kali LP-UNF. I just got mine. It's the best near field monitor I've ever had for a small room. Even without a sub it makes decent bass output. But if your space is bigger than a small room (say up to 300 sq feet) then I'll highly recommend the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 V2s.

 

[vinnik]

In my place, kef q150 is much more expensive than 3020i. If at your place they are the same price, I'll choose kef Q150.

Yeah, maybe i'll set for the Kef.

 

[vinnik]

Do consider active speakers like the Kali LP-UNF. I just got mine. It's the best near field monitor I've ever had for a small room. Even without a sub it makes decent bass output. But if your space is bigger than a small room (say up to 300 sq feet) then I'll highly recommend the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 V2s.

Not a big fan of active speakers. We don't have Active Acoustics neither Kali. Yamaha and JBL is widely available here. But again, not a fan of active speakers, and i don't want to sell my receiver.

 

[EdM]

I have JBL A130 and KEF Q150 and I like them both a lot. Have not compared side by side. Amir did review JBL A130 and they measured well, he recommends them (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jbl-stage-a130-review-speaker.18260/).
JBL A130 have been discontinued and I am not seeing any new stock in the US. Where are you seeing them, if you don't mind sharing?

 

[vinnik]

I have JBL A130 and KEF Q150 and I like them both a lot. Have not compared side by side. Amir did review JBL A130 and they measured well, he recommends them (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jbl-stage-a130-review-speaker.18260/).
JBL A130 have been discontinued and I am not seeing any new stock in the US. Where are you seeing them, if you don't mind sharing?

Hi! I live in Brazil, and A130's are widely available around here. I decided to stay with the JBL's. They are cheaper and very well recomended.

 

[flaviocc]

Hi! I live in Brazil, and A130's are widely available around here. I decided to stay with the JBL's. They are cheaper and very well recomended.

Hi Vinnik, I’m from Brazil too.

What your experience with JBL?

I’m the same situation as yours (find a cheap speaker but with good quality) for another place I’ll have in near future.

kef q 150 is more expensive than the others.

I found the pioneer. But my main choice is Polk ES 15.

 

[DSJR]

Erin did a review on admittedly one set of Q Acoustics newer models and the gentle safe balance that the Fink Team designed in the earlier ones seems to have been upset in the need for more false 'deeetail' up top, so tweeter levels have been increased in the review pair which ruined the balance. I sincerely hope the others haven't been ruined accordingly as the fit and finish of the speakers is very good and the visual presentation of even the cheapest models is more high-end than you'd think.

JBL rarely properly available here (maybe one or two agency-collector dealers list them sometimes and maybe Amazon)... KEF universal here in the dealer chains and maybe a safe choice overall perhaps?

 

[flaviocc]

My choices:

Pioneer (4 size woofers is the bad thing here?

Q acoustics (q 3020i or 30i)

Polk ES15

Jbl A 130

The cheaper one is JBL

 

[vinnik]

My choices:

Pioneer (4 size woofers is the bad thing here?

Q acoustics (q 3020i or 30i)

Polk ES15

Jbl A 130

The cheaper one is JBL

Hi.

4 inch woofer is a bad thing in my opinion. Very limited bass response.

Are you considering only bookshelf speakers? I'm selling my pair of Pioneer's SP-FS 52 here in Brazil.

 

[vinnik]

Hi Vinnik, I’m from Brazil too.

What your experience with JBL?

I’m the same situation as yours (find a cheap speaker but with good quality) for another place I’ll have in near future.

kef q 150 is more expensive than the others.

I found the pioneer. But my main choice is Polk ES 15.

I haven't installed my new JBL's yet. I'll wait until i move to my new house.

 

[flaviocc]

I haven't installed my new JBL's yet. I'll wait until i move to my new house.

Vinnik,

Tks.

I have towers here in my main system.

That system I’m looking for is for another house (rural area) and I’m looking for bookshelf.

I think I will pull the trigger on Polk ES 15.

 

[porcoalado]

Hi! I live in Brazil, and A130's are widely available around here. I decided to stay with the JBL's. They are cheaper and very well recomended.

Viinik, tu acha que o kef q350 é uma alternativa melhor que a stage a130 ou já é nóis dos audiófilos daqui?

 

[flaviocc]

Viinik, tu acha que o kef q350 é uma alternativa melhor que a stage a130 ou já é nóis dos audiófilos daqui?

A130 is far far far (infinite times) from "audiophile standards" . It is just a budget and honest option.

KEF Q350 here is another price range (4 ou 5 times more here in BR). And a budget option in USA / Europe.

 

[caioferrari]

Hi! I live in Brazil, and A130's are widely available around here. I decided to stay with the JBL's. They are cheaper and very well recomended.

Olá
Vou responder em inglês que é o idioma nativo do fórum.

JBL is not that well recommended. Eric did a measurement with JBL and found some issues that Amir didn’t.
In that price range, it’s pretty hard to find a good speaker. All of them have some issues with undesirable resonances, weak bass, bloated bass or treble boosting.
It’s all about pricing and users taste.

Have and AVR with room correction and dynamic EQ could fix some issues.

 

[flaviocc]

Olá
Vou responder em inglês que é o idioma nativo do fórum.

JBL is not that well recommended. Eric did a measurement with JBL and found some issues that Amir didn’t.
In that price range, it’s pretty hard to find a good speaker. All of them have some issues with undesirable resonances, weak bass, bloated bass or treble boosting.
It’s all about pricing and users taste.

Have and AVR with room correction and dynamic EQ could fix some issues.

Sure ! That's why I said far, far, far away LOL.

I recently looked for budget speakers and the A130 was an option, but I found the Pioneer designed by Andrew Jones' design (new - in box). And I chose them over the JBL.

 

[caioferrari]

Sure ! That's why I said far, far, far away LOL.

I recently looked for budget speakers and the A130 was an option, but I found the Pioneer designed by Andrew Jones' design (new - in box). And I chose them over the JBL.

Yes!
And it’s funny to see people buying those cheap speaker a using with fancy cables to improve sound.

If I were our Brazilian friend, I’d look for a good speaker in mid and treble range and add a 10” or even a 8” sub.

 

[estuardo4]

Sure ! That's why I said far, far, far away LOL.

I recently looked for budget speakers and the A130 was an option, but I found the Pioneer designed by Andrew Jones' design (new - in box). And I chose them over the JBL.

Hello. Sorry to barge in, but I have to clarify. As this is ASR, and based on measurements only and the opinion of Amir, The A130 are not far far far far off audiophile territory. I've owned the Pioneer B22 and the KEF Q150. I much rather prefer the A130.

But yes, they're far away to pricier options, but in the correct small room, they sound better to my ears. I've used more expensive speakers on my room like the Revel F35, but the A130 are not so far, specially if you're using two subwoofers.

I bought the A130 based on Amir's review and I haven't regret it. Just my opinion.