JBL goes Dirac Live ready and Class-D

[DrStranger]

Audioholics first impressions

JBL NEW Stage 2 Speakers & MA Series AV Receivers First Impressions

 

[Moonbase]

The Underpants white and Tarmac black both look fab. Slightly disappointed about the stereo performance, but interesting to see a in-depth review when one is released. Definitely a refreshing take on the classic AVR, removing all those button that never get pressed.

 

[MCH]

I can't tell whether PFFB is inplemented.

These look like feedback networks (signal coming from the output, 2 resistors and two caps...) but aren't populated

 

[Moonbase]

Mostly likely the bean counters worked out you could get away without them. It's nice to see ROE caps being used

 

[Head_Unit]

Seems to be power supply limited. Not producing twice as much power into 4 ohms as 8 ohms. Also, power is spec'd 2 channels at 0.5% THD. I'm guessing they're capable of maybe half the rated power all channels driven.

Well, at least they are rated continuous into 4Ω, maybe the lower heat Class D lets them do that. I don't think any other receiver is??? All AVRs are going to be power supply limited, or their cost would not be competitive. It's just a fact of the marketplace and manufacturing costs. Heh, maybe they should have rated 80W into 8Ω and then boasted about doubling the power! That's what my competitors in car audio were all doing. Home audio as well, actually, I've only seen I think 3 tests where the clipping power literally doubled. Benchmark and I forget the other two offhand. Pricing of these JBL receiver in America at least seems pretty good.

Remembering the days of Harman/Kardon receivers whose CD input was only rated at like 80 dB signal-to-noise, 16 dB worse than CD and sounded like it, I'd sure like to see these tested by @amirm!

 

[kyuu]

Remembering the days of Harman/Kardon receivers whose CD input was only rated at like 80 dB signal-to-noise, 16 dB worse than CD and sounded like it, I'd sure like to see these tested by @amirm!

It may already be in Amir's queue.

 

[Koeitje]

Can't fault their marketing, but I think they're missing the appeal these can have outside of the non-savvy audio users. Just because I have a bit of knowledge and am not a stranger to building an audio system from individual speakers doesn't mean I want a giant black box with tons of features I'll never use. Also, this seems to be one of the only mass-market AVR lines using class-D amps.

In any case, that Audioholics article states that JBL's AVR product manager indicated these will support DLBC, even though that's not shown in the specs (or on Dirac's site for the licensing), which is an unexpected plus. Not sure how much benefit that offers for single-subwoofer setups, though.

Pioneer also uses Class D

 

[Moonbase]

Anthem also use class D in the surround sound channels. Lyngdorf in the decoder & amp setups are also class d, but for sure many price points above jbl.

 

[EWL5]

Pioneer also uses Class D

I know at one point they did. Not sure about now since the mid to upper tier receivers are clones w/Onkyo and Integra and none have claimed to be running on Class D amps!

 

[Moonbase]

Anthem use class D in the surround sound channels. Lyngdorf in the decoder & amp setups are also class d, but for sure many price points above jbl.

 

[Koeitje]

I know at one point they did. Not sure about now since the mid to upper tier receivers are clones w/Onkyo and Integra and none have claimed to be running on Class D amps!

Seems you are right.

 

[dlaloum]

Pioneer also uses Class D

Not in the current generation - the current AVR's are AB, and have been for a few years now.

 

[NOAMattD]

It may already be in Amir's queue.

Haha, don't be coy. Which one did you send? If it were me I'd be bragging about stepping up and taking one for the team

 

[kyuu]

Haha, don't be coy. Which one did you send? If it were me I'd be bragging about stepping up and taking one for the team

Haven't sent it yet, but as soon as Amir is ready I will be sending the MA7100HP.

 

[SpoOokY]

Haven't sent it yet, but as soon as Amir is ready I will be sending the MA7100HP.

Woooooar!!! I am so close to buying it and ditch my 758v3 for good which has just too many issues besides measurements. I just need to be sure the MA7100HP performs better in that respect. It would be like Eastern and Christmas falls on the same day if you would send and Amir would review your unit in time .

 

[kyuu]

Woooooar!!! I am so close to buying it and ditch my 758v3 for good which has just too many issues besides measurements. I just need to be sure the MA7100HP performs better in that respect. It would be like Eastern and Christmas falls on the same day if you would send and Amir would review your unit in time .

What's your time frame? Currently looking at middle of this month.

 

[SpoOokY]

What's your time frame? Currently looking at middle of this month.

I have as much time as you guys need! I am extremely thankful for all of this and certainly did not mean to put any pressure on you. Take your time, in the meantime I convince my wife that a new AVR might be required .

 

[fristil]

@kyuu what you think about the ma7100hp?

 

[SpoOokY]

Especially some specific things would be important which are not explicitly mentioned in the manual:

- The default calibration via a smartphone can be used to room correct all set speakers. Distance and volume need to be set manually. It then creates a calibration with bass management and without for 2.0 sound.

Is it possible to have digital in 2.0 pcm played back in pure direct without any room correction / subwoofer BUT with bass and treble adjustment?

- Can the crossover be set for individual speaker pairs or just globally?

- Is it possible to create two “virtual inputs” with the same HDMI input port? For instance HDMI 1 for the ATV 4K set to surround with room correction and another virtual input for the same HDMI port set to 2.0 pure direct?

 

[Doctors11]

Especially some specific things would be important which are not explicitly mentioned in the manual:

- The default calibration via a smartphone can be used to room correct all set speakers. Distance and volume need to be set manually. It then creates a calibration with bass management and without for 2.0 sound.

Is it possible to have digital in 2.0 pcm played back in pure direct without any room correction / subwoofer BUT with bass and treble adjustment?

- Can the crossover be set for individual speaker pairs or just globally?

- Is it possible to create two “virtual inputs” with the same HDMI input port? For instance HDMI 1 for the ATV 4K set to surround with room correction and another virtual input for the same HDMI port set to 2.0 pure direct?

I'd like to add, it appears that you cannot raise or lower the volume on individual channels on the fly on any of these models. It looks like you have to go back into settings and test tones, make the adjustments, then return to your listening mode. If so that would be a huge oversight as every receiver I've owned has allowed, for example, the raising of the center channel while watching a movie to aid in dialogue clarity.