JBL HDI-1600 Speaker Review

[Sal1950]

Everyone seems to be “surprised” that JBLs sound as good as they do when there is no reason to be surprised…

Amen,
JBL has unfortunately been given a mostly bad rap by the high end review media.
But the same can be said of all speakers using horn (waveguide) type speakers.
My HDI 3600's sound incredible to me, imaging every bit as good as any Revels I've heard.
Response as smooth and glare free as I could ask for.
YMMV

 

[Prolix]

Feels like a silly question but here we go... Is that huge top end spike something that could bother pets? Looks like it shoots straight off the end of the graph.

 

[617]

Feels like a silly question but here we go... Is that huge top end spike something that could bother pets? Looks like it shoots straight off the end of the graph.

UHF are ultra directional and almost completely attenuated by any surface they come into contact with.

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

Feels like a silly question but here we go... Is that huge top end spike something that could bother pets? Looks like it shoots straight off the end of the graph.

I hope it bothers my cat. He sure bothers me.

 

[thewas]

Some more measurements

JBL HDI 1600

Jeszcze nie znacznie większe niż przeciętne podstawkowce, ale już wyraźnie cięższe, wyglądające bardzo poważnie, nowocześnie i luksusowo ...

audio.com.pl

 

[paulgyro]

I recently got a pair of HDI-1600 to try out. A few quick comments.
-They were very easy to setup. Put them on stands, toe them in, bam! Amazing imaging and sound stage. Phantom center was strong.
-No grain or grit to the sound at all.
-Highs were laid back for sure, too much to my taste and the reason the speakers will be going back.
-Dang they can go low! So low that Audyssey thinks they are full range speakers.
-They need a lot of power to get going.

Great speaker, just not enough high freq extension, and sensitivity too low thus taking too much power to come alive.

 

[Sal1950]

Great speaker, just not enough high freq extension, and sensitivity too low thus taking too much power to come alive.

Just curious as to what sort of amp you were using.
Tube or SS and how much power do they have?

 

[paulgyro]

Just curious as to what sort of amp you were using.
Tube or SS and how much power do they have?

SS,VTV Stereo Amplifier based on Hypex NCore NC252MP. Again, great speak but I should have expected what I got with the mid-80s db sensitivity.

 

[Sal1950]

SS,VTV Stereo Amplifier based on Hypex NCore NC252MP. Again, great speak but I should have expected what I got with the mid-80s db sensitivity.

I had a pair around here for about 45 days, I really did love them but in the end I went for the HDI-3600's.
I don't play my music very loud anymore and live in a small place so I'm not sure exactly why but I just felt like I wanted something with more balls. Maybe just some leftover audiophilia nervosa because IMHO the entire HDI line are amazing speakers. LOL

 

[paulgyro]

I had a pair around here for about 45 days, I really did love them but in the end I went for the HDI-3600's.
I don't play my music very loud anymore and live in a small place so I'm not sure exactly why but I just felt like I wanted something with more balls. Maybe just some leftover audiophilia nervosa because IMHO the entire HDI line are amazing speakers. LOL

I hear you man, so how does the 1600 compare to the 3600 in your view?

 

[Sal1950]

I hear you man, so how does the 1600 compare to the 3600 in your view?

Obviously more&deeper bass and more dynamic sounding to me.
Otherwise about the same tonally.

 

[testp]

something with more balls.

i agree, speakers need to have some balls..

 

[paulgyro]

Obviously more&deeper bass and more dynamic sounding to me.
Otherwise about the same tonally.

Makes sense, certainly the biggest advantage of the 3600 is its bass response and increased sensitivity allowing for more dynamics.