JBL M2 Reference Master Monitor Review

[hardisj]

Let's see how this goes, shall we?

I can't post a link directly to my site (since Amir has blocked it) and I'm not about to do the whole copy/paste thing (many have mistaken my reviews for Amir's and I don't want to perpetuate that). So if you want to see the written review, the full suite of data and proper context you'll have to google my site. But, I've included my video and a couple of the more important takeaway graphics below. If you dig it, great. If you don't, that's cool, too.

- Erin

 

[Ryogo]

@hardisj thank you for all your hard work Erin. Too bad links to your website are censored on ASR.

 

[nerdoldnerdith]

These measurements are good, but not what I would consider state-of-the art. I'm kind of disappointed.

 

[Laserjock]

Does having to measure the big floorstanders on their side make any difference vs if you were able to measure standing vertically?
Sorry if you explained this already

 

[MaxRockbin]

These measurements are good, but not what I would consider state-of-the art. I'm kind of disappointed.

I think the thing is what it can do 86dB SPL with minimal distortion it also does at 105dB. If you don't need a lot of oomph, probably not the right speaker.

Also, just eyeballing graphs, I think Erin's vertical axis is more spread out vs ASR, so jaggies look more extreme.

 

[hardisj]

Does having to measure the big floorstanders on their side make any difference vs if you were able to measure standing vertically?
Sorry if you explained this already

Nope. Not a lick. I just change the orientation vector to be side-to-side instead of up-and-down. Funny enough, I didn't know you could do that until I had a conversation with Christian @ Klippel earlier this year and said something about me being limited in height, to which he explained that I can just measure it on its side.

I made mention of measuring this speaker on its side at around the 7:50 mark.

I also briefly talk about this in the following video:

Edit: IIRC Christian also discusses it somewhere in this (2 hour) chat:

Honestly, it actually works out better this way because I don't have to worry about the speaker staying in place while standing up. It is much more stable on its side. Imagine having a huge speaker like this standing up... I would be on pins and needles. The only problem is when I have a speaker with a curved baffle but so far I haven't run into that and will burn that bridge when I get there. As it is, I am limited to about 50-inch tall speakers (like this one) or if it is narrow in depth then I could probably accurately measure up to 53 or so inches.


Oh and FWIW, all speakers like this, I also perform a groundplane measurement in my driveway to sanity check the LF response to make sure I am getting proper summation.

 

[Sancus]

These measurements are good, but not what I would consider state-of-the art. I'm kind of disappointed.

Well except that this nails flat DI from 800 to 8000hz in a way that not even Genelec or the D&D 8c do.

 

[Doodski]

I would love to hear some ACDC through these bad boyz.

 

[jtwrace]

I would love to hear some ACDC through these bad boyz.

You would be Thunderstruck!

 

[jhaider]

Seems to me the biggest differences to 708 are:

1) SPL capability jump from high to basically without limit in a domestic system
2) directivity control extends lower in frequency (wider woofer and baffle)
3) directivity control breaks down lower ib the treble (big compression driver and exit vs tiny CD and exit)

So an achievement for sure, but I suspect most 70x owners will not be much happier with M2 than what they already enjoy.

 

[Hemi-Demon]

Just popping in to say how happy I am that your are back to posting your reviews on ASR. Keep up the great work, and all the hard work is appreciated.

 

[richard12511]

These measurements are good, but not what I would consider state-of-the art. I'm kind of disappointed.

I don't know. In terms of controlled directivity over a big range, this may be the best we've seen so far. Also, we have to consider dynamics as part of the equation. These speakers will likely do almost 130dB with subs helping the low end.

 

[Shirazir]

I'm out of the loop, why are links to Erin's site blocked on ASR?

 

[Χ Ξ Σ]

Well except that this nails flat DI from 800 to 8000hz in a way that not even Genelec or the D&D 8c do.

Perhaps that's also why Erin found this a little too bright.

 

[beeface]

If I ever won the lottery, by brain would be telling me to consider the M2, my heart would tell me to get the 4367. Welcome back, and thanks for sharing the measurements.

I'm out of the loop, why are links to Erin's site blocked on ASR?

peep Erin's post history.

 

[Χ Ξ Σ]

That's right, 4367 looks really attractive now. (until it might also measure not as good as what Harman shows.)

 

[Piranesi]

Thought the frequency response was a bit uneven until I checked the axis scaling and did a double take.
These seem wonderfully linear over their entire disperson, as well they should for the asking price!

Seems to me that these would be a pretty good deal when purchased individually, and then supplied with other, more affordable but high powered class D amps.

As an aside, Erin, thank you very much for the work you do. Would personally love to see some interesting higher end Swans (e.g. M3A, M500, M5A) measured too. They're active DSP speakers with a well integrated 3-way design, and for fairly low prices too.

 

[Shirazir]

If I ever won the lottery, by brain would be telling me to consider the M2, my heart would tell me to get the 4367. Welcome back, and thanks for sharing the measurements.


peep Erin's post history.

Spicy.

Let the man link to his site!

 

[MrPeabody]

You would be Thunderstruck!

Did I hear someone say THUNDERSTRUCK??

 

[Doodski]

Did I hear someone say THUNDERSTRUCK??

"Finnish band called Steve'n'Seagulls plays AC/DC's awesome song called Thunderstruck."
I thought it to be a southern USA band from the stereotype.