JBL Studio 590 Speaker Review

[jbl590]

A horn is just a waveguide and has nothing to do with the type of tweeter it's attached to. IME they do tend to have a more immediate feel to them but horns ultimately have nothing to do with 'unforgiving' sound reproduction.

I'm not in any way some sort of an informed audiophile so I'm probably describing things entirely wrong, but at this particular moment it feels like the horns are shooting high frequencies into my eardrums as if they are some sort of weapon when I'm rocking out and then the wrong song on youtube comes along.

I listen at high volumes, not what you would find in a club but more than most audiophiles would.

I am talking about a song that is fine with less revealing speakers, but instantly they are not fine with these and just painfully harsh.

One moment I'm in absolute bliss at the high volume I love when everything is right, and then oh no this is not comfortable I have to rush the drop the volume because all of the sudden it is not pleasant at all any more.

It really has improved with the douk a5, so I'm leaning towards the idea I just need equipment on the level of my expectations with this good of a speaker and trying to use a sub $100 amp and be satisfied with it is just silly.

 

[andrewskaterrr]

I can minimize it with equalizer apo, but it never goes away completely on the specific music that shows the problem. Not all music shows the problem, some music sounds just absolutely jaw droppingly perfect and then the next song comes along and if it's not perfect in any way these speakers will show it and the horn will blast the imperfections right into your eardrums.

I think I bought speakers that are too good for cheap amps, or class D perhaps, need to compare with more amps.

My main source of music may be the problem also, being youtube, but there's just stuff there you can't find elsewhere and it's free so that's what I'm stuck with.

Bad stuff in gets amplified into bad stuff out plus a horn to make it extra bad.

That's not to say that either the amp or the speakers are bad, at low volumes they're great but hearing every imperfection in the chain isn't a good thing.

I just received a douk a5, thought I would give tpa3255 one more chance before I move on and it is better, 50% improvement but not 100% yet. I've only had the new amp for one day and I'll give it a few more and then see if I need to try something else.

I use an Outlaw 7000Xs for my 7x 590s and 2x580 in Rear Surround (2220 for Center). I’ve also tested my Topping PA3s and didn’t notice any issues with power. I think the issue is you’re playing off of YouTube which uses an around 160kbps which has audible artifacts in the treble. The highest it can do is 256kbps with Premium Video and account. Try lossless tracks or 320kbps at least and see. You can also let me know which tracks you hear this issue with.

 

[Pulkass]

If you have always wanted a pair of speakers that would show every imperfection in every recording, or every streaming service, and force you to turn down the volume so it's not so unpleasant on tracks that you used to love with a less revealing setup than these are the speakers for you.

My brother (acoustic engineer with a PHD) told me not to get horn speakers, he told me before I even bought them that they can be really unforgiving but I just didn't listen.

I finally put horns on compression tweeters

 

[Chrispy]

I'm not in any way some sort of an informed audiophile so I'm probably describing things entirely wrong, but at this particular moment it feels like the horns are shooting high frequencies into my eardrums as if they are some sort of weapon when I'm rocking out and then the wrong song on youtube comes along.

I listen at high volumes, not what you would find in a club but more than most audiophiles would.

I am talking about a song that is fine with less revealing speakers, but instantly they are not fine with these and just painfully harsh.

One moment I'm in absolute bliss at the high volume I love when everything is right, and then oh no this is not comfortable I have to rush the drop the volume because all of the sudden it is not pleasant at all any more.

It really has improved with the douk a5, so I'm leaning towards the idea I just need equipment on the level of my expectations with this good of a speaker and trying to use a sub $100 amp and be satisfied with it is just silly.

As long as the inexpensive amp gives you the power you need, it's probably not the issue. Youtube probably is, tho.

 

[jbl590]

I use an Outlaw 7000Xs for my 7x 590s and 2x580 in Rear Surround (2220 for Center). I’ve also tested my Topping PA3s and didn’t notice any issues with power. I think the issue is you’re playing off of YouTube which uses an around 160kbps which has audible artifacts in the treble. The highest it can do is 256kbps with Premium Video and account. Try lossless tracks or 320kbps at least and see. You can also let me know which tracks you hear this issue with.

How would you describe the audible artifacts in youtube treble? Like sand or crushed glass in the highs, and a hint of distortion on the highs like guitar amp distortion?

It is only some youtube tracks so yea, it must be a youtube compression thing or problems in the original recordings.

I tried to find specific examples today and now I can't hear it using the douk a5, it was much more pronounced with the original a07 and even worse with the a04.

I don't have a single local source to try, got rid of my cd player, all my CD's, tape deck, turntable, laserdisc player etc the last time I moved. Couldn't bring it all with me.

I have amazon prime which gives me some access to their music, but I don't think it's HQ.

Where could I find lossless tracks or 320k content without raising the skull and crossbones flag and going full pirate? Are there any free sites with test samples?

 

[jbl590]

This is one of the tracks I was having issue with before on the original a07 and a04.

I can barely hear the problem on the douk a5 now though.

 

[jbl590]

I finally put horns on compression tweeters

As long as the inexpensive amp gives you the power you need, it's probably not the issue. Youtube probably is, tho.

Yes, I guess it's youtube or maybe my tv?

This video I hear a little bit of things starting to break up around the 8:33 mark. Again not nearly like before with the a07 and a04.
It's no longer so bad I have to rush to turn it down with the douk a5 though, just shows something is not perfect.
I forgot to mention I'm only using the headphone out of a Sony a80j77 oled, that might have something to do with it.
Maybe it's not the best input quality.

 

[Pulkass]

I'm not in any way some sort of an informed audiophile so I'm probably describing things entirely wrong, but at this particular moment it feels like the horns are shooting high frequencies into my eardrums as if they are some sort of weapon when I'm rocking out and then the wrong song on youtube comes along.

I listen at high volumes, not what you would find in a club but more than most audiophiles would.

I am talking about a song that is fine with less revealing speakers, but instantly they are not fine with these and just painfully harsh.

One moment I'm in absolute bliss at the high volume I love when everything is right, and then oh no this is not comfortable I have to rush the drop the volume because all of the sudden it is not pleasant at all any more.

It really has improved with the douk a5, so I'm leaning towards the idea I just need equipment on the level of my expectations with this good of a speaker and trying to use a sub $100 amp and be satisfied with it is just silly.

My Celestion compression tweeters are very smooth....l long for more highs actually: Be l m 74 and l have lost frequencies ...

 

[jbl590]

My Celestion compression tweeters are very smooth....l long for more highs actually: Be l m 74 and l have lost frequencies ...

I can't hear over 10k, and I love these speakers when everything is right, pure audio bliss until the next bad song comes along and shows me something just isn't 100% right.

I noticed a few of my banana plugs on my speaker wires are loose and I can't see how to tighten them up, they just lost their spring, if that might cause an issue I'm not sure. I would think I'd hear that more pronounced than just grit in the highs if that were causing a problem.

 

[testp]

Yes, I guess it's youtube or maybe my tv?

This video I hear a little bit of things starting to break up around the 8:33 mark. Again not nearly like before with the a07 and a04.
It's no longer so bad I have to rush to turn it down with the douk a5 though, just shows something is not perfect.
I forgot to mention I'm only using the headphone out of a Sony a80j77 oled, that might have something to do with it.
Maybe it's not the best input quality.

first, look for your speaker dispersion patterns, if it's very wide in the problematic area, this might be exaggerated in your room with higher volumes becoming more noticeable to you.

second, this above video i believe is not true source, but mic'ed from the room with the speakers, because i've listened some james bond soundtracks b4, but not fully sure.

third, if you experience the first, and look for it as well, this can make listeners head usually dense (or at least me), so again this area becomes noticed again and again.

i'd deal with the first (EQ), and if happy, try to forget all about it. Later you might wonder what was this issue even about, bc you can't hear any..

 

[jbl590]

first, look for your speaker dispersion patterns, if it's very wide in the problematic area, this might be exaggerated in your room with higher volumes becoming more noticeable to you.

second, this above video i believe is not true source, but mic'ed from the room with the speakers, because i've listened some james bond soundtracks b4, but not fully sure.

third, if you experience the first, and look for it as well, this can make listeners head usually dense (or at least me), so again this area becomes noticed again and again.

i'd deal with the first (EQ), and if happy, try to forget all about it. Later you might wonder what was this issue even about, bc you can't hear any..

My room has no sound treatment, and it's a 14x17x10 wood box with wood floor and no drywall, about an inch and a half thick all wood walls.
It could be acting like a speaker. I'll look into that.

I'm sitting about in the middle of the room since even with only the towers and no sub, bass is too heavy around the perimeter of the room. If i were sitting on the opposite wall of the speakers it would just be overwhelming bass. Speakers are 1-2 feet out from the wall, ports aren't plugged.

 

[Chrispy]

My room has no sound treatment, and it's a 14x17x10 wood box with wood floor and no drywall, about an inch and a half thick all wood walls.
It could be acting like a speaker. I'll look into that.

I'm sitting about in the middle of the room since even with only the towers and no sub, bass is too heavy around the perimeter of the room. If i were sitting on the opposite wall of the speakers it would just be overwhelming bass. Speakers are 1-2 feet out from the wall, ports aren't plugged.

Not unusual for odd bass response up against boundaries. Shape of room and materials could well have a lot to do with it. Why no sub?

 

[jbl590]

Not unusual for odd bass response up against boundaries. Shape of room and materials could well have a lot to do with it. Why no sub?

I have multiple subs, I have a rel 15 I haven't even had a chance to use yet, but I couldn't use it with the a07 as you just end up with double bass and these towers are already too much bass for this room as it is. That's part of why the douk a5 seemed like a good "upgrade", I will hook up the sub later and mess with it when I have the time and health to do so. It hurts me to even move that rel 15 from where it is now in storage.

Here in this video at 11:04 when the audience is clapping is an example of the type of static I'm hearing.

Is that clean and clear for you guys or in the recording? I'm thinking on this example it may be in the recording but that's an extreme example of what I hear when things aren't 100% right with some songs that I don't recall hearing that static in before. The static I hear in the wrong songs is more subtle though, not that exaggerated.

 

[Chrispy]

I have multiple subs, I have a rel 15 I haven't even had a chance to use yet, but I couldn't use it with the a07 as you just end up with double bass and these towers are already too much bass for this room as it is. That's part of why the douk a5 seemed like a good "upgrade", I will hook up the sub later and mess with it when I have the time and health to do so. It hurts me to even move that rel 15 from where it is now in storage.SS

Here in this video at 11:04 when the audience is clapping is an example of the type of static I'm hearing.

Is that clean and clear for you guys or in the recording? I'm thinking on this example it may be in the recording but that's an extreme example of what I hear when things aren't 100% right with some songs that I don't recall hearing that static in before. The static I hear in the wrong songs is more subtle though, not that exaggerated.

Seems a low quality recording to me.

ps about the subs, not a Rel fan myself but can understand a hefty one is not pleasant to move around. Good integration tools I agree are very helpful rather than not having any....

 

[testp]

I have multiple subs, I have a rel 15 I haven't even had a chance to use yet, but I couldn't use it with the a07 as you just end up with double bass and these towers are already too much bass for this room as it is. That's part of why the douk a5 seemed like a good "upgrade", I will hook up the sub later and mess with it when I have the time and health to do so. It hurts me to even move that rel 15 from where it is now in storage.

Here in this video at 11:04 when the audience is clapping is an example of the type of static I'm hearing.

Is that clean and clear for you guys or in the recording? I'm thinking on this example it may be in the recording but that's an extreme example of what I hear when things aren't 100% right with some songs that I don't recall hearing that static in before. The static I hear in the wrong songs is more subtle though, not that exaggerated.

if that's what your hearing in normal soundtracks, it sounds like signal overdrive or clipping, but hard to say. maybe try lowering all upstream volumes / voltages.
in that recording (11:10...) clipping seems to be happening from the stage rec. already.

 

[jbl590]

Seems a low quality recording to me.

ps about the subs, not a Rel fan myself but can understand a hefty one is not pleasant to move around. Good integration tools I agree are very helpful rather than not having any....

I got the rel because it was marked way down due to shipping damage that's just a ding in the cabinet. I think I paid $650? Can't recall.

I just went on others opinions on the rel, people saying it was a more musical HT sub that other options and for the price I figured if I didn't like it I could pass it on to someone else without losing much money.

 

[Chrispy]

I got the rel because it was marked way down due to shipping damage that's just a ding in the cabinet. I think I paid $650? Can't recall.

I just went on others opinions on the rel, people saying it was a more musical HT sub that other options and for the price I figured if I didn't like it I could pass it on to someone else without losing much money.

Clue was the "more musical" nonsense. I just find them underperforming and overpriced, if you got a great deal, that helps a lot.

 

[jbl590]

Clue was the "more musical" nonsense. I just find them underperforming and overpriced, if you got a great deal, that helps a lot.

I fell for the more musical nonsense because I had two klipsch r12sw that sounded slow and flabby but were just "ok" for HT boom, and expected musical to be more accurate and fast and blend with music better.

It can't be worse than those, can it?

 

[andrewskaterrr]

I fell for the more musical nonsense because I had two klipsch r12sw that sounded slow and flabby but were just "ok" for HT boom, and expected musical to be more accurate and fast and blend with music better.

It can't be worse than those, can it?

Ok so I think it's your setup with the headphone out or the amp was running out of power and going into clipping. The 8:30 Mission Impossible part is more dynamic and I could see that needing to draw more power than was available.
As for artifacts, it's like "hearing pixels" to me at low bitrates, graininess, and harshness. With that said I tested with my AT M50X + Topping E30 DAC + L30 Amp to remove the room from the equation and do a more critical listen. The track sounded pretty good honestly, but I think I hear a little bit of harshness, but I'd need a lossless track to verify if it's the recording or the compression. I think it's your setup though as it's not obvious.

Your REL sub is good, it's just the high MSRP and BS marketing that keeps me from recommending them. Getting one on discount would change that though. The R12SW on the other hand is not a "good" sub lol. So a big upgrade

 

[jbl590]

Ok so I think it's your setup with the headphone out or the amp was running out of power and going into clipping. The 8:30 Mission Impossible part is more dynamic and I could see that needing to draw more power than was available.
As for artifacts, it's like "hearing pixels" to me at low bitrates, graininess, and harshness. With that said I tested with my AT M50X + Topping E30 DAC + L30 Amp to remove the room from the equation and do a more critical listen. The track sounded pretty good honestly, but I think I hear a little bit of harshness, but I'd need a lossless track to verify if it's the recording or the compression. I think it's your setup though as it's not obvious.

Your REL sub is good, it's just the high MSRP and BS marketing that keeps me from recommending them. Getting one on discount would change that though. The R12SW on the other hand is not a "good" sub lol. So a big upgrade

I switched to using my laptop headphone out (problem persists with youtube content) but then I found this site with some 320kbs mp3's.

TAS The Absolute Sound 1996 Album For Audiophiles - Audiophile Music

The Absolute Sound (TAS) is a collection of great Audiophile versions of the year. It includes songs from a variety of genres.

audiophilemusic.io

Almost every song on that site is much much better, not quite 100% but a noticeable difference in that subtle static sound and every other aspect of the sound is better than youtube.

Almost every song is better except for track 15 (Dias irae), that one sounds like garbage and it's hard for me to imagine that's on the recording they chose for an audiophile CD. Does track 15 sound static free to you?