It's great to see these speakers reviewed! However, I'm wondering if these might belong to the minority group of speakers that might actually measure better with the grills on.... 
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JBL Studio 590 Speaker Review
- Thread starter amirm
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uwotm8
Senior Member
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Holy Harman Science. Trained listeners. JBL. Big floorstanders. Results
Jokes off, I think these might be a sort of end game if you're searching for real horns but can't spent 10x more. They contain compression drivers, not just laughable dome tweeters with a coin-size magnet in a WG like JBL 305s. I'd like to have these.
It's great to see these speakers reviewed! However, I'm wondering if these might belong to the minority group of speakers that might actually measure better with the grills on....
Well, the grills only cover the woofers, and the woofers only cover the region up to about 1.5kHz. So I doubt the grills have any impact - measurable or audible.
Supposedly an advantage of compression drivers is their ability to play loud. But these measurements show considerable distortion at 96dB. Many dome tweeters have done better at that level. Granted, these are relatively inexpensive compression tweeters.....
ocinn
Senior Member
Sourced a pair of these for my friend for $550 USD/pair on Facebook a year or so ago. I did his placement and setup and corrected them with his audessey receiver, and within only 2 demo tracks after the deployment, my jaw had fallen thru the floor. They were downright stunning.
These are a total no brainer at the sale/used prices you can find. Clearly JBL is phasing this line out and the resulting liquidation sales make this one of the strongest buys in my eyes at least.
These are a total no brainer at the sale/used prices you can find. Clearly JBL is phasing this line out and the resulting liquidation sales make this one of the strongest buys in my eyes at least.
No, the grill extends up into the horn--look just below the tweeter. You wouldn't normally put a step in a horn like that. The grill may have a solid portion there that smooths it out somewhat.
computer-audiophile
Major Contributor
Thanks, Amir,
by the way, the picture is missing the lower plastic cover of the horn that makes it smooth when you want to use the speaker without the grille. I am not quite sure to what extent it disturbs the horn geometry a bit if it is missing. There is a step then near the compression driver. Have you measured it without this cover?
I've had my Studio 590 for almost 10 years now, so they are among the speakers I've owned the longest ever because I change my components often and try a lot. I have only kept my Neumann KH120 for the similar length of time because I was also happy to have these. For me, these both examples were all the results of longer selection processes and listening experiences.
I think the 590s excel when it comes to massive, powerful and dynamically attacking sound. In my opinion, they are still somewhat in the tradition of the old cinema speakers with horns and compression drivers. They also work well with my 300B and 211 tube amps, or with my Yamaha amp.
When I bought mine, they were even more expensive and not available at all in Germany.
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I have a neighbor that has these. Maybe it is a preference thing but I find horn tweeters always a bit...."forward" in lack of a better word. Not bright but their presentation or the way they present soundscape is for me a bit un-natural to hear music "in my lap" so to say.
Not saying that there is anything wrong with that per se, just that I do not like it.
Not saying that there is anything wrong with that per se, just that I do not like it.
fireanimal
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Yes there is a cover that needs to be installed if the grilles are removed. I also own the speakers, and they are an amazing bargain.
computer-audiophile
Major Contributor
BTW: The compression driver built into the 590 is very good, although it is not expensive. I have dealt with it in more detail, because I have also used it for DIY. It was measured by the well-known horn specialist Dietmar Hampel in Germany and classified in the top class. I worked with Dietmar at that time. There is a big thread about it in the German AAA forum, but I have forgotten what it is and have not documented anything myself. It was enough for me to see the measurements from Dietmar and hear the good results myself.
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It seems to be a relatively inexpensive, run-of-the-mill compression driver. 35W only, lowest crossover point 1.9 kHz, and as far as compression drivers go, it's relatively inefficient at only 98 dB. Clearly, they go way below 1.9 kHz X-over in this design, which may explain the issues. And the 1.9 kHz is probably even two optimistic.
computer-audiophile
Major Contributor
I always read here about issues, problems, and there is too much speculation and estimation imo.
I am more for the real life practice, but I also trust measurements who I make them myself or when specialists in their field make them, which I have good reason to trust.
I just like the fact that this horn can cover a relatively wide frequency range with this driver, which sets them apart from some comparable floorstanding horn speakers from other brands. This segment is not that big these days anyway.
By the way, the Studio 590s were designed by Greg Timbers, who also designed the legendary JBL Everest.
I am more for the real life practice, but I also trust measurements who I make them myself or when specialists in their field make them, which I have good reason to trust.
I just like the fact that this horn can cover a relatively wide frequency range with this driver, which sets them apart from some comparable floorstanding horn speakers from other brands. This segment is not that big these days anyway.
By the way, the Studio 590s were designed by Greg Timbers, who also designed the legendary JBL Everest.
AudioSceptic
Major Contributor
One hopes so. They sure ain't pretty without 'em.It's great to see these speakers reviewed! However, I'm wondering if these might belong to the minority group of speakers that might actually measure better with the grills on....
The thing is 15” wide. A wider waveguide fitting those dimensions would make a crossover below 1 kHz possible. Some BMS 1” drivers would be capable of that, a few Faital as well. IMHO that would make for a much more interesting design.
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computer-audiophile
Major Contributor
You can make it - good luck!
Well, that is one of the design options I’m considering for a next projectYou can make it - good luck!
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computer-audiophile
Major Contributor
As you like it. You have the choice. I think it's not easy to make such a big floor stander look elegant. But as I said, I'm happy with what I have.
I think they look excellent with the grills. Very elegant. Without them I can’t help but wonder why those woofers are so small
I forgot about that part of the grille. But as others pointed out, there is a separate cover for that section when the grille isn't being used.
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