Look Inside JBL Studio 580

[GXAlan]

The Studio 590’s are really stellar speakers when it comes to sound quality. The biggest challenge which is not mentioned anywhere (and why I needed to return mine) is that they are top heavy which creates a tip over hazard, which is bad if you have kids. The manual tells you to anchor it to the wall, not unlike an IKEA dresser or TV, but they provide no anchor points.

I have the Array 880 center which has the Array 1400 compression drivers. The overall sound signature is similar to the Studio 520 and 590, with the exception that the Array is clearer at higher volumes. But it is a huge difference in price and availability...

The Studio 5 line also gives up all of the “looks” to cut costs. The bottom of the speaker isn’t even finished.

But dollar for dollar, impossible to beat the Studio 590, especially when they are half-off from Harman direct online.

 

[mediazone]

The Studio 590’s are really stellar speakers when it comes to sound quality. The biggest challenge which is not mentioned anywhere (and why I needed to return mine) is that they are top heavy which creates a tip over hazard, which is bad if you have kids. The manual tells you to anchor it to the wall, not unlike an IKEA dresser or TV, but they provide no anchor points.

I have the Array 880 center which has the Array 1400 compression drivers. The overall sound signature is similar to the Studio 520 and 590, with the exception that the Array is clearer at higher volumes. But it is a huge difference in price and availability...

The Studio 5 line also gives up all of the “looks” to cut costs. The bottom of the speaker isn’t even finished.

But dollar for dollar, impossible to beat the Studio 590, especially when they are half-off from Harman direct online.

Holy cow the Array 880 looks nice, dual 8 drivers and a titanium compression driver. JBL synthesis is pricey though, I see one for $1600. Hopefully you got it for half off?

 

[GXAlan]

Holy cow the Array 880 looks nice, dual 8 drivers and a titanium compression driver. JBL synthesis is pricey though, I see one for $1600. Hopefully you got it for half off?

I actually have two 2005-era Array 880’s. Made in USA JBL’s.

The Array line was discontinued in 2013 or so. It still lives on as the SAM1HF and SAM2HF.

At $1600, it’s a bargain as long as you can fit the tall center. Originally a $3200 speaker even back then.

 

[JohnnyN]

Hi all,

I'm between the JBL Studio 580 and the Studio 570 for R/L for home theater set-up. I've read that the 570s are better for smaller rooms and the 580s for medium/larger sized rooms, but I'm not sure which would be better suited for my room, which is about 15 feet deep by 20 feet wide with ceilings about 12 feet high. (Will be using only this pair of speakers + a subwoofer--no center, no surrounds.) Any recommendation here would be appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Shazb0t]

Hi all,

I'm between the JBL Studio 580 and the Studio 570 for R/L for home theater set-up. I've read that the 570s are better for smaller rooms and the 580s for medium/larger sized rooms, but I'm not sure which would be better suited for my room, which is about 15 feet deep by 20 feet wide with ceilings about 12 feet high. (Will be using only this pair of speakers + a subwoofer--no center, no surrounds.) Any recommendation here would be appreciated! Thank you!

Why not shoot for the 590?

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

Harman is a South Korean company. The expensive JBL product is probably mostly an Asian thing I imagine. So from that standpoint it probably makes corporate sense. It would surprise me if JBL still makes anything in Northridge, or anywhere in the US, anymore.

When I worked there, they did most everything in-house at Northridge. I imagine just the engineering is still there; they sold most all their buildings for development into a strip mall. Sad.

 

[RayDunzl]

Why not shoot for the 590?

Studio 590 | 250-watt, dual 8" floorstanding loudspeaker

The JBL® Studio 590 floorstanding loudspeaker brings professional-quality sound to the home experience. The Studio 590 uses the technology that JBL engineers developed for pro-audio loudspeakers to deliver accurate, powerful sound to your living room. The Studio 590 is a perfect complement to...

www.jbl.com

 

[Chrispy]

View attachment 201474

Studio 590 | 250-watt, dual 8" floorstanding loudspeaker

The JBL® Studio 590 floorstanding loudspeaker brings professional-quality sound to the home experience. The Studio 590 uses the technology that JBL engineers developed for pro-audio loudspeakers to deliver accurate, powerful sound to your living room. The Studio 590 is a perfect complement to...

www.jbl.com

Having both, for the small price difference on this sale, I'd definitely go for the 590....as long as it's not too big for ya.

 

[GXAlan]

Having both, for the small price difference on this sale, I'd definitely go for the 590....as long as it's not too big for ya.

The only thing I will add is that the 590 is top heavy so it’s not great if you have kids or large dogs that are at risk of bumping into it.

 

[More Dynamics Please]

The 570 sells at msrp virtually all the time and only rarely goes on sale. The 580 and 590 frequently go on sale (as they are right now) for >60% off. About the only reason to go with the 570 is if there are significant size restraints.

 

[Chrispy]

The only thing I will add is that the 590 is top heavy so it’s not great if you have kids or large dogs that are at risk of bumping into it.

Same warning label about that on both 590 and 580....though I think it's just a bit easier to get the 590 in motion

 

[MrnoodleII]

Where would the safest place to anchor this be? (Clear of wiring/electronics and where the case is best supported) I am going to tilt these slightly forward in my theater behind the screen. I am coming up with a way to anchor the feet to the floor as well but I was going to triple stamp the double stamp since you can’t see the anchors/supports.

 

[Martin]

If JBL made a decent center channel and reasonably sized bookshelf or surround speakers I would have replaced my Klipsch Reference system with Studio 590's long ago. I love the sound of my Klipsch Reference RF-82 II, RC-62 II, RS-52 II & RB-51 II 7.2 surround system.

Martin

 

[Digital Mastering System]

If JBL made a decent center channel and reasonably sized bookshelf or surround speakers I would have replaced my Klipsch Reference system with Studio 590's long ago. I love the sound of my Klipsch Reference RF-82 II, RC-62 II, RS-52 II & RB-51 II 7.2 surround system.

Martin

I just dumped my JBL Studio 520c for a KEF XQ50 center. Sounds way better off axis. It pairs nicely with my Studio 570 front spkrs. (got a great deal on the KEF -$300)

 

[Alt-Wrong]

Quick correction the Studio 580 does not use driver 2414H-1. That's the driver for the 530's and 520c. Both the 580's and 590's use driver 2414H which has a bigger magnet and quite heavier. It's very easy to remove the horn/driver from the studio series, just apply a bit of heat (around the horn) with a hair dryer or if your in hot climate leave speaker outside in the sun for a while. This causes the glue to soften enough to remove the horn with the driver attached to it. You can order these drivers directly from JBL, 2414H-1 is around $54 and 2414H is $106.

hi mediazone-
there appear to be at least three variants of the 2414-

JBL 2414H HF Driver 1" High Frequency Screw-On Compression Driver​

Size: 1", 25mm
Power Rating: 35W AES
Frequency Response: 1.9k-20kHz
Sensitivity: 98db
Impedance: 8 ohms
Voice Coil: 1.0"
Recommended Crossover Frequency: 1.9kHz
Weight: 2 lbs

JBL 2414H-1 HF Driver 1" High Frequency Screw-On Driver​

Size: 1", 25mm
Power Rating: 35W AES
Frequency Response: 1.9k-20kHz
Sensitivity: 98db
Impedance: 8 ohms
Voice Coil: 1.0"
Recommended Crossover Frequency: 1.9kHz
Weight: 2 lbs

JBL 2414H-C HF Driver 1" High Frequency Screw-On Driver
Size: 1", 25mm
Power Rating: 35W AES
Frequency Response: 1.6k-20kHz
Sensitivity: 98db
Impedance: 8 ohms
Voice Coil: 1.0"
Recommended Crossover Frequency: 2.1kHz
Weight: 2 lbs


note the recommended cross-over freqs. of 1.9khz for the H and H-1,
and higher for the H-C, which is the center channel’s tweeter?
the 530’s ringing/resonance at around 1.4khz may have been avoided using the recommended x-over freq…

i wonder if the H variant’s more robust build (and price) help avoid that 1.4khz issue in the 580 snd 590…

 

[More Dynamics Please]

^ The 2414H-C is not used in any Studio 5 speaker. The 520C uses the same 2414H-1 as the 530 while the Studio 5 towers all use the 2414H driver. They all use a 1.5 kHz crossover point. JBL's new Studio 6 series uses higher crossover points ranging from 1.7 to 2.4 kHz depending on model.

 

[MickeyBoy]

Here are technical manuals including crossover schematics for 580 and 590

Update: Whoops - I see that the review from Oz of the 590, which indeed is a 2.5 way. Still interested in a mod for the 580s.

Thanks for the schematics. The Australian HiFi review says the 580s are 2.5 ways; but the schematic shows the woofers are wired in parallel. So only 2 way -- unless there has been an update after the initial design. Any mods to turn it into a 2.5 way? Just imagining...

 

[MickeyBoy]

Here are technical manuals including crossover schematics for 580 and 590

Can anyone explain what the mm numbers in the 590 schmeatic mean, as well as the .250 for the positive terminal and .205 for the negative? I am stumped. TIA.

 

[gr-e]

Can anyone explain what the mm numbers in the 590 schmeatic mean, as well as the .250 for the positive terminal and .205 for the negative? I am stumped. TIA.

Wire length in mm and spade terminal size in inches

 

[MickeyBoy]

Wire length in mm and spade terminal size in inches

Thanks.