SVS PRIME Wireless Pro and 3000 Micro Sub - Simplified But Capable

For local audiophiles and AV enthusiasts, the name SVS is no stranger to them including yours truly. In my previous home theater set up, my rear and ATMOS speakers were from the PRIME series and also the main subwoofer as well. They were very capable speakers to complement my LCR which were the PMCs. Nevertheless, I never really had the chance to test or use them as a pair stereo set up or even a lifestyle set up.

When AJ of The Experts Group Malaysia mentioned about the Wireless Pro and 3000 Micro Sub set up, it intrigued me to review them. I had them for 3 weeks (about 2 weeks of serious listening) and I must say, they continue to live up to their name even for a 2 channel set up. Read on to know why!

THE SPECIFICATIONS

First of all, the Wireless Pro speakers are sold separately from the subwoofer i.e. it is actually a stand alone unit. It can belt out music without the connection to the subwoofer. 

The term wireless can sometimes be misleading. As far as I remember, my first 'wireless' set up was a SONY home theater system for my apartment in Abu Dhabi when I was stationed there between 2005 to 2007. At that time, the term wireless was mainly referring to my rear speakers as I did not need to run cables to the main unit at the front. However, there was a need to have 2 additional eletrical plugs to power up both rear speakers. Hence, it was one of those 'wireless' but not truly 'wireless' if you get my drift.

Not with the PRIME Wireless Pro! Even the power cable to the main unit with the front display is equipped with attached cable to connect to the other speakers. Hence,  you just need one eletrical power supply point to power both speakers. 

The subwoofer however, needed a mono RCA subwoofer cable to connect from the Wireless Pro.

As a wireless powered speakers, the Pro is equipped with a dual Class-D power amps for discrete Bi-Amplification at 200 watts RMS power with a digitally controlled tweeter to woofer Xover at 2kHz.

The pair is relatively sized decently as a bookshelf speakers at 295 mm x 180 mm x 228 mm (HxWXD) and weighs about 5.6 kg each. It is recommended as well to either place them on a decent speakers stands or an isolation platforms such as the IsoAcoustics Aperta.

The pair also comes with a neat little remote that does all the basic function.

INS AND OUTS

Inputs

• 1 x RCA
• 1 x optical
• 1 x 3.5mm Line In
• 1 x HDMI (ARC)
• 1 x Ethernet

Ouputs

• 1 x sub out
• Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC and aptX
• 1 x Ethernet

Wireless Connectivity

• Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC and aptX
• DTS Play-Fi - Losslee 192 kHz/24 bit via critical listening mode over WiFi
• Apple Airplay 2 and Chromecast - CD Quality
• Spotify Connect

For a complete specification details, click here.

The 3000 Micro Subwoofer is a fully active unit, designed with a dual opposing 8 inches drivers. Measuring at 278 x 297 x 271 mm (HxWxD), this sub is not to be underestimated. Weighing at about 10 kg, this unit complemented the Wireless Pro speakers seamlessly; providing sufficient grunt and low frequency envelope to make the sound reproduction very musical indeed.

It comes with a pair or RCA ouput and input in which I only connected the sub via a single RCA mono interconnect to the Prime Wireless Pro. The volume and phasing of this sub can either be done manually through the soft touch buttons at the rear panel or also via their app. (However, I believe you need to purchase a wireless audio adapter for this to work via Bluetooth)

The subwoofer amplification comes from an 800 watt RMS, 2,500 watt peak Sledge STA-800DM built in amp with a fully discrete MOSFET output high-effiiciency Class D switching topology. Fully packed into this tiny in size but muscular in sound. For the full specs and features, click here.

THE SESSION

I tested out this set up in stages below:

1. Without the subwoofer

2. With the subwoofer

My review below however will only be with the subwoofer with some comparison context to listening without the subwoofer.

Before describing the listening session, the first test that I always do is the CONNECTION STABILITY. In this modern era, this is essential for any wireless system. First of all, setting up the speakers into my home network.

The SVS Prime Wireless Pro Bookshelf speakers was fully set up physically and gained connectivity within 20 minutes. That is how simple it is. Using the DTS play-Fi app on Android, connectivity to my home network was a breeze. Music services to Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz and Roon were seamlessly connected within seconds of logging in.

The system was put into a looping streaming for 1 hour and it passed El Hefe's HiFi Reviews stability test ✅️✅️. ZERO signal dropouts over wifi.

I listened to the following tracks with and without the subwoofer. My reference will only be on QOBUZ but TIDAL and Spotify were tested too.

1. Take Five by The Kenichi Big Band
2. Take Five by Dave Brubeck
3. Turn Me On by Norah Jones
4. Enter Sandman by Metallica
5. The Sound of Silence by The Ghost of Johnny Cash

Take Five by Big Band Kenichi

On this track, the speakers were able to deliver a very lively ambient with layers and layers of multi instruments being tightly played. This is not a particularly easy track to be played as it involves a complex arrangement that needs a good reproduction to really get the music going. The subwoofer added that additional kick to the song in which without it, it can sound a little bit laid back with all the highs playing frm the multi instrument band. The sound stage also sounded big compared to the size of the speakers. At one point, my kids thought I was playing the song from my main hifi set up. It was one of the more entertaining session I had with this set up. 

Japanese Roots by Takadake

I must say that this track was the track that really made me say that this is one capable wireless speaker set up. The wind instrument sound really lush yet chilling with enough energy to get listener excited. I was fully engaged and mesmerized with the level of clarity and how deep it can go with the bass. Yes, the subwoofer added some juice to it but on this track, even without the sub, it can really belt out an energetic performance. The percussion on this track sounded tight with the sufficient amount of dispersion that I like. It maintained the similar huge soundstaging that gave me an immersive experience.

Turn Me On by Norah Jones

I then had to test the speakers with some vocals. Norah's vocal really stand out with this wireless speakers. It manages reproduce the build up from a relaxing intro in which there was a good blend of her vocal, piano and percussion into an emotional roller coaster. As soon as she hits some high notes, it sounded even more engaging.  As it goes into the bridge, the set up created that cyclic emotion to build towards the emotional finale of that track.

Enter Sandman by Metallica

Now, this is where it got a bit tricky. With the stellar performance thus far, I was expecting a kick ass, energetic and andrenalin pumping session with this track.  While the guitar riffs of Kirk Hammer sounded really ferocious, I find that Lar's drumming lacked a bit of punch even with the subwoofer on. James's vocal still came out clearly and upfront as there was no overwhelming dominance from the high and low spectrum. It was just the drumming didn't come out as I expected especially the intro of floor tom and other tom toms. It was still a very decent performance for metal music but I could do with a little bit more dive in the low end spectrum of frequencies.

The Sound of Silence by The Ghost of Johnny Cash

The highlight of the session came from this track. It sent me chills and emotional engagement. The Wireless Pro just reeled me into a deep unawareness of my surrounding. My mind just floated away with the huge sound stage and the reproduction of that vibrating vocal. It filled up my dining area with such ease and without comprimising any essence of the song. Truly an enjoyable  listening experience.

THE CONCLUSION

Of many all in one wireless systems that I have owned and reviewed in the past in the likes of BOSE, Bluesound, SONY, Samsung, KEF etc, this SVS Prime Wireless Pro is the most comprehensive yet simple to set up and use. It has a stable connectivity to all major online streaming services and able to stream uncompressed Hi Res files with no signal dropouts even on wireles mode. A big plus point here.

The sound quality that it can provide actually warrants it to be paired with a decent speaker stands if one intends to use this as a main stereo set up as oppose to easy listening set up for in the likes of dining area, bedroom or small living room. For desktop use, it is recommended to have a pair of isolation platforms such as the IsoAcoustics Apetra.

Without the subwoofer, the Wireless Pro is still able to deliver a very engaging musical presentation. Clarity, huge sound stage and luscious vocal are the 3 main strength based on my listening sessions. With the subwoofer, it elevates the Wireless Pro to be more emotionally engaging as it made the music wraps over me plus, it gives out that extra low frequencies thumping effect as well.

To summarise, if you are looking at getting into a true all in one wireless set up while maintaining a more 2 channel hifi looks, this Prime Wireless Pro should be on your audition list. At RRP of RM4,900 a pair (and RM 5,210 for the 3000 Micro sub for that extra kick), this can be at par or even better sounding than certain entry level hifi set up. You will also eliminate the headache of figuring out a match between amplifier, streamer unit and a pair of passive speakers, let alone the interconnects and speaker cables.

Oh! Did I mention that The Experts Group is having a promotional offer? Better grab them while you can.

For audition, make your way to The Experts Group Malaysia outlet, located at The Gardens Mall, Lot S-207, 2nd Floor, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur. They can be contacted on 012-6462738 to book for a demo session. 

 

The Monitor by Alexandria Audio Just Became The Special One

Bookshelf speakers have its own merit and one who have gone through the phase of owning a pair (or a few pairs) will understand how special a bookshelf can be. For yours truly, the few pairs I had before were prime in their time in my set up. JPW, Mission, EPOS, PMC are just some of the brands that have landed in my set up before I moved to floor standing ones. So, when I was given the chance to have a listen to The Monitor by Alexandria Audio, I could not say no as my first impression listening to them in the shop was extra ordinary. 

THE DESIGN

Although it is a bookshelf, the size of the cabinet is not at all the typical size of a bookshelf speaker. At 14 kg per unit, it stands at W 280 x H 450 x D 330 mm as it is fitted with an 8" woofer as the foundation of the design. The paper cone woofer is designed with high sensitivity and extended bandwidth to deliver a more natural and tight bass transient response. The neodymium tweeter is also designed at high sensitivity with high power handling and short waveguide to have a better dispersion control. Combined together in a birch plywood cabinet, The Monitor has a sensitivity rating of 90dB.

For a more detailed specs, click here.

THE TRACKS

1. Take Five by Dave Brubeck Quartet - DSD
2. Take Five by Kenichi Big Band - TIDAL MQA
3. The Sound of Silence by The Ghost of Johnny Cash - TIDAL 16/44
4. Time To Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli - PCM 16/44
5. Soolaiman by Neil Diamond - QOBUZ 24/192
6. Enter Sandman by Metallica - TIDAL 16/44 Hi Res

All tracks played via ROON on HiFiROSE streamer feeding into Aavik D280 DAC.

THE SESSION

I only had the speakers for about 2 weeks but because it was already fully run in, it was totally a mesmerizing 2 weeks.

Take Five by Dave Brubeck

This track has always been my go to song for the 1st impression in my system. The Monitor delivered an exceptional deep and extended bass despite being a bookshelf. Rich and deep bass that did not overshadow any other part of the sound spectrum. The sound of the percussion especially the snare was crisp and at the right level of clarity. Each tingling sound of the tip of the drumstick that hits the ride cymbal was also sharp and dispersed accordingly. Every instrument on this track came out in harmony and it compliments each other nicely. The saxophone, although airy, still sounded luscious and engaging nevertheless. I was told that these speakers will sound even better if given a bigger distance between them. I can only imagine how bigger the presentation would be.

Take Five by Kenichi

This upbeat version of Take Five will usually get me going even more as its a new breathe of fresh air to this masterpiece. The double bass intro was already giving me goosebumps and once the saxophone came in, it became clear that The Monitor can really blast out a complex arrangement like this one. It kept its live ambience as if the band is just in front of me performing but at the same time, retained the tight and deep diving bass.  The percussion somehow took a back seat on the overall presentation. The snare did not sound as crisp as the original track. The sound stage is still as huge as before, in fact might even sounded bigger given its live ambience.   

The Sound of Silence

In the recent months, there is no other track that I go to test out vocal play. I was fully engaged when listening through The Monitor. It really gives detailed presentation of the vocal spectrum. Deep but at the same time the little details of Todd's vocal can be clearly heard and experienced. Even though the track is heavily dominated by the vocal, the little string works in the background can still be clearly heard an experienced, indicating The Monitor does not leave any of the details of the music out from the overall presentation.

Time To Say Goodbye

Now, even though the previous track nailed the vocal down, it still not as fulfilling as Time To Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. This is such a classic duet but if played through a poorly designed speaker, one may not be able to deliver the huge and energetic vocal presentation and also the overall orchestral presentation. Sarah's vocal sounded sweet and luscious with no hint of sharpness even when she was belting out certain high notes. Andrea's vocal on the other hand  continue to sound deep similar to the other tracks before.

Soolaiman

Now, this is is the highlight of the review session. This track on QOBUZ at 24/192 is a gem when it comes to its musicality and recording/mastering quality. The stereo imaging can really be experienced as The Monitor presents you with such a whole some but at the same time, a well positioned musical presentation experience. Right amount of tight and deep bass, luscious and melodious vocal and the huge sound stage provided me with one lively and engaging session, pulling me into such  an enjoyable experience. This is how one need to experience this track.

Enter Sandman

The final track played is of course my all time favourite Metallica song, Enter Sandman. Many speakers I reviewed will start to show its weakness when playing this track. Good at jazz, vocal, ballad tracks but when a heavier music like this one is played, all joy in life just disappear. Not the case for The Monitor. It delivered this song with such authority that I would say that this speakers is The Special One as it is not fussy to belt out any musical genres with ease. It is not the best of I heard for this track but it is not far off from what kind of sound I like to hear on this track. The one that was most noticeable for me was the guitar riffs. It did not sound as ferocious as Kirk Hammet sound when playing through a floor standing speakers.

THE CONCLUSION

If I ever wanted to go back to a bookshelf speaker set up, The Monitor is The Special One that I will go to. Somehow, at this stage I can't think of any other bookshelf that can deliver such a powerful performance that can easily outplay some of the floor standing speakers out there. High sensitivity design that can adapt to various musical genres with a presentation that brings out the best of recordings and mastering. If I am asked to describe The Monitor in 3 words, it would be - Musical, Engaging, Punchy 

If you would like to demo The Monitor, please contact Gan at Uniq Fidelity

Uniq Fidelity Sdn. Bhd. ( Gan )
M1-7-07 8Trium, Jalan Cempaka SD12/5, 52200 Bandar Sri Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
info@uniqfidelity.com
+60 11-3134 7900

 

SB Acoustics Ara Be Speakers - Built With Passion, Sings Like a Diva

Majestic! Simply majestic....in looks and sound for a bookshelf speakers. A unique cabinet design, beautifully finished and just look at those tweeters and woofers. Oh, the sound is even better than the looks :)

I first listened to SB Acoustics in KLIAV 2017 show. It was already a new sound to me but it was not really set up in a conducive way to enjoy it. After the show, we exchanged a few communications but SB Acoustics never landed in Malaysia officially..... until 2021! (No thanks to the pandemic). When I was contacted last year about the opportunity to listen to Ara Be speakers at home, I did not hesitate at all. I know it can offer something special. Nevertheless, delivery can only happen sometime in December 2021, just before Xmas. 

THE SPECIFICATION

What is so special about this pair of speakers? Firstly, it uses the SATORI Beryllium Tweeters and 6.5" SATORI Midwoofers (with the proprietary cone material of EGYPTIAN PAPYRUS™ fibres). Although it is designed with 4 ohm in mind, the sensitivity at 87 dB made it not so difficult to be driven. 

The cabinet is made of MDF with 6 choices of finishing - White satin, black satin, white high gloss, black high gloss, orange high gloss and red high gloss.

It weighs at 9.6 kg per unit and can be handled easily by one person to set it up. Do ensure you have a suitably sized top plate for your speaker stands as it measures at 391 x 190 x 388 mm.

It will fit in with most modern deco in your house and I do believe it can easily get the approval from your other half with the looks.

THE EQUIPMENT

The Ara Be was tested and reviewed alongside the following:

• Siltech 330L Silver Anniversary speaker cables
• SPL Audio Direct Mk2 pre amp and S800 Performance power amp
• McIntosh MCD 350 SACD player
• ARCAM ST60 streamer via Roon
• SONY HAP Z1 ES

THE TRACKS

• Keroncong Kemayoran by Mustikara - TIDAL HiFi
• 'S Wonderful by Diana Krall - SACD
• Take Five by Kenichi Tsunoda Big Band - TIDAL MQA
• Temptation by Diana Krall - DSD
• Tuesday's Gone by Metallica - 16/44 WAV
• Enter Sandman  by Metallica - 24/192 WAV

THE SESSION

There are 2 parts here where I listened to the speakers fresh out of the box in the first few days followed by extensive listening once the speakers have been run in more than 200 hours.

Keroncong Kemayoran by Mustikara

Fresh out of the box, the Ara Be sounded quite flat but clean. It could still deliver some level of excitement in which this track upbeat version of this traditional track can really be enjoyed. Good level of clarity on the drum play of the hi hat and rim shot. The guitar solo also sounded melodic enough. However, the bass was a little bit restricted. Vocal was its best character at this point. Sweet highs and decent delivery of mids and lows.

'S Wonderful by Diana Krall SACD

This is when the real extensive listening started. The pair have gone through more than 200 hours of listening. Straight up, playing the physical SACD gave so much excitement. The percussion intro sounded deep and sharp at the same time. For a live concert like this, it is not easy to reproduce a good percussion sound. The rim shot sounded sharp and the soft play of the hi-hat can easily be recognized. The enjoyment continues to set in with the sweet vocal of Diana Krall delivered with such an engaging presentation. It reminds me of the time my wife and I watched her live in concert at the Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS a few years ago. Now, the biggest excitement for me was actually hearing how low the Ara Be can go to deliver the deep sound of the double bass. For a speaker of this size, I would have thought it can only sound like another typical bookshelf. The Ara Be really gave me a big surprise as it digs in quite deep when it comes to bass.

Take Five by Kenichi Tsunoda Big Band

Another similar experience here when I play Kenichi's rendition of the famous Take Five track. The percussion and double bass were spot on with the Ara Be. Initially, I had a concern on the highs as this track involves various wind instruments played at the higher frequency spectrum. Coupled with cymbals play, it could be an ear-pinching experience if played on a bright system. I guess, the beryllium tweeters is a perfect match with the midwoofers as it presented this track with such energy and head room but without the high pitch that I was concern about. In fact, to me it gave the right dosage of highs to the entire track. Perfectly engaging as well.

Tuesday's Gone by Metallica

Why this track? This is one of the covers by Metallica which I feel depicts real emotions from this band. Not only from James's vocal but also the guitar plucks of Kirk and the simple drumming of Lars and bass notes by Jason. Although originally played by Lynyrd Skynyrd, I can relate more to Metallica's version. On this track, James's vocal sounded really energetic on the Ara Be even in his attempt to sing this song at ease. The harmonica sounded really melodic and sweet and Lars's ride crown plays sounded sharp hit by hit. His tom plays also was reproduced by the Ara Be precisely how Lars's drums should sound. At the end of the song, where James started calling names, it sounded really huge in my hall. It filled up my hall in which no other bookshelf speakers that came through my system have ever done this. It usually would need a floorstander to give m such enveloping and huge sound.

Temptation by Diana Krall

I actually still have a concern about the highs on this Ara Be. I then put on Diana Krall's Temptation track. Purely to hear the 'zing'  on the snare note at the beginning of the song. Its not about whether it will sound bad but more whether it can really give me that similar vibe each time I hear this note on my system. The unique part of this track is that intro note. Played on a wrong system or speakers, it will sound flat and will not catch my attention. Sure enough, the Ara Be had no problem giving me that experience. It is not as engaging as what I am used to but it is enough to make me smile to hear that 'zing' from that snare note. For the rest of the song, it just further emphasize the Ara Be character in delivering vocal clarity, deep bass and sweet mids and highs.

Enter Sandman

All good with soft, vocal, brass music so far. Any hifi equipment in my book must also go through a test with metal or punk music. Gone were the days where these genres were poorly recorded. I put on a high res version of Enter Sandman by Metallica. This was definitely the hardest test for the Ara Be to satisfy me. It was challenging for me to experience the bass from Lars's drums once the gut wrenching guitar riffs started to rip through the Ara Be. The highs started to overpower the impact of the bass here. Clarity remains its strength where James's vocal still sounded energetic and clear throughout. The drums and bass lines however, somehow was a little laid back compared to the other tracks I tested.

THE CONCLUSION

When it comes to bookshelf speakers, this Ara Be is one strong contender to be on my 2022 Best Speakers list. I am overwhelmed with its performance. The Ara Be is a pair of speakers that is worthy the time for audiophiles to listen to. The overall performance from aesthetic, sound quality, emotional engagement is all there. It is a nearly perfect design to me and matches my system in terms of clarity, sweet highs and melodic mids. The bass response depends a lot on the musical genre being played but with a good track, it can dig really deep for a speaker of this size.

Who will enjoy this speakers? If floorstander is not your cup of tea and looking for a bookshelf speakers that can deliver high clarity, sweet highs and mids with sufficient low frequency response, you have to listen to the Ara Be before purchasing your next bookshelf. It is not a bass monster but it is also not shy in delivering sufficient bass. In fact, its performance will be able to match or even better than some of the floorstanders out there in the price range of RM8K to RM15K. Pair this with a good amp and you will be satisfied for a long time. 

For a chance to listen to this Ara Be, please contact HiFi Paradis

JBL L82 Classic - Retro in Style But Not in Sound

In the recent months, the trend seems to be towards revival of old classics. From amps to speakers, there seems to be much love towards the yesteryears hifi. While most audiophiles opt to find the original vintage gear and refurbish it if required, there are the ones who prefer to indulge in new but old hifi equipment. JBL have definitely came up with a revival that will please a huge number of fans of their old classic L100 and now the smaller version L82 speakers.

After the launch event a few weeks ago, the L82 speakers landed at my place for a review. Impressed by the big brother L100 during the launch, I just had to give a go on this smaller unit. The L100, although sounds great, I believe it might be too big for my living room. Audio Visual Designs was kind enough to have me listen to these babies for about 3 weeks.

The speakers came with a matching stands that was designed to project the sound at a tipped angle.

THE BUILD AND SPEC

The pair came in one packaging box. While it is just about 12.7 kg each unit, I would still recommend  for 2 people to unbox and set it up. Mainly because the size is not a typical bookshelf size.

The workmanship on this speaker is of high quality. Retro it is but not the built. No sharp edges given how box-ish it is. The grille frame is also made from the same wood material as the cabinet giving it seamless look if one decide to use them while listening (I do not recommend this).

A relatively high sensitive speakers, design at 88 db, my SPL Audio 180 watter easily drives this speakers. No sign of strain at all playing at high volumes.  This 2 way speaker design comes with a 1" titanium dome tweeter and 8"pure pulp cone woofer. Of course not to forget it comes with the L pad attenuator control.

For the full specs, click HERE.

THE EQUIPMENT

1. SPL Audio Director Mk2 pre, Performer S800 power amp and Phonos
2. McIntosh MCD350 SACD player
3. Siltech 330L Anniversary speaker cable
4. Kronos Sparta TT

THE TRACKS

1. Smoked on The Water by Deep Purple on SACD
2. Sand of Time by Slumber Sonic on CD
3. Turn Me On by Norah Jones on SACD
4. Temptation by Diana Krall on LP
5. Time To Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman on LP
6. Nothing Else Matter S&M 2 by Metallica on LP

THE SESSION

Smoked on The Water on SACD

The guitar intro on this track sounded as raw as it can be. When the drums kicked in, you can start to feel the build of this track. The bassline just completes the build up where the L82 delivered the track with such high clarity sound. The bassline sounded heavy and the drums especially the snare sounded tight and less dispersed. The shuffling of the hi hat sounded crisp and really recreated the rawness of this classic track. The guitar riffs was another highlight in which it sounded ferocious with no shrill. The vocal of course will bring you back in time to the glory days of Deep Purple.

Sand of Time 

Nowadays, no review of mine will be complete without listening to my band's track Sand of Time. Although we did not release a CD version of this singles, I did write one CD of this track. The bass intro sounded melodic and the separation from the guitar works can easily be heard through the L82. I must say at this point that the perception of the L82 (or the L100) is all about bass somehow does not really tally to my experience with this speaker. The bass produced from the L82 is far from a boom box definition. IN fact the bass to me is rather subtle and brings out more the musicality of the overall design. Iswardy's vocal was reproduced with sufficient emotion flowing through, giving flashback of our recording process. His solo also sounded energetic through the L82. The tom tom works on my drums was also clearly heard though the overall music.

Turn Me On on SACD

Call me soft but I can easily swept away by Norah Jones's Turn Me On over and over again. There is something about this song that punches through my soul and just stirs emotions like no other track of hers. Here, the L82 again presented a crystal clear vocal delivery without any ear pinching experience when she belts out certain parts of the song. The piano sounded smooth and emotional from start to the end.

Temptation on LP

Now we move to the analogue side of things. First up, Temptation by Diana Krall. The percussion intro just hit me at the right level through this L82. The double bass also sounded tight. Again, my expectation of deep diving bass is not something L82 will deliver. Instead it is more of a subtle but raw bass sound that hits quite tight into the overall musical presentation. By this 4th sampler, I must say the L82 focuses a lot on vocal presentation as well. 

Time To Say Goodbye on LP

Aha! Now comes my all time favourite track by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. I specifically used this track to reconfirm that the L82 will not give me an ear pinching experience when Sarah hits her high note. Sure enough the L82 did not disappoint me. And when it comes to Andrea's deep tone voice, it did not disappoint as well. I am starting to believe that the updated design  balances out across different spectrum of frequency. It brings out quite a performance with regards to musicality and not focusing on any particular genre of music. 

Nothing Else Matter on LP

How will the L82 fair with live concerts? Coincidently my Metallica S&M 2 arrived at the same time. Playing Else Matter was my my ultimate enjoyment with the L82. To me, it is not easy for a 2 channel hifi to deliver the concert atmosphere unless its combined with a TV set :).  James's vocal was so melodic it brought me back to the early 90s when the Black album came out. Such a classic track delivered live through the L82. The L82 delivered quite a performance by bringing up the orchestra where it matters on this track. The string works was soothing yet able to create that 'metal' atmosphere of the concert. 

THE CONCLUSION

Don't be mistaken for the L82 to give you the same experience as the L100. While it is perceived that the L82 is a bass bombarding speakers, it is actually a very natural and neutral sounding speaker. It is a fun speaker which you can just play almost any musical genre and it can give you hours of listening pleasure. And of course, if you have the matching deco, the L82 with orange grille will definitely match well. It is not for those who wants to spend hours of critical listening but more those who really want to enjoy the music as it is. I personally feel that the L82 strength is in the highs and the mids rather than the bass delivery. Sweet vocals coming out from these babies and at the same time still capable of delivering ferocious guitar and swinging basslines.

The L82 and L100 can be demo-ed at Audio Visual Designs. If you are interested to listen to them, give Tony Low a call.

Here is also another sample of a raw drum tracks through the L82 recorded live using SONY PCMD100 digital recorder.

 

Now, for this review, I also invited fellow reviewer AudioVault for a session. Here is his take:

Class act monitor sound

Natural and Detail

For the listening session,  I pick this track to test this iconic speaker.

Eric Clapton Unplugged 

Tears  In Heaven( LP)

Big natural sound that just pulls you into the MUSIC. Eric's voice sounded pleasing and easy going,

There was body and depth on the instrument like piano and guitar. Moderate soundstage and imaging, leans more towards warm, openness sound infuse with rich musical delivery. Highs have excellent extended resolution, clean and refined plus micro details.

Diana Krall 

Temptations( HiRes Files)

Diana voice really well render take me to the warmth side really nailed it. Lively and natural,well-defined tone range. The texture of vocal is rich with well placed in center.

Daft Punk

Get Lucky (LP)

I want to find bass so I play this track, Daft Punk track help me a lot to find out about bass track.

Stand out is the meaty bass, which is also tight in control of pace and timing.

Low mids had a some level of body and low bass for me a bit less of extension, fast and controlled lack though perhaps not the most impactful.

Conclusion

JBL L82 is tempting speakers but is not for all rounders. Capable in loud volume, they are full of character. Bring a wider soundstage and depth  which retaining that big full sound.

These are just lovely with zero fatigue.

JBL Classic and Studio Monitors Series Launched in Malaysia

The iconic JBL Classic and Studio Monitor Bookshelf speakers series were officially launched for the Malaysian market by AV Designs Sdn. Bhd. on Friday, 28^th August 2020. Four models were showcased - L100 and L82 Classic Series and the 4312G and 4312MII of the Studio Monitor series.  The event was done in a small scale in accordance to the current MCO SOP but that did not stop the organizer from showcasing what the musical enjoyment these speakers can provide to the listeners.

The event started off at 3 pm with a short briefing by Mr. Tony Low where he did a lowdown on the revamped design of the original L100. Came out in 1970, the original L100 was designed mainly to suit the fans of rock music, given it was the Woodstock era. This new L100 Classic retains the vintage styling, including the retro-inspired design Quadrex foam grille (with enhanced material to prolong its integrity). This speakers boast a 1-inch titanium dome tweeter, 5-inch pure-pulp cone midrange driver, a slamming 12-inch cast-frame, white pure-pulp cone woofer and a single front-firing port tube. The L100 Classic also retains the high and mid frequency L—pad attenuators on the front baffle. With the current modern touch, the L100 is expected to be more neutral in sound and able to deliver musical enjoyment of various musical genres. JBL have also come up with a matching tilted stand, measured precisely at angle to give the speakers the best musical presentation to the listeners.  

The Full Lowdown of the Classic Series

Only the L100 was on active display with a Bryston BDP3 streamer and TAD amplification. Guests had the opportunity to listen to these speakers with a series of music clips and also test tones. From the first impression, the L100 Classic will be a strong contender for those seeking modern sound but with vintage looks.

 

What Fellow Contributor - Audio Vault Have To Say About L100?

Fellow contributor to El Hefe's HiFi Review, Audio Vault have something to say about the L100.

Merry Christmas track infused with jazz genre - L100 produced a large staging scale with good layering of instruments. Very musical with clear and clean sound. Good bass control where the low end frequency was delivered with a sense of authority. At the same time, it still maintains an open sound to fill up the venue. The highs gives out the details which provides an excellent sounding contrast. It really delivers the greatness of the track recording.

Move to Ready for Love from Bad Company.Vocal is more natural and the L100 reveals more of its forward character,well-rounded sound that is mostly neutral and with a good tonal balance.The guitar works sound very electrifying.

I loved hearing the drums through these speakers, tapping out the beat on a ride cymbal, the sound of the stick hitting the  the cymbal with a natural splash and then hearing it fading into the background. Bass is taut and pounding with powerful low frequencies.

L100 not only able to separate instruments within a crowded sound field, it can also deliver a dynamic distance between instruments and vocals. . 

According to Tony, they currently only carry one unit of each model but more units are expected to arrive in the second shipment due soon. The L100 Classic is retailed at RM 19,800 whilst the L82 Classic is retailed at RM 11,200 excluding the matching stands.

These JBL speakers are available for demo at the AV Designs show room. (+603-62411237)

Note: Some of the contents here is a mirror of my write up on Audiofi.net