JBL P10 & P20 bookshelf speakers: anybody have info on them?

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dverno

dverno

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I originally posted this in 'Gear reviews and questions' (which would seem a more logical forum for this), but I soon realized that virtually all of the posts there were more focused on selling some piece of gear (or at least describing it and providing a link to where it could be bought and paid for). So I'm hoping this is a more appropriate forum for MY subject.

I've got the chance to pick up a pair of either or both of these for (almost literally) a song. But I can't find any info on them except the .pdf info page from JBL that states freq. response (+ or - 6dB for P10s, no parameter for P20s.), size of drivers, and dimensions.

Nowhere have I found a coherent review, an ad from their era (early 1990s), or anyone saying anything about them except to ask the questions I'm asking.

I can't figure out if they were intended as nearfield monitors, or as consumer bookshelf speakers.:confused:

I would love to see a response graph.:(

Anyway, thanks in advance for any help given.
 
Found this:http://manuals.harman.com/JBL/HOM/Technical Sheet/P20 ts.pdf

For the P20. I would suggest an amplifier of no more than 50Wpch since passive speakers do not have the protection normally found in actives. In any case, 20W will produce about 100dB SPL at 1mtr, good enough?

It has to be said that this side of The Pond at least, JBL did not have a good name for "accurate" speakers, at least not compared to the likes of Quad, KEF and Spendor to name but 3. Still, if they are cheap and you have a suitable amps, why not?

Dave.
 
Thanks Dave, for the reply.

Yes, I probably will pick up at least one of the sets. I was just hoping someone might have had a pair, or known whether they were intended as consumer hi-fi or low end pro monitors (after all, I have vastly more respect for JBL pro monitors than their consumer grade line). Obviously, at their original price point they weren't high end pro, but JBL had many industry standard monitors over the years and who knows, maybe some of that experience might have paid off in this line despite the cheaper builds.

And a frequency sweep curve would save me a lot of precious studio time testing them to get a decent idea of whether they will work for my nearfield needs.
 
TBH I would not put too much stock in a FR curve. Even if it is telling you the unvarnished, it won't help you to know how the speaker sounds where it is important which is accuracy.

I very much doubt a company like JBL would bork the LF/HF balance so just the mid range to check.
Slap on some male speech (Radio 4 newsreader. Every other station is hyped, on Classic FM even the girls have hairy chests) . If it really sounds like a bloke, you are cooking.

Dave.
 
Good point. I'm sure to be checking the accuracy, and you're right of course, the FR isn't as important. I was only interested in whether or not there were big spikes or holes.

I did get a chance to hear the smaller P10s in an unfamiliar space, and they sounded to my ears to be remarkably un-hyped. Could have been the space though.

I guess I'll have to buy them, get 'em home to my studio, and put them through their paces. I'll post a brief review once I have an opinion on accuracy, soundstage, and response.

I'm not sure if I'll buy both sizes, probably just the 5" P10s. I currently am using a small pair of Mission hi-fi speakers for my smaller set, and though they sound great, they ARE hyped.
 
"whether or not there were big spikes or holes. "

They ain't gonna show you THAAAAAAT!

Dave.
 
Found an ebay listing (didn't follow it to see if its still live or where), with a $0.99 starting price, 'buy now' for $33 for the pair. Note these have rear bass ports, so either you need a good space between your front wall and your desk, or bass traps on the wall behind these.
 
Thanks, Mike. Yeah, since the original retail was about $100/speaker in early '90s, any that have survived are likely to be pretty cheap. The ones I have available to me are in very good to excellent condition, AND cheap. I am an incurable cheapskate, former dumpster diver and love to find the hidden bargains. I don't yet know if these are a bargain or a waste of money and time, thus my post.

Since the amount involved is so relatively small ($25) I will probably buy them to play with.

As far as rear firing ports go, I have both ample space behind the monitors and some bass traps (however, I plan to beef up my corner treatments as soon as finances permit).
 
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