I had trouble finding what model the 3 way version would have been, thanks. These honestly look like very well engineered speakers, vastly superior to a lot of pricey models even today.
The PDF I included in my first post is the whole brochure.
I had trouble finding what model the 3 way version would have been, thanks. These honestly look like very well engineered speakers, vastly superior to a lot of pricey models even today.
About a filter a 3kHz crossover point not working, is there an indication why in the spins e.g. directivity error around 3khz?
I'm also trying to understand the difference between the on axis response in the spin and the fundamental in the distortion response. I think there must either be something I'm not understanding about the measurements or the speaker behavior differences at these 2 levels, especially at that 3khz mark. Does the rise in distortion basically 'suck out' the energy at the fundamental so the fundamental response in the distortion test is much lower than in the spin test?
Anyway, it seems like there is all sorts of interesting/nasty stuff going on around that 3khz mark. But it's also interesting that the horzonital problems are at 3kHz and the vertical problems are a bit above 3kHz. Anyone have any ideas about that?
This is also my speaker (along with the 4319). The XPL-200 was JBL’s “audiophile” flagship at the time with both a Titanium tweeter and a titanium midrange. The XPL-90 was supposed to offer a similar sound at lower SPLs and Bass. For a bookshelf, it was surprisingly rated to peaks of 400W although it was nominally 100W continuous handling. Among many JBL fans, the XPL-200 is their favorite as it is more “forgiving” (less accurate) than the M2. Amir has listened to a lot of very high end speakers so the fact that he likes it, is saying a lot. Here is one discussion of the XPL-200.
https://www.audiophilenirvana.com/audiophile-equipment-reviews/jbl-xpl-200a-holy-grail/
The original retail was $650 each ($1300/pair.). This has the tweeter and mid bass from the XPL200. The titanium midrange was the signature feature for the series which this one is missing.
You can occasionally find beat up ones on EBay for $250. This one cost more since it was in better cosmetic condition.
The tweeter uses ferrofluid which MAY have dried out. This was also one of JBL’s first attempts to control diffraction by using the neoprene around the tweeter to deaden some of then effects of the enclosure. With the official stands the speakers were slightly tilted back.
For midrange accuracy, the XPL90 was Stereophile’s most impressive in its era:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/ja-loudspeaker-measurements-table-1-loudspeaker-reviews
Cabinetry on this line was considered to be exceptional, on par with the K2 and Everest line, and some even say that it was better than the S4700 and 4367.
Brochure attached.
I have seen that a few times although this is one of the worst. It might be a reflection from the fixture at just the right angle and distance.I'm also trying to figure out the frequency plot in the first distortion measurement. I've never seen anything like that in the NRC distortion tests or Amir's other reviews. That huge dip at 3 kHz looks all the world like a reverse null, where the tweeter has been deliberately wired with the wrong polarity to show the crossover point and the degree to which the tweeter and woofer are in phase at the crossover point with correct polarity. The steeper the dip, the better the phase matching with no reversal.
I'm also trying to figure out the frequency plot in the first distortion measurement. I've never seen anything like that in the NRC distortion tests or Amir's other reviews. That huge dip at 3 kHz looks all the world like a reverse null, where the tweeter has been deliberately wired with the wrong polarity to show the crossover point and the degree to which the tweeter and woofer are in phase at the crossover point with correct polarity. The steeper the dip, the better the phase matching with no reversal.
Are those....bypass capacitors??Here's the Crossover Diagram.
Are those....bypass capacitors??
That probably explains it, unless the panther jumped in and switched the tweeter polarity while you weren't looking. Still, it's kind of strange that it just happens to be at the crossover frequency.I have seen that a few times although this is one of the worst. It might be a reflection from the fixture at just the right angle and distance.
That is odd indeed. Klippel doesn't have an RTA so it is time consuming to try things but I may experiment a bit to get to the bottom of it.That probably explains it, unless the panther jumped in and switched the tweeter polarity while you weren't looking. Still, it's kind of strange that it just happens to be at the crossover frequency.
I'm also trying to figure out the frequency plot in the first distortion measurement. I've never seen anything like that in the NRC distortion tests or Amir's other reviews. That huge dip at 3 kHz looks all the world like a reverse null, where the tweeter has been deliberately wired with the wrong polarity to show the crossover point and the degree to which the tweeter and woofer are in phase at the crossover point with correct polarity. The steeper the dip, the better the phase matching with no reversal.
In the Spinorama measurement the resolution seems not fine enough to show the steep frequency response dip at 3kHz.
You're probably right.The spinorama measurement and the polar response measurements should be plenty fine enough to show a dip like that if it were there...
But then Amir would have had to perform the THD measurement at e.g. ver+10° instead of 0° to get the result shown.
Adding series resistance, even without a voltage divider, tends to shift the whole response down fairly evenly. The driver integration is going to differ either way. Certainly you can get away with a broadband 3db attenuation.
It honestly bothers me how few audiophile speakers allowed for some simple mid and treble tuning. Totally required for room compensation and can be accomplished with minimal cost. Don't even need l pads or anything, just a few switches.