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HexCowboy
117
Jun 13, 2017
Massdrop Gods: I would strongly ask you to investigate Chane Arx 1.4s for a future drop. While Arx lacks brand recognition - positive reviews abound. [Update: I was confusing this L305/308 series with the L830 passive JBL studio monitors I used to have. I have never heard the L30x series. Comments apply to L830s as follows]
I ditched the JBL L830s for the Arx at roughly this price point. The Arx XBL^2 drivers and ribbon tweeters bring speed, clarity, and imaging these JBLs can't match. For vocals-focused music, switching to the Arx design was like taking a sock off of my JBL speakers. There is also no comparison on driver throw and air movement if you run complex music or dubstep through them.
For reference the other half of the XBL^2 design is lead designer at Sonos. Chane unfortunately seems to lack the resources for marketing, so few know of them. The only way I found them was researching what happened to the XBL^2 design and designers.
ployez
13
Jun 13, 2017
HexCowboyI am sure they are good, but this drop is for active studio monitors. It is a completely different market and class of speaker, you can't really compare a passive bookshelf like the Chane to these.
HexCowboy
117
Jun 13, 2017
ployez@ployez - shit you are right. I was confusing the L830s with the L308s. The former are passive studio monitors and IMHO terrible imaging and resolution for the $, like many mass produced speakers. (I am partial to magnetic planar hybrids sound myself). I will update my comment. Thanks!
HexCowboyHaha, I've got a pair of ARX 1.4's on my desk at home, as well as some of the floorstanding speakers from that same series in my living room.
Jon is a good guy and absolutely knows his stuff.
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HexCowboy
117
Jun 13, 2017
WillI have the entire spectrum of the Arx line myself. :) And yes - Jon is a great guy.
I'll need to be adding more speakers in the next year. A pair or two of 1.4s and I'd love some smaller satellites from Chane, too. I splurged and got a Power Sound Audio v1801 which levitate the whole house, so I won't be needing any big subs. Maybe a small one for the computer room.
ployez
13
Jun 13, 2017
HexCowboyI'm assuming 'Jon' is also the guy who ran the former incarnation of Chane's site called 'theaudioinsider' - they were the only endorsed reseller of Swans speakers (which feature frequently pn Massdrop)in North America for awhile.
I've been using the m200mkIII's they sell as my daily home theater speakers for seven years now and they're going strong, I have no intention of replacing them. These JBL's look pretty cool though and I wonder what they will sound like compared to the yamaha HS5's. Since these appear to be a one-off collaboration its not like we can A/B test them... not for awhile anyway.
HexCowboy
117
Jun 14, 2017
ployezSame Jon from TAI and Swan.
I'd love to hear these JBLs. They used to make nice speakers but the L830 series were a letdown. Their softdomes just sucked to where I don't trust them anymore.
I still have a pair of 15 year okd Yamaha studio monitors. Very nice looking and decent sounding if a bit flat.
Now that I've gone electromagnetic-planar hybrids, I just can't seem to go back. Martin Logan, Goldenears, and Arx. Need some planar headphones! Though I did get some Chi-Fi earbuds here that were amazing for the price. Easier to carry than my Senns or VModas.
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