Massdrop JBL LSR30X 5" Active Studio Monitors

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by purr1n, Jun 18, 2017.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    All of these monitors have bass and treble trim switches. I run the JBLs with both bass and treble switches down -2db, even with the monitors a few feet from the wall and about 7" off the table. Without the adjustments, I found the JBLs to exhibit a very slightly V shaped FR. Similarly, the Adam A5X have a < 300Hz bass shelf, 5kHz treble shelf, and a tweeter pad with a ton of adjustability. I haven't used the A5X on my desk, but in instances where I have heard them in studios, they were fine.

    Placement from walls, size of room, sound treatments, monitor orientation, etc. are all going to have an effect on FR. Also, the manufacturers are going to make certain assumptions, so plopping down one way with one monitor might not yield the same FR as another monitor.

    Bottom line is that these monitors can to be, and in most instances, MUST be tweaked (placement and trim adjustment) to get desired FR in a specific environment. Some monitors are more easily adjustable than others. I mean, I remember reading a rando's review of the A5X saying they were dark sounding - the dude had them sitting flat on a table, shoved against a wall, and just toed in slighty. Go figure.
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2017
  2. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

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  3. CEE TEE

    CEE TEE MOT: NITSCH

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    We will look into...
     
  4. DylanC

    DylanC New

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    Now that I've had the LSR 305's in for 6 weeks I can post some more detailed feedback. I'm running them as follows:
    Bluesound Node2 ->Monoprice rca-xlr 6ft -> 305's on filled Atacama Nexus6 stands

    I've really been enjoying the music from this system. Compared to what it replaced (Marantz M-CR502 & Wharfedale Diamond 10.1), pretty much everything is improved. Clarity, dynamics, instruments and voices sounding more real, sound floating free of the speakers, bass reaches deeper and more tuneful.

    I have a 50hz bass mode in my room, but inserting some rolled up foam into the rear ports helps to tame this considerably (port size reduced approx 60-70%). Changing out the stock power cables for homemade LAPP/MK silver toughplug cables also brought slightly more bass control (and perception of slightly reduced bass) which also helped reduce the mode.

    Playing Tidal or spotify, this makes a really fun system which does a very good job for the price of reproducing music in a convincing way. Tuning the sound with the bass and treble trim are a bonus to me which allows seasoning to personal taste.

    As always, opinions from my ears/room. I tried these speakers in my bigger main room (Gungnir Multibit ->Exposure 3010S2D as preamp) and they sounded good but struggled to fill the larger space (firing across 4x8m bottom of L shaped room). I may at some point try Yamaha HS8's in this room to see if I could go active there, but the Exposure running bi-wire to the Quad S-5's is now sounding very very good so I'm not inclined to change anything for a while.
     
  5. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    $179 for the pair right now on MD with a $100 refund for those purchased in the last month. All of my speakers have recently discovered issues so good timing for me.
     
  6. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

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    You serious? I better check my purchase date. Thanks for the info
     
  7. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    Sounds like @CEE TEE did his magic again...
     
  8. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    I just got my pair from Amazon for $99 each and I am amazed that anyone can make any speakers so good for so little money. Those are my first powered monitors. I am pretty happy with my Totem Hawks in the main stereo system, but I can only imagine what what would be the SQ of JBL monitors that cost $2k.
     
  9. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    That's exactly what I think, I would like to audition the LSR705P even if I don't need one :D
     
  10. Sylafari

    Sylafari Acquaintance

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    I am seriously considering the JBL 705Ps as I have the LSR 30X and now that I have tried other speakers like the LS50W and the Sierra Luna’s, I don’t feel like they are a true upgrade compared to the 30X so now I want to see if JBL’s own higher end product can be a true upgrade to the LSR 30X.
     
  11. slankoe

    slankoe Tongue tastes of LH butthole

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    A summary of my impressions for JBL LSR30X.

    - Sources I used: my interface (Universal Audio Apollo Twin Duo mk2), A portable player directly into the speakers, using mp3 at 320, FLAC, WAV, Tidal, Oppo HA-2SE, Chord Hugo, Stanton ST-150 for vinyl
    - Sound is a big upgrade to what I was using for speakers before this
    - Very premium in feel with the Massdrop version and satisfying in performance
    - She's no set of Magnepans in a big room, with it's draw-dropping depth and such, but not bad for layering, the sounds are vividly represented but one might want to EQ up the treble when panning and positioning sounds
    - Apparently, this waveguide technology actually works wonders. Stereo imaging follows you. It is no where near the onipresent stereo image of Ohm Walsh omnidirectional speakers
    - These are great speakers for the price, the value proposition is superb
    - The sound can be equalized to a room with switches on the back. I've played around with these but I prefer the default FR curve over time
    - REALLY LOW bass notes sound more muffled than on some nice planar headphones, but they are still incredibly punchy, dynamic for the woofer size
    - When sitting at the appropriate distance and spacing between me and the monitors, to my ears it LSR30X is on par with the Yamaha HS8 in detail. Adam A7X has more detail, or microdetail, however I find them to be a little off to me for some reason.
    - I tend to use the best headphones I have to design the sounds early in the process, because that's how I hear the details. My HD650 beat the JBL in resolution.
    - I use an HE-560's even and detailed bass to nail the bass frequencies, then play through the monitors to work on the rest.The bass on the JBL drops off earlier, but it is still impressively punchy for it's size
     
  12. econaut

    econaut Almost "Made"

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  13. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    Awesome news!

    I wonder if the amps are different, the LSR305 are a tad noisy, if they fix the hiss on this new series then it will be amazing.
     
  14. chakku

    chakku Friend

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  15. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I agree. Honeslty, it's the main reason I didn't impulse buy the LSR30X. It looks like someone was going for the child's $10 Vader costume aesthetic.
     
  16. slankoe

    slankoe Tongue tastes of LH butthole

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    I have the LSR30X and I think that gloss finish looks great. I'm not even a Star Wars guy.
     
  17. ckwong

    ckwong New

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    Agreed. The hiss isn't as loud as some people make it out to be, but still loud enough to become frustrating during longer sessions.
     
  18. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    Yes, at first, when I had a noisy PC (HDD drives, big Nvidia GPU, regular CPU fan) I didn't notice the noise. I use them on nearfield (1,3 meters distance from the speakers. more or less). Now, with a noiseless, fanless PC, it is noticeable if not playing music. My room is quiet and I have ninja silent awesome neighbours (the best audiophile component if you ask me :D).
    If used in a living room at a greater distance or with a noisy PC in the same room it isn't a problem.
     
  19. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    LSR30X owners say that it doesn't look cheap, more like a quality piano black finish. I'd be more concerned about the surface developing micro scratches from cleaning dust off, then indeed it would start to look cheap. I was tempted by the price and glowing reviews, but I just don't want a glossy black box on my desk.
     
  20. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    It's not exactly the same richness you get with a proper piano lacquer, but it's not the cheap shiny plastic look. However no one knows if the 30X finish is used for the MkIIs (except JBL).
     

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