How does it sound, I'm not talking about the SUBs now... as far as 6x9 and 6 1/2 components? They seem to be in the price range that I'm looking for and want to see if it's any good.

 

i personally feel they have a flat sound to them. i think in the same price range you can do much better. but this is my opinion, everyone's ear and taste for music is very different.

 

JL speakers kick money ***!!! Check my signature, i have JL TR690-TX in the rear and TR525-CX up front running off of my pioneer head unit. They sound amazing, great mids and highs, and without my subs they even good great midbass. They are the bottom of line JL's!! If i had a 4-channel amp hooked to them they would kick even more monkey *** than they do now! There are no speakers in same price range as the JL TR or VR series that sound as good as they do! I guarantee that! If you want a great speaker that has great midranger and sound amazing when you have it turned up LOUD like i like it, than JL will not dissapoint you! I speak from experience, not BS! I hope i helped!

 

I have not heard them, just heard about them....the consensus....well there was none. They don't seem to be outstanding, nor to they seem to be the bottom of the barrel. That's pretty much how I feel about most of the JL line. Not really spectacular, but I wouldn't count it out....again, that's just my opinion.

As a side note, the IASCA world finals was won using JL drivers....just keep in mind, install is FAR more important then equipment will ever be.

 

I want to know what brand you would use that would compare to JL's line of speakers, and the price you pay for them? JL's speakers have been rated by numerous car audio magazines for having the best bang ofr the buck speaker when comapred to speakers twice their price. I speak from my experiences with JL speakers, you speak, oh well you dont speak you just spread the rumor, JL is not average it is way above average.
Well i love JL Audio, i wouldnt if they sucked because i have have standards when it comes to audio and if they did not meet or exceed them i would not have chose to go with JL!
rcurley55, i was just curious, not to start anything but just enthusiast to enthusiast. What kind of setup do you have in your car???


[Modified by MJ23FE, 4:11 AM 10/2/2002]


[Modified by MJ23FE, 4:12 AM 10/2/2002]

 

There are lots of competitors that have products that fall in JL's price point...CDT would be one of them....a/d/s/ 3-series can be had on the net for around 300-350 a set. OZ Audio Matrix is another outstanding set...what about ID Chameleons? The best bang for the buck speakers I have found are the DEI Neos.

Show me them....that's the bottom line...

If you noticed...I prefaced my post by saying that I had not heard them...at that point the person on the other end of the screen can either listen or not...it's up to them. Most people just lie and talk **** about them...I didn't...that should give me more credibility then anyone else...anyone can lie about their experiences...I don't.

I subscribe to over 5 car audio boards, and read each actively...I think I have a pretty good feeling for the industry in the enthuisiast market. I have been wrong before, and will be wrong again...I'm not too much of a man to admit it either....show me your reviews and I will read them....show me a review where JL doesn't advertise and then I'll really listen - good luck finding one.

If you are actually believing reviews in car audio mags, you are making a big mistake....I have NEVER read a bad review in a car audio mag...why you ask??!!? Pretty simple....JL spends a ton of dough to advertise in car audio mags....2 page full color spreads every month! If they got a bad review in a magazine, do you really think they would continue to advertise? Probably not.

I remember the comparison between the W7 and the IDMAX....they didn't pick a clear winner...thye just said they were both great. What kind of service is that to the public?

What about the latest review of the W7 in the Oct 2002 CA&E? The cover says that it "scores 10's across the board." Read the article and you find that it only scored a perfect in 1 if the 10-11 categories....

Do you still trust "reviews" in car audio mags?

The same thing goes for competitions....it's been this way for years. JL, like others are sponsors for competing bodies like IASCA. Remember in the early to mid 90's when you couldn't get into a mag or win a competition unless you ran MB Quart highs, PPI Audio Art amps, Audio Control signal processing, and JL subs...that was the trend back then....and people wonder why these brands have such a band wagon following now??~!?!?

That's your opinion of JL's gear...and you are entitled to it -- guess what, I'm just as entitled to mine.

What else did you audition before you bought that gear....or did you just stop at JL? Did you consider any of the other players besides JL? I noticed that you have the low end models that JL makes....and that's fine. I was considering the XR series. It appears that you are running your drivers off of a head unit and 3 10's....I really think that we have a severe gap in what we consider to be a "system". That's ok...I'm not poking fun at you, nor am I saying that you don't have quality stuff....It's certainly not what I would pick. Again, that's how car audio works.

Again, your opinion....That's great that you have found a brand that you like....congradulations. While it may be for you, it simply isn't for everyone. You are intitled to your opinion, and I won't make fun of your, or talk **** about your system because you use a brand I don't particularly care for. So long as YOU are happy with your system...that's all that matters!!! That's the end-all-be-all in audio...if your ears are happy, then you did a good job on your system.

Just because you praise their products doesn't mean that everyone will like JL!! I have owned plenty of JL audio, guess what, I don't buy their subwoofers anymore...more on that later.

Nice disclaimer....still sounds like you are trying to call me out, or find out my resume....I'll play along...I've been in the game for well over 6 years...here's my last system, I did it on an extreme budget:

Pioneer DEH-9200R (not 100% sure on the model...top of the line from 2yrs ago)
Diamond Audio HEX S600s
RF 600a4
Image Dynamics IDQ V2 D2
PG and LA audio, hi-temp mastic all around.

The drivers went from the stock locations to some kick panels for a while that I built. The sub was sealed at 0.85 cubes, then went to a custom 1.5 ported box....MUCH better for ouput while maintaing SQ - yeah...those subs don't subsrcibe to that ported=boomy myth.

In my search, I looked VERY seriously at JL products at this time (there are 2 dealers in a 5 mile radius)....especially the W3...I compared the IDQ to a W3, and it was NO comparison. The IDQ sounded better in a box that was significantly smaller - it was that easy. Have you ever heard IDQ's before? And what was your opinion...what about an a/d/s/ 312rs? An Illusion ND12? Adire Shiva?

That system was pretty modest if you ask me....here's the setup I'm working on:

Claioin Pro Audio HX-D10 w/Changer
Image Dynamics IDQ-31's - 3 of them
Image Dynamics IDX-24
Arc Audio 4150 powering:
Image Dynamics CD1-Pro MH's HLCD's
Image Dynamics CX-6.2s
Arc Audio 2500 powering:
Image Dynamics IDMAX V2 D2
Raammat 60 and insulite foam throughout

The max may or may not be free-air. The signal cables are all custom made (rca --> xlr, etc.) using Canare Audio Star Quad cables. The horns have obvious mounting locations, the mids in kicks, like I said the MAX is still up for debate. I don't know if I want to cut out my rear deck or not.

As you can tell, I'm shooting for SQ. The IDX-24 has been modified by Matt at ID for a subwoofer level control and a master volume control post-EQ to help maintain linearity. I found my brand as well.

The customer service and product is superior in SoCal then in Florida IMO. I can call and talk to the gurus at ID directly....try that with JL....I severly doubt you can get the president of the company on the line to chat...well, you can call Eric at ID whenever you want. The one good resource that JL has is Manville Smith over at CarSound.com He's extreemely helpful, and I learned alot from the JL GTI with the d'Appolito arrays. Cool idea, and it was executed pretty well from what I understand...I wasn't a CES, so I never got a chance to hear it.

Eric and Matt from ID will be at finals, and have offered to tune anyone's system. Do you realize what a huge asset that is...when I get my system done, I have been invited to travel to socal to ID to get tuned by the guys. Now if that isn't customer service, I don't know what is!!!

Car audio is subjective...that's the bottom line - what works for one guy doesn't work for the next.


Sorry for the rambling, but I thought I should explain my point of view. Now can we get this back on topic and help this guy...It's not my intent to turn this thread into a JL v. ID thread...I was just defending my choice of my products past how they sound. If you would like to further discuss this, feel free to email me at any time.

Rob



[Modified by rcurley55, 6:53 PM 10/2/2002]

 

well...they guy who started this thread DID ask about JL speakers...

i see your point though..

 

Did i just get kicked in the *****??? It sure feels that way. I was not trying to sound better or anything of the sort when i asked you to tell me what your system was made up of. I like to know what people are running so i can also set my goals and standards higher when i go to make a system for my car. Now you have been at this game ALOT longer than i have, so i give you mad props on all your experience and knowledge. I wish i had that, you definately know your Ish man, and i definately want to pick your brain about it because i have a car coming soon and i want it to sound amazing. Now, when i was commenting on the JL line of speakers, i was not saying they were the greatest of all time, (it might have sounded that way in which case mybad!), but i was simply saying that for the price you pay for the JL's there are not to many that can match up. I guess i should not be so quick to judge the speakers that i have heard and compare them to the speakers i have not heard. I am quick to admit when i am wrong, so there is definately nothing between us boss.
Drop me a line, so we can talk. Peace!


[Modified by MJ23FE, 2:47 PM 10/2/2002]

 

Hope you were wearing your cup!!! haha....sorry man...I didn't mean anything by that response! I tend to get off on tangets really quickly, and I type fast...that's a bad combo for boards!!!

Hey, don't get me wrong either....I'm not trying to start anything, sound high or mighty, or assume I know anything more then the other guy...it was early in the morning when I read your response, and it tweaked me....sorry about that....it's really hard to understand tone, intonation, and delivery of somone's ideas when it's just text...seems like you had the same communication problem with my long response.

I can understand your opinion, and it has lots of value to it. JL has been around for a long time, they must be doing something right. I like to be off the beaten path a bit...that's why I'm running HLCD's in my next system...they are just different.

You were correct in challenging me about passing on myth....that's the worst thing about boards...I probably shouldn't have opened my mouth to begin with. My post was there primarily to explain that I had heard mixed feelings about JL speakers, yet if you install them properly, the sky's the limit.

Sorry if I was a *****, crisis averted, raises white flag..... :D

If you have any questions that you want to take off the board, go ahead and email me...like I said, I'm no expert, I can just give you my opinion. I've never worked in a shop, probobably never will....I do all my work in my tiny little garage. I've been in this hobby (I call it a sickness) for a SHORT, SHORT time compared to others, and I learn new things on a daily, sometimes hourly basis!!!

(and if that's your first system...you are light years ahead of where I started!!)


[Modified by rcurley55, 8:15 PM 10/2/2002]

 

Awesome man i am glad that we are on the same page. Keep up the great posts!!!

 

they are pretty good from my point of view. i have 4 6x4,2 dome jl tweeters xr series and hooked up to a jl 300/4. works great. image Dynamics are great but who will waste there money buying 2 sets to see whats better? ill say all product will be good if you hook it up to a good amp and they will pzzzzzzzz your ears.

 

WOW! i have got to say that by far this thread has been the most entertaining to read. .. as far as my 2 cents goes i would have to say memphis all the way. . .

 

wow... Lol I rate JL audio component speakers slightly above average not much more.

As for the ID components.....I don't know....I rate those at average. They seem to run out of steam relitively fast. I don't think I would buy another set.

I've been doing this since 93 but sound is subjective as previously mentioned so one persons opinion is just that an opinion.
It's a good starting ground but you should go and listen for yourself then make a decision. Experience only hold so much weight and as you get older you lose interest.

I have a set of 8w7s sitting in a closet for a year now that were supposed to go in my RR. As I think about the work involved the stock setup sounds better every day :D