Monitor question: JBL 4406 w/ Hafler P3000 or Adam A7's

[seven]

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?




Bueller?

[Seeker of Rock]

I've read the buzz on these too. 6.5" woofers...hmmm. Do you have mains or a sub, or is this your main monitoring?

[seven]

I use the JBLs as my main monitoring. They also have 6" bass speakers but they sound great. I have a couple other generic speakers and amps I'll send the signal through for reference, but the JBLs are my main source.

I heard the A7s yesterday in a music store. They sounded good but I was in a music store (funny shaped room, weird placements, Stairway to Heaven badly played in the backgound, etc).

In the store I compared them to a handful of others and the A7s by far sounded the best. I don't remember the model of the Mackie speakers they had but the Mackies sounded funny - like they were playing in a cardbord box. I didn't like the sound of those at all.

As it turns out, the A7s here are $695 ea. I'm not sure if they're $1400 better then my current setup.

I was mostly hoping someone here had 4406's and A7s and could offer some insight on how they compare side by side.

[Benlittlejohn]

I have the a7's and absolutely love them.

the top end is amazing and non fatiguing at all. takes a little getting used to at first.... the mids are just was i was looking for (able to place guitar/ vocals real easy) and the low end is tight and punchy.

seeing that you do electronic that may or may not be a problem. if you keep your jbl's i don't think there would be any problem just check the sub bass freq's on those.

all my mixes translate extremely well and mixing is quick and most of the time painless (i record indie rock- wilco, archers of loaf, the replacements).

[seven]

Originally Posted by Benlittlejohn

...the low end is tight and punchy.

That is one thing that stood out with the A7s for me. The low end did seem very,. um,. crisp.

[drbam]

Originally Posted by seven

I use the JBLs as my main monitoring. They also have 6" bass speakers but they sound great. I have a couple other generic speakers and amps I'll send the signal through for reference, but the JBLs are my main source.

I heard the A7s yesterday in a music store. They sounded good but I was in a music store (funny shaped room, weird placements, Stairway to Heaven badly played in the backgound, etc).

In the store I compared them to a handful of others and the A7s by far sounded the best. I don't remember the model of the Mackie speakers they had but the Mackies sounded funny - like they were playing in a cardbord box. I didn't like the sound of those at all.

As it turns out, the A7s here are $695 ea. I'm not sure if they're $1400 better then my current setup.

I was mostly hoping someone here had 4406's and A7s and could offer some insight on how they compare side by side.

I have the A7s with the Sub 8 - an amazing system IMO. I also have some 4411s that I use for really cranking out some volume referencing. But I think trying to compare any JBL and the Adams is a waste of energy. They sound so radically different that its two different worlds. I auditioned every monitor system under $2k before deciding on the Adam system including several JBL models. I had Mackie 824s, Event 20/20bas, and Yamaha MSP5s (and the 4411s) prior to purchasing the Adams. After adapting to the Adams, I sold everything but the 4411s which I kept only for the occasion "turn it up" kind of reference.

You said that you were getting satisfactory results with your JBLs and if that is the case, and if money is tight, I'd suggest that you stay with them.

[seven]

drbam: Excellent. That's the post I was looking for.

On one hand I do feel like my new studio needs a few upgrades and monitors would be nice. On the other hand I'm quite used to the 4406's.

I think I'll wait on the A7s until the room is complete, I get my gear in and run a few tests.

[seven]

I'm visiting Oregon State, there's no sales tax, and something weird happened today. I was at a music store, there was a sale on A7s, and a pair ended up going to the register with me.

I just hope the guards at the border wave me though without having to pay duty.

[Alex Specht]

I wouldnt mind having a pair of A7's but I just picked up a pair of JBL 18Ti for cheap. The 18Ti is basically the same as the 4406, with a different crossover network and slightly different tweeter (still titanium). If anyone cares I just put together a pdf of all docs on the Ti series (circa 1984) . I like them, and they put out some nice low end for little speakers.

http://www.ASPSTUDIOS.net/Equipment/...rs-Manuals.pdf

[Alex Specht]

http://www.ASPSTUDIOS.net/Equipment/...rs-Manuals.pdf

[audiosiege]

Jim are you using the 4408s with the Adcom? I have the same setup and love it. A pair each of 4408s and 4408As.