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Topic: JBL Screen Array Qpinion

Ian Price
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1714
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-31-2002 08:02 PM

My dealer highly recomends JBL Screen Array for large houses. I have never heard them.

Brad seems to think them inferior to the older JBLs for theatrical use.

I may be specifying speakers for a new theatre in 6-months and I would welcom any opinions.

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Don Sneed
Master Film Handler

Posts: 451
From: Texas City, TX, USA
Registered: Aug 2001

posted 05-31-2002 08:11 PM

Ian, my company use a lot of these, they sound great & fill the aud. well...the key is to have them at the proper height, I usuallly have to titlt the speakers back some due to the mids are too hot in the front of the house, in larger houses the hi's (horn) do not throw long as I would like, but they are a great speaker, I would recommend them in any mid size aud.

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Richard Fowler
Film God

Posts: 2392
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 05-31-2002 09:29 PM

Ian,
how large is the house you are planning + stadium or slope floor since there are three sizes of Screenarray systems. They have been 85% of my stage speaker sales for the past two years. I personally like how they sound...just as I had opinions and acceptance of the sound from a JBL bi-radial horn or an Altec hardware prior to their debut.
Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-31-2002 09:56 PM

Ian they sound good but if the room geometry suites I would go towards the stage accompany ribbons
I even fairly large rooms 400 seats they sound far superior to the standard horns

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 05-31-2002 10:28 PM

Ok...here is an indirect opinion....

A good 2-way beats a middle of the road 3-way...at least all I've heard, without exception. If you want a JBL 3-way, think 5000 series. If they seem too pricey, then stick with the JBL 4675...it is a VERY tough speaker to beat. I have had good results with the 3632 (Screen Array) but I'd take a 4675 over it unless the room was too reverberent. Horn loading down to 350Hz helps with control.

Steve

------------------
"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

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Pete Naples
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1565
From: Dunfermline, Scotland
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 06-01-2002 03:31 AM

I too have used a fair whack of these lately and have been quiet impressed with them. My personal favourite is the 4632 tri-amped over the 3632, for completeness I have to say I've never had the opporchancity to compare them in the same room, so of course you have to take the room into account. Either these beasties or 4675s, I don't think you'll be dissapointed.

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Richard Fowler
Film God

Posts: 2392
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 06-01-2002 09:23 AM

The Stage Accompany Ribbon tweeter combined with their "long throw horn" is only 12"/305mm deep is is great for tight situations and screening rooms but it is also very expensive and due to the very high magnetic flux to keep the ribbon operating, can be easily damaged by flying metal parts it can attract. The Screenarray was designed to fit in a 18"/457mm depth not allowing for mid/hi horn angling but then again the mid/hi was designed to be more down firing
(20 degrees up / 30 degrees down) so little or no angling is required if properly located behind the screen. the 4675 takes up more space at 38"/965mm.
Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com

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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 06-01-2002 09:42 AM

Okay, I have to ask...

...What's all this about room geometry? I'd really like to know more about this since I'll probably have a new complex popping up in another year or so.

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Ian Price
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1714
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-01-2002 12:08 PM

I may have miss-stated Brad, my appologies Brad. But it is good for stimulating conversations.

The speakers are for a theoretical (at this point) multiscreen project in our future. The two big rooms were THX certified in a previous incarnation.

I like the idea of going with JBL simply because they have the best reputation and good value. I am intrigued with the idea of SA loudspeakers but think that they may be more expensive and I have not heard them in anger.

I have heard EAS extensivly. I have vast experience with EV, JBL and Altec Lansing. I know that all of those speakers can be made to sound very good or very bad depending on the room and the installation.

When it comes time to buy speakers it will come down to value, trust and financing. In all these areas JBL has a clear lead. I was just concerned because I have heard that some people don't like the new JBL screen array over the older JBL 2-way speakers. I don't have any practical experience with the Screen Array but I would like to learn.

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