JBL Studio Speakers: 590 Floorstanding Speaker $500, 520 Center Speaker EXPIRED

Title should read 520C Center Channel not 530 Center Channel

The 520c as a center doesn't keep up with the 580's or 590's. It will work with the 530's in a small room near field. For $100 its is a great price for the quality of components it has, I got a pair of 520c on the last deal and put the drivers, woofers, crossover and binding post in a diy speaker cabinet and they sound great as bookshelf stereo speakers. Its a great way to build your own speakers with quality electronics made to work great together.

If you buy components to do your own diy you will end up spending more for less quality and most diy sound mediocre since the components were never intended or designed to measure well acoustically.

I agree I tried pairing the 520c with 580s and thought it wasn't worth it at all.

The problem is that when you have a center channel in a system it's doing most of the heavy lifting of your entire setup. For that reason adding the 520c felt like downgrading the entire thing. I just run with a virtual center (no physical center and triangulated speakers) and it's fine. The 520c just sits on the shelf doing nothing.

Can the stupid Reference RC263 just go on sale please!!!!!

530 for $99! Lol! I almost jumped off my seat!

As for the 520C: I'll agree that this center can't keep up with my 590's if the 520C set to full range, but I'll also say anyone not crossing them over at 80Hz minimum should get ready for a bad time. Let your subs do the heavy lifting. You can't localize bass below 100Hz anyway. If you've done that, you'll easily surpass safe listening levels. The horn on these little guys is just nuts, and the magnets on these little 4" woofers is incredible. If you have realistic expectations, this is easily a hell of a deal.

My main complaint is the directivity/uniformity issues from any MTM type speaker where you get off-axis dips (lobing) depending on your seating position off the center axis of the speaker. It's not a problem if you're in the sweet spot, but people outside of 20* off center may not have a great experience. This is why purists buy another 530, 590, or just go with KEF to get that coaxial goodness.

As for the 550p. It's decent, but only goes down to 35Hz. Incredible subs for music, but movies, it's only slightly better than other subs in this price range.

I had an Amex offer for 8% cashback at jbl.com. Bought 2 590's to pair with my RC263.

Quote from Blahgod : Can the stupid Reference RC263 just go on sale please!!!!!

It would have to come back in stock first, then maybe it could go on sale. Hasn't it been OOS since February?

Get a better center than this.

For center I use the same model as my towers laid on its side. Dedicated center speakers are overpriced. Just buy 3 front speakers and they all timbre match and costs less than 2 + center.

I own the 530s and 520c. The 520c spoils this for home theater. Not enough oomph in the voices at all compared to my older NHT set. The series is ok for music but skip it for home theater unless you do what others suggest here and by 530c or larger and lay it on its side as a center. It will look funny though…

Quote from nottrollin : It would have to come back in stock first, then maybe it could go on sale. Hasn't it been OOS since February?

I thought I saw it in stock at one point at the $500 MSRP. Maybe 2 months ago.

Quote from Blahgod : I thought I saw it in stock at one point at the $500 MSRP. Maybe 2 months ago.

Might be time to ebay that NIB RC263 that I've got sitting in storage.

I got the 590's and the 530's last sale and they are fantastic …. I wonder if it's worth owning the 520c just for resale or if most interested parties would know the center is complete trash….