Everyone is correct saying this is not a good value for a home theater sub, there are less expensive options that will get you usable 20-30Hz performance.
This is a high end JBL sub targeted to music use and accuracy at 30Hz and above, and it has exceptional performance in that use case, very low distortion and strong performance above 30Hz. You are also definitely paying for build and finish quality. It's for a snooty 2.1 music system, not all around or HT use that most of us want.
JBL has been making Subs for way longer than most of your subwoofer only companies have been around. JBL subs have been in Movie theaters and Concert venues forever. I used to run two JBL 1500GTi's in my car back in the early 90's, and they were phenomenal subs that were basically a 4ohm version of their commercial sound reinforcement line. With all that being said, yes in this day and age I agree with you, the price for this particular sub does seem inflated for what it is.
LOL, how long a company's been around means diddly regarding if their product is actually any good. I love JBL speakers, but would never go near one of their subs again. Overpriced junk.
Usually the lower end stuff is as you say, and the higher end stuff has double or triple-inflated prices. There are some very good options from speaker companies out there, though. The top end Klipsch subs are well loved, and I've bought multiple Martin Logan subwoofers and they are some of the best that I own. The only unit that has caused me trouble is my 1000W SVS, even though I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Your rule of thumb is okay for beginners, but there's a lot of research to be done beyond that.
SVS has great customer service but is a lousy price-to-performance option aside from their annual Black Friday sales on their entry level PB1000 Pro. ML subs are basically good for music and not too bad when on clearance. Klipsch subs are getting better but the company has a history of spotty amps dying after just 2-3 years as opposed to the more normal 5-10 years.
Everyone is correct saying this is not a good value for a home theater sub, there are less expensive options that will get you usable 20-30Hz performance.
This is a high end JBL sub targeted to music use and accuracy at 30Hz and above, and it has exceptional performance in that use case, very low distortion and strong performance above 30Hz. You are also definitely paying for build and finish quality. It's for a snooty 2.1 music system, not all around or HT use that most of us want.
Hsu ULS-15 has both WAF and superior performance while costing LESS at REGULAR price...it can go under 20Hz not this craptastic 28Hz of this $1350 joke. I pity the suckers who actually paid full retail for it. Performance wise it's worth about $600 tops, aside from the pretty cabinetry.
Hsu ULS-15 has both WAF and superior performance while costing LESS at REGULAR price...it can go under 20Hz not this craptastic 28Hz of this $1350 joke. I pity the suckers who actually paid full retail for it. Performance wise it's worth about $600 tops, aside from the pretty cabinetry.
I don't really disagree with anything you said, but this sub has about half the distortion levels of the ULS-15 above 30Hz, at similar output levels. It's 100% targeted as a music system sub, and I bet it would be excellent in that use.
It's just not meant to be a HT sub at all, and is a terrible buy if that is what you want.
I don't really disagree with anything you said, but this sub has about half the distortion levels of the ULS-15 above 30Hz, at similar output levels. It's 100% targeted as a music system sub, and I bet it would be excellent in that use.
It's just not meant to be a HT sub at all, and is a terrible buy if that is what you want.
The ULS15 is a sealed sub and is much loved by music listeners. Hsu's VTF-3 and VTF-15H are the ported subs more favored by HT users. Do you have a link to measurements supporting your claims about the distortion levels of the ULS-15 vs the 1200P?
Google pulls up respected reviews with measured data. The jbl runs around 6% above 30hz which is quite exceptional. It's terrible below 30hz.
The hsu, which is also a great sub, runs about twice that above 30hz, but is great below 30hz.
We get stuck on numbers and specs but the priority of the jbl is undoubtedly for music, where I suspect it is very nice. Personally I'd go with the hsu all day long with my money. But the jbl has a target market.
LOL, how long a company's been around means diddly regarding if their product is actually any good. I love JBL speakers, but would never go near one of their subs again. Overpriced junk.
He was likely referring to the JBL Synthesis equipment Many state of the art $100,000 home theaters use.
Or the JBL pro cinema products that most state of the art commercial theaters and dlx & IMAX theaters use.
This HDI sub is indeed very overpriced at retail.
That is true.
For $1350 might be the right sub for some buyers.
Always look for independent objective testing for any sub purchase.
He was likely referring to the JBL Synthesis equipment Many state of the art $100,000 home theaters use.
Or the JBL pro cinema products that most state of the art commercial theaters and dlx & IMAX theaters use.
This HDI sub is indeed very overpriced at retail.
That is true.
For $1350 might be the right sub for some buyers.
Always look for independent objective testing for any sub purchase.
I agree with Audioholics most of the time, this being one of them---they are of course quite diplomatic, far more than I would be, lol: "$3k is a lot of money for a subwoofer that doesn't really dig deeper than 30Hz or compresses its response shape above 110dB. The basic performance attributes aren't bad, but there are subs of similar size that surpass its overall performance level for a lower price point. What then is the reason to purchase the HDI-1200P? The reason is appearance and build quality."
SVS has great customer service but is a lousy price-to-performance option aside from their annual Black Friday sales on their entry level PB1000 Pro. ML subs are basically good for music and not too bad when on clearance. Klipsch subs are getting better but the company has a history of spotty amps dying after just 2-3 years as opposed to the more normal 5-10 years.
Agreed, SVS should bring back and keep the non pro PB and SB1000's at $350 and $300. Love all 4 of mine.
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BTW those are pretty impressive, especially for the small footprint they offer!
This is a high end JBL sub targeted to music use and accuracy at 30Hz and above, and it has exceptional performance in that use case, very low distortion and strong performance above 30Hz. You are also definitely paying for build and finish quality. It's for a snooty 2.1 music system, not all around or HT use that most of us want.
Your rule of thumb is okay for beginners, but there's a lot of research to be done beyond that.
Also, JBL makes some high end subs that are movie theater quality.
You're talking out of your butthole.
This is a high end JBL sub targeted to music use and accuracy at 30Hz and above, and it has exceptional performance in that use case, very low distortion and strong performance above 30Hz. You are also definitely paying for build and finish quality. It's for a snooty 2.1 music system, not all around or HT use that most of us want.
It's just not meant to be a HT sub at all, and is a terrible buy if that is what you want.
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It's just not meant to be a HT sub at all, and is a terrible buy if that is what you want.
The hsu, which is also a great sub, runs about twice that above 30hz, but is great below 30hz.
We get stuck on numbers and specs but the priority of the jbl is undoubtedly for music, where I suspect it is very nice. Personally I'd go with the hsu all day long with my money. But the jbl has a target market.
Or the JBL pro cinema products that most state of the art commercial theaters and dlx & IMAX theaters use.
This HDI sub is indeed very overpriced at retail.
That is true.
For $1350 might be the right sub for some buyers.
Always look for independent objective testing for any sub purchase.
Alcoholics is legit.
https://www.audioholics
Or the JBL pro cinema products that most state of the art commercial theaters and dlx & IMAX theaters use.
This HDI sub is indeed very overpriced at retail.
That is true.
For $1350 might be the right sub for some buyers.
Always look for independent objective testing for any sub purchase.
Alcoholics is legit.
https://www.audioholics.com/subwo...-hdi-1200p [audioholics.com]