JBL Control 1 or Control 1Xtreme

peteros wrote on 6/20/2004, 2:09 PM
Do they make good candidates to set up a 5.1 control system that would comprise five of such JBLs plus a decent subwoofer? The "plain" Control 1 is described as "pro", while the "Xtreme" model is advertised as a step further - but it's classified as a prosumer product.
There's quite a lot of differences between them, like impedance, crossover freqency, sensitivity.
Is anyone familiar with these tiny beasts?

Comments

MyST wrote on 6/20/2004, 6:09 PM
How much did you want to spend?
Have you looked at the M-Audio LX4 5.1 surround monitoring package (2.1 + the 5.1 Expander kit)?

Mario
peteros wrote on 6/21/2004, 12:17 AM
I can buy JBLs (the X treme version) for about $70 each. 5x$70 = $350. Additional $100 buys me a budget sub, so the total is $450.
M-Audio Studiophile LX4 + Studiophile LX4 Expander cost EU500, or $635. Do you the M-Audio system is worth the extra $185?
drbam wrote on 6/21/2004, 7:27 AM
Asking if something is "worth" the extra $ is too subjective, particularly at this budget level and even more so when considering studio monitors. In my view, one needs to decide how serious they are about the music they are creating and whether the end result needs to be commercially viable. Bottom line is that you will not find an accurate studio monitor for $70 and therefore your end product will reflect this. However, the JBL's you are considering may suit your needs just fine if you keep everything in context and perspective. My advise is to purchase the best monitors you can possibly afford. This is not an area where you want to cut corners.

drbam
Rednroll wrote on 6/21/2004, 7:51 AM
I have 7 Control 1Xtreme's in my office setup, along with a JBL PB12 powered sub. This setup is just for monitoring purposes for surround processors I design to hear in 7.1. I haven't done any surround mixing on these monitors, but for their price point and size, these speakers sound really good. I plan on doing more surround mixing in my studio, and after hearing these I'm considering them for my studio setup, because size is becoming more of a factor in my studio.
peteros wrote on 6/21/2004, 12:32 PM
I saw some M-Audio flyers earlier today and the LX 4 5.1 set looks kind of cheapo to me, like the Creative 5.1 set I have. Does LX 4 5.1 really sound non-plastic at all? What would you compare it to in terms of acoustic impressions?
I'm still contemplating JBLs because I heard them at some fair and they sounded quite impressive. I'm not sure if they don't add some colouring to the mids, though. Still, if I acquired JBLs, I would have to power them up with some amp, probably a home cinema amplifier, like YAMAHA RXV-440.
What do you think?