TEST BENCH
Frequency response (at 2 meters)
39 Hz to 20 kHz ±6.0 dB
Sensitivity (SPL at 1 meter with 2.8 volts of pink-noise input)
88 dB
Impedance (minimum/nominal)
4.3/9 ohms
Bass output (CEA-2010 standard)
• Ultra-low bass (20-31.5 Hz): NA
• Low bass (40-63 Hz): 110.8 dB
I measured the Studio 180 at a distance of 2 meters, in order to incorporate the effects of cabinet diffraction. This gave quasi-anechoic results down to about 300 Hz. The tower speaker stood atop my measurement turntable, about 2 inches off the ground. The curves in the graph show an averaged response from 0° to 30°, smoothed to 1/12th of an octave. To get the bass response, I close-miked the woofer and port and scaled and summed the results. I then spliced the bass responses to the averaged quasi-anechoic responses to produce the curve you see here.
The Studio 180’s frequency response measurements are fairly flat except for one flaw: There’s a narrow, deep dip of about 6 dB centered at 1.1 kHz. Because this dip is so narrow, it should be barely audible. However, with our measurement technique, which incorporates reflections from the floor, this narrow dip blends in with what seems to be a floor bounce cancellation effect down to about 600 Hz, a common effect with floorstanding speakers. This is all a long-winded way of saying this speaker sounds a lot better than it might seem from these measurements. Off-axis response is superb, showing negligible response changes from directly on-axis to 30° off-axis, and only a slight deepening of the dip at 1.1 kHz at 45° and 60° off-axis.
Impedance and sensitivity of the Studio 180 are pretty much textbook. Minimum impedance is 4.3 ohms at 15 kHz, +5 degrees; it runs above 8 ohms from 20 to 95 Hz and from 325 Hz to 5.2 kHz (i.e., through about 6 octaves of its range). Impedance phase shift runs within ±30 degrees except in the low bass, where it maxes out at +57 degrees at 28 Hz. Sensitivity measures 88 dB, so the Studio 180 will deliver plenty of volume from even a low-powered receiver.
Measured as a subwoofer using CEA-2010 methodology (with a mic placed on the ground at 1 meter), the Studio 180 delivers really good average low bass (40-63 Hz) output of 110.8 dB. It actually delivers usable output (89.4 dB) at 31.5 Hz, but no measurable output below that. —B.B.
Hopefully you will get a chance to compare these with the new Boston Acoustics A360 soon?
I will now learn not to underestimate the performance of a speaker based on how it looks. On first impressions, I wondered how a tower speaker like that could be good, but since I trust your judgement, your review really opened my eyes! I hope I have a chance to listen to the kinds of sound qualities this speaker can produce. I need to listen before I really make a decision whether to purchase.
I have owned these speakers for about 20 months now. After trying and bringing home 4 different sets of speakers ( KEF, Paradigm, Yamaha and Boston Acoustics) I have yet to find a better sounding speaker. Full rich spatial mids, responsive Base and Crystal Clear highs. Listening to everything from A-Z as a pretty eclectic music lover I have yet to come across a genre that these speakers have disappointed me with. Absolutely Amazing...
I have thease speakers connected to a Denon 1910 reciever with the 5.1 Infinity Beta Speakers. Is my reciever powerfull enough to handle all of the speakers at once? Is this Denon reciever perfect with thease speakers? Can you recomand some settings for setup them (crosswover,etc)?
Right now i am using the reciever in 7.1, should i change it to 5.1 for movies? How can i setup the my speakers with this reciever corectly? I know how i want them to sound but right now they don't make a big impresion. Shoud i change to a new Harman Kardon reciever?
@Mariandvd: Your Denon should work fine. IMHO, a decent receiver isn't going to be especially good or bad with any particular speaker. Switching to another brand will probably not give you dramatically better sound. You can use it in 7.1 for movies and music - whatever you like is fine, there are no hard and fast rules. You can run the JBLs full-range (or large) if you like. For the Infinity speakers, probably an 80 Hz crossover point will work well.
I don't recommend using the tone controls on the receiver. Set everything flat tonally, and be sure to balance the channel levels using an SPL meter. (The ones available as iPod and Droid apps will work fine.) Place the JBLs at least a foot from the wall behind them. BTW, you will probably get better sound with a matching system -- i.e., all-JBL or all-Infinity, and use speakers within the same line, like the Studio series.
Purchased a pair for a great price, somewhat based on this review and a few others....Firstly, in the manual the crossover points say 1.1kHz, 2.5kHz, 6dB/octave, not the 800Hz, 3.2kHz, 6dB/octave you state. The 190 shows the crossover points you speak of but it says different for the 180. Even JBL's 180 spec sheet shows your numbers when their manual doesn't?
Secondly, they could need more break in time but I'm not wowed with their sound overall and may send them back. They don’t stink, but there isn't anything about the sound that made me raise an eyebrow and get a big grin on my face like there was listening to my new Martin Logan Motion 12's while listening to one of Clapton's Crossroads guitar fest dvds the other day.
I feel the bass of these is more than ample but isn't super accurate sometimes and can lend a ever so slight muddy character to certain songs imo. They may be a great home theater speaker though and I may keep them for that reason alone if they shine there.
Overall they haven't kept me up at night listening to "just one more song" before I go to bed. I did hear things I hadn't with older 2 way speakers which is nice, but there is just something about the sound that seems restrained. Maybe that's because they are not broke in and will open up some later?
Thanks for a great site/mag, I just started subscribing and know it'll be a life long one. I'm officially in the wormhole of audio now, I just hope it doesn't cost too much.....yeah I know lol.