toenail

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
2.60 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $60.00 from ebay

Summary:
I purchased these speakers after reading the multiple glowing reviews here and on other sites. They are one of the best values I can think of in the audio world. When I first got them a had to make adjustments on my system to integrate them smoothly for both HT and 2 channel playback. After a lot of fussing around I've found these to have excellent frequency response, spectcular imaging properties, decent sensitivity and power handling, and a nice, small footprint. They require a subwoofer (for my taste) and are a bit fussy about toe-in and placement to front wall distance, as are most rear port designs. The horns don't sound like horns, the sound like excellent tweeters. That said, if toed improperly they will draw attention to themselves. The ports are all but invisible as far as coloration in male vocals if you keep them a good 18"+ from the front wall. Mid bass is outstanding and integrates well with my single 12" sub. When set up properly and fed good signal (currently using Pioneer dv-578A for hi-res 2 channel stereo) they are completely holographic. Sound when paired with a decent sub is huge, way larger than you'd expect to look at them. Sounds like a room full of audio equipment. You can drive them pretty hard before they start to break up, far louder than you'd need to for any length of time.

Strengths:
Imaging, frequency response/accuracy, size.

Weaknesses:
Fussy about placement

Similar Products Used:
Boston Acoustic

Price Paid:  $176.00 from online

Summary:
Well, here it is 2004.The last message here is 2002. I read about these speakers, and after a fair amount of trouble, found a place online that had a limited quanity brand new. I have had them 3 days now.At first I was nervous even starting to listen to them. Will they be as good as I read? I was hyper critical of them. Well, everything is true. This is my feeling after 3 days. They are sweet, sweet, sweet. A Gem.I am thinkinging of checking to see if this place online has another pair. What if somthing happened to the set I've got. How often do you find such beautiful sound for under $200?.I had a pair of Studio Series 38II. The sound quality of the 38's doesnt even come close. Not close. I dropped a line to JBL---pick up this line again, and dont change a thing! Wonderful little speakers.

Strengths:
Nice, Nice,Nice

Weaknesses:
huh?

Similar Products Used:
JBL MR28 Studio Series 38II

Price Paid:  $50.00 from BestBuy

Summary:
The price you see is for the pair! I got these at a Holyoke, MA Bestbuy in Nov. 2000, an open box. I bought them right away. I previously had a pair of Yamaha NS-A638's hooked up to Pioneer VSX-D308. I still have the same receiver and when I hooked up the JBL's the difference was amazing. They were just a better pair of speakers. Cleaner, tighter, much better bass. I love these things, one of the best purchases I have ever made. The even better news is that in 2 days im getting the new Denon AVR-1803 receiver and a pair of JBL N38's. Use the HLS's as surrounds. I can't say enough about the speakers an the deal I got! Great product from a great company. I don't think I will buy anything different

Strengths:
Good clean bass from a 6 inch woofer, strong tweeter

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha NS-A638

Price Paid:  $80.00 from BEST BUY

Summary:
I stumbled on to these speakers at BEST BUY. they were $80.00/pair!!!! I read a review by Corey Greenburg(AUDIO) he claimed they were the best $300 dolar a pair speakers he had ever heard! He was right. Why they stopped the line is beyond me. maybe they werent selling but I noticed when they discontinued them everybody wanted a pair. highly recommened for thier crisp highs on jazz and a full bass sound too. They are wonderful speakers and if you can find em get em. shame on JBL for stopping the line.

Strengths:
PRICE,SOUND

Weaknesses:
BIG FOR BOOKSHELFS

Similar Products Used:
KLH

Price Paid:  $125.00 from ebay auctions

Summary:
I finally ugraded my speakers after 25 years. Yep, I replaced the vintage Advents with 4 HLS 610s and an HLS-center. The sound is amazingly clear and realistic. The HLS''s simply blew away the Advents, which are now in a friend''s basement. I don''t have too much to add to the other posts here except that these speakers are great with action DVDs, musical DVDs, and all types of audio CDs (jazz, rock, folk, classical) - you name it, they deliver. One more thing - and the reason why I''m posting this review - you can still buy these speakers from Canadian dealers. I was able to get the 610''s for $125/pair on ebay, but couldn''t find a decent center anywhere until I discovered the Canadian connection. Get the HLS''s while you still can - you can''t go wrong!

Strengths:
A wonderful listening experience

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Advent, Bose