Finest McIntosh/JBL combination you ever heard?

I came to the conclusion that Mac/JBL combo is so classic and so right in it's sound that I need to built one for at least 1 of my 2 rooms. What's the finest Mac/JBL combination you ever heard?

 

JBL speakers? Great sound? Are you kidding?

 

That's seems unnecessary and inappropriate...
To each their own I suppose...

 

Well, there are people like me who like or even love the vintage JBL sound. Imagine that.

 

Interesting combo. I’ve heard many JBL Systems. I’ve heard many McIntosh Systems.

Can’t think of a single time I’ve heard then paired.....

Could work well together under the right conditions. I kind of like the really BIG JBL’s, but only when matched with good source and Amplification, especially on Jazz. Some R&R as well.

 

Always like the sound of the Everest's. But never had $60.000USD to spend on speakers.

 

I always though Mac/JBL is THE classic combo. I had wonderful results with 6900 driving L150 as well as 452 driving 250 Ti's. The tonality, the midrange, the bass - everything was incredible.

 

Big JBL with a reissue of the MC-240 and the tube preamp( c-22 new model-model number?). Great vintage-style sound.

 

I've had a McIntosh MA-6600 integrated pushing a set of immaculate JBL L-300 in my living room for a few years now, and it sounds pretty good to me. I was inspired by the Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound to try this combo and I think the synergy is there, though I am considering a Pass Labs amp next.

 

I resurrected my high school bass rig for a few gigs: MC2105 (glass long gone) and two cabs with a K140 for the neck pickup and a K120 for the bridge pickup. Sounded amazing and pushed the amp a lot less than my Crest Prolite 3.o seems need for the same impact.

 

Not familiar with mc, however if you get a JBL with 15" woofer and horn mid/ high will put many high end speakers to shame.

 

JBL 4425 Monitor + Mc2155 = Good !
JBL 4430 Monitor + Mc2255 = Good !
JBL DD55000 Everest + Mc2255 = Very Good !!
JBL DD55000 Everest + Mc275 = Very Good !!
other better examples :
JBL 4425 Monitor + Urei 6260 = Very Good !!
JBL 4430 Monitor + Phase Linear 400 = Amazing !!!
JBL 4435 Monitor + Phase Linear 400 = WHAOOO !!!!!

the heavy 15" JBL bass speaker like 2235H needs high Damping Factor which Mc Amps do not have.

 

I wish I would’ve discovered them earlier, instead of wasting so much time on pretentious boutique brands that are completely overrated. Most speakers nowadays have sucked all of the fun out of the hobby.

 

Mac MC40 monoblocks with HeathKit AS101's, basically Altec Valencias in nicer cabinets. A match made in heaven. Horns and tubes are made for each other.

BillWojo

 

Exactly. I had a funny story - dragged the 250 Ti's out of my second room for a quick shoot out between my current B&W 800 Diamonds and them. The B&W's went on sale 15 minutes later.

 

I used to have an MC-402. I’d love to hear that with my JBL’s.

 

I dunno, I used a 402 with L300's and L150's, and TBH it sounded not much different than a 1977 Marantz 2285 amp using main in from the same preamp that the 402 used. The 402 had more power though when you cranked it of course.

 

Then I’ll stick with my $450 Adcom

 

Spoken like someone who has heard maybe one JBL, if that, and likely an L100!

I've had my pair of L112s hooked to a Mac C20 with Crown D150 amp ever since they were new. The Mac used to be hooked to my JBL 030 (15-inch 2-ways) with a Fisher SA1000, but my main system now is a pair of JBL 4345s and the 18-inch woofers work very well with my bi-amp Crown PS400 and PS200. Can't tell you about Mac power amps and JBLs but I love the Wall of Sound reference! Must be because I grew up in St. Louis where Bob Heil debuted his Wall of Sound for the Dead.

 

I listen to JBL and McIntosh often when working. McIntosh MC 2100 or MC 2105 power amplifiers, JBL 4311B loudspeakers, most every broadcast control room I maintain and operate is so equipped. The company standard.

 

Started with JBL S2600 horn loaded speakers from about 1995 with MC402---loved this combo. Sold off the S2600 for 1400 Arrays--MC402 struggled with the bass response so purchased Marantz MA9S2---perfect! Second system had JBL 4365's with MC601's--sounded ok--currently using Marantz PM-10/SA-10.

 

My McIntosh/Pro JBL bi amped 3 way system I described in some of my early posts.

 

OK...mine.

MAC7200+MCT-450+JBL4429 = Fantastic pairing.

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I utilize a Mac 1700 with JBL L166's in one of my systems. 4311's in that room prior to that.
Quite pleasing to my ears.

 

This was my system few (a-hem) years ago... MA 6900 and 4311 Studio Monitor. Not the very finest McIntosh-JBL combination on earth, but I could get some satisfaction then and there. Oh yeah.