JBL Studio 590 Floorstanding Speakers $399 each

Just snagged two of these 590's and a 520c for the new apartment!

Any opinions on pairing these with the 550P amp/sub? Thinking about picking up 2x 550P's to go along with them.

I have this exact setup (2x 590s, 1x 520c, 1x 550P) but the sub is so powerful that I frequently have to turn down the volume knob on the back of the 550P from 50% (where Audyssey calibration said it should be) to 25%.. but only because I'm in an apartment and am trying to be mindful of my neighbors.

This setup + Interstellar's DTS:X audio channel is just insane in the LFE department.
 
Sweet! Thanks for the recommendation. I ended up going for 2x 590's, 2x 550P's, 1x 520c, and a Yamaha TSR-7850 from Costco as the AVR. I'm too going to be surrounded on 2 sides by neighbors, so I'll probably have to do the same and turn the sub volume down significantly. We'll see what YPAO recommends.
 
^ I wanted to pull the trigger on the same so bad but the wife talked me out of it. To many expenses these last couple of months.

Maybe the next go around.
They'll definitely be on sale again so you'll be good. I'll update this thread when I see them drop on sale again.
Just snagged two of these 590's and a 520c for the new apartment!

Any opinions on pairing these with the 550P amp/sub? Thinking about picking up 2x 550P's to go along with them.
Nice you'll have to let us know what you think of them after you've had some time with them.

I hadn't seen the 550P deal. For $190 it'd be hard to find a fault. To get something substantially better you would have to shell out big subwoofer $$$ and those brands don't typically go on big sales. For the money you'll love dual subs.

I went the budget route on my sub since I haven't found a compelling deal on bigger subs to make me justify them yet. (Dual Rythmik 18in subs would be my dream...the $3400 it would cost keeps me dreaming)

I went with the Dayton SUB-1200. I picked them up off the manufactuers ebay store last time they offered 15% off for about $130. Downside is it is only 120 watts RMS. It still gets plenty loud for my smaller sized room.

The compelling thing about your JBL 550p is that they offer 300 watts RMS and 500 peak. You don't see those kind of subs at $190.
 
Last edited:
As an eBay Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
They make smaller versions. While the bookshelf speakers directly from that line, the Studio 530, have been discontinued you can still find them around. However those aside you can go to the pro side. The JBL LSR308s (or smaller 306s and 305s) are amazing powered speakers and many people have been super happy with them for computer audio. All this stuff is decedents of the JBL M2 where they developed their new horn/waveguide tech. The pro ones are also nice for computer since they are powered meaning no external amp needed.

The LSRs have been on my radar for a long time. The 305s would probably work better for most people who plan on using them with a typical desk/PC setup, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't secretly want the 308s (and to try to make them work, size be damned).

B&H is selling a pair of 308P MkII (the newer version that you linked) for $249 today. It's taking every ounce of my being to resist them at that price.
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
Note to everyone: No discount/promotion/coupon codes can be applied during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale. I just tried to milk every last penny by signing up for the first-time buyer promotion code under 3 different emails ($10 off orders of $150+, $30 off orders of $350+, or $50 off orders of $550+) intending to cancel my previous order of 5 items and break my purchase up into 3 separate orders to realize the $50 off $550 three times, only to find out they can't be applied during this sale. Doh!

The LSRs have been on my radar for a long time. The 305s would probably work better for most people who plan on using them with a typical desk/PC setup, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't secretly want the 308s (and to try to make them work, size be damned).

B&H is selling a pair of 308P MkII (the newer version that you linked) for $249 today. It's taking every ounce of my being to resist them at that price.

At the risk of doing your bank account a disfavor, they're $199 direct from JBL right now during the sale. If it's taking every ounce of restraint at $249.... you better muster up some titanium shackles to resist $199, hehe.

https://www.jbl.com/cyber-monday-sa..._308PMKII-_color=Black-GLOBAL-Current#start=1

I hadn't seen the 550P deal. For $190 it'd be hard to find a fault. To get something substantially better you would have to shell out big subwoofer $$$ and those brands don't typically go on big sales. For the money you'll love dual subs.

I went the budget route on my sub since I haven't found a compelling deal on bigger subs to make me justify them yet. (Dual Rythmik 18in subs would be my dream...the $3400 it would cost keeps me dreaming)

I went with the Dayton SUB-1200. I picked them up off the manufactuers ebay store last time they offered 15% off for about $130. Downside is it is only 120 watts RMS. It still gets plenty loud for my smaller sized room.

The compelling thing about your JBL 560p is that they offer 300 watts RMS and 500 peak. You don't see those kind of subs at $190.

Right on! I don't believe the 560P's are currently available or on sale. It was either 2x 550P's for $380 shipped, or 1x SVS SD-12 for $400 shipped. I figured I'd spring for the dual JBL subs over the nicer, single SVS. Could have gone either way, probably hard to go wrong.

Personally, I think the Studio 5 series represents a good place in terms of price to performance ratio; anything higher tier than this and the diminishing returns in terms of dollars spent to performance gained would be unjustified since I'm not really an audiophile but rather just a normal dude who appreciates a decent sound system for music/movies.
 
Last edited:
As an eBay Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
At the risk of doing your bank account a disfavor, they're $199 direct from JBL right now during the sale. If it's taking every ounce of restraint at $249.... you better muster up some titanium shackles to resist $199, hehe.

https://www.jbl.com/cyber-monday-sa..._308PMKII-_color=Black-GLOBAL-Current#start=1

Lol, I appreciate the heads up but unless I missed something, they are the most expensive direct from JBL @ $199 each. Amazon has them for $179 each. B&H has a PAIR of them for $249...hence the fact that I'm contemplating securing my wallet into my jeans pocket with a nailgun right now. :p
 
Lol, I appreciate the heads up but unless I missed something, they are the most expensive direct from JBL @ $199 each. Amazon has them for $179 each. B&H has a PAIR of them for $249...hence the fact that I'm contemplating securing my wallet into my jeans pocket with a nailgun right now. :p

Holy shit! My bad, I didn't know it was $179 for the PAIR!

If it makes you feel any better... instead of me screwing YOU into spending money, I MYSELF am about to be $179 poorer; my self-control is nowhere near as good as your's, sir. :LOL:

Edit: For the B&H $249 deal, you have to add this specific item to your cart and apply the coupon code "CYBERDAY"
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1446190-REG/jbl_pair_308p_mkii.html
 
Last edited:
Really want a set of 530s. These 590's would look massive in my already cramped living room. In fact, at this point, given how much TV we actually watch, I want one of their 3.1 channel sound bars for half price.
 
Does anyone know when the Studio 6 series will be released in US? It's been in Japan for years; But nada in North America.
 
Does anyone know when the Studio 6 series will be released in US? It's been in Japan for years; But nada in North America.

Just a little FYI. The Studio 5 series speakers from JBL are amazing, in a large part due to the fact that they were designed by a speaker designer who is nothing short of a legend. His name is Greg Timbers and he worked for JBL/Harman for 43 years. During that time he designed some of the best speakers ever made. This includes the L250, probably one of if not the best vintage JBL ever made, as well as the Everest DD67000, a speaker that still sells for over $80,000.

In 2015, Harman (who owned JBL) inexplicably let go of Greg Timbers. In 2016, Harman was bought by Samsung. The Studio 6 series debuted in 2019.

The point being, the Studio 5 series is part of a long heritage of amazing JBL speakers. The Studio 6 series is just a set of Samsung speakers, designed and built in Asia, with zero connection to JBL's amazing history, and a successor to the 5 series in name only.

Good luck with the 6 series. I'll be sticking with the 5 series and will continue to recommend the 5 series over the 6 series until they stop selling the 5 series.
 
Last edited:
Just a little FYI. The Studio 5 series speakers from JBL are amazing, in a large part due to the fact that they were designed by a speaker designer who is nothing short of a legend. His name is Greg Timbers and he worked for JBL/Harman for 43 years. During that time he designed some of the best speakers ever made. This includes the L250, probably one of if not the best vintage JBL ever made, as well as the Everest DD67000, a speaker that still sells for over $80,000.

In 2015, Harman (who owned JBL) inexplicably let go of Greg Timbers. In 2016, Harman was bought by Samsung. The Studio 6 series debuted in 2019.

The point being, the Studio 5 series is part of a long heritage of amazing JBL speakers. The Studio 6 series is just a set of Samsung speakers, designed and built in Asia, with zero connection to JBL's amazing history, and a successor to the 5 series in name only.

Good luck with the 6 series. I'll be sticking with the 5 series and will continue to recommend the 5 series over the 6 series until they stop selling the 5 series.
I feel the same. I think Series 5 is the last great JBL speakers. Even the looks of the series 6 seems more common cookie cutter now.
 
I feel the same. I think Series 5 is the last great JBL speakers.

Yup, the end of an era. That is a big part of the reason why I couldn't resist picking up a pair of 590s, even though I didn't exactly need more speakers. They have impressed the hell out of me and definitely earned their place in my JBL collection.

JBLDEC2021.jpg
 
Yup, the end of an era. That is a big part of the reason why I couldn't resist picking up a pair of 590s, even though I didn't exactly need more speakers. They have impressed the hell out of me and definitely earned their place in my JBL collection.

View attachment 463335
Oh yes, the 590s blew me away. I have them on the long wall of my unfinished basement (fully insulated) and the soundstage an imaging the create is jaw dropping for sure.
That is one heck of a collection you have!
 
Just bought 2

Any suggestions on a receiver? I only need 2 channels but would like option for a sub. Additionally would like optical connection for TV (maybe not necessary?). Mostly will be using for FM radio, Bluetooth, TV
 
Last edited:
Back
Top