JBL LOFT 5.1 5.1 system
Compact and convenient soundbars gradually put inexpensive AV-receivers out of the market, but the demand on 5.1 speaker sets is still strong. This is fair enough: modern TVs and video projectors create a stunningly realistic picture, which requires an adequate audio feedback.
At the designing of such sets the manufacturers try to combine several conflicting criteria - graceful design, high quality of sound and affordable price. The winner of this completion is those who has more experience and is able to think outside the box, because it is possible to bring away from the competitors only by original and innovative solutions.
The JBL LOFT set refers exactly to the latter category. Look at the frontal LOFT 50 - with the maximally narrowed faceplate and small body's volume the lower border of the playing is lowered to 37 Hz like in classical floor systems. This became possible due to unusual placement of bass drivers and availability of two bass-reflexes with different frequency setting. The 6.5-inch heads are installed strictly opposite each other, on the side walls. Due to this, a radiation area increases and vibrations of the body, on the contrary, decrease - they cancel out. But, you can't tetris such speaker systems, it would be better to place them on the edges of the screen.
By the way, the faceplate in LOFT50 is narrowed not only for aesthetic reasons (although the design is not the last thing while choosing the product) - reflections and, as a consequence, interference of sound waves in such constructions are minimal. All other things equal the frequency response turns out to be more linear and the sound - more natural. Pay your attention also to the location of mid- and high-frequency radiators. A symmetrical D'Appolito scheme in the top part - an inch tweeter with synthetic dome is installed between two identical mid0frequency speakers. Such configuration differs by the expanded polar pattern that, in turn, affects well the building of spatial picture. Beside this, the tweeter is placed in a proprietary EOS (Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal) waveguide, which improves coordination with neighboring heads. The lower driver increases the radiation area of the middle frequencies, so the overloading capacity increases too.
The back monitor speakers, LOFT30, and the central channel, LOFT 20 are two-way and built on the same set of the speakers as the frontal ones, except low-frequency ones. The identity guarantees an optimal coordination of the channels and a uniform sound field even in bad acoustic conditions. All diffusers are made of a proprietary PolyBass composite - a cellulose, reinforced by polymeric fibers. The material is very light and well resistant to deformations, so the speakers differ by natural sound and are able to work without distortion at high volume level.
FreeFlow bass-reflexes are modeled on the computer in such a way, that the bass-reflex port creates as little noise as possible. And, finally, the crossovers. The patented SSP scheme (Strait-Line Signal Path) provides the shortest signal way with an optimal distribution of frequency bands between specific drivers.
In SP150 subwoofer the port with very unusual mouth is put forward and 10-inch speaker looks down. Floor reflections increase the feedback in the lower case, but bass character can differ depending on soft carpeting or bare flooring. There is LF filter with smooth tuning within 15-150 Hz in the built-in 150-watt amplifier. The phase in inverted by the tumbler 0/180 deg. Both linear input and acoustic spring terminals for the signal of high level are provided. At startup the nameplate of the faceplate is illuminated with two blue LEDs.
Generally speaking, you can collect a seven-channel system from LOFT kit (with LOFT 40 monitors), but we were limited to the most popular 5.1 version. Subwoofer band was limited at the maximum, on 50 Hz, because the frontal systems themselves are pretty bass. By the way, we started listening in stereo mode by connecting the system to Denon AVR-4520 receiver. I should note that LOFT 50 sounds great in usual music system too, and bass is particularly impressive - fast, accurate, deep. Stereo picture is also turned out to be real, with scaled and drawn in details scene. All in all, tonal balance is linear, although there is a tint in vocal and some instruments in mid-range, especially noticeable at high volume. The upper range is airy and transparent, what really enlivens the sound.
We estimate the work in multi-channel variant by Blu-ray disc "Spider-Man 2". High clarity and filigree transfer of volumetric space with smooth movements of objects along a closed perimeter are worth noting. The central channel is moderately informative, transfers well a lower voice register, so all dialogs become expressive and authentic. After the receiver's calibration the subwoofer perfectly fit in the system without bringing anything superfluous in the system. However, its overloading capacity is not very high; the naturalness of playing slightly decreases at the loudest kicks. All in all, the space is really three-dimensional, back effects go far into the background, perfectly complementing the overall picture.
LOFT 50 is suitable for use with big projection screens - you can accommodate up to 5 captious listeners in comfort listening zone.
