Hugeeeee JBL fan here. Awesome review and is great to see reviews on brands I get hyped up about. My current setup consists of 2 E80's, EC25 (trying to upgrade to EC35's but impossible to find) and 2 E30's. No sub yet as I'm in an apartment and frankly I don't need it with my 2013 Sony HD AVR. The bass response from the towers makes it seem like there's a bass anyway. But again, always great to hear good things on JBL setups. I had mine for close to 20 years now. Great deal years ago and I don't feel I need to replace them as they stood the test of time. 🍻 👍👌
Thanks for the passion! Just found a pair of the n24's and they sound better than expected, for their size. A growing fan of jbl products , use there pro audio stuff alot.
JBL pops up on my used market places quite regularly but I have limited experience with them. The experience that I do have has been very positive though. JBL has quite a few die-hard fans out there and they can be about as rabid as any other passionate home audio fans. This set really surprised me so I’m definitely looking for other deals in JBL speakers for future reviews. Cheers, my friend!
Back in the day I used to have the Northridge EC25 center, which was a more traditional square cabinet. I'm not sure what the difference is besides that, but I have never seen that angled center in person before. Didn't even know it existed. Thanks for making content on this old stuff
really liking your channel .. love reminiscing on modern classic speakers , subs etc. Got into this hobby back in 2007 when I visited Fry's electronics in Burbank CA and they had a big want to say "200 inch screen with theater seating, projection closet red velvet curtains and various speakers, receivers, amplifiers and subwoofers on display to test and compare .. one of which were the JBL Venue Series and man I loved their sound along with Polk's .. anyway thanks for the review
I love hearing stories like that, thanks for sharing! Yeah, this home audio bug can grab hold of some folks, like it did me. I’m sure many out there find this passion strange, like many of my friends, but I just enjoy the heck out of trying out different audio gear. Sounds like you were bitten by the same bug. Haha. Thanks again for the support!
@@averageguyhi-fi Hi there. I actually own the JBL ND 310 & bought them new but never got the complete set & would really like a matching center & surrounds to go with them. Is their a chance you would wanna sell the set. If not would you consider contacting me in the future if you ever do. Thank you
Hi, in my area I had someone post the following speakers, subwoofer and receiver, do you think this is still worth $350-$400? Includes Northridge E-Series : 2 E80s, 2 E20, 1 EC25, Klipsch subwoofer (Sub-12 Synergy Subwoofer 300 Watts), and a Yamaha receiver (HTR-5860) Most of this stuff is from about 2005ish. Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks
I’d say that’s a solid deal! The only thing holding you back a little here is the receiver but since this is a 5.1, you could always hook it up using an optical cable. I love these types of questions! Try negotiating $50 off and go grab them! But they are also very much worth the asking price. So grab them either way. Haha
@@averageguyhi-fi Thanks for the reply, the only thing I worry about is this being too loud for my kids. They hurt my ears all day long but when it comes to hand dryers and movie theaters, that's too loud. Are these speakers easy to make less bass and add bass from each time of watching? I see the sub is $300 watts so that's probably going to hit pretty hard.
@kylealme7428 The good news is that you will totally be in control of loudness. I would buy this set and an inexpensive dB meter. The dB meter will help you set the levels to your liking and then you just adjust the volume on the receiver to be loud when you won’t disturb anyone and quite, when everyone is asleep. The main thing you will need to pay attention to is setting the gain on the sub correctly, since bass travels through walls easily. But there’s a gain on the sub that makes adjustments quite easy. Sounds like this might be your first HT setup. Just watch some beginner setup videos, to help you get it dialed in. It’s fairly simple but you’ll learn a ton this initial go. I’m excited for you!
I have the E60 tower speakers and a 75" Sony Bravia about 1 1/2 years old. Can you direct me on how I can use these speakers with my Sony TV? Thanks, Pat
I have a E60 + EC35 + small surrounds connected to A3080 yamaha and after ypao correction they sound marvellous! Try Ready player One and Transformers first part - great sound!
I have the older big brother front towers and love them. I agree, Tron is a great movie to test your set up. It is what I used to set up my speakers. But my 'go to' movie that I use to tune systems is Ghost in the Shell. This is because it is mastered in true DOLBY ATMOS. This includes an LFE channel. An LFE channel is key to test subwoofers. This is because An LFE channel is almost constantly driving the sub and sometimes at frequencies lower than 40hz. An LFE channel is also useful to break in base transducers.
I have Ghost in the Shell on 4k disc but I haven’t watched it yet. Sounds like this would be a good test for the SB-16 Ultra and M&K speakers I’m picking up. Thanks for taking the time to comment and for the advice, I truly appreciate it!
Nice dude I appreciate what you do. I have two E90 Northridge towers along with the sub in the center channel. And I can't sell that s***. Now that it won't sell I will never sell it I think it sounds better than any of these sound bars you can get nowadays. I have had a pork sound bar and a Harman kardon sound bar which sound pretty awesome but nothing has the depth and the dynamic range that a larger stereo has.
I’ve had some pretty nice soundbars over the years (shhh, don’t tell anyone) but even the higher end bars, like my Martin Logan Vision, can’t hang with big towers and a receiver. The JBL E90 is a firebreather speaker. Not the most accurate or best sounding speaker ever made, obviously, but they sure can energize a room. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for stopping by, my friend!
Hello. When the prices are the same (used), which of these should he choose. JBL LC1, EC35, Arena 125 or Balboa center (half price) . The speakers I use are JBL E50.
Would it be possible for you to grab another E50? That would be ideal but it might be too large. Out of those options, I’d likely go with the LC1, if the prices are all the same. Next up would be the EC35 which is probably the most matched to your E50. Full disclosure, I haven’t listened to any of these so I am going off the specs and reviews. Hopefully that helps you some!
I picked up a jbl ec25 for $50 to match my e30 bookshelf speakers. Yamaha htr-5730 receiver and sub woofer. Sounds pretty good. It’s got me thinking of the e60 or e90’s though. Thanks for the video.
That’s a great deal on that center! Love hearing about deals like this, I think it helps others know that there’s definitely deals to be had by all. Thank you again for stopping by. Happy holidays, my friend!
Wow! You grabbed all of that for $250?! Well done! That’s exactly the type of comment I was hoping for, when I started this channel. I think it will be beneficial for folks out there to read about deals like this, so they know just how far you can stretch a budget. Thank you for sharing with us!
Thank you my friend! Feel free to let me know how I can improve things, if you see something I am missing. I watch a bunch of home audio related videos so I kind of just structured these videos the way I like to watch them but I am definitely open to make changes, based on feedback from everyone who stops by. Thank you for the support!
I just looked up the LX55. Looks like a great speaker, congratulations! Thanks for sharing with us, that’s exactly the type of comment I was hoping people would share. Cheers my friend!
@@averageguyhi-fi I'm piecing the drivers and crossover network too. I'd like to build a prettier pair with exotic wood veneers. So far I have one tweeter, midrange and crossover network along with a scratched up LX55 enclosure. LX44, LX55 and LX600 sound great to me . They might have been the last time JBL used 3/4 thick MDF in their lines below the L series. The L60T and L80T along with the L100T ( or T3 models ) are still selling for very high prices . Let's not even talk about the 4310's.
I have 2 x N26ii, but nothing else, what amp need (I was looking for Nobsound NS-14g) but I’m not sure about what amp is the correct to use this jbl’s. Help me man
Hey man! I’d love to try and help. How large is your room? Is this strictly for 2-channel listening or are you planning on incorporating those JBL’s into a larger system, for home theater?
Average Guy Hi-Fi Hi man thx for respond my comment, I want to equip my lounge at home, but I don’t want a full 5.1, I wanted mostly for music and may be watch tv. Is not too big may be 10ft x 7ft (not closed) is a way through other rooms
They have very good bass, for only having 6” woofers. I was quite happy with the bass response a pair I had a while back but there’s really only so much 6” woofers can do, especially if you are trying to fill a larger room. How large is your room and how loud do you listen? If the room is larger and you listen to bass-heavy music loud, I’d probably bump up to a tower with dual 8” woofers. Or add a subwoofer:)
@@averageguyhi-fi I have a quite small room and i listen to my music pretty loudly. I currently own a pair of wharfedale diamond 230's and i feel like the bass isn't enough so that's why I'm thinking of upgrading my speakers to a jbl northridge e80 or a infinity beta 40
To be honest, after checking the specs on those Wharfedale towers, I don’t think it would be worth the effort. I would expect the E80 to get a little louder and have a little more bass but I’m not sure how noticeable it would really be. Do you have room to go with towers that have dual 8” woofers? Or, are you opposed to adding a subwoofer? I’ve swapped out hundreds of speakers and have been let down quite a few times, I just don’t want you to run into that also. I bet something like Klipsch RF-82’s or JBL E90 would meet or exceed your expectations.
The movie itself isn’t the greatest but there are about 4 - 5 scenes that I feel are essential, when it comes to testing home audio equipment, especially subs. With that said, the visuals are worth the price of admission alone, just visually spectacular. Can’t wait for them to release Tron Legacy on 4K and to see what the new one will look like. Thanks for stopping by, my friend!
After doing some research online, it appears that the Balboa series and the Northridge series are pretty inline with each other. Meaning, that they are roughly the same MSRP and quality of components. Unfortunately, I don’t have any experience with JBL Balboa speakers so I am only going off my experience with the Northridge series and what I’ve read about the Balboa series. I’d there anyway for you to listen to both?
Good set of speakers really makes movies better!! Especially TRON!! Thanks for that!!
I knew you wanted some Tron Legacy!
Ford vs Ferrari 😮😲🤤😌 sounds amazing.
Hugeeeee JBL fan here. Awesome review and is great to see reviews on brands I get hyped up about.
My current setup consists of 2 E80's, EC25 (trying to upgrade to EC35's but impossible to find) and 2 E30's. No sub yet as I'm in an apartment and frankly I don't need it with my 2013 Sony HD AVR. The bass response from the towers makes it seem like there's a bass anyway.
But again, always great to hear good things on JBL setups. I had mine for close to 20 years now. Great deal years ago and I don't feel I need to replace them as they stood the test of time.
🍻 👍👌
Thanks for the passion! Just found a pair of the n24's and they sound better than expected, for their size. A growing fan of jbl products , use there pro audio stuff alot.
JBL pops up on my used market places quite regularly but I have limited experience with them.
The experience that I do have has been very positive though. JBL has quite a few die-hard fans out there and they can be about as rabid as any other passionate home audio fans.
This set really surprised me so I’m definitely looking for other deals in JBL speakers for future reviews.
Cheers, my friend!
Back in the day I used to have the Northridge EC25 center, which was a more traditional square cabinet.
I'm not sure what the difference is besides that, but I have never seen that angled center in person before. Didn't even know it existed.
Thanks for making content on this old stuff
really liking your channel .. love reminiscing on modern classic speakers , subs etc. Got into this hobby back in 2007 when I visited Fry's electronics in Burbank CA and they had a big want to say "200 inch screen with theater seating, projection closet red velvet curtains and various speakers, receivers, amplifiers and subwoofers on display to test and compare .. one of which were the JBL Venue Series and man I loved their sound along with Polk's .. anyway thanks for the review
I love hearing stories like that, thanks for sharing! Yeah, this home audio bug can grab hold of some folks, like it did me. I’m sure many out there find this passion strange, like many of my friends, but I just enjoy the heck out of trying out different audio gear.
Sounds like you were bitten by the same bug. Haha. Thanks again for the support!
@@averageguyhi-fi Hi there. I actually own the JBL ND 310 & bought them new but never got the complete set & would really like a matching center & surrounds to go with them. Is their a chance you would wanna sell the set. If not would you consider contacting me in the future if you ever do. Thank you
awesome setup do you think the jbl e 60.has better bass then the klipsch f1
Hi, in my area I had someone post the following speakers, subwoofer and receiver, do you think this is still worth $350-$400?
Includes Northridge E-Series : 2 E80s, 2 E20, 1 EC25, Klipsch subwoofer (Sub-12 Synergy Subwoofer 300 Watts), and a Yamaha receiver (HTR-5860) Most of this stuff is from about 2005ish. Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks
I’d say that’s a solid deal! The only thing holding you back a little here is the receiver but since this is a 5.1, you could always hook it up using an optical cable.
I love these types of questions! Try negotiating $50 off and go grab them! But they are also very much worth the asking price. So grab them either way. Haha
@@averageguyhi-fi Thanks for the reply, the only thing I worry about is this being too loud for my kids. They hurt my ears all day long but when it comes to hand dryers and movie theaters, that's too loud. Are these speakers easy to make less bass and add bass from each time of watching? I see the sub is $300 watts so that's probably going to hit pretty hard.
@kylealme7428 The good news is that you will totally be in control of loudness.
I would buy this set and an inexpensive dB meter. The dB meter will help you set the levels to your liking and then you just adjust the volume on the receiver to be loud when you won’t disturb anyone and quite, when everyone is asleep.
The main thing you will need to pay attention to is setting the gain on the sub correctly, since bass travels through walls easily. But there’s a gain on the sub that makes adjustments quite easy.
Sounds like this might be your first HT setup. Just watch some beginner setup videos, to help you get it dialed in.
It’s fairly simple but you’ll learn a ton this initial go. I’m excited for you!
I have the E60 tower speakers and a 75" Sony Bravia about 1 1/2 years old. Can you direct me on how I can use these speakers with my Sony TV? Thanks, Pat
You surprised me, I have them as front. Good video thanks
What are you using as your fronts?
Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to comment!
@@averageguyhi-fi the n26 II
I have a E60 + EC35 + small surrounds connected to A3080 yamaha and after ypao correction they sound marvellous! Try Ready player One and Transformers first part - great sound!
I was very surprised by the performance of the JBL speakers, enjoy! Ready Player One is one of my favorites!
I have the older big brother front towers and love them.
I agree, Tron is a great movie to test your set up. It is what I used to set up my speakers. But my 'go to' movie that I use to tune systems is Ghost in the Shell. This is because it is mastered in true DOLBY ATMOS. This includes an LFE channel. An LFE channel is key to test subwoofers. This is because An LFE channel is almost constantly driving the sub and sometimes at frequencies lower than 40hz. An LFE channel is also useful to break in base transducers.
I have Ghost in the Shell on 4k disc but I haven’t watched it yet. Sounds like this would be a good test for the SB-16 Ultra and M&K speakers I’m picking up.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and for the advice, I truly appreciate it!
I picked up 2 sets of the dual 10" towers , 2 centers, and 6 bookshelf's for $250. All of them are Northridge Series Jbl's
Dang! Now that’s a killer deal! Congratulations!
How do they sound?
Please review the E100 also or just the Specs only, thank you. . .
I just got my new set up, it is great..
Jbl e100, jbl e30 and jbl ec35.
May I know your opinion?
Nice dude I appreciate what you do. I have two E90 Northridge towers along with the sub in the center channel. And I can't sell that s***. Now that it won't sell I will never sell it I think it sounds better than any of these sound bars you can get nowadays. I have had a pork sound bar and a Harman kardon sound bar which sound pretty awesome but nothing has the depth and the dynamic range that a larger stereo has.
I’ve had some pretty nice soundbars over the years (shhh, don’t tell anyone) but even the higher end bars, like my Martin Logan Vision, can’t hang with big towers and a receiver.
The JBL E90 is a firebreather speaker. Not the most accurate or best sounding speaker ever made, obviously, but they sure can energize a room.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for stopping by, my friend!
Hello. When the prices are the same (used), which of these should he choose. JBL LC1, EC35, Arena 125 or Balboa center (half price) . The speakers I use are JBL E50.
Would it be possible for you to grab another E50? That would be ideal but it might be too large.
Out of those options, I’d likely go with the LC1, if the prices are all the same. Next up would be the EC35 which is probably the most matched to your E50.
Full disclosure, I haven’t listened to any of these so I am going off the specs and reviews. Hopefully that helps you some!
I picked up a jbl ec25 for $50 to match my e30 bookshelf speakers. Yamaha htr-5730 receiver and sub woofer. Sounds pretty good. It’s got me thinking of the e60 or e90’s though. Thanks for the video.
That’s a great deal on that center! Love hearing about deals like this, I think it helps others know that there’s definitely deals to be had by all.
Thank you again for stopping by. Happy holidays, my friend!
I can get a pair of e80s for $100. Good deal?
Just bought a set E50,E30,E20,EC35,Bic Accoustec 220, Pioneer Elite VSX-82TXS great set up for $250 EC35 is a 3 way Center
Wow! You grabbed all of that for $250?!
Well done!
That’s exactly the type of comment I was hoping for, when I started this channel. I think it will be beneficial for folks out there to read about deals like this, so they know just how far you can stretch a budget.
Thank you for sharing with us!
The good thing i like about your videos is you include demos. Else it will be not worth simply talking.
Thank you my friend! Feel free to let me know how I can improve things, if you see something I am missing.
I watch a bunch of home audio related videos so I kind of just structured these videos the way I like to watch them but I am definitely open to make changes, based on feedback from everyone who stops by.
Thank you for the support!
Average Guy Hi-Fi nice it is. Nice demos.
Srikanth Thanks! A work in progress but I am starting to feel more comfortable, as time goes on:)
Got a pair of LX55 for $100. LOVE THEM!
I just looked up the LX55. Looks like a great speaker, congratulations!
Thanks for sharing with us, that’s exactly the type of comment I was hoping people would share.
Cheers my friend!
@@averageguyhi-fi I'm piecing the drivers and crossover network too. I'd like to build a prettier pair with exotic wood veneers. So far I have one tweeter, midrange and crossover network along with a scratched up LX55 enclosure. LX44, LX55 and LX600 sound great to me . They might have been the last time JBL used 3/4 thick MDF in their lines below the L series. The L60T and L80T along with the L100T ( or T3 models ) are still selling for very high prices . Let's not even talk about the 4310's.
I have 2 x N26ii, but nothing else, what amp need (I was looking for Nobsound NS-14g) but I’m not sure about what amp is the correct to use this jbl’s. Help me man
Hey man! I’d love to try and help.
How large is your room? Is this strictly for 2-channel listening or are you planning on incorporating those JBL’s into a larger system, for home theater?
Average Guy Hi-Fi Hi man thx for respond my comment, I want to equip my lounge at home, but I don’t want a full 5.1, I wanted mostly for music and may be watch tv. Is not too big may be 10ft x 7ft (not closed) is a way through other rooms
Does the jbl northridge e80 have a good amount of bass without a sub?
They have very good bass, for only having 6” woofers. I was quite happy with the bass response a pair I had a while back but there’s really only so much 6” woofers can do, especially if you are trying to fill a larger room.
How large is your room and how loud do you listen? If the room is larger and you listen to bass-heavy music loud, I’d probably bump up to a tower with dual 8” woofers. Or add a subwoofer:)
@@averageguyhi-fi I have a quite small room and i listen to my music pretty loudly. I currently own a pair of wharfedale diamond 230's and i feel like the bass isn't enough so that's why I'm thinking of upgrading my speakers to a jbl northridge e80 or a infinity beta 40
To be honest, after checking the specs on those Wharfedale towers, I don’t think it would be worth the effort.
I would expect the E80 to get a little louder and have a little more bass but I’m not sure how noticeable it would really be.
Do you have room to go with towers that have dual 8” woofers? Or, are you opposed to adding a subwoofer?
I’ve swapped out hundreds of speakers and have been let down quite a few times, I just don’t want you to run into that also.
I bet something like Klipsch RF-82’s or JBL E90 would meet or exceed your expectations.
@@averageguyhi-fi if you're saying that it isn't worth buying the jbl northridge e80, then I am tempted to get a subwoofer. SVS PB1000 to be exact
@@adryanf_03 SVS has a 45 day return policy. I say go for it!
Just let me know if you do and you get it hooked up, I’d love to hear your impressions:)
What stands are the N26 on ? Thanks
That’s a very common question! This company should start paying me. Haha!
These are pretty nice for the money:
www.ebay.com/itm/392694323416
I wish I could find something like that
You can! That’s the reason I started this channel. Just keep some money aside and your searches open:)
I bought them when they were new back in 2000 something.... I hate anything to do with tron but I'll buy it just for testing purposes.
The movie itself isn’t the greatest but there are about 4 - 5 scenes that I feel are essential, when it comes to testing home audio equipment, especially subs.
With that said, the visuals are worth the price of admission alone, just visually spectacular. Can’t wait for them to release Tron Legacy on 4K and to see what the new one will look like.
Thanks for stopping by, my friend!
Wats the difference between northridge n jbl balboas 30???? Anyone ??
After doing some research online, it appears that the Balboa series and the Northridge series are pretty inline with each other. Meaning, that they are roughly the same MSRP and quality of components.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any experience with JBL Balboa speakers so I am only going off my experience with the Northridge series and what I’ve read about the Balboa series.
I’d there anyway for you to listen to both?
Average Guy Hi-Fi thanx for the response I have only hear balboas they pretty awesome but couldn’t find much reviews till I saw ur video 👍🏼
I wanna say I payed $250 for my center speaker