JBL STAGE 240B’s： The NEW Budget-Friendly, Small SPEAKER King？

United States of Analog | December 3, 2024

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🎙️ Early Video Analysis

What is this video about?

The video is a comparison review between the Sony SS-CS5 (described as the current “undisputed cheap speaker king”) and the new JBL Stage 240B speakers. The host is evaluating whether the JBL can dethrone the Sony as the best budget small speaker option.

What gear, products, or brands are discussed?

• Sony SS-CS5: 3-way speakers, price varies $80-$225, frequency response 53Hz-50kHz, ~100W recommended amplifier power. Host finds them “thin and unexciting” with styling issues
• JBL Stage 240B: New speakers, $300 retail/$225 current price, frequency response 53Hz-25kHz, ~100W recommended amplifier power, smaller form factor than Sony
• Brief mentions: Shelly Labs custom gear, Apos Audio Gremlin (pending review), IEMA gear

What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?

• [00:00:06] Believes the Sony SS-CS5’s “reign” as small speaker king is over
• [00:01:57] Never really connected with the Sony SS-CS5 despite buying a pair
• [00:02:28] Found the Sony “a little thin and unexciting”
• [00:03:19] Has negative bias against Sony speakers due to past experience selling cheap Sony box systems
• [00:03:47] Dislikes the styling of the Sony, particularly the front plastic baffle
• [00:05:14] Wouldn’t pay $300 for the JBL, thinks $179-189 would be more appropriate

What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?

• [00:00:06] Claims the Sony SS-CS5’s reign as budget speaker king is ending
• [00:01:57] Admits he never connected with the Sony SS-CS5 despite owning them
• [00:02:28] Finds the Sony speakers “thin and unexciting”
• [00:03:33] States he doesn’t feel Sony is “part of the speaker game” despite being a Sony fan for other products
• [00:05:15] Wouldn’t pay the $300 retail for the JBL speakers

Were there any funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes?

• [00:00:11] “Long live the king” – dramatic opening about speaker succession
• [00:02:12] Host questions his own knowledge: “Am I going crazy? Do I not know what I’m talking about?” regarding 3-way vs 2-way speaker classification
• [00:03:53] Apologizes directly to “Randy” (likely the unnamed friend who promoted the Sony speakers)
• [00:04:34] Describes his space transformation: “This used to be a wonderful bar where I could hang out on the weekend and drink my Japanese whiskey and now it’s this tax deductible studio”

3-Paragraph Summary:

Host Bob opens this speaker comparison by boldly declaring that the Sony SS-CS5’s reign as the budget small speaker king is over, with the new JBL Stage 240B ready to take the crown. He acknowledges that an unnamed friend has successfully promoted the Sony speakers for years, leading to massive sales, but admits he personally never connected with them despite purchasing a pair for $80.

The host details his issues with the Sony SS-CS5, including finding them sonically “thin and unexciting,” disliking their styling (particularly the front plastic baffle), and having a personal bias against Sony speakers due to his college experience selling cheap Sony box systems at military exchanges. He also mentions practical issues like the speakers not fitting in his studio cubbies, though he briefly gets sidetracked describing how his former bar area has become cluttered with audio gear.

Turning to specifications, Bob compares the two speakers’ similar frequency responses (both starting at 53Hz) and power handling (~100W each), while noting the JBL’s current pricing at $225 down from $300 retail. He expresses reservations about the JBL’s price point, stating he’d be more comfortable if they cost around $179-189, setting up what appears to be a detailed comparison to determine if the JBL can justify dethroning the popular Sony model.

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⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis

What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this portion?

• JBL STAGE 240B speakers (4.5″ woofer, $225 price point) [00:06:07, 00:08:43]
• Sony speakers (5″ woofer) – being compared and dismissed [00:06:07]
• Elac 6.2 and 5.2 speakers [00:06:31]
• JBL L26, L40, and L100 vintage speakers [00:09:37, 00:09:44]
• JBL Spinner turntable [00:10:00]
• JBL studio monitors and Bluetooth speakers [00:10:31, 00:10:44]

What are the host’s key findings, verdicts, or opinions?

• Declares JBL STAGE 240B as “the new mini speaker king” over Sony [00:06:51]
• Believes smaller woofers can provide tighter, faster sound in small speakers [00:06:12]
• Thinks JBL’s wave guide shows engineering sophistication with intricate ripples [00:07:50]
• Plans to keep the JBL speakers for his bar area [00:11:15]
• Expresses confusion about JBL’s current brand direction and product lineup [00:10:54]

Were there any listening tests or sound quality observations described?

• Noted “a lot of speed” with the JBL that wasn’t present in Sony [00:06:22]
• Described “tight bass” though it doesn’t extend very low [00:08:22]
• Praised “very airy, detailed rock and roll kind of top end” [00:08:29]
• Called the tweeter “clear and sparkly” [00:08:37]
• Said it duplicates the sound character of his main system on a smaller scale [00:11:28]

Were there any price/value assessments?

• Mentioned $225 price point “on a good day” [00:08:43]
• Acknowledged price expectations should be realistic at this budget level [00:08:46]

Any comparisons to other gear mentioned?

• Compared JBL 4.5″ vs Sony 5″ woofer performance, favoring JBL [00:06:07]
• Referenced Elac 5.2 vs 6.2 as example of smaller being better [00:06:31]
• Compared sound character to his main system speakers [00:11:28]

Any memorable quotes or strong takes?

• “So like I said, we’re done with the Sony. Their day is over. And I’m sorry, Randy.” [00:06:49]
• “I had to look over my shoulder for a while wondering if JBL was going to send a squad after me” [00:10:16]
• Called JBL Spinner turntable “such a POS” [00:10:10]
• “Bigger isn’t always better with speakers” [00:06:40]

Summary

The host makes a definitive verdict that the JBL STAGE 240B has dethroned Sony as his “mini speaker king” choice. He spends considerable time examining the JBL’s design features, particularly praising its sophisticated wave guide with intricate ripples that suggest genuine engineering rather than arbitrary design choices. Despite the budget-oriented vinyl wrap construction, he’s impressed by the sound quality, especially noting the speed and tightness of the smaller 4.5″ woofer compared to Sony’s 5″ driver.

The discussion reveals his complex relationship with the JBL brand – he’s simultaneously a self-described fanboy who remembers lusting after vintage L100s in college, yet he’s critical of their current scattered product strategy. He questions JBL’s identity in today’s market, noting they span everything from professional studio monitors to cheap Bluetooth speakers sold at discount retailers, with unclear positioning in between.

His listening evaluation focuses on rock music performance, describing the JBL as delivering tight, fast bass response and airy, detailed highs that remind him of good rock and roll speakers. At $225, he considers them a solid value while maintaining realistic expectations for the price point. The speakers will find a permanent home in his bar area, serving as a smaller-scale version of his main system’s sound character.

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🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict

What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this final portion?

• JBL Stage 240B speakers
• Sony SS-CS5 speakers
• IEMA A80 amplifier (300 watts x 2 claimed) [00:12:35]
• MoFi Studio Deck turntable [00:13:39]
• F35 Black Ice Audio tube amp (~120 watts per channel) [00:13:45]
• Kitsuni preamp system [00:13:45]
• Rell Classic 98 subwoofer [00:15:04]
• 24-inch solid steel stands from Italy [00:15:15]
• Klipsch Vs (mentioned as potential replacement candidates) [00:16:54]
• JBL Stage 5-inch version (mentioned but not tested) [00:17:34]

What is the host’s final verdict or conclusion?

[00:17:19] The host declares “I can’t say enough good things” about the JBL Stage 240B and definitively states about the Sony SS-CS5s: “They’re gone. They’re done. I don’t need them anymore” and “I think their run is over, and there’s a new king.”

Were there any final recommendations — buy, skip, or consider?

Strong Buy Recommendation for JBL Stage 240B:

• [00:16:44] Recommends for office/editing setups, near-field listening, bedrooms, small rooms
• [00:16:54] Considering replacing his Klipsch Vs with these for television system use
• [00:17:02] “I think it would be great for a television setup”

Skip Sony SS-CS5:

• [00:17:23] Clear rejection of the Sony speakers as inferior

Any final tips, caveats, or advice for viewers?

• [00:14:49] Keep JBL speakers “six feet or closer” for optimal performance – “more of a near-field experience”
• [00:16:30] Both speakers work best as “near-field experience” – “close up and close together”
• [00:15:32] Try flipping speakers upside down: “It’s always kind of fun to flip a speaker upside down whenever possible and just see what you get. Your ears will tell you if there’s a difference”
• [00:16:36] “Your mileage may vary” – acknowledging individual preferences

How did the video wrap up?

[00:17:40] Standard YouTube outro directing viewers to the next recommended video, with the host pointing to the corner where YouTube’s algorithm has selected the next video, ending with “I’ll see you next time in the United States of Analog.”

Any memorable closing quotes or strong final opinions?

• [00:13:15] “This gave me that good old American, made in China, JBL vibe”
• [00:13:24] “I love a little rock and roll speaker that kicks ass”
• [00:17:31] “I think their run is over, and there’s a new king” (referring to Sony vs JBL)
• [00:17:07] “Again, not a very technical review. That’s not what I do… I don’t have the time. I got another video to do”

Summary

In this final portion, the host conducts extensive testing of both the JBL Stage 240B and Sony SS-CS5 speakers using Harry Nilsson’s “Jump Into the Fire” as his primary test track, driving the JBL speakers to extreme levels with his IEMA A80 amplifier without any distortion. He praises the JBL’s ability to deliver the classic “JBL vibe” he seeks – that rock and roll excitement and power handling that made his “ears almost bleeding, in a good way.”

The host then moves both speaker sets to his main upstairs system featuring higher-end components like a MoFi turntable and Black Ice Audio tube amp, testing with Art Blakey and Devo albums. In this larger room setup, he discovers important differences: while the Sonys could play slightly louder, the JBLs delivered superior clarity, better center imaging, and more exciting sound with less murkiness. He notes that both speakers work best in near-field configurations (six feet or closer) and shares his surprising discovery that the JBLs sounded better positioned upside down on his stands.

The host concludes with a definitive verdict, declaring the JBL Stage 240B the clear winner and “new king,” while dismissing the Sony SS-CS5s as obsolete. He enthusiastically recommends the JBLs for various applications including office setups, bedrooms, and television systems, even considering replacing his own Klipsch speakers with them. His non-technical, subjective approach focuses on the emotional connection and musical enjoyment these speakers provide, particularly for rock music, cementing their status as his new budget speaker recommendation.

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Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.