I GAVE JBL ANOTHER CHANCE AFTER BEING VERY DISAPPOINTED WAY BACK IN 1988 WITH JBL L100 T---
VERY EXPENSIVE-BUT THEY WERE JUST BOOM BOXES----ONCE OPENED THEY HAD NO BRACING--NO REINFORCED BAFFLE---NO ANTI RESONANCE ASPHALT BOARDS---ALL CHEAP STUFF THAT A FACTORY CAN DO WITH 25 DOLLARS MAXIMUM---BUT CONTRIBUTE VERY VERY HEAVILY TO THE END SOUND. AT HIGH REALISTIC VOLUME THEY VIBRATED LIKE HELL. THE VIBRATIONS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE TWEETER
ALL LOST TRANSPARENCY AND DETAIL. THIS APPLIES IF IN A MINOR LEVEL TO THE L 890 'S ---THE COMPANY HAD BETTER USED SOME VINYL COVERING INSTEAD OF REAL WOOD VENEER AND USED THAT MONEY IN BRACING AND ANTI VIBRATION BOARDS---!!!!! I WAS UTTERLY DISAPPOINTED EVEN WITH THOSE JBL'S 890!!!!
I HAD READ A REVIEW IN STEREOPHILE -A VERY ENTHUSIASTIC REVIEW INDEED---BUT I WAS MISLEADED-
IF YOU DO LEVEL UP THE VOLUME EVERYTHING LOSE DETAIL AND I HAVE HEARD A GREAT DEAL OF DISTORTION TOO. I COULD TWEAK THEM --BUT THE EFFORT REALLY IS NOT WORTH- I WILL SELL THEM AND I WILL BE MORE CAREFUL ---I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD VERY GOOD GERMAN FLOORSTANDING SPEAKERS WITH ALUMINIUM CONES---NOT PAPER CONES LIKE THE JBL'S---HEAVILY BRACED---SAME DIMENSION LIKE THE JBL 'S BUT WEIGHTING DOUBLE.. JUST THERE MORE STUFF INSIDE!!!! HIGH QUALITY CAPS---C MON A MUNDORF COST 2 DOLLARS!!! AND HIGH QUALITY CABLING INSIDE----JBL BEING SUCH A GIGANTIC COMPANY IS INTENT IN HAVING THE MAXIMUM PROFIT BY ATTRACTING BUYERS WITH APPARENT GOOD LOOKS BUT INFERIOS PERFORMANCES---I USE TUBE PRE AMP--POWER TUBE AMP---
SEPARATE DAC WITH TUBE OUTPUT STAGE---I AM SORRY BUT I WILL SAY BYE BYE TO JBL FOR EVER.

With good amplification and enough "break in" period: Excellent tonal balance and soundstaging that will not tire you, presenting excellent detail and musicality.
These speakers can get really loud (highs SPL's without distortion).
The cherry vinyl material is excellent. At a casual glance you might think they are wood veneer speakers. Aesthetically they certainly look great in the cherry color.
The L890's are excellent speakers for most types of music.

For music bass is not adequate enough. For fuller bass representation a subwoofer is needed. This is the reason I give then a four starts rating.
the list price of almost $1700/pair is too much. If you were to actually pay this much for L890's, I suggest that you could do better elsewhere.

For the price I paid, there is little I can complain about.
These speaker need better than average components to realize their full potential.
After over 40 hrs of listening using first, my Denon AV-3802 receiver, then using Emotiva XPA-3 Amplifier, with the Denon receiver as Pre Amp on two chanel only, I can make the following staments that applies to my particular listening setting:
At first the highs are a little bright, but as the speakers get pass about 15 to 20 hours of use they settle into a warmer sound. The treble at low volumes would be a little thin if amplification is not adequate. The surprising part is that for a speaker of this size with a spec of 28Hz at the low end, the bass is not getting there with enough punch, weak I would say. This depending on the particular music format. On some, bass is a little stronger, on others weak. The Emotiva XPA-3 helps a lot from what I experienced through the Denon receiver, but still a subwoofer is needed for full low bass presentation.
I have no opinion of the L890's for Home theater, since I have not use then to watch movies, but from what I have experience in the detailed representation of male and female voices and sound, they probably are very good for home theater.

Similar Products Used:

JBL S312
JBL E60