I recently puchased them for 70 with the center included but found the center is only needed in a very large space. I my myself buy and sell speakers as a hobby and have had a lot of decent speakers that I have come across and these ones are absolutely supurb and going to be hard to get rid of( perminant ones are Thiel 1.2) . I have a light oak finish on it with the silver fronts that look better without the grills on.The imaging is very clear and airy with seperation of instruments that creates a wide soundstage. male and female voices along with horns, drums, and violin all sounds great on them and I really had a hard time finding any music that it didnt play well. I also found myself listening to all types of music and enjoying music that I'm not generally a fan of. I put them in a monitor set up as well as a normal sterio set up and both ways work if you have a preference to one or the other. I powered them with a 110 WPC with my retro realistic reciever in a room that is about 13 by 10 with 10 foot ceilings, one side having a bay window.

As probably read in the other reviews it can be said that they lack in the real low bass range and while this is true there is a very good upside. When you add a sub the speakers really blends well even when the sub is turned up loud. After doing this I really found no problem on the bass end. I also solved the problem with just upping the bass on my reciever end and this solved the problem. I still might

Soundstage, imaging, clarity. Dual ports, SSP network design, EOS Waveguide. Quality construction, good fit and finish. Efficiency and power handling ability.

Lowest bass notes are thin. Unnecessary bi-amp capability

Among the traditional JBL aficionado, this speaker falls into the "this is what's wrong with JBL today" category. As a long time JBL owner and user, I have to take exception with that opinion, and I describe these E50 bookshelves as excellent entry-level consumer fare. In almost every way they are technically better than my first JBL purchase in 1970: JBL L100 Century speakers.

OK, the L100s had Walnut veneer cabinets and Quadrex grilles, plus a nice 12" woofer, but they were also $546 in 1970 dollars. The E50 has a stunningly better tweeter housed in an EOS Waveguide, dual Freeflow ports, a real crossover network, a better designed cabinet, better speaker connectors, and far better integration between its drivers. The balance between the 8" woofer, 4" midrange, and 3/4" Ti tweeter is far more pleasing and listenable in the E50.

In real world listening, the E50, with its mirror-imaged pair, has great imaging and a nice, wide, soundstage. It does lack fullness at the bottom, though it can go fairly low, but the 8" just can't move enough air to hit the low notes with gusto. Still, it's intended to be part of a system with a subwoofer, so that is not so much a deficit as a design decision.

I still have my original L100s, as well as tens of thousands of dollars of other speakers, almost all JBL, but I listen to the E50s several times a month. They are capable, modern, satisfying speakers that any beginning or budget conscious consumer would be happy to own.

Similar Products Used:

JBL L100, XPL160, L3, LX300

Handle a lot of power and sound GREAT at when you have it. (need a sub for the very low end)

It takes a LOT of power to move these speakers

Just got the JBL E50s as a gift for someone else but decided to test them since they were refurbished. That might be the problem because I really can't drive them well with my Dennon 3805 (discrete amped 120w continous per channel). I'm currently tryiin to break them in using my 400w per Mixing board I use in my basement with a set of Pevey's that have 16 inch woofers. My god they rock under that kind of power (as good as the Pevey Moniters) but I have to question that it should take that kind of power to run them. (I'm certain of my cabling).

Similar Products Used:

JBL E30
JBL EC35
JBL E90
Outlaw Audio LM1 sub

Good looking set of black speakers with or without the grills. These can take lots of power although I'm skeptical of the 175 watts they are rated at.
PRICE PRICE PRICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think they will hold up sound-wise at 175 watts of power. I have two amps, one with 90 watts per channel in 2 channel mode, and one with 110 watts and is a 2 channel amp. Either one overwhelm these speakers.

These are 3 way speakers that were selling for $299 not too long ago.
I don't think I'd have paid what some of the other reviewers paid for these, but they certainly would work for front or back surrounds if you have a bass unit to help out. They lack that kick for movie watching and hard rock. They seem almost perfect for jass.
They are surprisingly decent as a two channel setup if you are not into heavy bass and loud volume. Turn up the wattage and they can get somewhat shrill. I've had speakers that were worse than these however. So these are relegated to the small tv room and two channel amp.
I have a set of Infinity IL50's for that, which need no bass help, and do double duty as the front HT speakers with IL40's at the back corner.
If you are looking for some bookshelf speakers that will take moderate power and still sound great, don't hesitate to buy these, especially at the price I paid for mine. What a bargain! I'm sure they'd work as front and back HT speakers as well.

Customer Service

As part of the Harman Kardon family, JBL have great service, no questions asked warranty service which I've used once, and all round great products.

Similar Products Used:

Infinity IL50's, IL40's. Boston Acoustics? Radio Shack Nova's(late 60's, with 15" woofers no less.), Speaker Labs, KLH's.

Fit and Finish, Smooth natural sound, Cabinet color choices : Blk, Cherry, Beech

No grill color choice

I use the E50 as a 2nd set Stairwell house speaker. They compliment my system very well. The fit and finish is good and I find the Mirror Design an interesting set up.

I do recommend these speakers at this very attractive price point.

Natural balance. Doesn't hit you over the head with hyped up detail (something you will appreciate with prolonged listening).

Not much to complain about. Could have a bit more 'air' to the treble.

I have owned these speakers for about 21 months. That's more than long enough to decide whether or not they make the grade. In my case, they do! Some may complain that they sound just a bit soft. I don't think that they do. So many speakers get irritating after prolonged listening. These don't. And not because they sound soft, but rather because they sound natural. I don't feel that I'm missing out on any of the important audio spectrum. I hear a nicely balanced sound from top to bottom. Given their price point, they are a speaker which will give most listeners years of pleasure. It still seems odd to me that so many JBL speakers are made in China (as these are). (certainly, not the JBL of old). But, wherever they're made, the better JBL's (and these fit that class) sound good. I use them in a surround set-up with the JBL S-Center and JBL S36'S. The sound is natural and cohesive.

Similar Products Used:

Too many to list

Build quality Easy to listen to

Treble could use a bit more air Bass response adequate

The build quality is excellent and the E50s image well. The sound is warm and smooth, very easy to listen to. Bass response is adequate but not strong. The treble could use a bit more air as well. Since the E50s are bookshelf speakers, they are best suited for a small room or for use as surround speakers. If used as main speakers for a large room, I suggest adding a separate subwoofer. Overall, an excellent speaker at this price point.

good bass and perfect stereo imaging

blant design

Nice sound and accurate speaker. Delivers great bass when it is neeeded. Trebles and mids are OK.

Similar Products Used:

Bose 201