The JBL GTO-935 : Plus One, Take Two
Written: Jan 04 '03 (Updated Jan 18 '03)
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Pros: JBL quality, excellent response, good power handling
Cons: Tweeters a little strong
The Bottom Line: A very good set of speakers that excel in fidelity even if not in massive SPLs. For the price, they are a strong option.
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| AVaddict's Full Review: JBL Grand Touring GTO935 Coaxial Car Speaker |
A Little History
These speakers were installed in the rear deck of a Mitsubishi Galant. They were being powered by a Pioneer GM-X364 amplifier hooked up with premium cabling, though this was later changed to an Alpine MRV-F540. The signal is coming from and being managed by a Sony CDX-M730 installed recently as well. These speakers were chosen as an inexpensive compliment to the JBL GTO-605c component set being used in the front doors.
Plus One, Take Two?
Plus One refers to the cone technology that Harman International has applied to some of their car audio speaker lines, including two of their most popular brands in the US, Infinity and JBL. Almost all types of speakers are including 6x9s, 6.5", and smaller. The manufacture of the cone has not really changed, but their size has. Plus One is described by Harman as "a cone with up to 30% more surface area than competing models of the same size" resulting in "greater bass output and a two-to-three–dB increase in efficiency".
This larger cone in combination with their "hi-roll" surround in addition to a very slightly modified motor assembly result in greater SPLs with better fidelity and efficiency. The Kaladex tweeters are also newish innovations being edge driven rather than what we see in standard cone tweeters. This results in very slightly higher power handling and reduced deflection during heavy use resulting in less distortion and ultimately better sound. This is the second generation of this type of cone and surround arrangement, hence the Take Two.
First Impressions
The packaging could be better, but barring a deep puncture they will be fine and for the most part the cardboard is so thick it would have to be quite a stab. The leads that come with the speakers are pretty standard as well matching the small gauge most car mfrs use anyway. The motor assemblies are impressively large and all the glue points and crimps are solid and clean.
Install
The install in this application could have been easier. The torsion bars for the trunk tend to get in the way of making this install more basic partly because of the size and shape of the basket. As a result of this I chose to top mount using an extension I got directly from JBL for about $18 shipped. A secondary benefit to this is more room in the trunk itself, which can only be seen as an advantage.
I did use the trim upper trim ring that came with the speakers as well as the screen, but had to custom mould a bottom trim ring (as I am going to call it) out of polymer resin to finish the look. I do want to say I could have bottom mounted with some moding, I just chose not to, and as it stands now, it is a very custom and very unique look, so, mission achieved.
Performance
For the price I have never heard a better set of 6x9 speakers. When compared at their MSRP ($169.99), they still come in as some of the best around. They do not have external crossovers, but there are two tiny filters glued to the tweeter motors. When you get down to brass tacks, much of how these speakers sound will have to do with signal initiation as well as proper signal management. In the case of this install, both are very good, so the bottom line in sound is very, very good. Imaging can be a tough thing to regulate in a vehicle, especially with some of the undesirable locations car manufacturers force us to squash speakers into. In this application these speakers are actually angled forward about 15deg as a result of the rear deck and some input from me. This helps quite a bit.
Lows are full and warm transitioning to mid range frequencies that are clear and unobtrusive. I have long crowed about JBLs fantastic titanium tweeters, which may be on their way out as a component in many of their car audio systems, as being clear and pronounced yet mellow. Theses aren’t titanium tweeters, they are Kaladex tweeters, which from what I can tell are a polymer composite. At low levels they are clear and bright, but not overly so. As the SPLs increase it becomes harder and harder to keep them in line and can make the buyer aware of the need for an external crossover or better yet, bi-amping with different speakers altogether. They just simply become fatiguing far more rapidly than ones desire for loud tunes goes away. This becomes far more real when listening to electronic based music like Fat Boy Slim or the Chemical Brothers.
At 35 watts RMS, these speakers perform admirably and get plenty loud, but if you plan to get more bass at higher volumes, 35 watts ain’t gonna cut it. The one thing you will have to do is pull back on the bass adjustment on the head unit, almost regardless of brand, if you really pump these or are playing some bass heavy tracks (rap) at higher volumes, but these cones stand up very well none the less. This client decided shortly after the install he wanted more power on the sub as well as the mains. In response to this I installed new amps which put out 80 watts RMS and the positive difference in the speakers performance was significant. Something to think about.
The Good
These speakers play very well whether gangsta rap, classical, trip hop, or jazz. They are well defined and have impressive thump/presence in the 200Hz-80Hz range as well as the midrange, where most of human speech occurs. They have an excellent reputation and come from an excellent manufacturer long renowned for producing some of the best audio drivers out there. They are amazingly cheap and still quite available. These were purchased from www.etronics.com, but can be found easily on other sites too, just search the product number on google.
The Bad
The high end can be nothing short of annoying at very high volumes and simply cutting back on treble boost won’t necessarily curb it. Although the speaker surround is intended to provided the ability for a more compact though still a long throw. When watched they seem to be more restrictive than they need to be, becoming almost tight at full excursion. I am not so concerned about the potential they may affect sound, but this will be a factor in their longevity, but only time will tell.
Specs
Power handling 100w/300w RMS/Peak (plenty for all)
Sensitivity 92dB (good)
Range 50Hz-21kHz (good)
edited 1/18/03 to add hyperlinks
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 79 s/h
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