Customer reviews from jbl.com
JBL - Studio 530 5-1/4" 2-Way Bookshelf Loudspeakers (Pair) - Black
Average customer rating
4.8
(136 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 136 reviews
5 Stars
123
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
3
1 Star
1
96%of customers recommend this product.
(
78 out of
81)
Customer Reviews for JBL - Studio 530 5-1/4" 2-Way Bookshelf Loudspeakers (Pair) - Black
Customer Rating
5
Wildly amazing speakers! High quality!
on December 7, 2021
Posted by: Glenn P
from Fontana, California
I’m extremely impressed with these speakers. After listening to them for a few days, I bought two more. These are now both my Left and Right front channels (with a 520c) and the new pair are my surround speakers. (For fun, the old speakers are now front height speakers!) At first, I worried these would be overkill in my bedroom system. Then, I installed them and listened to some Dolby Atmos music… Holy fork! It’s amazing! I do t know where I got the idea that surround speakers were somehow "inferior." Maybe it’s an old idea from when 5.1 was state-of-the-art. No, it was a great idea and I’m really happy I have all four.
These speakers have a really pleasing sound quality, to me. The highs especially are very airy. It's not bright—it’s clear. I’m very much enjoying this system with surround format music, like Spatial Audio and similar. These speakers have a really big soundstage. I recommend setting them up properly. I don’t really notice it when walking around the room but when your in the main listening position, these present a wall of sound. They put out way bigger sound than they look like they would. As well, the sound is detailed. You can turn these up, especially with a good, strong amp (these are 6 ohm speakers) and you’ll likely hear things you missed before. You don’t have to play these loud, but they sound good if you do.
Audyssey decided these were "large" speakers (meaning full range) which tells you that they can reach down deep into the bass notes, especially considering they are bookshelf speakers. That said, I also use a subwoofer with them, and I think you need to, especially if you want to use these to watch movies. And you should!
I’ve already gotten to watch a few movies on them. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that that perform fantastically with cinema soundtracks. JBL is used in many commercial theaters. These are equally fantastic as a home theater as they are with music. They only "downside" is that they sound so great that my surround speakers keep fooling me that there are people behind us or whatever. The sound is, like, I want to call it transparent. They remind me of my Grado headphones. Clear, detailed sound with airy treble and tight bass. The mods are musical and smooth. These have a very smooth sound. The horns are likely integral to this sound.
The build quality is also high. The speakers are appropriately heavy, but not absurdly (I’m looking at you, subwoofer) so. The grilles look good to me, as do the horns. I have heard some say the looks are polarizing. I don’t understand that. Why wouldn’t you want a speaker with cool horn! It looks like it could evade radar or something! I haven’t run them without the grilles, personally, but, if you do, make sure to fit the waveguide part in place or it won’t sound right, apparently. That’s in a little package in the box, so don’t throw it out. The binding posts are a bright gold and have little plastic red and black plugs in them which you must remove if you use banana clips like I did. They seem to work great with those. Also, there are two sets of posts so you can amp the horn separate from the woofer and really get these babies singing!
I totally would recommend these to anyone that wants a high quality speaker.If you can get them on sale, it’s a no-brainer. Put them in your cart already.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Wow!
on December 21, 2021
Posted by: Boospie
from Bridgeport, WV
Love the speakers. Sound is out of this world, but after I ordered them JBL dropped the price. I don't like that.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
THANKS JBL
on December 24, 2021
Posted by: Tom Pham
from TEXAS
I LOVE SOUND , I have good deals in thanksgiving thanks JBL
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Sounds amazing
on December 30, 2021
Posted by: Tayy
Bought as a gift for my dad. Absolutely loves them!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
great sound
on January 2, 2022
Posted by: midniteto1
from Texas
Bought upon a recommendation from a friend such a upgrade from my 1990's Bose's system. Only regret that I did not order the SUB550P before they ran out.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Excellence Achieved !
on January 9, 2022
Posted by: Star Wars Fan Bill
from Thousand Oaks, California
Sound is both voluptuous & exquisitely poised.
With the matching center channel I have a phalanx of punchy & sonorous sound to envelope me, thrillingly so.
With the matching center channel I have a phalanx of punchy & sonorous sound to envelope me, thrillingly so.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Pleasantly surprised
on January 14, 2022
Posted by: Chris1967
from New Jersey
You Tube reviews turned me on to these speakers. I’m impressed so far as the horn type tweeter is new for me. More bass response than I expected, amazing sound stage and unexpected clarity at my listening position. I recommend these bookshelf speakers especially at their amazing price point.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
3
Returned
on January 22, 2022
Posted by: Buttercup
Had to return them since they didn’t fit on the fireplace mantel
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com