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
Best speakers I've ever owned!
on June 9, 2014
Posted by: Steve
from Phoenix, AZ
I just received these last Wednesday, and they are taking up all of my free time. I simply cannot quit listening to them. I've been interested in the Studio 5 Series since I first saw pictures online, I'm guessing around 2 years ago or so, but never dug deep enough into them to really learn that much about them until recently. JBL didn't seem to have effective marketing for these and it's a shame because they are trule excellent speakers.
I've owned close to 20 pairs of speaker, and most have come and gone. I was always searching for that accurate high end sound, but didn't really want to spend several thousands of dollars to get there. At last, I didn't need to...these are it. The midrange clarity is beyond anything I've heard in my own house, and the bi-radial horn and compression driver is spot on. Never shrill, but always extremely detailed, and the imaging is so focused, I'm guessing because of the bi-radial horn, and it's limited side wall reflections that most all convention designs with dome tweeters suffer from. Bass response is respectable especially being just a 5.25". The speakers overall tonal balance is nearly perfect.
Although this speaker is larger in person than it seems in pictures, and also even better looking, it's still not a large speaker, but the sense of scale to music is so much larger than their size would suggest, very big and life like. I've found some degree of fault with every speaker I've ever owned, and I have to say, so far, I find none with the Studio 530, and they easily fill my 13x19 foot listening space. I do however also use 3 subwoofers, but I have for years, not for pounding bass, but the reponse in the room is much smoother and the response much more even throughout the room. It's not because the 530's are deficient in the bass.
The ONLY downside, is I really wanted a set in the cherry finish, but couldn't find any. These speakers already have a somewhat vintage look to them, but the cherry finish even more so, and would have looked a bit better in my mid-century themed listening area. Oh well, the black still looks quite nice too.
I cannot recommend these enough, even if your budget is 3 times the asking price, you owe yourself at least a listen, and who knows, you may even end up saving money, these really are that good. The best consumer priced line JBL has done since at least the later 90's L series, and these may even be better than those. I do know these are quite a bit better than my JBL L80T's. Yes, the JBL name has been watered down over the years with many of their lower cost, big box store type speakers, but these are something entirely different. JBL is BACK!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
First Great Sounding small speakers
on October 9, 2014
Posted by: Overdubn
from Los Angeles
These are the best I have heard. Highs are not harsh, with a good amp there is detail, smooth extended highs, even though it is a 5" woofer there is "punch" in the bottom. I have been in pro audio for over 30 years and JBL at one point took a few hits with the reputation of "harsh mid and highs" this is not the case with the 530's as they are great in every respect.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Amazing speakers....
on February 16, 2014
Posted by: AdamP
from Omaha, NE, United States
Gender:Male
Replaced my pioneer fs52 Andrew Jones tower speakers with a pair of these and the sound is night and day. These things have full, rich and very detailed sound which was something my pioneers were lacking. They are very suprising despite being only 1 5.25" driver and the bass is very nice, although im using a SVS PB-1000 anyways....highly recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Surprisingly good bass for a small speaker!
on December 19, 2015
Posted by: Lito
from Seattle
I love this speaker. You can turn it up loud and your ear doesn't get irritated.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
great speaker for a good (low)price
on May 16, 2016
Posted by: jonnes64
from netherlands
I have 4 pieces studio 530 with the center 520c I have them sit on my Rotel rsp1572 and rmb1555 and they sound great before I had expensive bw speakers cm s2 monitor series but the JBL 530 sound calmer and more open and better spread the sound comes well more from the speaker , I mean that the price is not always what it says about the quality of the speaker is just a pity that they are sold in the Netherlands no longer I myself would like to have the studio 570 as front speaker. I had to buy my studio 530 in Germany.
jbl I want studio570 as a front speaker where I can buy them in Europe
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Great Sound
on January 28, 2016
Posted by: Rhys90
from Chicago, IL, United States
I bought these speakers a few months ago and they are fantastic! They are a great place to start building your audio setup and I have been sold on the studio 5 speakers simply because of the quality of sound coming from these speakers.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Thank you JBL
on December 16, 2019
Posted by: danzilla31
from San Antonio Texas
I discovered the Studio 5 lineup through AVS forum and Audioholics. I ordered the 590's to start to try them out.
LOVED THEM for the price they can't be beat
I ordered 3 590's for my front 3 in the home theater after much deliberation I decided to go with 4 530's for my surrounds for a matching sound stage.
Am I glad I did the highs superb midrange more then satisfying for the price the bass these babies can kick the imaging is spot on the soundstage excellent at full price they are an excellent buy but when on sale they can't be beat
I own 3 580's now for my bedroom I will be a JBL buyer for life now when it comes to home theater speakers so so happy outstanding customer service as well
Thank you JBL!!!!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
5
Very Dynamic
on December 15, 2019
Posted by: John1492
I’ve owned lots of speakers over the last 45 years, including lots of JBLs. The Studio 530s are among the best. My current collection includes Studio 180s, S26s and L830s. The Studio 530s replaced my KEF Q300s. These are all very good speakers. The Studio 530s have the lowest efficiency of any of my speakers, but seem like the most dynamic. The instruments seem to jump out, not because of a forward midrange, but because the dynamic range is so effortless. As good as the KEFs are, and they are very good. The 530s are just more fun o listen too.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com