If you’re into car stereos, then you know the name JL Audio. For some, they’re the Coca-Cola of automotive audio equipment. Maybe you have a Sony deck or something, but the foundation of your setup is all JL. Of course, they can’t all be winners, and even the best brands produce some not-so-stunning products now and then. Here are some of the best and worst that the company has to offer:
The Best
- 600W Dual 4-Ohm Subwoofers
Whether you like sharing your music with everyone passing by, or you just enjoy the nice, low hum of bass-heavy music, the 600W Dual 4-Ohm Subwoofers from JL Audio are some of the best on the market, packing a lot of “whoomph!” into a fairly small package. This is the place to start if you’re looking to build an incredible sound system from the ground up.
- XD400/4 Amplifier
The XD400/4 Amplifier is a class D 400-watt amp that features four channels. A good hub to build your sound system around.
- TR350-CXi 3-1/2 Speakers
Music cannot thrive on subwoofers alone. If you actually want to make out the verses being laid out over phat beats, then you’re going to need a few of their three and a half inch speakers to install throughout your auto in order to ensure a nice even sound throughout. Paired with a decent console, the sound-control you can get is incredible. If you don’t like people playing with your levels, just tell them that you learned in your defensive driving course that it’s supposed to be the driver’s choice.
The Worst
- 12-Volt Power Connector for Single Amp
The truth is that this isn’t a bad cable, but cables are cables. There’s no reason to perform any of the top 9 most annoying traffic violations drivers commit or spending a hundred bucks on something you could pick up for ten bucks at Wal-Mart. This is an issue you see with a lot of audio manufacturers. They tell you that you need a gold-plated connector and this and that, and the truth is that you can’t really hear the difference. There are audiophiles who will insist that they can, but put them in a blind test and they’ll get the same score as someone who’s just guessing. When it comes to fancy cables from JL Audio, save your money and pick up some cheap connectors and wires from the nearest retail outlet.
- JL Audio Monoblock HD Amp
More of a status symbol than a serious audiophile product, the Monoblock amp looks really cool, but JL offers amplifiers that are twice this good for half this price. And what the heck is HD sound, anyways? Truth is that when it comes to audio equipment, after a certain price point, you’re not paying for quality anymore, you’re just paying for bragging rights (or for the opportunity to have your friends tease you for wasting your money on something that just doesn’t make that big of a difference when it comes to clarity and quality).
JL Audio isn’t unlike most audio companies in this regard: They sell a lot of great products, but they also know that there’s a sucker born every minute, and they’re not above taking advantage of the deep pockets found on people with more cash than common sense. If you want to spend an extra three hundred bucks just to say you did, go ahead. But let’s not kid ourselves: We can’t really tell the difference between a five-dollar cable and a five-hundred-dollar cable.
