Two huge WBT binding posts sit at tweeter height on the rear of the cabinet-no bi-wire option is available. In addition to "numerous reinforcements," the inner walls of the bass and midrange enclosures are further damped with lead strips 6" wide and 0.1" thick. They're built up of 1"-thick MDF, then clad with another 1.2" thickness of anigre. This creates total immunity from the cross-modulation problems that inevitably arise from single-volume designs."Īs you might imagine, these aren't ordinary enclosures.
#Jm sound reference 500 driver#
In the Utopia, each driver has its own load volume.
#Jm sound reference 500 drivers#
From the literature: "The search for the greatest neutrality and least mechanical interaction between the drivers has given rise to an original concept based on totally self-contained enclosures. Closer examination reveals that each speaker actually comprises four separate enclosures joined at the rear. At first glance, the speaker appears to be one large unit, and a fairly wide one at that. Nevertheless, its design embodies a myriad of bleeding-edge technical achievements. (It's hard to say which was more pleasurable: adjusting the Nagra PL-P preamplifier's modulometer and flicking its sexy buttons, or embracing the Utopias when snapping on their covers!)Īlthough striking in appearance, the Utopia didn't shout "high tech" at me. This is sure to keep the lucky owner in touch with the sensual delights of using such a finely crafted device. However, each speaker comes with a pair of snap-on wooden panels to protect the drivers when not in use. The drivers are designed to run uncovered and are supplied without conventional grillecovers. The mid/high-range enclosure is encased in solid tauri, another exotic, from the South American forests. The central enclosure is finished in Porsche "911 Carrera" lacquer, with side panels fashioned of anigre, an exotic African wood. The cabinetry and finish are truly extraordinary. The Utopia is undeniably elegant and sculptural, despite its weight of 275 lbs per side. I was impressed with their sound, and we made arrangements for the Grand Utopia's yonger "sister" (footnote 2) to be delivered to our listening room in New York. The new Utopia made its debut at Stereophile's Hee-Fee '97 in San Francisco. Well, they say bigger isn't always better. Yes, they're a raucous and demanding bunch!)Īs I gleefully accepted a bottle of JMlab Sauternes from Jacques Mahul, he casually mentioned plans for a smaller version of the Grand Utopia, to be known "merely" as the Utopia. (As a group, melomanes, as audiophiles are called in France, exactly mirror their stateside brethren in appearance and general demeanor. JMlab's large demo room was always packed to the rafters with avid listeners. The sound produced by the JMlab Grand Utopias-on a collection of many-chassis'd YBA electronics-got my enthusiastic vote for best of show (footnote 1). I first met Jacques Mahul (the JM in JMlab/Focal) when my wife Kathleen and I traveled to Paris to cover HiFi (Hee-Fee) '96.
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