Home > Consumer Reviews > JBL S38II 3-Way 8-Mirror Image Bookshelf Speakers (Black Maple)

The components which most affect -- by far -- the sound of your audio system are the speakers. And (except for electrostatic speakers costing thousands of dollars) the best sounding speakers currently available are those in the JBL studio series -- including the S38IIs. The S38IIs are superb sounding speakers with sweet, clean highs, a natual-sounding midrange, and clean, full bass. While they will handle lots of power, they sound great with moderately-powered amps and receivers. If for some reason you feel that you must have a larger woofer -- instead of the quite-adequate 8" woofer in the S38II -- I recommend the JBL S310II with a 10" woofer and the JBL S312II with a 12" woofer. But the vast majority of people should be quite pleased with the superb sound of the less-expensive S38IIs. Also the S38II speakers would make excellent rear speakers in a terrific-sounding JBL surround sound system.

I am genuinely pleased with our new pair of JBL S38II speakers. They are compact, smaller than the pair of three ways they are replacing. However, they are solidly built and deceptivey heavy for their size. The sound is rich and pleasing, easily reproducing everything from a cappella jazz vocals to rich symphonic passages. The speakers expose the middle voices and lush tonalities of the orchestra, which are usually lost with lesser speakers. Also, the eight inch woofers have plenty of bass punch that stands up well without need of an additional subwoofer. These are a good bit of speaker for the price and I am pleased the amount I paid. I would hesitate to pay too much more for these speakers though.

They have been sounding better and better since purchased. No sub needed plenty of bass with very tight mids and highs. Large for "Bookshelf Speakers" and sound better laid horizontally although difficult to find space for them. Best speakers for the dollar, blew away the Bose 301 and other two way bookshelf speakers.

I went to the store to buy a pair of JBL N28s, but next to the S38s on display, the N28s sounded like mush. The bass is tight, and possibly a bit loud for my apartment. The highs and mids are crystal clear and detailed. I'm reminded of the first time I put on a really good pair of headphones. This is what music is supposed to sound like. A bit more than I wanted to spend, but worth every penny.

These JBL S38II speakers are a true investment in your listening future. When I recently decided to purchase a new set of speakers, my inclinations were initially to buy something from Bose, because it is a popular brand these days. However, upon listening to their bookshelf speakers and learning that they are constructed cheaply, I began to research the JBL line of bookshelf speakers. In terms of quality and performance, these S38IIs are by far the best option for the price.

These speakers have been a revelation for me. I hear things in music that I didn't know existed. The bass, midrange, and highs and clear and full. The S38IIs can easily handle anything you want to pump through them, whether it is Bootsy Collins bass thumps or John Coltrane's mid 60s sonic saxophone assaults. The only problem that you might encounter will not be with the speakers but rather the damage they might inflict on your ears--the speakers sound so good and perform so effortlessly at high volume that it is easy to forget how loud you have them. But that is a good problem to have, indeed.

The price of these speakers is an absolute bargain. The savings is more than enough to offset a fairly substantial shipping cost that is the result of their heavy weight. When you take them out of the box, you will be amazed at their solid construction and excellent performance. If you are looking for a quality bookshelf speaker that you will be able to enjoy for years, look no further. The JBL S38II speakers are the real deal in more ways than one.