In this review, we will be comparing SuperCenter Reference and HDI-4500, two Center Channel speakers from GoldenEar and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar SC Ref and JBL HDI-4500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
GoldenEar SC Ref Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- " Tweeter
- 4 x 5.25" Woofer
- 33-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-350watts
- Weight:14.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 150.0" x 35" x 11-1/16"( 150.0 x 889.0 x 281.0mm )
JBL HDI-4500 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter
- 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer
- 50-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-250watts
- Weight:20.15kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 197.0" x 33-1/8" x 12-3/16"( 197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the GoldenEar SC Ref and JBL HDI-4500 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SuperCenter Reference is a 3-way design whereas the HDI-4500 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
GoldenEar SC Ref |
JBL HDI-4500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
SuperCenter Reference features a " Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Woofer . On the other hand, the HDI-4500 features a 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
SuperCenter Reference has a frequency range of 33-35k Hz whereas HDI-4500 has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the SuperCenter Reference can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HDI-4500's min frequency of 50Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
SuperCenter Reference is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the HDI-4500 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the HDI-4500 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SuperCenter Reference sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the HDI-4500's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the GoldenEar SC Ref a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL HDI-4500, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
SuperCenter Reference can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HDI-4500 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the SuperCenter Reference.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
SuperCenter Reference features 5-Way post type posts and HDI-4500 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL HDI-4500's 5-Way post terminals
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare GoldenEar SC Ref's and JBL HDI-4500's external dimensions. GoldenEar SC Ref has external dimensions of 150.0 x 889.0 x 281.0mm ( 5-7/8 x 35 x 11-1/16inch) whereas JBL HDI-4500 has external dimensions of 197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm ( 7-3/4 x 33-1/8 x 12-3/16inch) .
GoldenEar SC Ref is 47mm shorter and 29mm less deeper than JBL HDI-4500 but it is also 47mm wider.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the GoldenEar SC Ref is approximately 2498.1cm2 / 387.2inch2 and base area of the JBL HDI-4500 is approximately 2610.2cm2 / 404.6inch2. The SuperCenter Reference requires 4% less surface area than the HDI-4500 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.