Bookshelf Speakers — JM Reynaud BLISS JUBILE

The BLISS JUBILE is a two-way speaker for stands, designed by JMR - Jean-Marie Reynaud, the French maker that has designed speakers since 1967. It follows the concept first introduced by the BLISS Silver, the model that pioneered strict pairing of every component within a pair. The cabinet is a completely new development in the style of the Jubile range, and the maker lists a price of 2,200 EUR in aniegre stained cherry, anthracite grey, pearl white or satin black paint.

Key specs that matter

JMR rates the bandwidth at 45 Hz to 25 kHz. Nominal impedance is 4 ohm and never drops below that value, and sensitivity is 88 dB/W/m at 2.83 V. The recommended amplifier range is 40 to 150 W, while power handling is 80 W with a 150 W peak rating. Distortion stays below 0.4 percent at 84 dB. Each speaker measures 41.6 cm high, 21 cm wide and 29 cm deep and weighs 11 kg. Connection is single-wired through WBT-type terminals on an aluminium plate that accept spades, bananas or bare wire.

Engineering and use context

The drivers come from the EUTERPE Jubile. The 170 mm woofer has a long-fibre paper cone with a Gaussian profile, damped on its inner face, a soft polypropylene dust cap, a 30 mm coil whose aluminium support is vented, a double magnet and a rubber and foam surround. The 28 mm impregnated silk dome tweeter, shared with the CANTABILE Jubile, has a neodymium magnet and is glued to a horn flare machined from solid aluminium, so no phase plug is used. A stainless steel threaded rod runs through the cabinet from the woofer magnet to the rear panel and is tightened with a torque wrench, putting the cabinet walls under tension. The loading comes from the Offrande Supreme and uses four coupled cavities with progressive damping that vent through a front laminar port. The 12 dB/octave crossover at 2,800 Hz is wired by hand with parts soldered directly together and no printed board, using silver-foil capacitors, air-core coils wound with 1.2 mm oxygen-free copper, non-inductive resistors and JMR HP1132 silver-copper internal cable. All parts are measured and matched to a 1 percent tolerance.

Pairing

JMR developed the speaker on its Magic Stand II and states that it should be used on that stand. The brand also names its own HP1132 cable as the best match for connecting the speakers to the amplifier.

Alternatives

The FOLIA JUBILE is a smaller JMR bookshelf model built around a 130 mm woofer and a 25 mm silk dome tweeter.