JBL 4367: What an AMAZING sounding speaker!


Less of a review and more of my initial impressions after living with the Jbl 4367 for about a month now. System consists of a Kinki Studio ex-m1 integrated amplifier, a schiit Yggdrasil v2 being fed by my computer, interconnects are Dyson Audio, Cullen cable power cords, and blue jeans speaker cables. My taste in music is predominately classical, jazz, and hard rock, as well as rap, and metal. I love me some Metellica and Kanye West almost as much as I love Mozart and Coltrane. The room is small, 15x10x9. They are set up on the long wall, 12.5ft apart from tweeter to tweeter, and I sit 10 feet away, with the speakers toed in not insignificantly; pointing just to the sides of my head. Believe it or not I have had very little issues with the JBL behaving in my room. Perhaps because it is furnished just right, my careful use of bass traps and absorption panels, the actual construction of the room (suspended wood floor, and dry wall in front of brick for the walls) but I have felt no want for better sound, given my situation. I dare say that the JBL 4367 are perhaps the best speaker I could have picked for my room.

This is a very good loudspeaker. Sound is much better than my previously owned speakers, KEF LS50, KEF R300, Arteluthe Cadenza and Harbeth 30.2. All were very good speakers In their own right but the JBL 4367 makes them all sound like toys. Soundstage and imaging is ridiculous, and the midrange is to die for. Joni Mitchell both sides now and Diana Krall When I look in your eyes and Sarah K. Turn Into Nothing are my 3 reference tracks that I use to judge the midrange, specifically the female vocal midrange. These 3 tracks really have a thick presence, if played on a system done right you genuinely feel you are there in the venue. This is not a case of “it’s like the performer is in the room” no, it’s a case of “I feel like I’m there at the venue live”, the titular track from Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell’s voice hangs in the air and when I close my eyes I can just imagine myself transported to a dimly lit jazz bar, The air heavy and thick with cigarette smoke, and her singing so soulfully into the mic. What a wonderful album. It has slowly been becoming one of my all time favourites.

I am constantly floored how real the musical presentation is, on albums and tracks recorded in the studio, I get the sense that the singers are floating in the air in front of me. There is a real “stage” to the sound, an intimacy to the music that is soulful; engaging to the point I’m emotionally moved. This is constant, from song to song. Albums that I love to death but have always sounded quite harsh on almost unlistenable are now extremely pleasant and FUN. Bon Jovis vocals on many of the tracks on Slippery When Wet have a sibilence to them on the many speakers I tried. Somehow, the JBL 4367 compression driver and horn system brushes away the sibilence and presents vocals that are crisp, detailed and heavy. This is my kind of rock! On my previous setups, I found the vocals to get very confused and muddled in with the hard rock riffs. The guitars on Rush’s Moving Pictures never sounded so good. I cranked Tom Sawyer and YYZ at pretty ear splitting (100db peaks) levels and it was nearly peeling the skin off my face. Crunchy bass the real deal kind of bass guitar noise: the JBL can deliver that accurate sound. And the drum kit, espesxially on YYZ. Just FUN!! I’ve heard people say that Neil isn’t a good drummer, or he’s boring, or has no soul. I DARE you to say that after hearing Moving Pictures on the JBL 4367!

The JBL 4367 offered and continues to offer up dynamics on an unheard level for me. Sheffield drum kit at 105db peaks felt exactly as I imagine it should have. Guttural bass slam that startles you with its huge swings in sound pressure. The large 15” woofers can stop and go on a dime. When I listen to music I find myself losing track of time. What was supposed to be just a few songs turns into a marathon session of at least 6 hours. I really get carried away often and forget to eat.

I hope this impression was useful to someone. If you have other questions please Ask and I will be happy to answer.
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@d2girls

Since you stated that Israel Bloom is local to you, I assume that you are in Southern Ontario, as I am. If you are interested in speaker cables, check out Audio Sensibility. They are local (Yonge and Sheppard area). Steven is a really easy guy to work with, and if you are not satisfied within 30 days, he will refund your $$. I have a number of power cords and IC’s from AS and also use AS speaker cables. If you were at Toronto Audio Fest last weekend you may have seen his booth. Good luck

Although it is a different kind of speaker, but in the same price range, has anyone had the opportunity to listen and compare the JBL 4367 to the Vandersteen Quatro?  Thanks in advance.
@janewyman Funny you ask that.

I've liked the 4367/M2 for a while (I do think the M2 performs a bit better.

Had the chance to hear the Quattro CT carbon the other day.  I was really, really impressed.

VERY open, and the bass was spectacular.  Set-up is a key, and it's a long process.  But based on what I heard in the store, I can only imagine set-up properly at home they have to be awesome.

Flip side, finding them with any sort of a real discount is very tough and the 4367 and m2 can be found with bigger discounts.

I was really impressed with the Quattro Ct though.  But, then again, the M2 was awesome.  The 4367 demo I had wasn't great room wise (they were pushed up against the wall, making it really hard to get a feel for the bass).
My opinion is while both models are coherent the Quatro is more so, although setup is vital. The Quatro is more extended in the LF and has the advantage of smoother HF. Vandersteens are softer sounding the 4367 and more homogenizing in a sense. While the vocals and winds sound good the lack of attack was an issue with me while I was shopping for speakers, as was the decapitated spatial presentation. The 4367 is obviously more dynamic by a large margin, and has vertical dispersion. The 4367 is an extroverted studio monitor redesigned from the M2 for home use for good off axis response. It is easy to agree with R.V., the Quatro is the best deal in Vandersteen lineup. Both very respectable designs, just a matter of personal choice in presentation with the Quatro being more practical in most situations. 
I would suggest entertaining Audiokinesis and ATC as maker's who models are roughly in between 4367 and Quatros. 
A question for audioman58.  Have you tried Russ Andrews one capacitor replacement for the crossover?   Sounds too good to be true, but thought I would ask someone with a lot of expertise in the subject.  Thanks.
Hi D2 girls,
Glad to read you like your JBL 4367's. For almost four years I've been enjoying my 4365's. When the 4367's were introduced I instantly became jealous. I really want to hear that D2 driver, but there are no JBL dealers in my area and none of my friends own a pair of 4367's, unfortunately. 

Every time I read a positive review of the 4367's I see a 'for sale' sign on my 4365's and I start looking into purchasing a pair of 4367's.   

I've been a long time JBL fan starting as a teenager in the early to mid 1970's. Presently I own 8 pairs of "real" studio monitors and consumer "home" speakers spanning over 40 years, most bought new (not all.) Some times being a JBL fan can be tough. IMO, there have been in the past and still are a lot of "haters" out there.  

As a long time two channel audio nut I'm glad to see the younger generation such as yourself take interest in this field. Especially, a young woman. Thinking as a Baby Boomer, there is hope for the Millennial generation (just kidding!) I begin to wonder when almost all I see and read about are ear buds and mp3's.
Happy listening!, Mark

PS- ...and Grandpa says... throw-on some live Zeppelin and listen to those JBL's sing! 
What I am trying to figure out is why there is such an undefined line with the suggested retail price of JBL. Some of the Pro line seems quite costly vs. home consumer models, but then as you go up the consumer line of JBL speakers the price takes huge increases. 

One poster said that you can get substantial discounts on them, but when I look at what I believe are certified dealers such as Music Direct, the price they quote for any JBL is full retail and says no further discounts apply. Hmmmm.
If you look on music direct they have several Synthesis models at a significant discount. I've read that the pro series does not have massive profit margins compared to the Synthesis line. Which makes sense because I've seen dealer demos go for about 30% off list.
Can I recommend Montrose "first" as a nice listening. May that be the best ever first album (light-hard rock)? Was released as I recall it some months before Rush "first" and was much better sounding. And with a lot more energy. Should be a really nice listening cranked up on some JBL 4367! By the way if you like early Rush then give a listening to Budgie. Rush a copycat?
Would like to hear the JBL besides my ATC 150 ASL. Agree with you fully on the woofer-size. When someone wants to argue about cables I just say "Go and get yourself some nice 15 inches and then we can start talking..). Good rock to you :-)
I owned a pair of 4367s for a year, and swapped a large amount of gear, trying to get the best sound possible out of them for my tastes.  

They are awesome speakers.  Period.  I sold them as I couldn't filter out a sharp high-end peak that bothered me.  Yes, my room has extensive acoustic management applied.

I then bought a pair of Revel Salon 2, which I quickly sold them as I found them to be a bit too "vanilla"  despite all of the gear swaps that I attempted.

I now have the JBL M2's which are going to be my last speakers.  The active equalization has smoothed out the high-end that bothered me on the 4367s.
If I had to sell the M2s for some reason, I would get another pair of the 4367s without a doubt. 

  
 
Thats' a killer speaker, for sure. They remind me of what an old Disney sound engineer did many years ago. It was from an old Audio Critic article where the engineer went on to say that JBL made some of the best drivers in the industry but their crossovers weren't up to the same level as their drivers.

This guy went on to illustrate his design that anyone could duplicate and it used the best JBL drivers of the time, with separate amps for each driver in a large cabinet of his own design. It looked awesome.

All the best,
Nonoise
@gosta  I would love to hear the big ATC's.  I've heard the 40's, and the active 50's and been impressed.  Only thing I wondered about was the deep bass slam and air movement.  But man they were fast and dynamic with little coloration.
My only opportunity to hear the 4367s was at RMAF 2016.  I'm not really a JBL fan.  However, the sound I heard in that room with Bricasti electronics was amazing.  It was sweet and smooth and open.  There was plenty of detail with absolutely no hint of harshness.  The bass was deep and punchy.  This was a sound I could live with forever.  They sounded nothing like any other JBL speakers in my experience.  The 4367s are beyond my means and are too large for my listening room.  But I can say without reservation these are wonderful speakers.
d2girls  Until you mentioned Blume, I thought you might live in San Jose, CA based on the small home sales prices are the highest in the U.S. and student debt is even higher.  

While the JBLs perform great on rock and dynamic music, they apparently are not so kind to less well recorded and lack some finesse in acoustic music of the classical and jazz realm.  I still have original Legacy Signature IIIs and Focus speakers for 20+ years with the former very efficient, six 10" woofers with very low bass distortion and for my metal head wife (who also loves opera), thinks that the Signature IIIs are the cats meow (the Focus speakers she thinks is too audiophile like in openness and less punchy in the bass with six 12" woofers).  

The one reason I couldn't own the JBLs is that I have many mediocre recordings of great performances in my 42,000 record/cd collection.  I would prefer Harbeths, Tannoys, even Magnapans (my wife doesn't like those for rock-lack of dynamic punch and bass).   My next speaker will probably cost $50-60K.

I highly advise some cabling upgrades and acoustic room treatments to optimize your JBLs.  They are excellent speakers but ancillary tweaks will pay huge dividends in enjoyment.
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Great review. I could feel your excitement. I went out and bought some jbl's to try. (the 1400 arrays my local dealer gave me a great deal on and a mac 2600). I listened to and sounded great. I was going to buy the 4367 here on the gon that dr tom had and I think just sold which was a very good deal too:)

Keep updating us:)

Since putting them on stands, not only do they look more 'proper hifi' the sound has vastly improved. Imaging is even more pinpoint, bass is tighter and more detailed, and most importantly, I've found the midrange to become more detailed! By comparison the sound was a bit smeared than before...
picture: https://i.imgur.com/rO22cH5.jpg
Those stands look great. They look similar to what Kenrick Sound sells. I can appreciate how much better sounding everything is now that they're properly situated. 👍

Did you end up having someone make them for you?

All the best,
Nonoise
The stands looked fine, but they broke after I tried to slide them around on my floor. I got a 50% refund and decided to just strengthen them by adding some wood screws into the joints. The maker decided to use one joint which was the wrong kind to use for something like this. I may just wind up ordering those Kenrick Sound ones in the new year!
Currently I'm saving up for a nice amplifier. $1800 stands can come later.
d2girls....awesome. However, I would move your teddy on the right speaker, back a tad, so the feet on the teddy do not disturb the radiation pattern of the horn. I am not kidding. Enjoy ! MrD.
Finally got my pair yesterday and need to say they sound great! Especially compare to my old B&W 803 Matrix S2. The only problem now is to find correct places for them in a small room) But still imo one of the best choice for less than 8000 USD.
I would, without a doubt, enjoy a pair of DD67000s. I would need to go into my 401K, but who knows...….d2girls, continue to enjoy your journey ! Always,  MrD.
@alex_bolotnikov wow congrats on the purchase. How big is your room?

@mrdecibel thanks. I’m hoping to acquire a new amp next year. Either a good integrated (thinking Accuphase it Luxman integrated) or possibly a mcintosh mc462.
No maritime, but the Kinky was never meant to be a permanent addition to my system. 
How about a nearly New Rotel rc and rb 1590?  Heck, I’m going to Lake Louise for Christmas....🥴
The DD67000 has automotive grade paint, so there's that. I'm not sure my CARS have paint that swell. Also, they recommend 500 watts for a 96db efficient speaker, which should do the trick. Note that for about half the price of the Everest pair, you can get 8 "phased array" 1000 watt or so powered 208A JBL systems (4 per side), with 4 3600 watt dual 18" 218A powered woofers (2 per side) and boogie yer sneakers away. Note to save space you can "fly" the phased array from the ceiling, and use the gigantic dual 18 cabs for widow seats...maybe...
The JBL 4367 is the best wedding speaker I have ever owned. With the high frequency driver D2 is a revelation. It really is a good product. And I'm thinking of investing in some more powerful JBL speakers here at https://goo.gl/jhMYVv. Can someone help me to evaluate and select the most suitable JBL speakers?
@d2girls It's about 22 square meters. The wall where the speakers are located is ~4 m.

They're "wedding speakers". Can't really evaluate them since I wasn't invited. Not into wedding crashing these days.

All the best,
Nonoise
Good luck for me when I meet this topic. I need advice on buying speakers for the hall, please help me choose the best Full model speaker for the hall here: https://amthanhhoitruong24h.com/loa-hoi-truong/ !
Couldn't afford 4367s, so I bought a used pair of the D2430K drivers ($800), a new pair of the small VFX-series horn that JBL also uses with the D2430K ($100), a pair of the 2216Nd-1 woofers ($1200), and had a local cabinetmaker copy the internal volume and box tuning of the 4367 cabinet ($1200). Then I got an local specialist to configure the finished speakers using a dox DriveRack 4820 (which I've owned for years) and two power amps. Very, very pleased with the results, though I know I'm missing out from not having the 4367 horn. Next modification of these will be to purchase the M2 horns to replace the small 90 x 50 degree ones I'm present using.