Glad to hear you're enjoying your new speakers! Nice when a new purchase doesn't disappoint.
+1 on Music Direct. First class company to deal with.
Tom
+1 on Music Direct. First class company to deal with.
Tom
JBL 4319...The Big Easy
3-way studio monitors made for home audio. To call them monitors is a bit misleading as they are 23.5" tall by 14.25" wide by 11.8" deep and weigh in at around 36 lbs apiece. They have twin front ports and sport a 1" al/mg dome tweeter set in a wave guide, a 5" al/mg midrange and a 12" pure pulp woofer.The true meaning of a monitor speaker addresses its function--to monitor playback of a recording. As originally conceived, the 4319 is very much a monitor, and a compact one at that. I used to have a pair of Altec 9845a monitors. They were 28"h x 40"w x 24.5"d and weighed 130 lbs. each. They were built for hanging on a studio wall (mine still had industrial strength hanging brackets), facing the console. They had so much output they were also used for PA speakers. Mine had been used in a Frank Sinatra concert at the Anaheim convention center. The dimensions you mention--23.5"x14.25"x11.8"--was a *very* popular size in the ’60s and ’70s. Give or take a fraction of an inch, it was the dimensions of *lots* of speakers in the ’70s, including the 4319’s cousin, the JBL L100 (and studio version, the JBL 4311), the AR3a, the Altec Lansing Segovia, and several models from KLH, Harman-Kardon, Pioneer, Sansui, etc. In those days they were marketed as "Oversized Bookshelf Speakers." JBL made and marketed (at least) two versions of that format in the ’70s. The professional model version was the 4311 and the home version was the JBL L100. The difference was that the drivers on the 4311 were arranged for placing the speakers vertically, while the JBL L100 drivers were arranged for horizontal (i.e., bookshelf) placement. BTW, the speakers used for the Memorex ad you refer to were likely JBL 100s, based on the block texture of the foam grilles. Anyway, thanks for an astute and detailed description of your JBL 4319s. it’s a great reminder of how much fun that speaker type can be, with high sensitivity and dynamics, clear clean midrange, airy highs, and a kick-ass thumping bass, thanks to a well-made, ported 12" woofer. |
Thanks all for your responses! And thanks @johnnyb53 for the historical perspective. As to your reference of the L100 model, JBL is bringing it back sometime this year. I think it's going to be based on the 4312 but with improved drivers and different placement. It will also have the Quadrex foam grilles in either orange, blue or a dark brown. Similar stands to what I use will be available as well. And, it will be priced the same as what I paid for for the 4319s. I think JBL sees a trend here. All the best, Nonoise |
Nonoise I saw these and the other JBL lines at Music Direct too. I was so tempted. I’m going to try one of the JBL lines when I move and have s dedicated room. Im curious to what sort of amplification you’re using. I’d assume your speakers aren’t fussy and probably have pretty sympathetic synergy with other equipment. But your review has piqued my interest further! |