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Does JBL get a bad rap?

For years, all one heard regarding almost any JBL product, especially vintage consumer grade products was that they were all boom(bass) and sizzle( highs). I feel this is an unfair generalization. Surprisingly, I find much of their budget minded gear(80s-90s) actually soft in the treble and very non-fatiguing(titanium laminate tweeters). I also have experienced the L100T and found them fairly well balanced and nuetral. The midrange does lack some realism magic especially on vocals but so do other highly touted speakers. In short, I am a little late to the game in regards to the JBL, but as a mainstream maker I am impressed. And that doesn't even take into account their 4xxx studio monitors which are highly regarded. Back me up jbl fans!
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nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
There is a very old Audio Critic issue where a Disney engineer gave advice and schematics for what he felt to be the best speaker you could buy or make. All of the drivers were JBLs. He felt they made the best drivers in the business but (at the time) weren't so good with their crossovers, or something like that.

When I saw this review http://www.highfidelity.pl/@main-450&lang=en of the JBL 4429 I lusted for it for the longest time. :-)

All the best,
Nonoise
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,483 posts
 
Hi Nonoise, that was a great!, I enjoyed your link, It appears this speaker might have been the beginning of the JBL synthesis model line of today?, the appearance is strikingly exactly like the cost no object JBL speaker line of today, check out the similiarity's of the JBL-DD Everest 67000 speakers and the JBL 4429 you are speaking of, Happy Listening.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
Hello Audiolabyrinth,
The JBL 4429 is actually one of their current offerings but you can only order them from Japan. As to which came first, the 4429 or the Everest, I can't say.

The speaker and article about the Disney engineer was this one: http://www.theaudiocritic.com/back_issues/The_Audio_Critic_19_r.pdf
Scroll down to pg (pdf) 24 and the article begins there.

Sorry if it was confusing referring to one article and providing a link to another of a different speaker from the same maker. Either way though, I'd still like to hear that 4429.

All the best,
Nonoise
dave_72
1,399 posts
 
4429 is a great speaker. Word has it, it's coming to the US market. The 4365s look great too. These are more studio monitors, and it would be very interesting putting them up against the Synthesis models.
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,483 posts
 
Hi Nonoise, not ever knowing about the JBL 4429 monitors, I thought that they were a blast from the past speaker, My mistake, I am glad you said that the 4429 is a current offering, now Dave_72 says something about the 4365's, man, this is very interesting!, I am learning about some new models here, the both of you got my intrigue going good!, tell me more!, what does the 4365's look like?, post a link?, cheers.
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