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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.
d2girls
d2girls's avatar
d2girls OP
641 posts
 
@facten

I bought the Kinki out of necessity, not because I wanted to downgrade to a simpler setup. I say “downgrade” but it really isn’t a downgrade when you consider the cost to performance ratio of the Kinki. I had Pass Labs separates before, and the time was just right to sell them for maximum profit and use those funds towards the JBL. As it so happens, the Kinki just happened to be THAT good that I probably would have gotten it anyway and sold the Pass Labs gear irregardless. The convenience of a much much lighter form factor, less heat dissipation, and one box, as opposed to two, made my decision to simply sell the Pass gear and take my chances with the Kinki pretty easy.

However, I, like many in this hobby do tend to plan ahead on the “next big thing” and far as it may be on horizon, I know eventually I want to get a bigger, and badder amp. Something class A again, probably. I do miss the refined nature of class A. I’m sure I can find an even better integrated solution to what I had before. And as I’ve stated I plan to upgrade my dac before I upgrade my amp/pre. That alone is going to be a pretty penny as I’m leaning towards acquiring a used Briscati m1 (5500usd) or even a Rockna Dreamwave Signature (perhaps one could be found for under $10k)

So I’ve got quite a bit of saving to do!

@mrdecibel
I’m very please you enjoy my writing style. Thank you! As well,

I wholeheartedly agree, let bygones be bygones. However I do apologize for saying such a conceited thing to you. I guess I actually was being a bit of a brat. I promise I’m not normally like that! I must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed that day...


facten
931 posts
 
d2girls, Thanks , was just wondering. 
d2girls's avatar
d2girls OP
641 posts
 
Hi guys. My friend implored me to offer some negatives I have of the JBL. I am going to do my best to describe my negative impressions of them here, right now.

There is some slight horn coloration. Now if that’s not your thing, then you can stay well away from them. However, the benefits the horn loaded system offers, in terms of dynamics, spl capibility without loss of detail that IS there, is extraordinary and far out weighs the slight coloration I speak of. It is not honky, it’s not ’horn-y’ it is a natural shrillness to the 5-10khz range that is just naturally there in brass and upper end vocals. The detail that is there, is there in bounds. I do not want for more. If I wanted hyper detailed (and potentially fatiguing) speakers then I would have gone for the KEF Ref 3 or Ref 5. Both are in the ballpark of the 4367 price range. Both would offer a more detailed presentation. I admit the JBL 4367 are not the last word in resolution, but you get a tradeoff of a unfatiguing experience.


Bass. I did mention this but was somewhat vague. The JBL 4367 are rated -6db @ 30hz. Considering the size of the woofer, this may be unacceptable to you. I can understand that. However, I’d much rather take these -6db @ 30hz over (claimed) frequency response of 18Hz -3db of the B&W 800D3, for example. Science is science, and the fact is a cabinent of smaller cubic size than the JBL will struggle to provide meaningful displacement, and without that displacement you just cannot get that 18hz claimed response.
But I digress, there is a serious lack of subbass on the JBL 4367, and you will need a (pair) of subwoofers to fill out the bottom end if you are truly a basshead and require THX 105db spl for 10hz LFE for the latest Transformer movie. Or you can corner load them like I do. I truly feel this is one of the best ways to enjoy these speakers.


nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
@d2girls, I wouldn’t fret any over the down -6db @30Hz spec as it’s not that bad when measured in room, as with any speaker. When base is called for, your 4367s answer in a most authentic and pleasing manner, as you’ve pointed out. Trust your ears.

Yes, a sub would help in that last octave but what resides down there that you can actually hear? Like you said, there’s nothing like displacement when it comes to recreating base notes. Dynamics, kick and impact are there in spades.

The same can be said about my 4319s. Here’s a review from a guy who’s reference speakers are Harbeth 40.1:
http://www.highfidelity.pl/@main-2468&lang=
He was very impressed with them and noted that though they lack the last word in base, what is there is more than enough.

Here also, is his impression of your 4367s:
http://www.highfidelity.pl/@main-2614&lang=

The translation is a bit iffy but in short, he says they’re beautifully balanced. He used to work with JBLs when recording so he’s very familiar with them.

All the best,
Nonoise
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
1,219 posts
 
Hello hello I have owned a Audio store in the U.K for a number of years untill 07,
and have spent more on Audio then most peoples homes. Over35 years in Audio 
i was not trying to bust anyone’s stones. I spoke the truth when mentioning 
crossover upgrades and wiring you can make your very good speaker Great 
At  least a 10% improvement across the board . 
The speaker wiring even the Kimber 8tc ,12tc is even better and does not break the bank under $800 is a nice step up from the blue jeans .makesure you get Copper connectors not brass , brass is a bit harsh compared.Silver over copper alsogood.
you can email me for help or questions my door is open .I have owned every type of speaker pretty much ,nothing is perfect ,but the crossover is almost allways the weak link 
unless your speakers are in the $30k and upclass itis all about $$.25% actually goes into the speaker  or less, the rest overhead and dealer markup. Just keep this in mind it would cost probable $2k to upgrade your crossover and wiring .the 
Upgrade result, Staggering. The pair I heard in Ma. with the Jupiter,Duelund upgrades was dramatic from the stock version. In the mean time just enjoy 
your music.

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