4430's v/s 4343B any comments

[jarrods]

I apologise if this has been ‘done to death’ before but I am new to this forum. I have always loved the sound of JBL speakers and have owned some L100Ts since mid 80’s and still have them along with a B380 sub and some Control 5's rears.

My brother has a pair of Project Everest, pair of 4435’s and also a humble pair of the L100T’s. Last visit to his place he cranked up the 4435’s (bi-amped, DriveRack Studio, Australian Monitor amps), and yes it is the sound I like. I came home and my L100T’s did sound dead.

I am looking for a pair of 4430’s but have read with interest items on the 4343B’s. I have never seen or heard a pair of these. Anyone care to compare them to 4430’s (both Bi-amped)? I’d say my preference is for a very bright, punchy sound,

Also a side note; comparisons of the 4435’s bi-amped external x-over and single amp internal x-over … well amazing difference. I wonder if it would be worth the effort to bi-amp my L100T’s or am I just dreaming that would make a significant difference on a low end speaker like these.

[Ian Mackenzie]

You will find the 4343 hard to find, people just never sell them, they are like gold.

I would prefer not to draw direct comparions on the two styles as this has been covered well else where many times and forum members have religous cravings about both styles which we best keep to ourselves.

As a side note see my review in Ian & Bo's 4345 project thread. You have heard the 4435's so that may give you some ideas.

Ian

[4313B]

Originally posted by jarrods
I’d say my preference is for a very bright, punchy sound4343, 4343B or 4344 then :)

[Ian Mackenzie]

It depends on your listening room and how you set up each system.

However, the 4430/4435 by design directs the sound consistently through a 100 x 100 degree polar response where as the 4343-4344 has a more tightly controlled vertical polar pattern from 1200 hz up being 80 x 45 and narrower in the vertical plane above 9000 hz.


This means the 4430/4435 has a much large portion of the output to sprayed in the total room and reverberant field relative to the direct sound to the listener.

This is a useful property for certain "studio environments" where controlled sound absorption is employed to in the reverberant field to refract/absorb the off axis sound because it make equalisation of the monitoring environment for consistent.

However, the typical home listening room is far from the studio acoustic and tends to offer far less control of sound absorption. For this reason the effect is a more diffused sound output from the 4440/35 as they load the whole listening room and reverberant field, that is the sound appears to come from the room and the speakers in varying proportions, again this depends on your listening room.

The total mix from the 4343-4344 is more directed to the listener and is less diffused with the effect of more punch. The relative brightness is subject to the listening room acoustic and how the level controls are set up.

The latest JBL 9800 series statement speakers employ a polar (60 x 30) pattern to precisely define the optimum listening area and minimise room effects. The polar pattern of the 4343-4344 is (80 x 45) similar but less controlled.

Its something to consider and obviously your listening room acoustic will dictate the end result.

Ian

Ian

[jarrods]

I have now spent hours reading 43xx v/s 44xx information. The result is I am going to 'get' some 4345's. Reality hits.... I can see that they never come up for sale so it will be a DIY project (well from what I see here on this forum, you are never alone).

Much I have read about 'parts' availabilty is aged. I guess with the interest that the current documented build of some 4345's has generated every available part globaly has been snapped up by now. So seriously... is there a fair chance of still tracking transducers down? Networks, niceties like the front panel logo? I'm not concerned about grills (will not be covered - no kids/pets), or pretty blue paint (I'm happy with black) but would like the drivers to be as per original specs.

For those who have tackled this before me... could you give a rough guide to the overall cost to completion. I have an excellent cabinet-maker friend, and I am an electronics engineer (and can drive a soldering iron).

thanks, jarrod

[Ian Mackenzie]

"So seriously... is there a fair chance of still tracking transducers down? Networks, niceties like the front panel logo? ""

Part of the fun is looking for the parts just do a search on the internet.

The Forums Market place is a great place to start, post a WTB and aks for advice from our knwledgable members,

Ebay..but be careful, Mike Caldwells, Jamine Jersey...mostly in the USA, although you can buy the 2425's locally SH from people like Smithy's, Cannon Sound and Rollin Roll Music.

The foil cal for the level attenuators is unavailable , but you can get that sort of think made up via a graphic artist/print shop

As to cost I have never really sat down and worked it out
The drivers cost in the vacinity of $3500- $4000 for the drivers, the crossover can be made.......properly $600-$800, cabinet ..what ever you cabinet make charges

That sounds a lot, buy I did it over several years as my system evolved.

May I suggest the 4344 a more sensible option...unless you like your bad ass slammed... and the woofers are also easier to come by

[mikebake]

Originally posted by Ian Mackenzie
"May I suggest the 4344 a more sensible option...unless you like your bad ass slammed... and the woofers are also easier to come by

Ha! That just really struck me as funny!! "Unless you want your bad ass slammed" I'll have to use that on my buddies when they come by. "We can just play the Sony TTL speakers here, unless you want your bad ass slammed............"!!! HAR!

[John Nebel]

One should listen to both 44x and 43x before deciding.

The battle of words on this issue is best ignored.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Sorting through what you want is all part of the fun and romance with JBLs.

The thing is the consumer home series and pro series monitors are engineered differently for obvious reasons and the pro stuff is more application specific.

There in lies the reason for carefully choosing your pro model as none of them are actually meant for home use (except the 4333/L300) but can give excellent performance under the right conditons.

Ian

[4313B]

Originally posted by John Nebel
One should listen to both 44x and 43x before deciding.That is a fact. An A/B would be nice. I've been there and done that and there really isn't a substitute for having done so.

Also listen to the new 4348. That is the newest example of the 4-way Studio Monitor and I've been told it's light years ahead of the old stuff. I haven't heard it personally though.

[mikebake]

How could/would we listen to a new 4348? I'd like to.

[4313B]

Yeah me too...
We're on the dark side of the hemisphere I guess...

At least it could potentially be possible to squeeze all the components out the door over here...

[Ralf]

Originally posted by Giskard

Also listen to the new 4348. That is the newest example of the 4-way Studio Monitor and I've been told it's light years ahead of the old stuff. I haven't heard it personally though.

that could probably be correct...

[Ralf]

The new 4428 is also not bad...

[Ian Mackenzie]

Does anyone have reviews of the 4348?

Ian

[mikebake]

Originally posted by Giskard
That is a fact. An A/B would be nice. I've been there and done that and there really isn't a substitute for having done so.

Also listen to the new 4348. That is the newest example of the 4-way Studio Monitor and I've been told it's light years ahead of the old stuff. I haven't heard it personally though.
It's simple; I want one. No, actually, I want two.

[JSF13]

What's the story on these new monitors?Are they available in NA?I couldn't find any info at JBL Pro and the only info I could find was JBL Japan.

[Guido]

Originally posted by Ralf
that could probably be correct...

OK, I'll not have the chance to hear the 4348. But one thing is sure: They do look UGLY!

:moon: :moon: :moon:

[Chan]

Hi,jarrods

I'm 4343B user in Japan.
I've heard that 4430,4435,4341,4343,4343B,4344 when they appered in the marcket.
But, I chose 4301 small monitor.
Why?
I was a student 25 years ago.
but,one thing was true.
There was not a lot of powerfull amps to drive 4343 tightly. Less power caused boomy or poor noisy sound on that day.
Only some high end amps could drive it,like levinson ML-2 or crown m-600 or mc2500.
and, Passive network in speaker box caused a loss of power most especially of 4343.
Nowadays,4343 may be a still most difficult to drive by one amp.so,many user choice multi-amp-drive in Japan.

Compared to it,4430 is so easy to drive. 4430 may sounds elegantly than 4343 . It may reproduse classic music more better than 4343, can provide natural ambient sound. bass may be a little softly. That's my impression.anther may say against to me.

In Japan, JBL is still most populer in many user, such like 4348,9800,4428,4312 to car-audio speakers.
and,4343 is still most populer . please watch below.

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/64540840
http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/66099738

We can get 4343 so easily but so expensive.4,500-3,000 is the price for used 4343! Can you imagine? One thing is said that Most 4343-saleced country was Japan. I donot know it is true,but it could. In may student days, In Japan every audio shop had 4343,and many restrant to small cafe bar had it too.beautifull sound to noisy sound,too.
I could hear the sound of 4343 if I donot have it, in that day.

Now, 4430 is rare than 4343 because of this history in Japan.

Chan.

[mikebake]

Thanks for the interesting information, Chan! Nice to hear from BJl afficianados in Japan.

[Chan]

Hi,mikebake

Here's a link to 4348 user in Japan.

http://www.shu-ks.com/zakki/zakki14.html

How about ask him what 4348 is?
I'm not a friend with him, but He is very well concerned from audio fan in Japan.

In my impression, 4348 is not 4343.
The Sound has changed more than 4430.
If you like Jazz, you'd better to choice 4343.
If you like classic,you'd better to choice aother.

3or4 years ago, There was brand new 4348 & old 4343 in audio shop in Sapporo near my house.
I checked both of them, and decided to buy 4343.
1st reason was the price,next was its acoustic sound.
and I awared that It may be more difficult to drive 2231H.
In that shop, they used some high-end amps to 4343, but not so good for bass sound.
I offered to rent some amps with PA labolatly, Hafler,accuphase,bgw,crown and more.

conclusion was this set ; MA-2402+4343