Jbl L400???

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, Friends,

Both in the book, "The JBL Story", which I am very much enjoying, and also in the 1975 JBL Home Speaker Catalog, to be found here at LH, there is mention of an "L400". Does anyone know what that was supposed have been? I'm very curious about this "L400", and would appreciate any information that can be shared with us. Thanks, very much, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[pos]

according to this (http://www.audioheritage.org/html/profiles/jbl/everest.htm) page:

http://www.audioheritage.org/images/jbl/extracts/L400.jpgAbove is an excerpt from JBL's 1975 catalog illustrating a "mystery speaker" referred to as the L400. The only description says, "Coming soon. The L400, with the promise that it will be the most exciting fusion of art and technology yet presented by JBL." It never came.

Originally, the speaker was planned to be a domestic conversion of the 4340 monitor, similar to the L300 conversion of the 4333 monitor. It would be a four-way speaker using a 15" low frequency driver, 10" midbass, 1" throat compression driver midrange and slot tweeter. The main development work in converting this speaker for domestic use centered on network design changes, a revised midrange horn and aesthetics suitable for a home environment

There were three separate attempts to bring this speaker to market. All failed before a final decision was made to cancel the project. The primary difficulty was developing a system that could be sold at a reasonable cost. However, there were also technical issues and no one was satisfied with the ultimate sound of the prototypes.

[hjames]

according to this (http://www.audioheritage.org/html/profiles/jbl/everest.htm) page:

Yep, my book says the same thing ...

But I think Doc was asking if anyone had anything EXTRA to add to that -
maybe some firsthand info, or perhaps an interesting tale to tell ...

[Mr. Widget]

I never really looked before, but I am pretty certain that the photo is of a 4340 or 4343.

I think that statement about horn changes, crossover mods, and no one being happy with the ultimate sound of the system is extremely telling. It relates to this thread and many others that have come before it: http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=22207

As 4313B has said many times, these professional monitors simply were never meant to be plug and play. They were typically soffit mounted, set up by experts, and EQ'ed using then state of the art gear. To take a 43XX monitor and throw it into someone's living room is not at all an easy proposition... with great care and effort many of us have made them work out well, but had JBL offered them as a product to the general public, there would have been many problems. I think they made the right decision to shelve the design.


Widget

[Doc Mark]

Hello, POS, and Heather,

Thank you for that information. I, very likely, would not have found it anytime soon. Is there another JBL book, besides the 60 Years book? That's the only one I have, but I'd certainly like to obtain any others that detail the JBL years, "back in the day". It's very interesting to read about the "L400", and I appreciate your having pointed me in the right direction to see that info. Heather is right, too. If anyone out there was a part of the original plans for the L400, I'd love to hear of your recollections of that never-realized project! Thanks, again, Friends, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[John]

Plus I believe it was around the time the public was turning there back on refridgerater sized speakers.:blah:

[John]

I never really looked before, but I am pretty certain that the photo is of a 4340 or 4343.
Widget


When I look at it, I almost see a 4350 on it's side??? :blah:

"Vertical 4350":applaud:

[pos]

John, saeman already made your dream come true:
http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=6684

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=9149&stc=1&d=1122429472

[Doc Mark]

Morning, pos,

WOW! That's a thing of real beauty! Thanks, very much, for sharing it with us! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, All,

I just spent some pleasurable time reading the complete thread on Rick's wonderful creations! Very, very nice, indeed!! :applaud: All that has certainly given me much food for thought, in my own paltry system plans. Both Rick and Gisgard have done outstanding work, and my hat is off to the both of them!! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[Rolf]

The information I have is from people who has and still do importing JBL's to their countries.

The L400 was supposed to be a 4343 with an internal crossover only. Like the L300 with internal only, vs the 4333 who has the option of being be-amped, they never managed to make a 4way passive crossover that was good enough at that time, with the technology at the same time. And that is why the project was cancelled.

I can't say that this is the absolute truth, but this is what I have been told.

[Doc Mark]

Hey, Rolf,

Thanks, very much, for that additional information on the L400's. I really appreciate that. It's very interesting that JBL never got that system off the ground, or at least as originally intended. That huge sheet, covering the "L400", in the old JBL catalog, really perked my interest to peek under the sheet!! ;):D Oh, how I love all this old stuff!!! Thanks, again, Rolf, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[4313B]

It's very interesting that JBL never got that system off the ground, or at least as originally intended.Not really. Note the aesthetic designs of the L212, L250, B460 and even the L300. A couple of big refrigerators probably weren't going to be a very good selling point.

The LE14H-1 ended up in the L250 and the 2245H ended up in the 4345.

The 2235H replaced the 2231H and ended up in the 4355 and 4430.

[Doc Mark]

Not really. Note the aesthetic designs of the L212, L250, B460 and even the L300. A couple of big refrigerators probably weren't going to be a very good selling point.

The LE14H-1 ended up in the L250 and the 2245H ended up in the 4345.

The 2235H replaced the 2231H and ended up in the 4355 and 4430.

Evening, 4313B,

Thanks, very much, for the fine focus. You are right, of course, and the fact that bits of the L400 went on to become something even better, makes it all even more delicious! As already noted, my hat is off to you, and others here at LH, for the outstanding contributions you have offered, and all the hard work you've undertaken for the "art", and art it is, indeed, as far as I'm concerned!! Thanks, again, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[Rolf]

Does that mean that my information was incorrect?


Not really. Note the aesthetic designs of the L212, L250, B460 and even the L300. A couple of big refrigerators probably weren't going to be a very good selling point.

The LE14H-1 ended up in the L250 and the 2245H ended up in the 4345.

The 2235H replaced the 2231H and ended up in the 4355 and 4430.

[4313B]

Does that mean that my information was incorrect?Who knows? People hear all kinds of rumors, some of them based in truth.

The statement "The L400 was supposed to be a 4343 with an internal crossover only. Like the L300 with internal only, vs the 4333 who has the option of being be-amped, they never managed to make a 4way passive crossover that was good enough at that time, with the technology at the same time." is kind of suspect because they already had the 3141 (http://www.jblproservice.com/pdf/Network%20Schematics/3141%20Network.pdf) but they very well may have decided that it wasn't "good enough" for the Consumer market. That is entirely possible.

My opinion is that it had more to do with the visual design but I could be wrong. It was an awfully big loudspeaker to get people to stuff in their living rooms. Us guys that have these huge loudspeakers in our living rooms are in the minority.

[Rolf]

Thank you. So what I wrote wasn't that bad. BTW, how is my network doing?


Who knows? People hear all kinds of rumors, some of them based in truth.

The statement "The L400 was supposed to be a 4343 with an internal crossover only. Like the L300 with internal only, vs the 4333 who has the option of being be-amped, they never managed to make a 4way passive crossover that was good enough at that time, with the technology at the same time." is kind of suspect because they already had the 3141 (http://www.jblproservice.com/pdf/Network%20Schematics/3141%20Network.pdf) but they very well may have decided that it wasn't good enough for the Consumer market.