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View Full Version : 4344, 4345 or 4348?



dankaz97
09-26-2009, 11:15 AM
Hi folks, I'm new here & recently got the JBL bug. Love the looks & as for sound, I've only heard the 4348. Any comments about 4344 or 4345? Thanks a lot! Cheers

boputnam
09-26-2009, 11:47 AM
Whoa - big topic. Literally! :rotfl:

I've heard the 4343's (John Nebel's) a number of times and they are wonderful the way he has them set-up. I've never heard the 4344's, although I bid on a pair long ago - they struck me as the perfect fit for most homes.

I own the 4345's - they are my favorite of the "older" 43-series. Much of that love relates to the 2245H woofer - it is wonderful in that cabinet.

I've never heard the 4348, but a few here have and they get great reviews - seems an upgrade from the older iterations in the 43-series.

dankaz97
09-26-2009, 12:04 PM
Hi, thanks for the reply. Wow! You must be lucky to own & hear them! Will probably try to find some kind soul to invite me. ;) Will salivate for now..... :(

Ian Mackenzie
09-26-2009, 02:49 PM
The only thing is the 4345 are quite a large enclosure compared to the 4344.

The 4348 is a more contemporary JBL design voiced for the Japanese audiophile market........fast articuate bass and a newer horn and super tweeter.

You owe it to yourself to hop on a plane to Tokyo and hear the full range including the newer 4600.

boputnam
09-26-2009, 06:43 PM
You owe it to yourself to hop on a plane to Tokyo and hear ... the newer 4600.:blink:

Do tell! What you know, Aussieman....? :bouncy:

dankaz97
09-26-2009, 08:27 PM
Saw the 4600, looks similar to the K2 but smaller. I still prefer the classic 43xx look. : ) Thanks for the suggestions. Besides the size, any difference in sound amongst the 3 models? Thanks!

CauYem
09-26-2009, 09:16 PM
Jbl 4600

BMWCCA
09-26-2009, 09:21 PM
Besides the size, any difference in sound amongst the 3 models? Thanks!:D This ought to be interesting!

http://www.mye28.com/images/smiles/popcorn.gif

dankaz97
09-26-2009, 10:29 PM
Oops! Did I open an old can of worms or this was never discussed?? Anyway, tks all for the inputs. Have anyone chk out www.jbl43.com? They're based in Japan & restore JBLs. Wondering if the price is reasonable? I'll try to get one locally before looking at overseas, shipping charges can be a killer :blink:

BMWCCA
09-27-2009, 08:01 AM
Oops! Did I open an old can of worms or this was never discussed?? Anyway, tks all for the inputs. Have anyone chk out www.jbl43.com? (http://www.jbl43.com?) They're based in Japan & restore JBLs.
I was only commenting (emoticon-ing?) because two of the contributors to your thread are two of the top 4345 aficionados here at LH. It was their effusive discussion about the 4345 which got me to pop for the pair I own. I always enjoy hearing about them from other more-knowledgeable members here! Even if that sends every 4345 owner back to the workbench on a regular basis. ;)

My 4345s are clones with cabinets from LH member Saeman who is the "Rick" in "Kenrick" in your link. The provenance of my pair is well-recorded in several threads on this site so no need to rehash it here. Suffice it to say many here are, and continue to be, impressed by the 4345 and many have done DIY versions on their own. I'm a mere user so I'll let them speak to what it is about them that impresses them, and how they compare. And listen, and smile a lot.

:D

Ian Mackenzie
09-28-2009, 03:18 AM
:blink:

Do tell! What you know, Aussieman....? :bouncy:

>hear the full range including the newer 4600>

Bo,

What I was suggesting is that you need to compare and hear them all in this instance before you can be persuaded by other opinions.

This is best done in at least two different room settings.

This is what Steve K and l did in Tokyo.

The 4600 has useful coverage in other threads.

Its just seems to work remarkably well for what it is.

I will say that for smaller rooms with limited placement options the 4600 will win hands down because the way its designed. It will also perform well in large rooms as well, ie less room placement critical.

For example where the above situation may apply the 4600 sounds better than the 4338. But if you have the space and options to screw around with stands and fine tuning for room placement the 4338 can sound great too.

If anyone takes the time to listen to them the above is quite obvious.

BMWCCA
09-28-2009, 04:51 AM
If anyone takes the time to listen to them the above is quite obvious. Time is not the problem for some of us. The required trip to Japan could be. Of course that may be easier for dankaz in Singapore than it is for us isolated Americans. :(

Good luck.

4313B
09-28-2009, 08:40 AM
The required trip to Japan could be.I personally would not trade a 4345 for a 4348.

dankaz97
10-04-2009, 01:39 PM
I personally would not trade a 4345 for a 4348.

Any particular reasons? 4348 different from 4345 or 4344?
I may be able to purchase a pair of 4343B but as I'm currently overseas, so unable to view or audition, any advise?
Thanks in advance. Cheers

4313B
10-04-2009, 04:51 PM
Any particular reasons?I think the 4345 is the best bang for the buck.

dankaz97
10-23-2009, 12:55 AM
It all fated, missed out the sale of the 4343B & finally bought a pair of 4348! Hooked them up in my sys & love the sound!! Will post some pics when speakers positioning are finalised. Cheers

ngccglp
10-20-2013, 04:43 AM
Thought of reviving this thread. Finally I got the good fortune to compare the 4344 and 4345 side by side, both passive, with everything up the audio chain held constant.

all I can say is WOW! The 4344 sounded like a "enhanced" 4343. But the 4345 is like a whole other creature, sitting somewhere between the 4350 and 4343. It sounded so effortless and distortion is so low even when playing at ridiculous levels. I could only imagine if the 4345 is biamped. Both have the same 43 series signature sound.

I got a whole new level of respect for the 4345. Well done JBL.

BMWCCA
10-20-2013, 07:09 AM
Thought of reviving this thread. Finally I got the good fortune to compare the 4344 and 4345 side by side, both passive, with everything up the audio chain held constant.

all I can say is WOW! The 4344 sounded like a "enhanced" 4343. But the 4345 is like a whole other creature, sitting somewhere between the 4350 and 4343. It sounded so effortless and distortion is so low even when playing at ridiculous levels. I could only imagine if the 4345 is biamped. Both have the same 43 series signature sound.

I got a whole new level of respect for the 4345. Well done JBL.
Meant to be bi-amped. And supposedly better if you bypass the switch. I have no choice as mine were built for bi-amp-only with charge-coupled networks. No need to audition any more speakers. Now I just play with different amps!
:D

martin2395
10-20-2013, 11:13 AM
Shouldn't the 4343 sound the same as 4345 >300Hz when using the same drivers(except the woofers of course ;) ) and crossovers?

hjames
10-20-2013, 11:32 AM
Shouldn't the 4343 sound the same as 4345 >300Hz when using the same drivers(except the woofers of course ;) ) and crossovers?

or the 4341s ...
the crossover was improved as the models evolved from 4341 to 4343 to 4345, plus the 18 is a big jump in low end ...

BMWCCA
10-20-2013, 11:38 AM
Shouldn't the 4343 sound the same as 4345 >300Hz when using the same drivers(except the woofers of course ;) ) and crossovers?

One would think, but I've never heard a 4343.

JBL's specs show a bit flatter response for the 4345 and a rather steep drop-off in the 4343 below 50Hz that doesn't start in the 4345 until around 30Hz. Significantly JBL rates maximum power for the upper end in bi-amp mode at 75-watts for the 4343 and 100 for the 4345. Sensitivity seems to be a bit higher for the larger box, as well. Crossover ranges are slightly different and obviously so are the networks. There's also nearly a 45-pound weight difference but then the volume of the LF chambers are listed as 5.5 cu-ft versus 9 cu-ft. Maximum continuous sound pressure level is listed at 102 dB/SPL for the "little" speaker and 120 dB for the 4345 in a measured room 50% larger. Those are pretty major differences.

Mr. Widget
10-20-2013, 12:03 PM
Firstly power ratings and general specs seem more market driven than engineering driven... there is typically an engineering explanation for the changes, but view these numbers with a grain of salt.

Regarding the question at hand, the physical layout, mass of the cabinet etc. will have some effect on the sound of a system, but crossovers are extremely important in the voicing of a loudspeaker. Without exception (that I know of anyway) JBL has continually evolved positively in network design... the early ones being pretty poor and contemporary ones being quite good.


Widget