JBL 4435 by Guido.

[modena]

It’s been four months now, sinse replacing my 4430s with Guido’s 4435s with CC networks.
The whole experience is documented here...
http://www.avclub.gr/forum/showthread.php?t=56389
Speakers have been raised about 15cm and space has been acoustically improved a bit since then.

Sound... Full bodied, detailed but never thin, smooth highs and no fatigue even after long hours of listening and capable of crazy levels with amazing clarity and dynamics.
In a few words, totally satisfied from the sound. I should add the awesome packaging and the very positive transaction experience from dealing with Guido, a real professional.

A question about amps.
Except the usual suspects, McIntosh, Pass or Bryston amps has any of you any experience of ICE based amps, driving these speakers? I am thinking of Wyred4Sound SX1000 monos. 500W of power (= headroom) and minimum consumption.

I am quite happy with my bridged BV Audio monos, really no complaints, just tempted by the upgrade bug.

Any opinions welcome :-)

[macaroonie]

Mark Levinson :)

[moparfan]

It wants me to login.

[modena]

Here you are...

[modena]

More...
:)

[rdgrimes]

Might could use some room treatments, but it looks fantastic.

[eso]

Might could use some room treatments, but it looks fantastic.

A rug would do wonders for the sound. The concrete floor looks great, but not accoustically optimal. A few large canvasses would help too.

[modena]

These photos were taken same day the speakers arrived.
Still remember the shock when these monsters were abandoned on the pavement by the shipping company… :) The whole project went smoothly, thanks to Guido's safe packaging.

Things have been improved a bit since then...
4435s rest on low wooden bases with castors so they can easily be moved a bit from back and side walls, horns are @ the outside and there is a thick carpet in front of them. -exactly as eso suggested. Still some wall and / or ceiling treatment is required, but even as it is now, sound is as described. :D

[richluvsound]

Congrats,

they sounded wonderful before the upgrade ;)

Rich

[Mike Ronesia]

Very nice. How about a shot or two of the finished room.

[jerry_rig]

What are those drivers being attached to the 2344 horns? They don't look like the stock 2426H units.

[rdgrimes]

Thanks for the speaker porn. :blink:

[eso]

What are those drivers being attached to the 2344 horns? They don't look like the stock 2426H units.

Good Catch. Definitely not a 2426H... TAD? They are the same shape as the old Alnico JBLs but the color of TADs.


eso

[Guido]

TAD 2001 with brandnew dias.
Binding posts are JBL as the TAD plastic ones aren't good.

And yes, crossover is optimized.


What are those drivers being attached to the 2344 horns? They don't look like the stock 2426H units.

[modena]

Very nice. How about a shot or two of the finished room.

Though not finished yet...

[modena]

Congrats,

they sounded wonderful before the upgrade ;)

Rich

Hi Rich, thanks.
but... what do you mean?

[richluvsound]

Hi Rich, thanks.
but... what do you mean?



I'm I heard them stock without the Tads ... I often regret getting rid of my 4435 - wonderful speaker

On the amps ? Pass or the Bryston 7b

Enjoy , Rich

[Fangio]

Though not finished yet...
I've always liked the whole location, and then some, in these pics (http://graphicsgarage.gr/garage/About.html).

[boputnam]

Really - after all that work...?
Ouch! :(

:no_wag:

[richluvsound]

that is a stunning rug .... TV for the world cup ..... "God save the Queen" will sound wonderful when we win :D

[modena]

I've always liked the whole location, and then some, in these pics (http://graphicsgarage.gr/garage/About.html).

:D How did you find this url? :wtf:

Rich
Totally agree with 7Bs - though more than x3 the cost of W4S. Big Pass the same.
I was afraid Alephs would run out of steam - mostly blues / rock / jazz @ 100db when alone @ the office, not audiophile voices - and i was a bit concerned about heat and consumption of class A operation, as these would be on for at least 12 hours a day.

I 've ordered the SX1000s - should be here midle June - and see how they will cope.

So, thank you all.
And do drop me a pm if ever been in Athens. :)

[Fangio]

:D How did you find this url?
:D You posted it... here (http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?27613-JBL-4430-for-sale.&p=277353&viewfull=1#post277353)... and I kept it in mind because I'm in the same business.


... And do drop me a pm if ever been in Athens. :) I will remember that also.
:cheers:

[modena]

:D You posted it... here (http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?27613-JBL-4430-for-sale.&p=277353&viewfull=1#post277353)... and I kept it in mind because I'm in the same business.

Hmm... should be the first symptom of Alzheimer :D
What's your site Fangio?

[Fangio]

You have a pm. :)

[richluvsound]

You have a pm. :)

Well ,I dont ............:D hope your well my dear Berliner

Richard

[demon]

:D You posted it... here (http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?27613-JBL-4430-for-sale.&p=277353&viewfull=1#post277353)... and I kept it in mind because I'm in the same business.


i also followed this link once ;)
thanks for sharing these GREAT pictures of your surely GREAT speakers.

how do you like them by now? its been a few days...
cheers,
mikey

[Ian Mackenzie]

Unless you are already doing so you would be better off biamping with a muscle amp on the woofers (4 ohms) and a nice class A amp on the horn.

I have not had time to mess with it but the response of the 2344 could be smoother in the 1 - 2.5 K hertz area. To my ears the 2344 sounds even better with a 2123 or a 2122 .All the same the system stock horn and drivers is a good place to start.

I recently bought a Yamaha Pro amp that use digital capability and great headroom with 755+755 watts RMS in 8 ohm and over 1100+1100 into 4 ohms and its sounds fine.

[modena]

i also followed this link once ;)
thanks for sharing these GREAT pictures of your surely GREAT speakers.

how do you like them by now? its been a few days...
cheers,
mikey

Hi Mikey

I must admit that, while i was searching for 4435s for sale in EU, i had read your 4435 transport questions thread and i was a bit envy :o: you for your great purchase. :)

I do like them. A LOT!. In fact, they have all the qualities i am looking for a speaker. Considering their current prices and if you are OK with their size, i don't thing that there is anything that even comes close.
I am not good at writing and i don't have golden ears to describe things like "grain @ the upper midtones" etc…My acoustic experiences are more related to listening to various blues and jazz bands live performance @ Half Note, a club in Athens.

What i can tell you is this:
The 4435s are better than anything else i've heard in recreating exactly the same "live" feeling and involvement.
Or...
Listening - around 90 db - to "Sky Pilot" and "Bring it on home to me" from Access All Areas (Eric Burdon & Brian Auger Band) When the songs end, you need some seconds to realize that you were NOT there and to come back to the real world. :D

Best
George

[modena]

Unless you are already doing so you would be better off biamping with a muscle amp on the woofers (4 ohms) and a nice class A amp on the horn.

I have not had time to mess with it but the response of the 2344 could be smoother in the 1 - 2.5 K hertz area. To my ears the 2344 sounds even better with a 2123 or a 2122 .All the same the system stock horn and drivers is a good place to start.

I recently bought a Yamaha Pro amp that use digital capability and great headroom with 755+755 watts RMS in 8 ohm and over 1100+1100 into 4 ohms and its sounds fine.

Hi Ian
I am not using biamping and i can't try it, as these 4435s have just one pair of binding posts.
I currently drive them with a bridged pair of BV Audio PA300s - around 400W per channel. I recently bought a pair of Wyred4sound SX1000 monos - 500W / 8Ohm and 1000W / 4Ohm, i hope i will get them soon, so i will see if the 4435s benefit from the extra headroom and be able to compare the sonic differences between my previous AB class and these ICE amps.

I was very close in getting a pro amp too. Plenty of power and really cheep... but most have fans and i wasn't ready to mess with mods. Which Yamaha amps did you get?

[demon]

Hi Mikey

I must admit that, while i was searching for 4435s for sale in EU, i had read your 4435 transport questions thread and i was a bit envy :o: you for your great purchase. :)

...

What i can tell you is this:
The 4435s are better than anything else i've heard in recreating exactly the same "live" feeling and involvement.
Or...
Listening - around 90 db - to "Sky Pilot" and "Bring it on home to me" from Access All Areas (Eric Burdon & Brian Auger Band) When the songs end, you need some seconds to realize that you were NOT there and to come back to the real world. :D

Best
George

hey george!
i can understand your envy. as a matter of fact, i envied you too!
:dont-know: only why? all the threads of people getting nice speakers make me drool a little and wish a little for some nice find or bargain or whatever for myself again.
i even had a dream once that i found another par of 4435 on the bottom of the sea and had a lot of hassel to get them up to the surface...
ultimate speaker craving, never ending story :)

i had a friend over to listen to his then brand new masterfiles ( http://www.elektroguzzi.net/ ), he just got home from a berlin studio with, and to check out my all natural 4435. he was quite impressed with "how exact they are" and stopped soon raving about the big genelecs he heard in the mastering studio.
the 4435 is a masterpiece!!! two-way speakers totally rule duuude...

please keep us updated with pictures :)
cheers,
mikey

[moparfan]

If so, any impressions yet on the sound as compared to conventional A or AB amps?

[modena]

If so, any impressions yet on the sound as compared to conventional A or AB amps?

At the moment i can only say that i agree with following paragraph of the 6moons review.

"Initially sounding quite hard and thin, I ran the monos 24/7 for two weeks before settling down for some serious listening. Expect at least 300 hours for the amps to shake off this lean, hard, anemic quality."

The 300 hours break in period is written on the manual as well. Although i don't believe in amplifier burn in... will see. For now, the amps are dead quiet with loads of power but sonically, my cheep BV Audio setup sound much better. I do hope that - after the break in period - they will sound as described in the same 6moons review. :-)

I have an issue with one mono block. It is playing at a lower level. I mean it is not as loud sounding as the other channel. I emailed Ej @ W4S and Mark, the U.K. dealer [ itemaudio.co.uk ] i bought the amps from and i await their reply.

[modena]

Ej respond immediately :applaud: and he is sending a replacement input board for the monoblock.