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View Full Version : 4430's... the wait begins.



DMMD
04-22-2005, 12:51 PM
Official news: I've been waiting for a LONG time for a good local pair to come along. And well, these are local and I'm taking the seller at face value at this point without knowing too much other than "excellent condition."

I won the unknown pair of mystery 4430's sold yesterday on eBay. No pics, no feedback, no nothing- just a new seller and a hopeful dose of karma sent his way. I live relatively close and will audition/inspect/pay when I see them.

They will join a great JBL litter of puppies and be protected in their original OEM glory.

Full report here coming soon I hope. Now, I need the moral support for the waiting period...

If all goes well with the 4430 aquisition, I will be shortly submitting my newly restored L96's, L100A's, a pair of 4406's, L36's, and possibly the L150A's I'm working on... (or some 4411's) as well as some various other goodies for sale.

I'd love to keep EVERYTHING, but I've got to pay for the new BIG shoes and keep the peace within the house. What comes in must be balanced by sending something out...

Now... any comments/advice/notes to share?
TGIF all you JBL fanatics!:D

jblnut
04-22-2005, 01:14 PM
Congrats !!!

Those are on my short list of JBL's I need to hear. Good luck with the buy - that's a high risk one for sure. I think the upside is that - being local - you can drive over with the money and decide for yourself if the speakers and the seller are on the up and up.

I'm still thinking about the $500 pair on ebay right now, but I should probably stop. One of the 15's was replaced with a Peavey driver (wtf?) and who knows what other issues lurk within.

Nice grab on the 4430's - be sure to post some listening impressions when you have time !

jblnut

JBLnsince1959
04-22-2005, 04:27 PM
congrads on the 4430's, hope it works out to be a good deal.

I love my 4430's. All in all, for what they are, they are wonderful speakers ( IMHO). Yes, I know other speakers may have a little more of this or a little less that, but really, they are one of the most FUN and enjoyable speakers I own. It may take a little work on taking care of reflections but that's part of the fun.

I've run them using the internal crossover, bi-amped, as three ways and four ways and I aways come back to just using the internal crossovers, something special there: big, smooth, detailed. One bit of advice tho, they need a good size room and get a meter to test the sound levels, no sense over doing it.

One thing I've also noticed is that they sound like whatever I connect them to..use marantz, they sound like..well marantz; Mcintosh..like mac's; aragon..like aragon; mark levinson, etc. My favoite is the Mcintosh.

I've been thinking of redoing the crossovers, maybe one day

enjoy.

evans224
04-22-2005, 06:31 PM
I saw those and emailed the guy with some questions, but he never replied. Talk about a blind date. I hope all goes well. Be sure you let us know first if you're going to sell some things!

Audiobeer
04-22-2005, 07:22 PM
You have nothing to lose if he is local. I'm still looking for a pair. Take your time selling the others don't be in a hurry. Like me you'll find yourself buying a pair just like the ones you sold down the road. What did they end up selling for?

DMMD
04-22-2005, 09:20 PM
No response yet from the seller. I am hopeful.

Final price was $810 after I outbid myself? How does that work anway? Must be part of the eBay over-collection scheme. It's a fair price for an unknown quantity.

Thanks for the advice A-beer. I will definately let you guys know when I am selling formally. Send me PM's if you want something put in reserve for the eventual JBL fiscal re-balance. :(

ngccglp
04-23-2005, 12:34 AM
At that price, its a steal. Congratulations.

leif
04-23-2005, 11:08 AM
Congrats. Put out pictures when you get them!

mech986
04-24-2005, 01:29 AM
Hi DMMD,

I had emailed the seller to wanting too take a look at them since he was in Long Beach and I live in La Habra. But, like others, no reply whatsoever. So, here's pushing a bit of positive Karma in your direction. I too would do only what you're doing, put up the money only when the speakers have been inspected, tested, and then loaded into my (oops, your) van...must still be some wishful thinking.

So, Good luck, good hunting, and don't get a hernia trying to lift those babies, have a hand truck/dolly and a friend along :applaud: :applaud:

Ever since I found those 4425's, now I'm on a 44xx kick. Just like when I got the 4333's, then the 4343's and 4350's started to look really good too.:blink: :blink:

Will it ever end? :dont-know :no:

Regards,

Bart

JBLnsince1959
04-24-2005, 10:42 AM
Bart:

let's hope it never ends...too much fun :D

DMMD
04-25-2005, 09:49 AM
Thanks for the words of kindness, advice, etc. Pictures will follow- when I do eventually get them home.

No word yet from the seller.... but I still have a few nails to bite off.

Anybody interested in the area who would want to help me audition, test, load these things? PM me.

Zilch
04-25-2005, 09:57 AM
Pull seller's contact info on eBay and call them:

Advanced search > contact info (left column) to get the phone number eMailed to you.

JBLnsince1959
04-25-2005, 10:04 AM
Seems strange that there's no word from the seller. Wish I was in the same area to help

JBLnsince1959
05-02-2005, 11:19 AM
DMMD:

any word on the 4430's? Just wondering......haven't heard anything.

DMMD
05-02-2005, 11:55 AM
:banghead:

The "seller" has not returned any phone messages or email. I still want them...but, I also realize that the window for this is closing.

I did pick up a nice pair of 4425's without the woofers while I have been patiently waiting. (Thus my current need of a pair of 2214H's) I am using a "borrowed" pair of 128H's right now from my 4411's.

Hmmm.... what do the 4430's sound like in comparision to the 4425's?

-Dave

JBLnsince1959
05-02-2005, 12:10 PM
dave:


I've never heard the 4425's so I can't guide you as I have nothing to compare against :dont-know .( I've always wanted a pair, but gee, I have so much, and now I'm thinking about the adding performance series.. IT NEVER ENDS :D !!!! It's really getting to be 10Lbs of JBL's in a 5 Lb bag)

I hate to say it but the seller sounds like a flake :( . Most sellers want their money NOW, just hope I'm wrong on this. Maybe we could get Whit ( avatar) on the trail and sniff this guy out.

rick

4313B
05-02-2005, 12:20 PM
Hmmm.... what do the 4430's sound like in comparision to the 4425's?Bigger.

DMMD
05-02-2005, 12:30 PM
Descriptive!

Now would that be "bigger" like the diamond you bought your wife last week... or "bigger" like that SUV that nobody really needs?
:bouncy:

The 4425's do need a sub...I assume the 4430's don't and that the field dispersion is greater on the horns.

I had never heard the 4425's- and my only reference to the 4430's was a pair of 4435's I had heard. I figured a 4430 was a perfect solution to a mid-sized room than would be eaten up by the 4435.

JBLnsince1959
05-02-2005, 12:33 PM
Bigger, as in your ears may bleed if you're not careful :bouncy:

Zilch
05-02-2005, 01:07 PM
4430's have bigger, deeper bass, and the overall sound is more "transparent."

4425's, I'm aware there's speakers between me and the music. 4430's kinda "disappear," sonically speaking.

4425's want a sub. 4430's don't need one....

Zilch
05-02-2005, 01:10 PM
The "seller" has not returned any phone messages or email. I still want them...but, I also realize that the window for this is closing.File non-shipment complaint with eBay. They now have a "process" for dealing with such sellers. It can't hurt....

johnaec
05-02-2005, 01:13 PM
The "seller" has not returned any phone messages or email. I still want them...but, I also realize that the window for this is closing.I'm assuming you haven't sent him money yet, either?

John

JBLnsince1959
05-02-2005, 01:27 PM
There's a lot I like about 4430's. One thing is the imaging ( if you've done it right) is dead on, and the soundstage can be very 3D, with instruments and voices very real and dimensional. I'm not sure how to explain it.

Any time i go to "make it better" with bi-amping or other methods I just mess it up. Some how the "magic" begins to disappear which is why I use the internal crossover most of the time now. I've been reading with interest Zilch's building of the crossover and will try that sometime.

Hope you get yours soon and that you like them. They're not for everyone however.

JBLnsince1959
05-02-2005, 01:39 PM
I assumed that you hadn't since you couldn't reach him

DMMD
05-02-2005, 01:58 PM
Nope- money would only happen after I had possession of them. I'll call a few more times over the next few days, then file the eBay complaint.

JBLnsince1959
05-02-2005, 03:12 PM
sounds like a plan. It's a good thing he was close and you didn't send money.

John
05-02-2005, 05:30 PM
How can you file a non shipment complaint if you have not sent funds. If you told the seller before hand if you won the auction you would pay on pickup, and he agreed sit back and if he contacts you go have a look??? If not forget about it ,no loss. Or if you really have to ask ebay for his info and give him a call. I have seen a few rare cases a seller gets side tracked and does honestly forget about the auction.:o:

Zilch
05-02-2005, 05:40 PM
It's in your "My eBay" in the "Dispute Console" (left column).

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/inr-snad-policy.html

Yes, I know it hasn't been paid for. File the claim anyway. Sellers are required to sell to winners per the User Agreement. Ignoring them to avoid the obligation doesn't void the contract, and is subject to eBay sanction....

porschedpm
05-02-2005, 08:46 PM
I just looked at the eBay auction for these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=61377&item=5767835146&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW


The auction looks suspiciously like a scam: New seller with no feedback and no pictures. Also I did a search on the seller, 562harvey who registered in Dec. 2004. Could be a coincidence or could just be a popular name but in October and November of 2004, the following names were registered and also still have zero feedback:

502harvey
512harvey
561harvey
262harvey

And add to all that the fact that the seller didn't return any emails inquiring about local pickup. My take on this is the seller was looking to either scam someone altogether or ship speakers that were grossly misrepresented. I doubt the seller ever intended to do a local delivery. My guess is if the speakers existed at all, you probably would have rejected them anyway. You should probably consider yourself as getting off easy. While saving freight and being able to examine the items before making the final commitment to buy are benefits to doing a local pickup, we often overlook the inherent risk and that is of being lured somewhere to get robbed. I would report the seller to eBay for breaching the sales agreement and then move on. There's just too much hair around that auction.

By the way, I think the reason your bid went from $800.01 to $810.00 is because the minimum bid increment was probably $10.

DMMD
05-16-2005, 04:51 PM
UPDATE: No contact! :p

I called the doobie again.... it's my last jesture.

I'm reporting it if I don't here from him in the next 3 days.

NB: Just a recording and voice mails. No email reply. Very disconcerting.

PS: Still looking for some 4430's I guess....:(

The 4425's (with temp 128H's) are helping console though.... 2214's anyone? HELP! (Still looking for 044's too)

4313B
05-16-2005, 05:07 PM
I'm selling my 044's.

I've only got one NOS 2214H-1.

DMMD
05-17-2005, 04:06 PM
Giskard- sent you a PM.

Update. Received email from the seller upon my threat to report the auction.

More later... no good words yet, but a cryptic message. Either utter B.S. or something that might be salvaged.

JBLnsince1959
05-17-2005, 05:32 PM
we're waiting.......

analogbass
05-31-2005, 12:35 PM
Good feedback; even if shipped well worth it IMO...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47093&item=7325928592&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

JBLnsince1959
05-31-2005, 12:40 PM
Good feedback; even if shipped well worth it IMO...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47093&item=7325928592&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

yes, they are wonderful speakers. well worth it.