JBL Cabaret 4623 and unknown JBL cabinet to buy

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Hello, I'll want to buy these JBL cabinets posted on pictures.
These are three JBL 4623 Cabaret cabinets and one unknown model JBL cabinets.
The JBL 4623 have the covers.
But only the cabinet without woofer has the original driver, the other two 4623 cabinets have maybe the same driver like the unknown cabinet supplied with the 2901A driver.
The price for all four cabinets is good (€350 euro).
Has some one some suggestion about these 80's cabinets and my purchase?
Many thanks on advanced.
Giovanni

Hi Giovanni,

I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to say about these models. You're talking about four cabinets, but It seems to me you have THREE different models in your pictures, certainly not all 4623.

I have a lot of info on the Cabaret series (series 1 and series 2) and from what I can see in the product brochures yours look like series 1 where the 4623 existed (in series 2 from 12/86 there's no 4623).

The 4623 has E130 woofer and 2402H tweeter so this corresponds to your last picture.

Wife calls me I have to go now. I'll be back shortly to continue... Regards,

Richard

Hi Giovanni,

Going through quickly the Cabaret series (1 and 2) brochures and technical manual service specifications sheets, what you SEEM to have in your pictures are the following.

Bottom pic: does look like a 4623B with NO "tone control" for the tweeter (4623 had one) and from the picture, inside the box, the "crossover" doesn't look too good compared to the schematic... It doesn't look good for pricing also! The main differences between the two versions are cabinet and crossover (different cabinet, grille and crossover part numbers).

Middle pic: Physically looks like a 4623B. The woofer looks nice though a little short for the baffle hole (probably a replacement driver), and the 2402 tweeter was replaced by the 2901 compression driver/horn kit (top left screw on horn appears to be out and silver ring isn't nice). "Tone control" from 2901 kit is not on the baffle like in first pic.

Top pic: This is NOT a 4623 cabinet since the two vents are at the bottom instead of being in the middle or so and the box looks larger. Driver took a beating on dust cap, plus the cork gasket is not correct on the top half of the woofer. This one does have the "tone control" on the baffle and the horn looks nicer than the previous one. It looks somewhat like a 4627A cabinet, depending on woofer size... Have to go, back later.

Richard

Hi Giovanni,

Re top pic "It looks somewhat like a 4627A cabinet". However the 4627A came with a E-145 woofer and your pic certainly doesn't show an E-145... Woofer replaced ? In woofers for music production (and reproduction in this case) the metal dust cap is part of that production so damaged as it is it may impact on driver sound. Could the cork issue also on first picture woofer be the result of a misaligned recone job done?

Do you have picture(s) of the fourth unknown JBL model? What is woofer size for that one and others? This is a good clue when searching for box model.

Price always depends on condition of equipment. As you can see there are some issues here. Normally you would need to deduct from the price the money you need to invest for repairs. These are not collector's items, plus they appear somewhat "Frankenstein". In that context negotiate the price.

If woofers are not original model it may mean damaged during use like abuse, not a good sign, and may be worth less... IF some older Alnico woofers were used originally or for replacement they may have demagnetization problems which ferrite magnets don't have. Check that.

Because of age (early 80's, 35+ years old) its likely crossover parts would need to be replaced.

You need to listen to them to confirm at least they are working correctly. Otherwise buy them for parts? You may end up making one identical pair at best and have two different boxes left if you buy them for parts at a cheap price.

For inspection, in case you can't remove each woofer to see inside, bring a 2" telescopic mirror and a good flashlight, since with this you can look inside through each port to assess the hidden face of things.

It is possible that JBL made some model(s) specifically for the European market which I may not know of. Also could one or more be clone(s) of the real thing or are they genuine ? Regards,

Richard

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Hello Richard the cabinets I bought are just arrived some days ago, these are pictures and components. the model of this cabinets is t Cabaret 4627.

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Originally Posted by gio brunetto

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Hello Richard the cabinets I bought are just arrived some days ago, these are pictures and components. the model of this cabinets is t Cabaret 4627.

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Attachment 80602

the woofer inside these cabinets

Attachment 80603

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gio brunetto

Attachment 80528[/attach]

Hello, I'll want to buy these JBL cabinets posted on pictures.
These are three JBL 4623 Cabaret cabinets and one unknown model JBL cabinets.
The JBL 4623 have the covers.
But only the cabinet without woofer has the original driver, the other two 4623 cabinets have maybe the same driver like the unknown cabinet supplied with the 2901A driver.
The price for all four cabinets is good (€350 euro).
Has some one some suggestion about these 80's cabinets and my purchase?
Many thanks on advanced.
Giovanni

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Hello the unknown cabinets with 2901A driver and pad has a D130F-6 cone and the cabinet is powered. Maybe is a custom cabinet with JBL components and custom amplification inside with crossover. I did't check it but I'll make it next days.

Hi Giovanni,

The 4627 cabs look nice.

My impression that some "It looks somewhat like a 4627A cabinet" was not too far off since its a 4627.

I suppose the 4627 had an E-130 woofer and the 4627A has the E-145 woofer...

The D130F doesn't seem in top shape though. As you say its possible the powered cabinet is a custom one as I don't recall seeing powered cabs in the Cabaret series 1.

What happened to the 4623 you mentioned and showed pictures of ? Regards,

Richard

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Originally Posted by RMC

Hi Giovanni,

The 4627 cabs look nice.

My impression that some "It looks somewhat like a 4627A cabinet" was not too far off since its a 4627.

I suppose the 4627 had an E-130 woofer and the 4627A has the E-145 woofer...

The D130F doesn't seem in top shape though. As you say its possible the powered cabinet is a custom one as I don't recall seeing powered cabs in the Cabaret series 1.

What happened to the 4623 you mentioned and showed pictures of ? Regards,

Richard

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Hi Richard. you was right about the model. Maybe the difference between the 4627 and 4627A is the woofer. The 4623 cabinet is on the way next week. I'll test the 4627 cabinets (and the powered too) this week and I'll you know. I have on the way also two JBL Urei 6290 amplifiers to test with the cabinets. Thanks. Regards. G

Hi Gio,

Many Cabaret boxes, then the TCB with satellites (I like these small boxes), power amps and crossover on the way... Looks like you won the lottery! Lucky guy.

Let me know how the 4726 sound, I read a good comment about these here. plus I like this type of small boxes to be used with bass cabinets. Regards,

Richard

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RMC

Hi Gio,

Many Cabaret boxes, then the TCB with satellites (I like these small boxes), power amps and crossover on the way... Looks like you won the lottery! Lucky guy.

Let me know how the 4726 sound, I read a good comment about these here. plus I like this type of small boxes to be used with bass cabinets. Regards,

Richard

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Hi Richard, i was lucky to find at good price these cabinets and amps ( I wait more than one year to find them). yesterday I had tested the cabinets and the amps.
The 4726 sound very good with the Urei 6500 amp and the Urei JBL 6290 amp. The low frequencies are not to much loud but they have only a 12" woofer but the sound is very clear and soft (I didn't still check them with the TCB subwoofer). The 4627A cabinets sound very good too. they have more low frequencies than the 4726 but isn't easy to find the good calibration between the high frequencies, mid and the low with their own pad. The pad on each cabinet, maybe for the age, isn't the same like the other. But it is very funny play music with this cabinets. I bought from a audio service in Naples two 6290 amps but one of them has a not working channel and it need to be serviced. I'll post picture tomorrow. Thanks and regards. The story continues. G

Hi Gio,

Sorry for the delay in coming back to you. I'm glad to hear the 4726 sound very good (very clear and soft), that matches another comment I read. Let us know how they do with the TCB, as well as for the rest of the gear. Also let us know the rest of the story which continues it seems... Regards,

Richard

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RMC

Hi Gio,

Sorry for the delay in coming back to you. I'm glad to hear the 4726 sound very good (very clear and soft), that matches another comment I read. Let us know how they do with the TCB, as well as for the rest of the gear. Also let us know the rest of the story which continues it seems... Regards,

Richard

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Attachment 80718

Hello Richard today I made a first check with the pair of the 4726AP and the TCB 4785A sub . But they didn't work with their own amps (the 4290s now are on serviced and unfortunately is very expensive repair an old amp). the firs impression is that all sound very good, I put one BGW GTA amp on mono bridge operation for the sub and one Urei 6500 on stereo configuration for the two top cabinets and a DBX crossover 223XS. The sub cabinet works very good between 70 to 100 hz and the low frequencies are very "round". This cabinet is very well made.
This sound system needs a very good equalization between all the frequencies and is not to much easy using a crossover, the other system resident in theatre (a QSC KW serie active system) has the built-in crossover inside the cabinets and is more easy to set it.. and there is a wood floor in the theatre hall too that is like a resonance box.
But I am very satisfied. I am setting this sound system for an open air live show at my home in the garden on 5 may if everything goes well. ( I would like work with all original equipment from 80/90) considering that the musicians will plays with old synthesizers from this period.
Regards

Giovanni

Hi Giovanni,

Sorry for the delay to reply to your post.

"The sub cabinet (TCB 4785A) works very good between 70 to 100 hz..."

If you look at the JBL 4785A Technical Manual Specifications, frequency response for this one is given as 32 hz to 180 hz, + or - 3 db, presumably with half-space loading (it doesn't say) as in your setup in the picture. However, if you have an owner's manual you should check box placement recommendations for this, as the answer may be there...

"...and there is a wood floor in the theatre hall too that is like a resonance box." Since the show is taking place outside in the garden at least you won't have these interior acoustic issues to deal with.

In your last picture, car filled with equipment!, I also see a MIDAS mixer box. Which model is this one ? New or used?

With all this equipment you're getting and the musicians you should have a nice live show in the garden on May 5. Too bad I'm so far away and the Canadian dollar has about the value of Monopoly money at retail rate VS the Euro, otherwise I think I would have invited myself and drop in for the show... Regards,

Richard