The grass is not always greener on the other side , but , alas sometimes it is .....
I have owned pretty much all the big sought after vintage JBL's - I miss the 4435 the most . Guido put a TD 2001 in his - I never heard them , but if I ever get to Athens I will surely knock on the door of the new owner for a listen .
I never had a problem with the top end , I did slap the the woofers a couple of times .
My opinion is simply this ..... the 2405 was around when the 4435 was designed and yet it was not used . I trust David Smith on this one - and my own ears . The 4435 enjoyed the longest production time of any JBL studio monitor . What other endorsement could anyone ask for ?
As far as Be is concerned , you should try it before making any judgement . In my experience ,its the most cost effective upgrade anyone could make . Just search the forum and read what the users of Be have said . There aint anyone going back , and there are one or two of us that would also consider ourselves enthusiasts .
For what you spent on the enclosure ,plus the cost of the 2405 and crossover mods , you could of perhaps purchased a pair of Be based drivers .
Just my opinion this , but nevertheless , opinion based on actual experience and not folklore !
Rich