JBL announced the S4700 at winter CES in January 2012 with a retail price of $20,000 pair US. They are meant to fill in the hole in the JBL Synthesis line between the 1400 Array at $12,000 pair and the K2 at $44,000 pair. The pair we ordered for our store came in today so they still need some break in before serious listening begins, but initial impressions are very encouraging. I would describe this speaker as a budget version of the K2 as it has a similar configuration, a three way vented floor standing speaker with a two way top end using compression drivers and horns. It uses one each 15 inch woofer, 1.75 inch titanium compression driver with biradial horn for the midrange, and a .75 inch titanium compression driver with biradial horn as a super tweeter. The cabinets are attractive in a dark cherry finish. The savings, compared to K2, appear to come from a lighter built cabinet that does not have the midrange horn sculpted into the baffle board. Also helping to keep costs down are smaller format compression drivers and the use of titanium diaphragms rather than magnesium or beryllium. Also the woofer uses a neodymium magnet rather than ALNICO with a 3 inch voice coil instead of 4 inch.
The woofer has a new and novel dual drive voice coil with a patent pending. The voice coil uses special wire that is very thermally insensitive which reduces dynamic compression as signal is increased as it does not heat up. Dual voice coils allow more wire in the gap which is necessary since this special wire would contribute to an undesirably low sensitivity otherwise. Sensitivity is rated at 94db and bass cut off is quoted at 38hz minus 6 db. We have them in a very large room, 25 feet wide x 38 feet long x 9.5 high. Considering they are just out of the box, they sound very well balanced, clean and dynamic with good bass extension. For more infomation give Audio Video Logic a call at 515-727-2279 or email us at [email protected]. Our website is www.audiovideologic.com. Our store is celebrating it's 21st anniversary in the Des Moines, Iowa area. Thanks for reading. John