4345 Ownership

[Ducatista47]

Since I am caretaking a pair of the beasts myself, hopefully until death, and I keep reading the comment "So rare," I was curious how many members actually have and use a working pair of 4345's. I am even more curious how many clones - home built units per the construction thread - are in use.

I wonder if most of the alleged one hundred pair produced are lost, destroyed, parted out or gone to asian collectors never to return. I doubt many are still in studio use, but I may be very mistaken on that score.

This inquiry is strictly my own curiosity, please don't make anything out of it or think I am trying to invade privacy. No salesman will call! I am a very curious fellow, just ask my friends!

Clark in Peoria

[Ian Mackenzie]

I have a nice clone inspired by Bo who has the real deal..heard 'em go...Fab.

There was a pair on Ebay in NZ ages ago..but not seen none since.

[Ducatista47]

Thank you for responding, Ian. I imagine your speakers sound as good or better than mine do. While my 2245's and 2122's are new (Subwoof would be a very handy neighbor to have!), the 2421 and 2405 diaphrams are original. At twenty-five years or better they must be a bit tired, but the retail price of the needed pieces and their installation are beyond me at the moment. I can imagine the cabinet construction was an unholy bitch. My factory built unit is constructed like a tank and I'd not look forward to cranking it out in a home wood shop.

I am dying to hear them, but you live a little far for a sojourn up the road. Perhaps you could give me a detailed impression of how their presentation strikes you - what they sound like! If this topic is hopelessly boring for the membership at large, you could PM me if you could find the time. They must shine with your PassLabs powering. I am (today anyway) using a small SET EL84 unit on top and a JBL/UREI 6260 on the 2245's. This setup hits the sweet spot for my ears and taste, but the endless experiment continues - because it is fun!

Any other 4345 home-builts out there?

Clark in Peoria

[Ian Mackenzie]

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...68&postcount=7

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...&postcount=111
http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...&postcount=130
http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...&postcount=144
http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...&postcount=136
They really hate it when I talk up these systems around here so I don't post much at all these days. And I don't spend much time thinking about what the poor people listen to either.

The Passlabs gear is an excellent marriage for these JBL's

[hapy._.face]

Ian-

Your descriptions of things audio are usually very good.
I remember when you talked about the project amp- you said it sounded crisp- like snapping chalk. Great image of that sound!
You've had time to let those 45's break in- tell us how they are now with all your updates.

[JBLnsince1959]

Ian-

tell us how they are now with all your updates.

yes, and how do different caps make a difference also..seems you've done a lot with the crossovers

[Ian Mackenzie]

My wives you mean...how dare you talk about them in such terms!

They have a way of pampering me and slapping me around like no other.

I propose to build a charge coupled network next..I think I will leave them be then for a while.

The rest is not for public disclosure other than to say they are probably the most unique 4345's on the planet..like the owner

[Ian Mackenzie]

DRG obviously had a "momentary lapse of reason"

The woofers are for me still what makes this a great loudspeaker.(model 2245H)

You can hear similarities on other models like the 4344 but that woofer is something different. The woofer was designed be Greg Timbers who also engineered the 4345.

IMHO it is the most musical woofer that can also hold the title of being a true subwoofer.

Years ago a HiFi magazine voted the 2245H the king of all woofers because of its special qualities. There are other woofers that may play lower but not as high, and then those that play higher but not as low, the 2245 is just right.

On really fine equipment the woofer and indeed the whole system imparts every nuance in such a way that you can not only hear but feel the recording environment.

The transitions between the drivers are completely seemless and this is a testimony to the skill of the designer mention above.

Anyone who owns or has attempted to build a large system would appreciate this virtue.

I might take some pictures internally and post them later on if there is interest.

[hapy._.face]

...if there is interest.

There is.

[JBLnsince1959]

I might take some pictures internally and post them later on if there is interest.

excuse the pun but.... BIG TIME!!!

[Ian Mackenzie]

Okay,

But I need fresh AA batteries for the wireless mouse, can't run the Coolpix and the mouse at the same time!

[Ducatista47]

Ian, thank you for the links. You don't need to answer what has already been written. I apologize for setting off a new fever of inquiries.

At least now you know the membership is not tired of hearing about - ahem - the best JBL's! Yes, I admit to being a little prejudiced there.

Thank you again, Clark in Peoria

[Ian Mackenzie]

Yes but it is important for new members to know who's and and what's what.

To happyface , they never needed breaking in. I would say that its still all in the mix and setting up you need to work at that. I find even a small difference if 1/3 a db in the adjustment of the L pads to be do or die for my nirvana. Hence I like it flatened from 30hertz -20Khertz within the confines of the room.

The downside with these 4345's is you literally hear even the most subtle changes to the signal path and the smaller the difference the more annoying it can be so I tend to keep the old stable mates the Passlabs Aleph X 100 or Aleph 60 mono blocks handy for when I want to really chill out.

Will post pics soon.

Need to find the house cleaner!

[boputnam]

At twenty-five years or better they must be a bit tired, but the retail price of the needed pieces and their installation are beyond me at the moment.

Maybe not so, Clark.

The diaphragms are available, and the replacement/refurbishing work is not too very hard. There are threads here "refurbishing your compression drivers" (I think...) that speak to it. The difference with new diaphrams seems audible, but I did not measure anything, and not sure one can - it is not frequency response per se, but the sonic/acoustic quality one is judging.

[DRG]

DRG obviously had a "momentary lapse of reason"

I posted in the wrong thread.