Page 1 of 10 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 137

Thread: Is newer better : 4430 vs 1400 Array

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    4

    Is newer better : 4430 vs 1400 Array

    I am just about to buy a pair of 4430s to renovate. They look pretty good but clearly its hard to tell much until they are opened up. My friends say I am crazy and will end up spending time and money when I should just buy a new pair of 1400 Arrays which they say will way better and worry free.

    Anyone care to venture an opinion particularly in respect to how much "better" the 1400s might be.

    I will try to hear the 1400 if I think I might go that way but it does require a fairly significant plane trip to be able to do so.

    Mike Anderson.

  2. #2
    Senior Member richluvsound's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    london england
    Posts
    2,060
    If you want fun project... then 4430 is it . If you want worry free amazing sound ,the 1400's . Its a no brainer to try and compare technologies with 30 years of world class R&D between them .......

    The older JBL's are a lot of fun if you have the skills to experiment with new networks and components , but also $$$$$$$$ .
    You also need to consider the front end hardware ?

    Personally, I'd go for the 1400's out of the two !

    Rich

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Coast of Maine
    Posts
    541
    I have never hear the 4430's. However I do have a pair of S/2600's. I perfer the 1400's by a wide margin. The S/2600's are a two way horn loaded speaker that won the COTY award in Japan in 1994, I think. Our friend TD has a pair-I am not speaking for him, of course, but at one time I thought he perferred the S/2600's over the 4430.

    My S/2600's sounded quite well with my McIntosh MC402 amp/C46 preamp combo. Dynamic as hell. I cheated a little and have Tannoy ST50's(supertweeter-it does work). But, when I got a fine deal on some Arrays I noticed the amp had a bit of an 'issue' with the bass-a tad 'wobbly'. So I bought new amps.


    I do not have the skill set required as suggested regarding modifications, however, I suspect the same(to a degree) could be done to the 1400 Arrray's but, who would want to? Personally, if you have a refined amp with plenty of current and want a 'refined sound'-get the Arrays. They may not be as 'dynamic' as the 4430's but I would assume they SOUND a lot better. But, I am still learning so take MY advice with a grain of salt.
    Careful man, there's a beverage here!

  4. #4
    Obsolete
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    NLA
    Posts
    12,193
    Quote Originally Posted by Ando View Post
    Anyone care to venture an opinion particularly in respect to how much "better" the 1400s might be.
    Having owned 4430's since they were first introduced I can tell you that the 1400 Array is better on every count for home use despite the fact that they both use the same low frequency transducer technology. And the 1400 Array horn and compression drivers are significantly better than the 2344/242x combo. The 4430 started it all but it sure didn't end there.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Central Coast California
    Posts
    9,042

    Three Scales of Comparison

    Using the 4430 as a baseline:

    4430=100
    S/2600=125
    1400 Array=140

    Using the 4430 HF as a baseline:

    4430=100
    S/2600=139
    1400 Array=160

    Using the 4430 LF as a baseline:

    4430=100
    S/2600=116
    1400 Array=128

    The top comparison is not an average of the bottom two. It's a composite, subjective opinion on the integration of the whole package.

    The 4430 is a studio monitor and a true two-way. The S/2600 is a premium consumer speaker with an ear toward the East, and a true two-way. The 1400 Array is a three-way with overall better drivers, networks, and cabinet design.

    I tend to like the Everest-style horns on the S/2600 better than a lot of folks who, unlike Tom and myself, have not lived with them for a while, and I like the implementation of the 12" ME120HS (S/2600) better than the 15" 2235H (4430), but the 14" LE14H-3 (1400) is my favorite of the three.
    Out.

  6. #6
    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    9,715
    Quote Originally Posted by Titanium Dome View Post
    Using the 4430 as a baseline:

    4430=100
    S/2600=125
    1400 Array=140

    Using the 4430 HF as a baseline:

    4430=100
    S/2600=139
    1400 Array=160

    Using the 4430 LF as a baseline:

    4430=100
    S/2600=116
    1400 Array=128
    Using numbers makes it sound all scientific, but ...

    Subjectively, I can say that I wouldn't mind a pair of 4430s for a second system, but I couldn't live with them as my primary system. I absolutely could live with the 1400 Arrays as my primary speakers. Of course this is purely subjective and is based on MY OWN requirements.


    Widget

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Central Coast California
    Posts
    9,042
    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Widget View Post
    Using numbers makes it sound all scientific, but ...

    Widget
    Like I wrote...

    It's a composite, subjective opinion on the integration of the whole package.


    Isn't it kind of early for you?
    Out.

  8. #8
    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    9,715
    Quote Originally Posted by Titanium Dome View Post
    Like I wrote...



    Isn't it kind of early for you?
    True... hey, don't take it personally.

    I just thought you were being quite precise about something that is rather arbitrary.


    Widget

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Central Coast California
    Posts
    9,042
    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Widget View Post
    True... hey, don't take it personally.

    I just thought you were being quite precise about something that is rather arbitrary.


    Widget
    Actually, I thought I was being quite arbitrary about something that could be rather precise.

    Speaking of 1400 Arrays, where are yours now? Did you set them up in another room? I've got space for them.
    Out.

  10. #10
    Senior Member JuniorJBL's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    1,723
    I would say the 1400's as well. I Really like mine. Just as above 30 years of top flight R&D HAS made a differance.
    Always fun learning more.......

  11. #11
    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    9,715
    Quote Originally Posted by Titanium Dome View Post
    Speaking of 1400 Arrays, where are yours now? Did you set them up in another room? I've got space for them.
    Good try.


    Widget

  12. #12
    Senior Member 1audiohack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Las Vegas Nevada
    Posts
    3,092
    Not exactly 4430's but, I have 4435's in my office and 1400 Arrays at home. The arrays are the favored pair, easily.

    This may be social suicide here but I have never been crazy about the 2234-2235's. The LE 14-3? Wow I'll tell ya wow!
    If we knew what the hell we were doing, we wouldn't call it research would we.

  13. #13
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Central Coast California
    Posts
    9,042
    Quote Originally Posted by 1audiohack

    This may be social suicide here but I have never been crazy about the 2234-2235's. The LE 14-3? Wow I'll tell ya wow!
    Usually what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but in this case, you're welcome to expose your preference. After all, I agree!
    Out.

  14. #14
    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    9,715
    Quote Originally Posted by 1audiohack View Post
    This may be social suicide here but I have never been crazy about the 2234-2235's. The LE 14-3? Wow I'll tell ya wow!
    Agreed 100%

    That LE14H-3 is a phenomenal woofer!

    Widget

  15. #15
    Senior Member martin_wu99's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Xi'An,China
    Posts
    1,479
    Quote Originally Posted by Ando View Post
    I am just about to buy a pair of 4430s to renovate. They look pretty good but clearly its hard to tell much until they are opened up. My friends say I am crazy and will end up spending time and money when I should just buy a new pair of 1400 Arrays which they say will way better and worry free.

    Anyone care to venture an opinion particularly in respect to how much "better" the 1400s might be.

    I will try to hear the 1400 if I think I might go that way but it does require a fairly significant plane trip to be able to do so.

    Mike Anderson.
    The newer is 100% better.
    But we can't compare something in this way,we compare something on same conditions,two way speaker vs.two way etc.
    such as L200 VS. 4430 VS.S3100,L300 VS.1400 VS.4338 VS.S4600
    46 lover

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 4 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 4 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Array 1400 help
    By jasonyeo in forum Lansing Product General Information
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 10-29-2010, 08:00 AM
  2. JBL 1400 Array - Top ten?
    By tom1040 in forum Lansing Product General Information
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 07-17-2010, 09:55 AM
  3. Array 1400
    By tom1040 in forum Lansing Product General Information
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 12-09-2009, 10:56 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •