Ken P.
cut his audio teeth on classic JBL systems in the mid 70's in Winnipeg,
Canada (turns out we used to haunt the same audio shops at the same time -
Don). His 70's audio pursuit was capped with the acquisition of a pair of
new 4350 monitors. After selling them long ago and moving to the States, he
has finally fulfilled a long quest to recapture the sound that had become a
passion so many years ago. He is the proud owner of a pristine pair of 4345
monitors that he describes below.
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Well, lets start by thanking the original
owner, John Tomelavage for exemplary maintenance of these fine examples of
JBL engineering and craftsmanship. These monitors were purchased in 1982 and
shipped directly to Switzerland, where John resided at the time. They also
lived for a time in Germany before returning to their country of origin in
the mid nineties. Hard to believe these have traveled such distances without
damage in any way. They are truly in showroom condition.
I feel fortunate John
picked me from many, as the new custodian for these pieces of history.
Having experienced the
JBL hey days in the seventies, owning L26's, L100's, 030's and finally
4350's. The later of which left a ”“hole in my soul” when sold in 1980.
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Without finding another
pair of 4350's, I never thought I would be able to re-capture the feeling of
gut wrenching clarity and punch that only ”“BIG JBL's” can deliver. You know
that feeling, like you have been punched in the chest when Chester Thompson,
Phil Collins or Neil Peart ripped across a drum kit. Or the goose bumps you
feel when Mark Knofler does the acoustic version of ”“ Brothers in Arms” and
every harmonic is perfectly reproduced.
This four way system was
designed after the 4350 was discontinued and sounds just as good, if not
better than the dual 15 box. The imaging was difficult with the 4350 and
required an RTA combined with a 1/3 octave EQ before it was acceptable. This
is not the case with the 4345. The cabinets of the 4350 where not as well
braced as the 4345's. At high SPL's these produce no noticeable resonance.
My 4350's had a resonance at around 240 hz that was solved with a 10-12 db
cut at that frequency.
The experience of 4350's was forever
burned in my memory and in all honesty these have resurrected that feeling
of "I am satisfied".
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