2441: top of the heap for 2", or???

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, All,

I was just musing about "things JBL" tonight, when I began to think about the fine vintage 2" compression drivers that JBL used to make. Would you say that the 2441 was at the top of the heap, or was there something better? What say Ye', Friends? Thanks, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc (who has a very nice pair of 2445J's that he got from JBL Brother, Todd, for a very nice price, but who has never owned any of the vintage 2" stuff, and is wondering about those older drivers.....)

[subwoof]

475

shielded magnet assembly of the 2450 with the coated dia.

currently replaced by the Be version....$$$$

476Be ???

the powers to be decided to sell them in systems *only* to other countries....

konechiewa

[speakerdave]

I can't say "top of the heap" (and probably wouldn't if I could) because I don't have a lot of experience with the other 2" drivers, but I have used the 2450 with the coated diaphragm extensively, and have to agree with subwoof, it is a very, very good driver.

[Allanvh5150]

2441 was a superb driver in the day. Athough it was quickly superceeded by the 2445. I dont consider the 2450 to be vintage yet.

Allan.

[4313B]

Would you say that the 2441 was at the top of the heap, or was there something better?

Yes but we need them for 4355's so you can't have any. Sorry!

Besides, they're too damn heavy for most people. Go for the 2452H-SL.

[Doc Mark]

Yes but we need them for 4355's so you can't have any. Sorry!

Besides, they're too damn heavy for most people. Go for the 2452H-SL.

Hey, 4313B,

DANG~!!! I KNEW there was a catch to all this stuff!!! Or, as my old Dad used to say, "Dirty ding-fod, mordifay, bazorkle, frackin'-shackin' rigalacker"!!!!

(Hard to believe those 2441's are heavier than the two 2445J's I have! Those Babies are HEAVY!!) Or, .... wait for it........ let's all sing along now: "They ain't heavy, they're my Brothers...... and I stole them from him"!!!! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[Allanvh5150]

(Hard to believe those 2441's are heavier than the two 2445J's I have! Those Babies are HEAVY!!)
Doc

Says who? the 2441 is 5 pound lighter than a 2445!

Allan.

[4313B]

476Be ???

the powers to be decided to sell them in systems *only* to other countries....

Well, they really don't have any other function to be fair. No one is going to buy them for SR and DIY people would just blow them up and create alot of warranty work so they're probably best left in the DD66000 and that's it.



2421 alnico/aluminum -> 2425 ferrite/titanium
2441 alnico/aluminum -> 2445 ferrite/titanium

http://www.jblpro.com/pub/technote/tn_v1n21.pdf

When the JBL 375 compression driver was designed during the fifties, it was based on the exit geometry of the original Western Electric 594 driver. Subsequent variations, such as the JBL 2441, 2445, and 2450 family all maintained the original exit geometry and were designed to work with four decades of horn hardware with 50 mm (2 in) throat diameter.

[subwoof]

And I am looking at a box of 2435Be's that a forum member graciously reconditioned and would NEVER put them into any SR use - even the light duty stuff I do a few times a year...the 2452H-SL's are for that stuff.

But I did recently stick some coated dia's into a 2445 / 2360 combo with some beerproofed 2234's underneath and it's pretty smooth even when cranked.

Graduate finals are done this friday - man the limiters and warn the neighbors...

[louped garouv]

and the students will all be ruined looking for adequate sound forevermore...

LoL...

[robertbartsch]

I finished a system a few months ago with pre-owned 2445s with 8 ohm factory frams.

....each time I listen I enjoy them more than the last. ...a very competant driver that can be had for around the same dough as a used 2426.

[Doc Mark]

Hey, Guys,

Many thanks for all the comments! Robert, do your 2445's have aqua-plased diaphragms, or are they the straight Titanium versions? I've heard, right here at LH, in fact, that coating the Ti frams make them sweeter sounding, and smoother, if I recall correctly. Interesting comments, all around. Thanks, again, Friends!

Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[robertbartsch]

.....my 2445s carry new factory non-coated Ti frames and the system is passively crossed at 500 running 2225s down low.

...can't compare these with Aqua-coated frams but I would not describe these as having any edgeness or harshness. I do have the attunuator set at a shade more than 1/2 down since the 2445's sensativity is super high (111 db at 3 feet??) compared with the woof in the mid 90s, I think.

...anyway ..the most challenging aspect of the project was mounting the drivers in the hornz/cab; they weigh 35 pounds, I beleive. So, I used a 1.5 inch plywood baffle, and a sturdy wood brace connecting the horn throat to the bottom of the cab.

When you see these drivers next to a 1" CD they look like a Mack truck next to a VW.

These cabs need to be sitting on roller casters or you will have a hernia in no time. Mine are in furniture grade cabs...

Shipping costs were quite high, as I recall.

[djnagle]

DOn't know about top of the heap, but I run 2441s on my 350hz Edgarhorns and love them. I had a pair of them with the JBL diaphragms that I borrowed from a friend. Now I have my own 2441s with Radian Mylar surrounds and love them even more. I've not tried any other drivers so I can's say. Cheers.

[jerry_rig]

I can personally vouch that the 2441, when mated to a great horn -- such as the 2397 Smith Horn -- and crossed over at a relatively high 1,100 Hz, delivers incredible resolution and depth. Not to mention more dynamics than you will ever need in a home setting. Mine have their original diaphragms.