JBL 4329p 8”active Studio Monitor series

[GXAlan]

I really liked this idea. I wanted to use it for speakers distributed around the yard. MiniDSP for a time made a small cube network speaker with built-in digital amp. A dozen of them would have been interesting. But they were around $400 each. Also, the input was AVB.

I wonder how loud they get with just 15W.

The Meyer Sound MM4XP is rated at 440W peak and can pull 100W from the 48V power supply.

MM-4XP

Miniature Self-Powered Loudspeakers

meyersound.com

 

[Breeze98]

the manual doesn't mention a recommended minimum listening distance from MLP to front of baffle. Would it be around, say, 2.5 metres or could you get any closer for the drivers to integrate properly?

 

[JustJones]

These were on sale for $3500 so I got a set to try out. Easy to unbox and placed them on some old stands I had which were the same height as the recommended but without the 7° slant. Connected the main, digital link cable and hardwired them to my switch. Powered them up, began to get the settings in order and the volume and source knobs were frozen. Read the manual again, yes they are suppose to move, check to make sure there isn't a cover or something to hold them, no nothing there, still won't move. Will not rotate or push in or pull out. Look at the manual again, scratch my head and get a firm grip and turn, nothing. Get a really firm grip and turn as hard as I can and volume knob moves. OK that's probably not right but it's rotating easy now so I try the source knob, nothing. Get a really really good grip and turn as hard as I can, nothing. Time for the pliers and something to protect the plastic knob and that did the trick, source knob moves easy. No network. Look at manual again hold in both knobs as the network light shows red, nothing. Try 3 cables one I got from a working connection so I know it's good, nothing. Hold reset button for factory reset, got network. Fired up roon, finds the speakers easy enough click on first album I see and they do play. Shut them down and forgot about them for the rest of the day. Might run REW tomorrow, might get an RMA, still thinking on it. They do have a 2 year warranty from Sweetwater, they are new not demos or returns. Sleep on it.

 

[mjgraves]

These were on sale for $3500 so I got a set to try out. Easy to unbox and placed them on some old stands I had which were the same height as the recommended but without the 7° slant. Connected the main, digital link cable and hardwired them to my switch. Powered them up, began to get the settings in order and the volume and source knobs were frozen. Read the manual again, yes they are suppose to move, check to make sure there isn't a cover or something to hold them, no nothing there, still won't move. Will not rotate or push in or pull out. Look at the manual again, scratch my head and get a firm grip and turn, nothing. Get a really firm grip and turn as hard as I can and volume knob moves. OK that's probably not right but it's rotating easy now so I try the source knob, nothing. Get a really really good grip and turn as hard as I can, nothing. Time for the pliers and something to protect the plastic knob and that did the trick, source knob moves easy. No network. Look at manual again hold in both knobs as the network light shows red, nothing. Try 3 cables one I got from a working connection so I know it's good, nothing. Hold reset button for factory reset, got network. Fired up roon, finds the speakers easy enough click on first album I see and they do play. Shut them down and forgot about them for the rest of the day. Might run REW tomorrow, might get an RMA, still thinking on it. They do have a 2 year warranty from Sweetwater, they are new not demos or returns. Sleep on it.

I feel that, for the money, the 708P are the better option. Not as pretty, but more power. Simpler interfaces; AES & XLR. Interfacing is easily solved externally.

 

[Breeze98]

I feel that, for the money, the 708P are the better option. Not as pretty, but more power. Simpler interfaces; AES & XLR. Interfacing is easily solved externally.

Depends where you are though. Here, a pair of 708p's cost around 25% more than a pair of 4329p's. In the US, I believe the 708ps are better value compared to the EU/UK. Possibly better supported by JBL too.

Fwiw, Erin seemed to prefer the 4329p's

The 708p was a great speaker but this one has some clear pros that give it the advantage IMHO. The bass extension is one but also the horizontal radiation being a bit wider is something I personally appreciate of the 4329P as well. The directivity is better with this speaker which gives it a better estimated in-room response without the flattening out of the HF like the 708p has.

might get an RMA, still thinking on it.

From how you described the volume and source knobs, I wouldn't hesitate personally -)

How was the packaging; double-boxed presumably?

 

[JustJones]

Depends where you are though. Here, a pair of 708p's cost around 25% more than a pair of 4329p's. In the US, I believe the 708ps are better value compared to the EU/UK. Possibly better supported by JBL too.

Fwiw, Erin seemed to prefer the 4329p's




From how you described the volume and source knobs, I wouldn't hesitate personally -)

How was the packaging; double-boxed presumably?

Yes, they were well packed. They survived FedEx though the outer box had a tear I examined to make sure it didn't break the inner box before I would sign for them. The knobs don't make sense to me. Very strange.

 

[JustJones]

The wider horizontal dispersion was one of the reasons I decided on the 4329p over the 708P, and I didn't need a source since they're Roon ready. The 708P is on sale as well for $3600 a pair.

 

[mjgraves]

The wider horizontal dispersion was one of the reasons I decided on the 4329p over the 708P, and I didn't need a source since they're Roon ready. The 708P is on sale as well for $3600 a pair.

I guess the 708P are truly nearfield monitors, which implies narrower dispersion. They certainly work well for me. I feed them AES from a RPi running PiCorePlayer.

 

[Jaxjax]

Sweetwater put these on sale in black for 3500.
I was browsing there & seen it. Normal 4500 I see.

 

[JustJones]

They're on sale at Crutchfield, Audio Advice, B&H, etc. $3500

 

[ckernel8]

I bought a pair of these and integrated them with a pair of subs with a MiniDSP SHD and Dirac Live. They're really, really, really good speakers. They're $5k online now so I'm glad I was able to pick up a pair for $3500.

 

[meracus]

Had mine for a year and refinished it
Superb underrated speaker

 

[ckernel8]

Had mine for a year and refinished it
Superb underrated speaker

Any chance you could post some pictures?

 

[meracus]

 

[meracus]

I have a grille being made at the moment
More of a “ non use “ grille that looks good but probably be counter productive for sound , I know a guy that repairs bang & olufsen wood grille , and he done a few bits for me ( the stands for the ls50 )
And we playing around with the same idea
The only negative I could find in a 4329p is that it could look rather utilitarian

 

[meracus]

And a black chrome bespoke stand

 

[ckernel8]

I have a grille being made at the moment
More of a “ non use “ grille that looks good but probably be counter productive for sound , I know a guy that repairs bang & olufsen wood grille , and he done a few bits for me ( the stands for the ls50 )
And we playing around with the same idea
The only negative I could find in a 4329p is that it could look rather utilitarian

I actually dig the "vintage" look of them. I have them in black, as that saved me $1500, but I sorta wish I bought them in walnut. I like that you took the existing "skim coat" of white and finished the job essentially.

 

[meracus]

The veneering is well made , but to be frank , it ain’t a “ euro “ type grain , I don’t dig the pine / oak / black ash veneer i find it too dated
I went for the aspen white , but the sides were yellowish … and the grille looks a bit cheap
Such a shame for a really really good sounding speaker
I would have appreciated the L100 style much better , the 4329 is sort of a hybrid between a “Japanese audiophile” style and a modern “ vintage “ speaker style … in looks … it’s a miss in my books
Spoke to a guy who makes replacement l100 grille but he wanted $1500 for a bespoke pair so in the end settled for a chalky white like the horn

 

[meracus]

Job done ….. onto a 4365 next

 

[meracus]

Made a chrome plated open frame and a b&o style oak grille for hiding the woofer when not in use