JBL 4369 announced

[Duke]

To make matters worse, JBL has also taunted and teased us with their new "Summit" Series, especially the JBL Makula, so it's like you if you are willing to spend over $20K on their latest Studio Monitor, you can look at what else they have over $40K and where you get an actual True 3-Way system and when spending such a significant amount on a Speaker, while I surely love Paper Cones, sometimes you just would kind of prefer a more exotic material for the Cone Woofer at these high price points especially for the long haul.

I would take the 4367 or the 4369 over the Makula. Imo the additional midrange driver of the Makula adds an unnecessary discontinuity to the radiation pattern; imo the 4367/4369 configuration is the right way to do it:

Ultra-high quality big woofer + ultra-high quality big constant-directivity horn, crossed over where their radiation patterns match up.

 

[martin900]

I think, having had the new HF driver in hands, that JBL is cutting corners hard on these in terms of SOTA technology, like trying to mimic what Be could do 40 years ago, but try to make it as cheap as possible while maintaining "decent" SQ, instead of going for just the best available.
The new drivers look and feel like cheap Seleniums instead of what JBL was used to make, like the 435 Mg and Be. Heck even the old 2450 and the likes look and feel a league above.

 

[Kravi4ka]

You have had the new driver in hands? Oh, that’s quite interesting. I was hoping the CD will be more advanced just like the bass driver… They have the comfort of choosing their compromises, let hope the whole will be great…

 

[sebackman]

I have not heard the 4369 yet but I have no doubt they are excellent speakers at the price point. As are the 4367.

The driver in the 4369 is most likely a rebadged 2430K/D2 driver as used in M2/4367 and VRX line array. At least that was confirmed by people who ought to know at the Munich show last year. It has been around for a while and is technologically wise rather similar to pre dating BMS drivers, built upon the same concept.

It seems now to be 2x8 ohm instead of 2x16 ohm as with the D2. It is also labeled "16" instead if "K" as the 4367/M2 driver. JBL uses syllables to designate impedance, starting with "F" that designates a 2-ohm driver. The sticker now says, “Made in China” as the 4367/M2/VTX drivers are all labeled "Mexico. Maybe they made some minor changes if they indeed moved production from Mexico to China. Manufacture or assembly?

The 3” 243x/435 (Be or not) is not really the same beast as the 4” drivers and a technically less complicated (expensive) to produce. The 4” drivers 244x/245x/47x are expensive to build as the phasing plug is cast zink and glued in stages. The ultra expensive 475Be in S9900 and Everest is based upon a upgraded 2451 engine.

Back to 4369, I think the selection of drivers and design is a result of chosen price point rather than what is possible. For the “no expense spared” speakers JBL offers the K2S9900 and Everest. The 4367/4369 were not meant to compete with them and the price reflects that. It will be interesting to follow the launch of the new K2-series later this year in Vienna, if I recall correctly.

The D2/2430 design has been much debated and is a very different design compared to the older single diaphragm models. No doubt that technology advances combined with cost reductions drives development for manufacturers. For the price it is an excellent driver and very close to the 3 to +10 times more expensive 4” drivers (475Be) .

As to size, except for the phasing plug, the size drops significantly when the Neo magnet is placed inside the voice coil as opposed to the outside as in the older drivers. Hence, new drivers that look/feels like toy's can indeed be very capable. Same goes for other Neo magnet drivers, including woofers.

However, in my view the major leap in SQ is the wave guide development. The new waveguides completely do away with the “horn sound” without losing the unrivaled dynamics and micro details of a good compression driver. Dome and cone drivers still can't touch that.

As a side note, we have swapped in 4” drivers in our 4367’s with great success (and many hours in the measuring bench). To do so we had to go active with DSP and basically used the M2 topology as a starting point. I personally prefer the 4367/4369 wave guide type to the M2 (90x100 dispersion) for domestic use (less floor and ceiling bounce).

Note that in a production speaker such change would have priced the speaker out of its intended market with more expensive drivers and additional electronics.

Rock on

//Rob

 

[Sal1950]

The sticker now says, “Made in China” as the 4367/M2/VTX drivers are all labeled "Mexico.

View attachment 531931

Bummer,

 

[Paul7777x]

I have not heard the 4369 yet but I have no doubt they are excellent speakers at the price point. As are the 4367.

The driver in the 4369 is most likely a rebadged 2430K/D2 driver as used in M2/4367 and VRX line array. At least that was confirmed by people who ought to know at the Munich show last year. It has been around for a while and is technologically wise rather similar to pre dating BMS drivers, built upon the same concept.

It seems now to be 2x8 ohm instead of 2x16 ohm as with the D2. It is also labeled "16" instead if "K" as the 4367/M2 driver. JBL uses syllables to designate impedance, starting with "F" that designates a 2-ohm driver. The sticker now says, “Made in China” as the 4367/M2/VTX drivers are all labeled "Mexico. Maybe they made some minor changes if they indeed moved production from Mexico to China. Manufacture or assembly?

The 3” 243x/435 (Be or not) is not really the same beast as the 4” drivers and a technically less complicated (expensive) to produce. The 4” drivers 244x/245x/47x are expensive to build as the phasing plug is cast zink and glued in stages. The ultra expensive 475Be in S9900 and Everest is based upon a upgraded 2451 engine.

Back to 4369, I think the selection of drivers and design is a result of chosen price point rather than what is possible. For the “no expense spared” speakers JBL offers the K2S9900 and Everest. The 4367/4369 were not meant to compete with them and the price reflects that. It will be interesting to follow the launch of the new K2-series later this year in Vienna, if I recall correctly.

The D2/2430 design has been much debated and is a very different design compared to the older single diaphragm models. No doubt that technology advances combined with cost reductions drives development for manufacturers. For the price it is an excellent driver and very close to the 3 to +10 times more expensive 4” drivers (475Be) .

As to size, except for the phasing plug, the size drops significantly when the Neo magnet is placed inside the voice coil as opposed to the outside as in the older drivers. Hence, new drivers that look/feels like toy's can indeed be very capable. Same goes for other Neo magnet drivers, including woofers.

However, in my view the major leap in SQ is the wave guide development. The new waveguides completely do away with the “horn sound” without losing the unrivaled dynamics and micro details of a good compression driver. Dome and cone drivers still can't touch that.

As a side note, we have swapped in 4” drivers in our 4367’s with great success (and many hours in the measuring bench). To do so we had to go active with DSP and basically used the M2 topology as a starting point. I personally prefer the 4367/4369 wave guide type to the M2 (90x100 dispersion) for domestic use (less floor and ceiling bounce).

Note that in a production speaker such change would have priced the speaker out of its intended market with more expensive drivers and additional electronics.

Rock on

//Rob

View attachment 531931

What difference can it possibly make where they were manufactured?

The quality of the manufactured item matters. Nothing else.

 

[DerHexxer]

I heard many JBL speaker like 4349 and 4367 and owned the 4315b, 4430, 6332LSR im a JBL Fan but have to say, there are better speaker out for the same price or less. Genelec 8380 for example gets incredible loud with low distortion and because of the coax driver, the sweetspot is very large. They measure flat and you can calibrate them to your listening position.
For 20k the Genelec are way better.

JBL driver are nice to look at like the 1500al… but the specs ar medicore many pa driver can easely outplay the JBL‘s

 

[fredoamigo]

It has now been several months since the JBL 4369 was released, and I'm genuinely surprised that there is still no white paper available which is traditionally standard practice for flagship models from this brand including the full measurement data. JBL has always been transparent about their engineering, so I'm hoping this is just a matter of timing. Has anyone seen anything published yet ?

 

[Gotoro]

I have not heard the 4369 yet but I have no doubt they are excellent speakers at the price point. As are the 4367.

The driver in the 4369 is most likely a rebadged 2430K/D2 driver as used in M2/4367 and VRX line array. At least that was confirmed by people who ought to know at the Munich show last year. It has been around for a while and is technologically wise rather similar to pre dating BMS drivers, built upon the same concept.

It seems now to be 2x8 ohm instead of 2x16 ohm as with the D2. It is also labeled "16" instead if "K" as the 4367/M2 driver. JBL uses syllables to designate impedance, starting with "F" that designates a 2-ohm driver. The sticker now says, “Made in China” as the 4367/M2/VTX drivers are all labeled "Mexico. Maybe they made some minor changes if they indeed moved production from Mexico to China. Manufacture or assembly?

The 3” 243x/435 (Be or not) is not really the same beast as the 4” drivers and a technically less complicated (expensive) to produce. The 4” drivers 244x/245x/47x are expensive to build as the phasing plug is cast zink and glued in stages. The ultra expensive 475Be in S9900 and Everest is based upon a upgraded 2451 engine.

Back to 4369, I think the selection of drivers and design is a result of chosen price point rather than what is possible. For the “no expense spared” speakers JBL offers the K2S9900 and Everest. The 4367/4369 were not meant to compete with them and the price reflects that. It will be interesting to follow the launch of the new K2-series later this year in Vienna, if I recall correctly.

The D2/2430 design has been much debated and is a very different design compared to the older single diaphragm models. No doubt that technology advances combined with cost reductions drives development for manufacturers. For the price it is an excellent driver and very close to the 3 to +10 times more expensive 4” drivers (475Be) .

As to size, except for the phasing plug, the size drops significantly when the Neo magnet is placed inside the voice coil as opposed to the outside as in the older drivers. Hence, new drivers that look/feels like toy's can indeed be very capable. Same goes for other Neo magnet drivers, including woofers.

However, in my view the major leap in SQ is the wave guide development. The new waveguides completely do away with the “horn sound” without losing the unrivaled dynamics and micro details of a good compression driver. Dome and cone drivers still can't touch that.

As a side note, we have swapped in 4” drivers in our 4367’s with great success (and many hours in the measuring bench). To do so we had to go active with DSP and basically used the M2 topology as a starting point. I personally prefer the 4367/4369 wave guide type to the M2 (90x100 dispersion) for domestic use (less floor and ceiling bounce).

Note that in a production speaker such change would have priced the speaker out of its intended market with more expensive drivers and additional electronics.

Rock on

//Rob

View attachment 531931

Did they changed to or used a new phase plug design for the new D2830 compared to the D2430?

 

[dep14]

I am looking forward to hopefully hearing this speaker. I have M2's and love them. The active crossover is a bit of a pain, but not horrid. Just wondering if the improved height over the 4367 (and even the M2 as the horn is a bit high in my set-up), and "improved" crossover will get them to the m2 level. I like the 4367 but to my ears the M2 was still better. The dynamics are just so, so good on the M2's.

 

[Persona]

I have yet to find a dealer who is stocking these for an audition, but a YouTuber seems to have gotten ahold of a pair, so they are not vaporware! Still no published measurements or other performance data from JBL.

 

[mjgraves]

I have yet to find a dealer who is stocking these for an audition, but a YouTuber seems to have gotten ahold of a pair, so they are not vaporware! Still no published measurements or other performance data from JBL.

What a completely worthless way to show the speakers. Nothing more than a humble-brag.

 

[Flaesh]

JBL has always been transparent about

Not always, but earlier, quite a long time ago.))

 

[Sal1950]

What a completely worthless way to show the speakers. Nothing more than a humble-brag.

Don't know why you would want to slam the guy like that, green with envy?
He didn't say a word and is simply showing off a beautiful system while playing some music.
It's well deserved to be proud of what he's got going there.
I'm sure the 4369's are delivering a nice upgrade over the older La Scala's sitting behind them.
I wish him all the best.

 

[Flaesh]

4369 should be compared with 4367, M2, and the like. That would be more interesting.

 

[Sal1950]

4369 should be compared with 4367, M2, and the like. That would be more interesting.

No comparison was being done beyond the La Scala's just being in the room.

 

[Flaesh]

just being in the room

Then they could install, for example, WE 15(or 16)A horns

 

[sonitus mirus]

I still believe if I could get these flush to a front wall they may be my penultimate speakers for stereo jamming. They get me.

 

[Sal1950]

I still believe if I could get these flush to a front wall they may be my penultimate speakers for stereo jamming. They get me.

? Why flush with the wall, what advantage do you believe you'd gain from that?
As I see the owner of the speakers in the picture, he has both sets of speakers on castered dollies. I would guess so he can move them out into the room positioned
for best imaging when listening, then back out of the way when desired.