JBL 44xx Series. How do they compare?

[rileysaudio]

I have a pair of JBL L100t3's and am thinking about getting a pair of 4412's or 4410's. The parts are basically identical between the two but the cabs and layout are much different. I love the way my L100t3's sound, which is why I want to go with a pair of 4412's or 4410's. I just like that they are smaller and most likely will be a bit more accurate in the lows because of a smaller port and cabinet. What do you guys think of the 4412's and 4410's? Are they good for using in a listening system, too? Will the 4412's even sound any different from my L100t3's?

 

[tensleep]

Out of the speakers that you have mentioned, I have the 4410 Studio Monitors. These are one of only two pair of speakers that I have purchased new. I cannot imagine ever giving them up. I originally powered them with an Alesis RA100 reference amplifier and the sound was very accurate, which I like. Since restoring them, including some grill repairs and replacing the surrounds, I have been using them as the mains in my home theater. They really excel in this role.

They are very sensitive to the amplifiers that are driving them. The Alesis sounded great, but I preferred the overall sound of the JVC receiver I was using for my home theater. This past weekend, I picked up a Panasonic receiver to go along with my plasma tv and bluray - the components coordinate better, especially the remotes. I have been tuning/tweeking the receiver to go with the JBLs, but I am not quite there yet. The surround effects are excellent, and the stereo imaging/soundstage are really good, too. However, the highs are overpronounced, which translates into shrill with the titanium tweeters. I suppose I'll dial them back a bit tonight.

Your L100T3 have the best crossover out of the L series, so that is a plus. I do like the smaller size of my monitors, but many people contend the bigger speakers sound a bit better for home use. My monitors cannot be beat for near or mid field monitoring, though. I love to park a chair between them and toe them in - it is just wonderful, especially with a good recording. I have compared these to Klipsch KP301,
Bozak 302a, Norman Laboratories Model 10a, Epi A120, EV Sentry 100A, Frazier Monte Carlo at length, and the JBLs are still king. I do have them in a compromised role at this time, but they pull this duty with aplomb. I had the big Klipsch in the HT mains for awhile, but they just couldn't blend or create the wide soundstage for movies like the JBLs. I will listen to Pandora, Last FM, cable music, etc. and really like the sound. Next, I will hook up an SACD player to the Panasonic and see how that works with my JBLs. I have a JBL center, along with 4 smaller JBL surround speakers in the ceiling corners. An M&K subwoofer fills in the bottom nicely. The 4410 monitors really pulled it all together, though.

FWIW, the big Klipsch are very, very close in comparison with the JBLs - horn dynamics, big 15" woofer. By close, I mean in terms of quality performance - the sound is very different. I am currently running them actively biamped as a stereo system in the bedroom. I give up very little to the full HT system when playing Hi Def movies in the bedroom, running stereo sound through the Klipsch.

For pure stereo music, I love my Bozaks with rebuilt/modified crossovers. They love to play my album collection. Again, these are a very big departure from either the Klipsch or the JBLs.

What I am getting at is you may want to expand a bit - other speakers are very intriguing. However, you really can't go wrong with two pairs of JBLs.

 

[BMWCCA]

I have a pair of JBL L100t3's and am thinking about getting a pair of 4412's or 4410's. The parts are basically identical between the two but the cabs and layout are much different.

Actually, the L100T3 used the 2214H-1 woofer while the 4412 and 4412A used the 128H-1. You'll find people who prefer one over the other, but they're both great 12-inch woofers.

While the T3 series had better networks than the non"3" L-series speakers, usually the professional series 44xx monitors were already using better stuff. The smaller cabinets were because these were designed as near- and mid-field monitors. The 4412 and 4412A were configured for horizontal placement while the 4410/A were designed for vertical placement. You can use them either way but it does make a difference. Unlike the L-series, the pro monitors were designed as mirror-image pairs.

There are even those who prefer the sound of the 10-inch monitors over the twelves. I have both, including the L80T/3, L96, 4412, and L112. I enjoy and appreciate them all, though I do have my favorites!

 

[ARIKIP]

I had the pleasure of trialling a friends pr of 4412s for a few weeks back in 1990. I was very impressed with them. Tight bottom end,Dynamics,great top end and smooth midrange. This ended up with me buying my first JBLs...L80T's. They were great but not as "accurate" as the 4412's. I upgraded to the L100T and again was impressed. They do sound a little "different" ie L100T vs 4412. To be honest i think i prefer the 4412's overall despite the L100T's greater bottom end. I now have some L100S which are T3 equivalents and these perhaps come closer to achieving what the 4412s did for me. Giving them a try would be the best bet for you to make a decision.

 

[hdted]

I don't think you will be disappointed with 4410's or 4412's. Both are top notch speakers.

 

[theebadone]

I use both, the 4410s and 4412s. I have not been able to warm up to the 4412s yet, maybe they are just too sterile, or i shouldn't use them at the same time. The 4410s sound much more like a regular consumer model JBL, when compared to the 4412. The 4412s are rated for 150 watts, and to really get the most out of them a 200 w.p.c. amp does best, like Zilch said the 4410 and 4412 will play (stupid loud) after listening to them, its not hard to understand why they were Zilchs' favorite studio monitors.

 

[EQmeat]

I have the 4412 stacked on top of the L100t to save space. I am currently single and can get away with a little over kill.