JBL 4312SE - 70th Anniversary speakers ...

[joeinid]

I couldn’t resist anymore and picked up a pair of these babies. I can’t consider them audiophile speakers but what a fun listen. Full and ballsy, wonderful presence and great tone. I have not been able to fully figure out what makes them different from my 4312D but they are a lot heavier to start, so the magnets have to be beffier. They feel easy to drive and cast a big soundstage.

https://jblsynthesis.com/productdetail/id_4312se.html

[Mike]

WOOT!! Congrats Joe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[puroagave]

Congrats Joe. what swayed your decision over say the L100 that's being reintroduced?

[Sean]

Congrats Joe!

[joeinid]

I don’t think the L100 has been released yet but now that I look at them, my curiosity is piqued. Not sure why I fixated on these but I really love them.

I’m getting more information on the new L100 Classic. I might have to get them as well. I’m becoming a JBL fan these days.

Also I didn’t realize the price difference, maybe I just assumed the L100 weren’t as good. I don’t know the history of them. They were a little before my time.

Congrats Joe. what swayed your decision over say the L100 that's being reintroduced?

[joeinid]

Congrats Joe!

Thanks Sean. I’m trying to be a little more financially judicious

[CPP]

My jbl dealer has 2 pair of L100's on order I can't wait to hear them

[rrwmd]

Nice, Joe! You've got quite a selection of JBLs now.

[joeinid]

My jbl dealer has 2 pair of L100's on order I can't wait to hear them

If you get to hear them, please let us know. I’m more curious now.

[joeinid]

Nice, Joe! You've got quite a selection of JBLs now.

Thanks Rance. I guess we are JBL fans. And, they aren’t break the bank expensive.

[Sean]

Can’t argue with that. I’m glad the JBL’s are rocking.

What amp(s) have you been using mostly?

Thanks Sean. I’m trying to be a little more financially judicious

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[joeinid]

I just started with the Job INTegrated to help with break in. Next will be the XA25 followed by the Dags. I think a sweet tube amp like a CJ or Primaluna could be perfect.

[puroagave]

I don’t think the L100 has been released yet but now that I look at them, my curiosity is piqued. Not sure why I fixated on these but I really love them.

I’m getting more information on the new L100 Classic. I might have to get them as well. I’m becoming a JBL fan these days.

Also I didn’t realize the price difference, maybe I just assumed the L100 weren’t as good. I don’t know the history of them. They were a little before my time.

AFAIK the 4312 is the pro version of the L100, at least back in the day. today's versions are probably only similar in name only as they've taken advantage of the latest tech w/o (hopefully) dissing the spirit in which the originals were conceived.

My buddy has an orig pair of 4312s he bought new in the '70s and I must say they have a certain something--or what the French refer to as je ne sais quoi--missing from almost every audiophile approved speaker of today. The JBLs don't give you pinpoint imagery, or a well defined soundstage with precise depth, side to side instrument positioning etc, they only suggest it (kinda like real life). But when you hear a kick drum, bass guitar or power cord from a Les Paul...oh boy! what a treat. Like I said before, If I want to play Led Zep, The James Gang, Humble Pie, Free or AC/DC...its going to be over JBLs

[joeinid]

My 4312SE are impressing me more and more as they play. I’m really happy with them.

[joeinid]

The new L100 Classic is available for preorder sometime next month and hopefully shipping by the end of August or early September.

[jdandy]

Joe.......Very cool speakers. Good to see JBL offer a special edition of the classic 4312 speaker.

I purchased a pair of JBL 4312A speakers new in 1980 and have enjoyed them through all of these years. I currently have them in a vintage system powered with a 58 year old McIntosh MA230 integrated amplifier, a solid state preamp and tube power amp. The speakers and integrated amp are still producing great music.

[joeinid]

What a nice system Dan. I’m sure it sounds awesome. For not a lot of money by today’s standards, these speakers rock. Long live JBL.

[jdandy]

Joe.......You're right, the JBL 4312A with the McIntosh MA230 integrated amplifier sounds remarkably clean and dynamic. 30 watts per channel of tube power from the very musical 7591 output tubes makes for an enjoyable listening experience.

In case you are interested, the stands under my 4312A's are copies of the original JBL stands that were sold in the 1980's. I made mine from solid oak and stained them to match the walnut cabinets of the speakers. Here's a photo of the pair of stands I made and the dimension drawings in case you might want to make a pair of stands or have a pair made.

[joeinid]

Hi Dan,

Those look nice but I need the height in this room with the JBLs. These feel really efficient and I'm so curious what a decent, modestly powered tube amp will sound like on them.

[jdandy]

Joe.......The JBL spec sheet on my 4312A's show a sensitivity of 91dB/1-watt/1-meter. The JBL 4312SE 70th Anniversary spec sheet shows a 90dB/1-watt/1-meter sensitivity. Both speakers are quite tube amp friendly.

[joeinid]

I'd love to hear a MC275 VI on mine

Joe.......The JBL spec sheet on my 4312A's show a sensitivity of 91dB/1-watt/1-meter. The JBL 4312SE 70th Anniversary spec sheet shows a 90dB/1-watt/1-meter sensitivity. Both speakers are quite tube amp friendly.

[Sean]

I'd love to hear a MC275 VI on mine

Do it.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[joeinid]

Do it.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jdandy]

Hi Dan,

Those look nice but I need the height in this room with the JBLs. These feel really efficient and I'm so curious what a decent, modestly powered tube amp will sound like on them.

Joe.......Right now I have my JBL 4312A's on Bell'O speaker stands in the studio control room on either side of my Roland Fantom X6 keyboard. The JBL's work real well on stands like this, too.

[Joe P]

Joe, a new amp for you to try on the JBLs:

https://audiobacon.net/2018/06/19/ch...ut-compromise/

[joeinid]

Joe.......Right now I have my JBL 4312A's on Bel-O speaker stands in the studio control room on either side of my Roland Fantom X6 keyboard. The JBL's work real well on stands like this, too.

Awesome Dan! I like it.

Joe, a new amp for you to try on the JBLs:

https://audiobacon.net/2018/06/19/ch...ut-compromise/

Looks interesting. I'd love to hear it.

[jdandy]

Joe.......I don't know if you have speaker stands for your new JBL 4312SE speakers, but if not you may want to check out Bell'O. Your black JBL's would look very nice on a pair of the Bell'O stands. http://bello.com/sp224.php



My pair of Bell'O stands are the SP200. They are capable of supporting 100 pounds each.





http://bello.com/sp200.php

[joeinid]

I’ll check those out. I’ll need to see how tall they are and how sturdy. I’m using my stands from my old Harbeth 40.1 that I used to own. I added a tile on top with an isolation pad underneath. Height is perfect and I don’t notice any issues but a more dedicated solution might be nice.

[Jack]

Joe

With the width and weight of those speakers you may have to use a pair of Center Channel stands.

https://www.standsandmounts.com/spea...Speaker+Stands

[joeinid]

Those look interesting too. Hmmmm. I’ll have to measure what my speaker height is now and look for a stand close to what I like.

[Jack]

Joe

Just from looking around it appears that Harbeth 40.x stands are around 14 inches high so one of the 13 inch stands plus the Iso-Acoustics Iso-Pods would put you in the "sweet spot" and hold the speakers firm plus add extra isolation. For the "big" 4367's a variation of Dan's plans would seem to work but just twice as wide.

[joeinid]

The stands that I have are probably a little higher. Total height now with the tile and isolation pad brings the bottom of the speakers up to 21”. I really like this setup. Having a dedicated one piece stand around this height would be perfect, I think.

[Jack]

Joe

This is a custom shop in Pa.

http://www.gwizpro.com/index.php

[Spr123]

Hello, do you still have your JBL 4312se’s? I just purchased a pair from Music Direct to add to my stable to be used with my line magnetic 219ia amp and LSA integrated. Just got them, I have some questions. They sound a little confused and mushy, does that change with break in? Also any setup tips?
Thank you
Stephen

[Spr123]

Hello Joe, I just purchased a new pair of JBL 4312se’s from Music Direct. The question I have is right now they sound confused and a little loose and mushy. Will that change during break in? What other changes occur and any set up tips. I am using two amps with them, a line magnetic 219ia and an LSA Signature both integrated amps.
Thank you
Stephen

[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum Stephen, thank you for joining.

Congratulations on the 4312SE. I still have and love mine. What stands are you using? I have mine about 3-4 feet from the front wall, slightly toed in and the bass/treble controls centered. I never thought they were mushy. I like the 12" woofer and think it's pretty good.

With more break in they sounded a little smother and more coherent to me.

Hello, do you still have your JBL 4312se’s? I just purchased a pair from Music Direct to add to my stable to be used with my line magnetic 219ia amp and LSA integrated. Just got them, I have some questions. They sound a little confused and mushy, does that change with break in? Also any setup tips?
Thank you
Stephen

Hello Joe, I just purchased a new pair of JBL 4312se’s from Music Direct. The question I have is right now they sound confused and a little loose and mushy. Will that change during break in? What other changes occur and any set up tips. I am using two amps with them, a line magnetic 219ia and an LSA Signature both integrated amps.
Thank you
Stephen

[Spr123]

I am using the 13” VIT center channel, they work very well. They are also raked back a little bit.

[joeinid]

Stephen,

Please don’t forget that the LM219ia is barely 24wpc. If I remember correctly the 4312SE are 90dB at 6 ohms. Not totally inefficient but not what I would consider optimal for that amp. I had that integrated on more efficient speakers and thought it wasn’t enough. I’m not a volume head but even for me, the LM219 couldn’t cut it. I would’ve needed much more efficient speakers to make the LM sing.

[Spr123]

I have a small room and I can crank it pretty good with the JBL’s with only using a few watts. The 219ia is a monster amp and sounds much more powerful than its 24 Watts. I also have an LSA Signature integrated amp and I think the JBL’s like tubes better. I have some Zu’s and some new Heresy’s also. The 219ia with the Heresy’s is pure magic.

[Spr123]

Joe, you are absolutely right. The more I listened the more I found that the JBL’s didn’t play well with the LM 219ia tube amp, not until I put my LSA Signature 150 watt hybrid integrated with the JBL’s did they come alive. I was very disappointed in them till I switched amps, and what a transformation. They are great speakers.

[joeinid]

As much as I wanted to love the LM219, it was not suitable for a lot of my speakers.

I’m so happy that you tried a different amp. It’s really amazing when you find something that works on your speakers. I’m a big JBL fan and they do need a little juice, preferably a little sweeter than neutral to really shine.

Thank you for the update, enjoy!