JBL 4312SE - 70th Anniversary speakers ...

joeinid

joeinid

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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


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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.

puroagave said:
Congrats Joe. what swayed your decision over say the L100 that's being reintroduced?
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Can’t argue with that. I’m glad the JBL’s are rocking.

What amp(s) have you been using mostly?

joeinid said:
Thanks Sean. I’m trying to be a little more financially judicious :)
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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.
 
joeinid said:
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.
Click to expand...

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 :D
 
My 4312SE are impressing me more and more as they play. I’m really happy with them.
 
The new L100 Classic is available for preorder sometime next month and hopefully shipping by the end of August or early September.
 
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.


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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.
 
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.


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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.......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.
 
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