![]() When I played a variety of sources (turntable record, cassette tape and FM radio) into these speakers, there was no sign of any one frequency towering over or lacking as compared to the others. There is plenty of bass, a good clear midrange and sharply defined treble output. The good news is that these speakers have incredible output quality. I wasn't sure if they would be suitable for use with my receiver or not, but they arrived and I hooked them up to find out. Then I came across a listing for the JBL 2600 stereo loudspeakers. I started looking for speakers on eBay and was pretty discouraged with everything I found at the time-all the offerings were at the extremes of expensive high end equipment or cheap no-name junk. Although the receiver itself was a JC Penney all-in-one unit of modest quality from the mid-80s, it still played well once restored and had a decent 2x30 watt power output rating. None of these things are deal-breakers provided care is taken with system matching.I recently repaired and restored an old stereo receiver, which put me in the market for a pair of decent speakers to go with it. The high frequencies could certainly be sweeter and the midrange is on the leaner side of neutral, which robs the sound of a little natural warmth. Here we become more aware of their clarity and fine musical cohesion.īy the highest standards, it’s possible to point to a lack of sonic refinement. Yet when the pace slows with The Wall, the 4309 are happy to calm down. Things are good rhythmically with a fine, strong sense of drive. Springsteen's voice comes through clearly and is rendered with all the grit and passion it deserves. If you need something to go louder than these, you either have a very large room or very understanding neighbours, or probably both. ![]() When pushed hard there’s little sign of stress or strain at anything that can be described as reasonable levels. They have the attack to make the most of Ghost Of Tom Joad and are pleased to work at high-output volumes. We switch to Bruce Springsteen’s High Hopes set and these JBLs sound right at home. Integration between the two drive units is pretty good, too. While the lows don’t quite match the mid and higher frequencies when it comes to outright precision, they’re still taut and tuneful by most standards. It helps that the bass performance is full-bodied and punchy. The 4309 are bold performers that deliver a degree of muscularity that not only belies their relatively modest dimensions but also sets the standard at this level. These JBLs excel at conveying dynamics large-scale shifts grow with authority while low-level nuances are treated with all the finesse they deserve. When we listen to a well-produced recording, such as the Jurassic Park OST by John Williams, the soundstage is a little concentrated and less airy than some, but we're pleased to note that each instrument is precisely placed, and that doesn’t waver as the music becomes more demanding. Placed this way, on solid stands, we get a nice even tonal balance with layered and crisply focussed stereo imaging. ![]() These JBLs work best around 80cm out into our test rooms, and away from the side walls, firing pretty much straight ahead. At just + or -1dB you can’t alter things too much, but it’s enough to help in fine-tuning the performance without changing the speaker's overall character much. We play with the front panel high-frequency tone control and find that it’s possible to make subtle adjustments to the overall balance. The front-footed sonic signatures of the two products dovetail beautifully. While we use our usual reference Burmester 088/911 Mk III pre/power amplifier for some of the testing, it’s the partnership with Naim’s more price compatible, and let’s not forget multiple Award-winning, Nait XS3 integrated that really clicks. A sensitivity of 87dB/W/m is pretty standard but the claimed nominal impedance of 4 ohms suggests that something with a bit of muscle might work best. The 4309 perform best when driven by an amplifier that has a bit of grunt. Some will love the retro studio monitor vibe and others won’t. Either way, regardless of finish, there’s no denying that visually these standmounters are a bit of an acquired taste. The cabinets are available in two finishes – walnut with blue speaker grilles or black walnut with black grilles. These are premium speakers and certainly feel it. ![]()
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