4343 vs 4430 experience

[Mr. Widget]

Originally posted by slxrti
I still have a pair of alnico slots, on certain types of music they can sound wonderful with the 2307 horn. But after about 15 minutes of listening to varies types of music I have to turn it off. I felt the same about the L300's. It did not matter where they were place. I new where they were. With the 4430's if I darken the room and relaxed the musician would appear. I never achieve that effect with the slots /2307 combo.

The slot's are brighter than the baby cheeks but at the cost of
resolution. A snare drum sounded blurred, yet the baby cheeks did not have the same effect. Even a novice listener noticed this.


The above are my observation and other opinion are appreciated

slxrti

I know exactly what you mean! In general I have had the exact same personal experience. Don't blame the slot though. When used properly it can sound exceptionally good. It needs a steep crossover slope and I prefer it at or above 10KHz.

For years I thought of the 077/2405 as an implement of aural torture, but after learning how to tame it, I discovered they can be enjoyed for hours on end.

[Mr. Widget]

Originally posted by Giskard
Hey! Me too!
I placed a 1k ohm resistor in series with it and presto! Instant love!

That will certainly tame them!

[Ian Mackenzie]

Here we go again, another rant and I haven't even got my 4345 going yet......

Ian

[Ian Mackenzie]

That okay,

My don't we start the vintage 43xx club with Don's new project underway

Actually a mini baby cheek moulded into the upper cheek as a super tweeter could be cool

Maybe Jon and help with a prototype..muhahahah.

I get the impression GT was impressed with Jons horns.

Ian

[slxrti]

I don't have an issue with the 43xx series. I try to share what I learned with others and hopefully others will share their insight with me. With that said, I entertain all comment
good or bad about either series. (It just so happens that I have a pair of 4311 in the closet).

If the 43xx series flip’s your switch do what make you happy and share the result us!!!

slxrti

[IDF]

Since last weekend, I've set up an a/b comparison between pairs of 4343s and 4340s.

The amplifiers are virtually the same - 200 watt Mac on the 4343s vs 250 for the 4430.

Both systems are biamplified with JBL 5235 crossovers with the appropriate cards.

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Hi John,

Could you please tell us what were the L-Pad setting for both models during this test?

Thank you.

Phil

[John Nebel]

Phil,

The L-pads were all set on zero. In the case of the 4343s, that was the setting which gave +/- 3db response to 1/3 octave pink noise measured close to the listening position.

The 4430s are recent interlopers and have not been measured all that carefully.

John

[4313B]

At one point I owned the 4343B and the 4430 concurrently. I still own the 4430. Back in the 70's and very early 80's the 43xx were simply too cool to resist.

If I still owned my 4343B's they would be running the 4344/4345 filter and if I went out and sought a stock 43xx today I would most likely choose the 4345.

If I were to put any extra time and effort into one of the old 4-way systems I would most likely tri-amp and use the highest quality passive components between the exponential horn/CD and the slot loaded ring radiator. If I'm not mistaken, Ian bought Hovlands for his filters and I am very anxious to see what he thinks of them in this application!

One can ignore my personal slights on the slot loaded ring radiators and exponential horns. (Sorry! ) It's no secret that I am no longer a fan of exponential horns. That's a personal choice formed after years of listening to them. As for the slot loaded ring radiator, it first became available around 1970. It is still sold today as a 100% viable UHF solution. That is quite an illustrious run for a transducer

[Robh3606]

Thanks for posting this! I have been setting up to try a 4344 like set-up. I have 2344 and think they are great horns. I wanted to do a similar comparison to see which I liked best. I have never heard a pair of 4344 so I really don't know what to expect. All the set-ups I have had have been hybrids of one form or another never the "real deal" so I wanted to give the 4430/4344 a go to see what they were like.

Rob

[Ian Mackenzie]

My plan is to get them to testing stage in about 3 weeks (weekends).

All I can say is the jig test fitup was quite promising, and nothing like my recollection of the 4333.

Ian

[Ralf]

If one day anybody will messure out a 4430 cabinet and post the results here, we (Guido and me) will run a real subjective a/b test...

Is anybody here, who knows what I mean?

If you want results bevor end of century, you have to hurry up... :-)

[4313B]

Originally posted by Ralf
Is anybody here, who knows what I mean?

I think I know what you mean. You're expiration date is sometime before the new century so you would like some answers beforehand? I've already done extensive A/B of the 4430 and the 4343 so I'm not really in any kind of hurry. I'll try to get some numbers to you guys in the next day or so. Are you wanting to build the 4430's 100% stock?

[Guido]

Let the measuring start!

Fortunately one is willing to support us crazy two germans

Looking forward to your numbers. Thanks Giskard

Oh, not to forget: 99,5% stock! The bracing we can manage ourself.

[Ralf]

Originally posted by Giskard
Are you wanting to build the 4430's 100% stock?

100%, yes. The network is ready. New reconed 2235 are waiting for jump in new home...the wood arrived last week...the buzz is running...trap...trap...trap...waiting for the measurements....

[Tom Loizeaux]

Following Giskard's suggestions, I just finished bypassing the crossovers in my last pair of studio monitors. The 4343s got AudioCaps while the 4333Bs and the 4320s got Daytons. I've been switching these speakers around each week or so - and I must say they ALL sound great! I listened to several of my favorite CDs yesterday (Fourplay, Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Bob James and Sarah McLachlan) on the 4320s, since I had just added bypass caps to the 3106 crossovers. I was very pleased with the clarity of these speakers. Then I switched over to the 4333Bs. I slid them around and repatched the wires from my bi-amp stack. Wow, these were great too! They seemed to have a little more boom in the low end then the 4320s, but I always tweak the crossover balance when I change speakers. As I've said before, the 4343s seem to go a little deeper then these others and the mids are slightly more full and smoother then the 3-ways.
I don't seem to have any problem listening to these 2307 or 2312 horns with the slant plates and really like the 2405s.
Anyway, add me to the list of people who are content with the 3 and 4-way vintage JBL studio monitors.

Tom