Old-School Looks, Modern Horn Sound: JBL 4349 Bookshelf Loudspeaker Features Patented High-Definition Imaging Technology, Plays with Beguiling Liveliness, Detail, and Authority

The classic, old-school studio-monitor looks of the JBL 4349 bookshelf loudspeaker are timeless – a satin, furniture-grade, wood-veneer cabinet paired with a blue baffle and a cloth grille. As for the sound: True to JBL's unprecedented heritage, yet utterly modern in that you likely never expected a two-way horn model to play with such exceptional detail, uniform directivity, and striking cohesiveness. The result is music reproduction marked by a beguiling combination of liveliness, presence, authority, and accuracy that in-class traditional speakers cannot produce.

Designed and engineered in JBL's world-famous acoustic engineering facility in Northridge, California, the 83-pound 4349 features a patented High-Definition Imaging (HDI) horn molded in Sonoglass, a patented D2415K dual 1.5-inch compression driver, and a massive 12-inch, cast-frame, pure-pulp cone woofer for powerful dynamics and incredible precision. High-frequency and ultra-high-frequency tonal adjusters are located on the front panel below the horn and allow you to tailor the sound to your specific environment and preference. They work in conjunction with an advanced crossover network design that boasts air-core inductors, cast wire-wound resistors, and low-ESR metallized film capacitors in a multi-cap configuration. The latter technique improves series capacitance by averaging their values while lowering ESR and distortion.

Inside, the D2415K compression driver benefits from the advanced research and applications derived from JBL Professional's D2 range. At its core, a pair of lightweight, polymer, annular diaphragms improve high-frequency extension by reducing diaphragm mass. The V-shaped geometry of the annular diaphragm reduces breakup modes, thus eliminating time smear and reducing distortion. From a technical standpoint, the "D" prefix indicates the driver utilizes dual diaphragms, dual voice coils, and dual motors for wonderful efficiency. Equally impressive, the woofer employs a three-inch long-throw voice coil in conjunction with dual opposing spider dampers to guarantee maximum output with significantly reduced distortion.

On the exterior, one-inch-thick walls provide heavy bracing, supply a rock-solid foundation, and incorporate a bass-reflex design with dual front-firing, computer-optimized flared ports. For flexibility, dual sets of gold-plated binding posts provide a secure connection and offer a choice of single-ended or bi-wire/bi-amplified connections. JBL's five-year warranty and our 100% Music Direct Satisfaction Guarantee do everything else but place the 29 x 17.5 x 13.5-inch (HWD) 4349 on the optional JS-120 stands.

"The JBL 4349 made instruments sound like real instruments. I know this sounds obvious, but even some fairly refined speakers may sound great without making the music sound real.... I applaud JBL's choices, and the 4349 Studio Monitor is worth a listen and, in my opinion, an instant classic."
—Graig Neville, Part-Time Audiophile, Reviewers Choice Award

"They sound big, with abundant energy to match, and are backed up with delectable bass handling. They aren't sniffy about what you power them with, either. Fans of the form factor, with low-power tubes, will surely lap them up."
—Mark Craven, Hi-Fi News, Highly Commended review

"[These speakers offer] thrilling energy; supreme bass; [and a] very deep soundstage."
—Hi-Fi Choice, five-star review

"I race vintage race cars and there's something about driving a vintage car that gives a visceral feel that many modern vehicles can't match.... [There] are folks who like the most cutting-edge supercar, while others appreciate the modernization of a classic. Both are valid pursuits and have a following, and much like [an] upgraded vintage V8 pony car, the JBL 4349 is a serious and enjoyable product that I will be sad to see go. It does things that no other speaker I've had in my system does—and I'll miss those things. I consider the 4349 to be a modern implementation of a classic that will stand up to the test of time."
—Graig Neville, Part-Time Audiophile, Reviewers Choice Award

"The JBL 4349 [are] not like other speakers. They are much bolder!...[They offer] delicious, hard-hitting, warm, and addictive sound."
—Geir Nordby, L&B Tech Reviews