JBL 4400A Series User manual

STUDIO MONITORS
4400A
SERIES

Table ofContents
Introduction 5
Quick Set-Up Guide 6
Features 7
Placement8
Connection9
Power Requirements9
Component Repair/Replacement10/14
Specifications15

Introduction
Congratulationsonchoosing JBL 4400ASeriesStudioMonitors.Youhaveselected
thehighestqualitycompactmonitorsdesignedspecificallyforthemusical needs of
the90s andbeyond.Designedformaximumsonicaccuracy,achievedthrough
balancedfrequencyresponse,lowdistortioncharacteristics,andcontrolledoff-
axis response,4400ASeriesmonitorssignificantlyreducetheelementsthatcan
causelistener fatigue whencomparedtoothermonitors,andseta newstandardof
performance.

Quick Set-Up Guide
6
Compact studiomonitorsaremostoftenusedinsmallercontrolrooms,positioned
fairly close tothelistener.Asshowninthe illustration (Fig. 1), theidealpositioning
formonitorsinclose-proximityapplicationsis atop orjustbehindthe console
meterbridge,approximately1-1.5meters(3- 5 ft) from thetypicallistening
position.Theycanbepositionedfurtherawayifnecessary,withoutcompromising
performance.Forbestresults, particularly with regardstooptimumstereo
imaging,positionthetwoloudspeakerssothattheyformanequal-sided(equilat-
eral) triangle with thelistener.Thehighfrequency on-axisoutputshouldbe
alignedatthelistenereye level, just above earlevel(Fig.2).
Features
JBL 4400ASeriesmonitorsaredieresultof years ofexperienceinthedesignand
manufactureof precision loudspeaker components andsystemsforstudiomonitor
applications.Numerousrecordings,as well astelevisionandmoviesoundtracks
have been mixedovertheprevious4400Series,establishinga reputationfor
excellencethatwouldbehardtotop.Tomeetthechallenge,JBLengineers
consulteda numberofrecording/mixingengineerstoquantifytheirindividual
needs from a monitorloudspeaker.Prototypeswererepeatedlyauditionedin
working commericalstudiostosubjectivelyandscientificallymeasureacoustical
impactofreflectionsoffthemixingconsole,typicalDsteningdistancesandearlevel
as well asotherelementsof the listeningenvironment. This data,along with that
gatheredthroughtraditionallaboratorytesting methods andextensivelistening
sessionsby JBL staff,revealedkeydesignconsiderationsthatareclearlyaddressed
in the4400ASeries.
The resultis4400A Series: mirror-imagedsystemsthatdeliverthelowestpossible
distortion, extremely smooth frequency response,highpowerhandlingandsuperb
imaging.
(Fig. 1)
(Fig. 2)

Placement
4400A Seriesmonitorsareavailableas muuTor-imaged pairstoacliieveasymmetri-
cal wavefront.Forbestresults,therearea fewgeneralplacementguidelinesthat
shouldbefollowed.Theyare:
1. Listening Distance: Havingevaluatednumerousstudioenvironments,itwas
determinedthatclose-proximitymonitorsaregenerallyplaced 1 to1.5meters(3
to 5 ft) from thecommonlisteningposition,typicallyoverthemeterbridgeorjust
behindonstands.While4400ASeriesmonitors will deliverexcellentperformance
at almostanylisteningdistance,the 1 to1.5meterrangeusuallyprovidesgreater
controloverlisteningroominteraction, particularly when thecontrolroomisnot
an optimizedcontrolroom.Withthis In mind,pleaseseeFig.1,"Quick Set-Up
Guide"fora visual guide onrecommendedplacementandpositioning.
2. Vertical vs. Horizontal Orientation: Models 4408Aand 441 OAwere
engineeredtodeliverbestresultswhenpositioned vertically. However,the4408A
canalsobeusedhorizontally with minimalimpactonperformance.The4412Ais
designedtobepositionedhorizontally.
3- Angling Towards the ListeningArea: AsillustratedinFig.1,themonitors
shouldbeangledsotheydirectly face thelistener.Thecenterofthehigh
frequency transducershouldbeonaxis with thelistenereye level.
4. Placement Near Walls: Ina typicalcommercialstudioenvironment,close-
proximity monitorsareusuallylocatedina fairly open area,awayfrom walls.
However,thelimitedspaceinmost home studiosorvideopostproduction work
centersoftenplacestheloudspeakersnear walls orcomersoftheroom.You
shouldkeepinmindthattheplacementof any speakersystemneara wall(s) will
affectlow frequency responseand change thesystem'stonalbalance.4400A
Seriesmonitorsexhibitthemostbalancedfrequency responsewhenlocatedaway
from walls.
5. Mi nor-Imaging - Which is 'Left'and Which is 'Right?: Aspreviously
mentioned,4400ASeriesmonitorsareavailableasmirror-imaged pairs. Inother
words, thereareunitsthataredesignatedas'Left'and'Right'.Undernormal
circumstances,thehighfrequency elementsaretobelocatedtotheoutside edge of
theenclosure.Again,referringtothe"QuickSetUpGuide"andFig. 1, theideal
set-upisthatof an equilateraltrianglewherethespeakersareasfarapartfrom
eachotherastheyarefrom you.Shouldyourspace/placement restrictions force
youtoplacetheloudspeakersfartherapartthantheirdistancefrom you,locating
thehighfrequency elementstotheinsidemay yield betterimaging.
6. Stray Magnetic Fields: 4400ASeriesmonitorscontainextremelyhighquality
components thatdependonpowerful magnets forsuperiorperformance.The
highflux ofthese magnets cancausestraymagneticfields toaffecttheperformance
ofvideomonitors,computersorothermagneticallysensitiveequipment.Itis
recommendedthatthesemonitorloudspeakersbeplacednocloserthan450mm
(approximately 18 inches)tomagnetically sensitive equipment.Shouldyouneed
magneticallyslueldedloudspeakersystems,pleasecontactyourlocal JBL dealeror
thefactoryforinformationonControlSeriesor4200Seriesmonitors.
Connection
4400A Seriesmonitorsareequipped with 5-waybindingpostinputconnectors.
Positive voltage totheviRed"(+)terminal will producea fowardmotioninthelow
frequency cone.Theconnectorsaredesignedtoacceptupto12AWGbare wire,
Spade Lugsora standardBananajack.Spacingofthetwoinputterminalsis
intendedtoallowuseofa standardDualBananajack.
Useonlytwo-conductorinsulatedspeaker wire, preferablyofa gauge nosmaller
than 16 AWG. Cable innsexceeding10meters(30ft) shouldbe made with a
heavier wire, 14or12AWG.
Power Requirements
Asa generallysafeguideline, JBL recommendsthatyourpoweramplifier'soutput
rating benolessthantheratedmaximumpowerhandlingoftheloudspeaker
system. A quitecommonbutinaccurateassumptionisthata poweramplifier
whoseoutputpowerratingislowerthanthestatedspeakerpowerhandlingis
incapableof damaging theloudspeaker.Tothe contrary! Thehighest percentage
ofcomponentfailuresoccurwhentheamplifiercannotdeliverclean,
nndistortedpowertotheloudspeakers.Fora moredetailedexplanation, write to
IBL andrequesttheTechnical Note entitled"Danger:LowPower."
8 9

UBL
Component Repair/Replacement
4408A 4410A
liscuiclicon
Port Tube
Cabinft
Speaker. Hi Freq.
Speaker. LowFreq
Screw (4)
Inpul
Terminal Cup
HonTube
Kscuiclieon
Gasket
Speaker. Hi Frcq.
Gasket
Screw ( H )
Speaker. Mid Frcq
Screw N)
Screw ( H )
Speaker. LowFreq.
Gasket
Cabinet
Network
Screw(M)
Casket
Sere* (I)
Input
Terminal Cup
10
11
Gaskei
Screw (H)
Network
Screw(H)
Grille
Grille

Screw (4)
Screw (4)
Shouldyonexperiencea componentfailure,itisrecommendedthatyoutakethe
defectivesystemtothenearestauthorized JBL ServiceCenterforproperservice.
To obtainthenameandlocationoftherepaircenternearestyou,contactyour
localdealer/distributororthefactoryat:
JBL Professional
P.O.Box2200
8500 Balboa Blvd.
Northridge,CA91329 U.S.A.
[phone]
Component Removal
If therearenoauthorizedservicecentersnearyouandyour monitor(s) should
require repair,itmaybenecessarytoshipthedefectivecomponenttothenearest
repair center.Inthisevent,itishighlyrecommendedthatthedefectivecomponent
beremovedfrom theenclosureandshippedseparately. This will preventthe
possibility offreight damage totheenclosure.
Removing tlw Low frequency Transducer: TheLFtransducerismountedtothe
baffle \viili four screws. BeforeattemptingtoremovetheLFtransducerfrom the
baffle, first laytheenclosureonitsback.Togainaccesstothe LF transducer,
removethegrillebycarefullypullingitawayfrom thebaffle.A tightfittinggrille
mayrequirethatyou lift eachcomera littlebitata time.
Removethefourscrewswhichholdthecomponentinplace.Thecomponent
shouldeasily lift outofthebaffle.Disconnecttheleadsfrom theterminals.
Carefully package thecomponentpriortoshipping.
Removing the Midrange and High Frequency Dome; Thesetransducersareheld
in place with four screws. It shouldbe relatively easyto lift thetransducersoutof
their placeonthebaffle once thesescrewsareremoved.However,sometimesthe
devicesmayappeargluedinplaceanddonoteasily lift out. Tliis canhappenwhen
paintedsurfacesarenotcompletelydryandthepressureappliedbythemounting
screws causesa slightbondingofsurfaces.Witha steadyhand,usea sharp edged
tool(i.e.a knife)to lift the edge ofthemounting flange awayfrom theenclosure.
4412A
13
12
Gaskei
Speaker,Lim Freq.
Network
Speaker.Mid Freq.
Screw (4)
Grille
Gasket
Gaskei
Screw {\).
Speaker,Hi Freq.
Port Tube
Escutcheon Cabinet
Screw (4)
Input
Terminal Cup

Specifications
Reconnecting Repaired or Replacement Components: Thecrossovernetworks
containedin4400ASeriesmonitorsaredesigned with a specificcolor code to
assurecorrect hook-up tothepropercomponents.Thecolor code isasfollows:
Green= LF Positive(+)/Red
Green/Black= LF Negative (-)/Black
White= MFPositive(+)/Red
White/Black= MF Negative (-)/Black
Yellow = HFPositive(+)/Red
Yellow/Black = HF Negative (-)/Black
15
SYSTEM:
vi 08 A 4410A 4412A
Frequency Range ( 10dB): 35 Hz• 30kHz
33 Hz- 30kHz 30Hz
• 30kHz
FrequencyRespond(±2dB): 50Hz- 20kHz 45 H/- 20kHz 45 Hz.- 20kHz
PowerRating: 100watts,pinknoise
125 watts,pinknoise 150watts,pinknoise
Sensitivity
89dBSPL2.83Y @ 1 meter 90dBSPL, 2.83v (d>i meter 89dBSPL2.83V @ 1 meter
NominalImpedance: 8ohms 8ohms 8ohms
CrossoverFrequency: 2.5kHz 900Hz.-4.0kHz 850Hz.4.0kHz
TransducerComplement: 200mm(8in)LFFelled
Cone 250mm(10in)LFAquaplas 300mm(12in)LFAquaplas
2Smm(1in)HFPureTitanium Dome
125 mm(5in) Mtdrange Cone 125 mm(5in)Midrangc Cone
25 mm(1in)HFPureTitanium 25 mm(1in)HFPureTitanium
Dome Dome
GENERAL:
Finish: MaiieGravLaminate
•
Maue GrayLaminate
Maue GravLaminate
*
Grille Color*
Charcoal Charcoal Charcoal
Dimensions(Hx ^ x D):
438 x 305293mm
597 \ 362x 286mm 362\ 59"1x 286mm
17|/t*12x115/8in 231/2x14 1/^x111/4in Hl/4\23t/2xll1/4in
Ueight (each):
12kg{26lbs) 19kg(43Ihs)
21 kg(47Ihs)
Shippingheight (each):
I3.d kg(30lbs)
23 kg(50Ihs)
24 kg(53lbs)

JBL
JBL Professional
8500 Balboa Blvd., Northridge,CA91329USA
AHarmanInternational Company
p/N^fHO