JBL 2202H/2202J (1980)
The JBL 2202H and its 16-ohm sibling, the 2202J, are 30 cm (12-inch) cone mid-woofers introduced in 1980 for the middle and low range of four-way systems. They were priced at ¥52,000 per unit around 1981. The 2202H is best known as the mid-bass driver in JBL's flagship 4350B and 4355 studio monitors, where it sat in a sealed sub-enclosure inside the main cabinet.
The driver is rated at 300W continuous program power, with a sensitivity of 99 dB/W/m and a frequency band of 60 Hz to 4 kHz. JBL specified a fairly wide enclosure volume range of 57 to 113 liters. The magnetic circuit has a flux density of 12,000 gauss, said to be equivalent to what you'd find in a 38 cm unit. That gave it headroom for sound reinforcement duty as well as studio use.
Known Specifications
- Impedance: 2202H — 8 Ω; 2202J — 16 Ω
- Allowable input (continuous program): 300W
- Sound pressure level: 99 dB/W/m
- Frequency band: 60 Hz – 4 kHz (f₀ 50 Hz)
- Magnetic flux density: 12,000 gauss
- Enclosure volume: 57 – 113 L
- Dimensions: 311 mm diameter × 111 mm depth
- Weight: 9.4 kg
- Thiele-Small: fₛ 50 Hz, Qₜₛ 0.16, Qₘₛ 3.5, Qₑₛ 0.17, Vₐₛ 90 L, S_D 0.051 m², X_max 3.5 mm, V_D 185.5 cm², Lₑ 1.1 mH, Pₑ(max) 150W continuous sine
Surviving documentation on the 2202H/2202J is thin beyond the spec sheet. There are no period reviews of the driver in the archive, and little is recorded about how users received it at the time. The record does show its role: a professional-grade transducer built for specific, demanding applications, most notably the 4350B and 4355 monitors, rather than a general-purpose consumer woofer. Recone kits are still available from specialist suppliers.
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