JBL 2205A/2205B/2205C (1971 – )
The JBL 2205 series is a 38 cm (15-inch) cone woofer built for heavy duty. It was meant to go on an infinite baffle or in a bass reflex enclosure and run in a large theater or hall. It was released in 1971 at ¥83,800 per unit in Japan, with a later circa 1978 price of ¥56,000. The series came in three impedance variations: the 2205A at 8 Ω, the 2205B at 16 Ω, and the 2205C at 32 Ω.
The voice coil and pole piece gap is set to a minimum of 0.36 mm. The long cone and label system was designed to reduce mechanical failure and allow continuous use at high volume. The magnet is Alnico, with a magnetic flux density of 11,500 gauss, and the magnetic circuit weighs 5.9 kg. Rated input is 150W continuous program, sensitivity is 96 dB (New JIS), and the frequency characteristic runs from 30 Hz to 2 kHz with an fo of 25 Hz. Recommended enclosure volume is 170 to 225 liters, and the recommended crossover frequency is 800 Hz. The driver is 146 mm deep and weighs 7.5 kg.
Enthusiast discussion places the 2205A as the pro version of the D140F. It has a paper dust cap rather than the aluminum one on the K140, so it lacks that driver's upper-midrange peak, and it was intended for duty below roughly 250 Hz. One owner running a 2205A in a 1962-63 B15N calls the sound "absolutely incredible." Another, using them in JBL 4560 cabinets, notes the horn-loaded character of that enclosure. Thiele-Small parameters circulating on the audioheritage.org forum give fs = 30 Hz, Qt = 0.21, and Vas = 297.3 liters.
Documentation on this model is thin. There is no formal review from the period press in the record, and the production end year isn't confirmed. Owners reputedly find these drivers tough and classic sounding.
- Type: 38 cm cone woofer (15")
- Impedance: 2205A: 8 Ω / 2205B: 16 Ω / 2205C: 32 Ω
- Rated input: 150W continuous program
- Sensitivity: 96 dB (New JIS)
- Frequency range: 30 Hz – 2 kHz
- fo: 25 Hz
- Voice coil diameter: 10.2 cm
- Magnet: Alnico, 11,500 gauss
- Enclosure volume: 170–225 L
- Depth: 146 mm / Weight: 7.5 kg
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