JBL 2220A/2220B/2220C (1971)
The JBL 2220 is a 38 cm (15-inch) cone woofer released in 1971 as part of the JBL Professional Series. It came in three impedance variants - the 2220A at 8 Ω, the 2220B at 16 Ω, and the 2220C at 32 Ω - and the design is otherwise the same. At launch it was priced at ¥73,100 per unit, which was a lot of money and fits its professional aim. By around 1978 the price had come down to ¥52,000.
The 2220 was built for high efficiency. It uses a relatively light cone paper and an Alnico V magnet circuit that weighs 5.9 kg and has a flux density of 12,000 gauss. JBL's design notes point to a few construction details: a curved cone without corrugation, a cone suspension with a special damper system, and a voice coil gap of 0.36 mm or less. The voice coil is a 4-inch copper ribbon wire type. Sensitivity is rated at 101 dB/W/m, frequency response runs from 40 Hz to 2 kHz, resonance frequency (fo) is 37 Hz, and the recommended crossover is 800 Hz. Rated input is 100W continuous program. The driver measures 38.8 cm in diameter, is 149 mm deep, and weighs 7.7 kg.
JBL intended the 2220 for bass horn duty and multi-woofer systems in theaters and halls. Recommended enclosures were large, 170 to 285 liters, or the front-loaded horn 4560. It could also go in a bass reflex cabinet, though JBL noted the bass response would come out a bit lower that way. The baffle opening is 35.5 cm for front mounting or 34.3 cm for rear mounting. Enthusiasts have noted a subtle difference between early and late production 2220s. The late type has a larger damping material applied to the cross edge and shows more supple edge movement.
Documentation on this model is thin. No period reviews, production-year breakdowns for the individual A/B/C variants, or common-failure information surfaced in the research. What the surviving record does show is a serious, high-output professional woofer. One owner described the 2220B's combination of light membrane and strong motor as delivering "a dynamic stunning," and a 2220C owner noted it plays reasonably well even in a relatively small box. The 2220A has also been spotted in guitar amplification duty, notably inside a Music Man RH115 cabinet.
The Japanese audio database audio-database.com records the 2220's release and specifications, and notes it was very expensive at the time of introduction.
Known Specifications
- Type: 38 cm (15") cone woofer
- Impedance: 2220A — 8 Ω / 2220B — 16 Ω / 2220C — 32 Ω
- Rated input: 100W continuous program
- Sensitivity: 101 dB/W/m
- Frequency response: 40 Hz – 2 kHz
- fo: 37 Hz
- Recommended crossover: 800 Hz
- Voice coil: 4" copper ribbon wire
- Magnet: Alnico V, 5.9 kg, 12,000 gauss
- Weight: 7.7 kg
- Dimensions: 38.8 cm dia. × 14.9 cm depth
- Recommended enclosure: 170–285 L, or front-loaded horn 4560
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