JBL 2353 Bi-Radial Horn
The JBL 2353 is the large-format Bi-Radial horn that sat on top of some of JBL's most revered systems of the late 1970s and 1980s. The L300, 4333, and 4343/4344/4345 studio monitors all used it. It's a cast aluminum horn with a 2-inch exit, made for drivers like the JBL 2445, 2446, and 2450 series. Unlike constant-directivity designs, the Bi-Radial flare expands radially in both planes at different rates. That gives it its distinctive sound.
The horn covers 60° horizontal by 40° vertical, with a rated response of 500 Hz to 20 kHz and sensitivity around 113 dB/W/m when paired with a suitable driver. It's heavy and solid, about 44 lbs and roughly 24.7" × 22.2" × 21.4". Mounting it is awkward, since the driver protrudes well behind the mounting flange. Recommended crossover points are typically 700 Hz (first order) or 800 Hz (second order).
The 2353 sits in the middle of JBL's Bi-Radial family, above the smaller 2350 and 2352 and below the larger 2354 and 2355. It was the direct predecessor to those bigger models, and it's no longer in production. On the used market, pairs typically sell in the $300 - $600 range. Many units are missing original mounting hardware or have stripped threads. It's a raw horn, so buyers need to source drivers and build or buy a crossover themselves. It's a component, not a complete speaker.
Among DIY builders, the 2353 has a strong following. One forum member called it "one of the best-sounding horns I've heard," and the Audiophile catalogue described it as sounding "simply excellent" with very low coloration. The practical complaints are consistent: it's heavy, bulky, and hard to mount. Those who put up with that get high sensitivity and clean, unharsh highs.
- **Type:** Bi-Radial horn (large format, 2" exit)
- **Coverage:** 60° H × 40° V
- **Frequency response:** 500 Hz - 20 kHz
- **Sensitivity:** ~113 dB/W/m (with driver)
- **Dimensions:** 24.7" × 22.2" × 21.4" (628 × 564 × 543 mm)
- **Weight:** 44 lbs (20 kg)
- **Mounting:** Standard JBL 2-bolt / 4-bolt pattern
- **Finish:** Grey or black painted cast aluminum
No original list price or exact production years have been documented. The record on this horn is mostly enthusiast-generated: forum reviews, DIY build threads, and the occasional catalogue listing. The facts that are known are consistent. A period issue of High Fidelity (September 1980, p.121) reprinted a discography of Beethoven recordings.
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