JBL 2385A Bi-Radial Horn
The JBL 2385A is a professional-grade Bi-Radial horn, a cast-aluminum constant-directivity horn designed to be paired with the JBL 2445J 2" compression driver. This is not a consumer hi-fi speaker — it's a component meant for PA systems, installed sound, and other professional applications where controlled coverage matters more than furniture-grade cosmetics.
What the record shows is a horn with serious output. Specs confirmed by two independent sources put the sensitivity at 113 dB @ 2.83 Vrms, 1 m, with a frequency response of 800 Hz to 20 kHz at −6 dB, extending down to 550 Hz at −12 dB. Dispersion is rated at 90° horizontal by 40° vertical, and the recommended crossover point is 1,200 Hz. Nominal impedance is 8 ohms. The horn weighs in at 5.9 kg (13 lb) and accepts two 1/2" (10 mm) or M6 mounting points.
The Bi-Radial geometry was JBL's approach to constant-directivity behavior — the horn shapes both horizontal and vertical dispersion patterns to keep coverage even across the passband, rather than letting the pattern narrow as frequency rises. That's the whole point of the design, and it's why these horns show up in clusters and arrays. A Sound & Communication piece from December 1993 (p.26) describes a central cluster made up of JBL systems in a church installation, noting that the system was designed to handle bass, guitar, piano, synthesizer, and a small vocal ensemble. A Recording Engineer piece from August 1988 (p.84) discusses a modular sound-system enclosure with detachable plywood covers.
Beyond the spec sheet, the documentation gets thin. No production years are recorded, no original MSRP survives, and there are no dimensions beyond weight. No owner reviews or technician commentary turned up in the research — just spec pages and a sales listing. What's clear is that this is a working component, not a collector's ornament. A current eBay listing asks $1,200 or best offer for a single used horn unit with the 2445J driver included, noting visible wear consistent with age.
Known specifications:
- Frequency response: 800 Hz – 20 kHz (−6 dB); 550 Hz – 20 kHz (−12 dB)
- Dispersion: 90° H x 40° V
- Sensitivity: 113 dB @ 2.83 Vrms, 1 m
- Nominal impedance: 8 Ω
- Recommended crossover: 1,200 Hz
- Driver: 1 x 2445J 2" compression driver
- Horn: 2385 Bi-Radial, cast aluminum
- Net weight: 5.9 kg (13 lb)
- Mounting: two 1/2" (10 mm) or M6 points
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