JBL 2445 (1981–1983)
The JBL 2445 is a professional 2-inch throat compression driver. JBL introduced it in 1981 as the successor to the JBL 2440 and built it until 1983, a short run. It came in two impedance variants: the 2445H at 8 ohms and the 2445J at 16 ohms.
The driver uses a 4-inch edgewound aluminum ribbon diaphragm and an Alnico magnet. Rated sensitivity is 112 dB at 1W/1m. Frequency range is 500 Hz to 20,000 Hz, with a nominal crossover point of 500 Hz. Power capacity is rated at 100 watts continuous program. These figures match across multiple sources, including US Speaker, HiFi Engine, and Audio Heritage.
The 2445 had a brief production run. Recording Engineer (September 1990, p.42) noted that touring companies of that era with large inventories of 2445s were not about to switch brands over minor high-frequency differences. That tells you how entrenched the model was in professional sound reinforcement despite its short production span. By the late 1980s, JBL was moving toward newer designs like the 2450 neodymium driver, as Mix Magazine (December 1989, p.124) reported.
Known Specifications
- Type: 2" throat compression driver
- Variants: 2445H (8 ohms), 2445J (16 ohms)
- Diaphragm: 4" edgewound aluminum ribbon
- Magnet: Alnico
- Frequency range: 500 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 112 dB @ 1W/1m
- Power capacity: 100W continuous program
- Nominal crossover: 500 Hz
- Production: 1981 – 1983
No original price, physical dimensions, or user reception data have survived in the available documentation. The 2445 is a known quantity among professional audio circles, but the paper trail is thin. What exists is mostly spec-sheet material rather than detailed contemporary coverage.
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