JBL 4380A (circa 1973–1978)

The JBL 4380A is a collinear array speaker system JBL developed for PA and foldback duty - speech and music playback in relatively large halls, lecture halls, and public halls. It's a tall, sealed, floor-standing column: 1,213 mm high, 362 mm wide, 289 mm deep. It weighs either 35 kg (1973 catalog) or 37 kg (post-1975 catalog), depending on which year's literature you read. The exterior is gray with a black grille.

The driver lineup is unusual. Four 20 cm cone full-range units (model 2110) handle the low band, two at the top and two at the bottom of the enclosure. Two 13 cm cone units (model 2105) sit at the center for the high band, with a 2325 acoustic lens mounted in front of them for effective diffusion. The collinear layout is designed so the low and middle regions overlap effectively. The aim is even coverage across a hall rather than a sweet spot for one listener. It's a 2-way, 4-speaker system, sealed type, rated at 8 Ω, 100W allowable input, with a playback band of 55 Hz to 15 kHz, crossover at 1.5 kHz, and 99 dB output sound pressure level (New JIS). Directional coverage is specified at 90° horizontal by 20° vertical. Enclosure volume is 93.5 L.

Documentation on this model is thin. The record shows catalog references from roughly 1973, 1975, and 1978, with pricing listed at ¥312,100 per unit around 1973 and ¥250,000 around 1978. The Japanese catalog record describes it simply as the 4380 around 1975, and 4380 and 4380A appear to be the same model. No period reviews, owner opinions, or collector market data have surfaced in the available research.

• Type: 2-way, 4-speaker, sealed, floor-standing
• Low band: 20 cm cone (2110) ×4
• High band: 13 cm cone (2105) ×2, with 2325 acoustic lens
• Frequency range: 55 Hz – 15 kHz · Crossover: 1.5 kHz
• Impedance: 8 Ω · 100W allowable input · 99 dB (New JIS)
• Dimensions: 362 × 1,213 × 289 mm (W×H×D) · 93.5 L
• Weight: 35 kg (1973) / 37 kg (post-1975)

If you have one of these columns sitting in a hall or a garage, the record would welcome your notes.

eBay Listings

General Electric 7-4380A Photofact Manual 1976 Clock Radio S

$14.99

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