JBL 4602 (1987)
The JBL 4602 is a three-way passive loudspeaker introduced in 1987. JBL positioned it as a professional-grade stage monitor. It sold for $650.00 per speaker. In Europe the same product was marketed as the 4622. The later 4602B is its direct successor.
The 4602 uses a 12-inch low-frequency transducer, a 10-inch midrange, and the 035TiA titanium dome tweeter for the highs. The driver type is a "Dual Coil" design. Crossover slopes are 12 dB/octave, with crossover points at 700 Hz and 4 kHz. Nominal impedance is 8 ohms, sensitivity is rated at 93 dB SPL (1W/1m), and frequency response is stated as 50 Hz to 17 kHz. The cabinet is tuned to 33 Hz.
Owner feedback is thin, and it is positive with a catch. One AudioKarma owner running a pair with a Kenwood KA-5700 says they "sound great" - detailed, with plenty of punch. He also says the midrange is the weak spot, with a "donut" dip between roughly 300 Hz and 3 kHz, which he attributes to three-way JBLs of the era in general. He cautions against swapping the midrange drivers for newer units, claiming "the magic is gone" if you do. If woofer quality is a concern, he suggests looking at the L-112 or L-96 instead.
Period advertising from JBL ran the 4602 under the Cabaret Series banner, aimed at club sound reinforcement.
Surviving documentation on the 4602 is thin. No weight, dimensions, or production run details have surfaced. There is also no documented information on common failure points, beyond the owner's caution about midrange replacement.
- Type: 3-way passive loudspeaker
- Drivers: 12" woofer, 10" midrange, 035TiA dome tweeter
- Crossover: 700 Hz / 4 kHz, 12 dB/octave
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Sensitivity: 93 dB SPL (1W/1m)
- Frequency response: 50 Hz – 17 kHz
- Cabinet tuned to 33 Hz
- Introduced: 1987 · Price: $650.00 each
- European version sold as JBL 4622
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