JBL 4612OK (c. 1984–1992)
The JBL 4612OK is a 2-way, 3-speaker bass-reflex bookshelf system. JBL developed it as a permanent-installation SR (sound reinforcement) speaker. It shares its drivers with the 4612B - twin 20cm cone woofers (the 2118H, later cataloged as the 2118J) and a 2404H horn tweeter with a bi-radial horn. The difference is the enclosure, which has an oak-vinyl finish for fixed installations. A hook on the back and an attached mounting bracket let it be laid out flat against a wall.
The Japanese catalog record gives these specs: frequency characteristic of 60 Hz to 21.5 kHz (−10 dB), 400W continuous program / 200W pink noise input, 8Ω impedance, 97 dB/W/m sensitivity, and a 3 kHz crossover. It measures 546 × 438 × 254 mm and weighs 20.4 kg. The original price was ¥160,000 per unit around 1984, later listed at ¥140,000 around 1992.
The record has no substantial period review or long-term owner consensus. The most useful context is a forum thread on HiFi Haven titled "The most effective $100 upgrade I have ever made." An owner there described picking up a cosmetically rough pair of 4612OK monitors cheaply. He noted the 4612 specs down to 80 Hz ±4 dB, which makes it a compact monitor you'd pair with a sub for the low end. A Russian classified ad points the same way. It calls the speaker a mid/high unit to pair with a sub or bass drivers, and praises its high sensitivity and "very powerful motors" that convey drive even with weak amplification.
Expect to pay well above that $100 bargain today. A Russian listing asked 90,000 ₽. The oak vinyl finish also means the "OK" suffix models tend to show their age cosmetically, even when the drivers are sound.
- Type: 2-way, 3-speaker, bass-reflex, bookshelf
- Drivers: 2118H 20cm cone ×2, 2404H bi-radial horn tweeter
- Frequency characteristic: 60 Hz – 21.5 kHz (−10 dB)
- Allowable input: 400W program / 200W pink noise
- Impedance: 8Ω · Sensitivity: 97 dB/W/m
- Crossover: 3 kHz
- Dimensions: 546 × 438 × 254 mm · Weight: 20.4 kg
One note on driver impedance. The system is rated 8Ω, and 2118 woofers are commonly sold as 8Ω parts, but at least one listing describes pulled 2118J woofers as 16Ω. JBL's own system spec of 8Ω is the safer figure to trust. The driver-level discrepancy likely reflects different versions or wiring within the cabinet.
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