JBL 4622

The JBL 4622 is a professional cinema loudspeaker in JBL's Cinema Series lineup. The manufacturer's datasheet calls it a two-way, dual 12-inch bass reflex system with a screen baffle design, so it was built to sit behind a perforated projection screen in a movie theater. It uses two 2226H 12-inch woofers and a single 2417H 1-inch compression driver, crossing over at 1.2 kHz. Rated sensitivity is a high 99 dB (1W @ 1m). Power capacity is 300 watts RMS (600 program), and maximum output is 124 dB continuous (130 dB peak). Nominal impedance is 8 ohms. Inputs are parallel Neutrik NL4 and barrier strip.

It's a big cabinet: 850 × 790 × 545 mm (33.5 × 31.1 × 21.5 in) and 52 kg (115 lb). Frequency response is rated at 60 Hz - 16 kHz (±3 dB), extending to 45 Hz - 18 kHz at -10 dB. The trade press also mentioned the 4622 as part of JBL's Cabaret Series of portable sound reinforcement speakers. Modern-Recording (April 1980, p.34) described the Cabaret line as club-size systems built from ¾-inch plywood, with the 4622 using dual 12-inch drivers in a closed-back configuration. That conflicts somewhat with the later cinema datasheet's bass reflex designation. The record is muddled on whether the 4622 began as a stage speaker and was absorbed into the cinema line, or whether the naming overlapped two different models.

No production years or original price have surfaced in the available documentation. The 4622's reputation today comes mostly from forum chatter among home-theater converters and PA users. Enthusiasts on ProSoundWeb call them efficient, punchy, and "great speakers for the money," and one notes they work well as PA tops over 18-inch subs. The same threads describe them as bright or harsh on quiet material, needing EQ to sound their best, and lacking deep bass compared to modern subwoofers. Used prices are modest. Forum mentions include a pair bought for $400 and individual units seen around $200.

Owners report a few known maintenance problems. The foam surrounds on the woofers rot with age, the crossover capacitors drift, and the 2417H diaphragm is no longer available from JBL. The spring-loaded binding posts are also cited as a weak point that breaks easily. One ProSoundWeb post describes the 4622 as a single 15-inch plus horn, but the JBL Professional datasheet clearly specifies dual 12-inch drivers. Given the manufacturer's own specification sheet, the dual 12-inch configuration is the one to trust.

- **Type:** Two-way, dual 12-inch bass reflex, screen baffle cinema loudspeaker

- **Drivers:** Two 2226H 12" woofers; one 2417H 1" compression driver

- **Crossover:** 1.2 kHz

- **Frequency response:** 60 Hz - 16 kHz (±3 dB)

- **Sensitivity:** 99 dB (1W @ 1m)

- **Power:** 300 W RMS / 600 W program

- **Impedance:** 8 ohms

- **Dimensions:** 850 × 790 × 545 mm · **Weight:** 52 kg (115 lb)