JBL 502VX (1979)

The JBL 502VX is a compact 2-way bookshelf speaker from the Radiance Series, released in 1979 at ¥38,000 per unit. It was the entry point into JBL ownership. The series concept was "from the first step of audio to JBL," and cost performance was a stated goal. The whole Radiance line was built at JBL's Northridge, California headquarters, from computer calculations to final packing, and the company made a point of saying so in its marketing.

It pairs a 20 cm cone woofer with a 7.5 cm cone tweeter in a bass-reflex enclosure. The finish is walnut wood-grain vinyl, with metalized Mylar on the front baffle. Rated impedance is 4 ohms, crossover is at 2 kHz, and recommended amplifier power runs 10W to 80W continuous. Dimensions are 343 x 546 x 284 mm, and the packed weight is 12.5 kg. The manual says the high-frequency output can be adjusted to suit the room, and that the speakers are designed for optimal stereo reproduction. JBL's in-house "Golden Year" sound quality committee signed off on the voicing.

The 502VX sat below the 702VX and 902VX in the Radiance lineup. It shares its tweeter, the 303G-001, with those models.

Documentation is otherwise thin. No frequency response figure was published in the sources available, and no period review measurements have surfaced. Among collectors today, the 502VX is known mostly for one recurring problem. The foam surrounds degrade with age and crumble at the slightest touch, which means reconing, and one owner noted on a forum that it is an expensive fix. A Korean marketplace listing describes the model as rare and in A-grade condition, and units do appear on Craigslist from time to time.

• Type: 2-way, 2-speaker, bass-reflex bookshelf
• Woofer: 20 cm cone · Tweeter: 7.5 cm cone
• Impedance: 4 Ω · Crossover: 2 kHz
• Recommended amp: 10W–80W continuous
• Dimensions: 343 × 546 × 284 mm · Weight: 12.5 kg (packed)
• Original price: ¥38,000 (1979)

eBay Listings

Pair of JBL 502VX Radiance Series Floor Speakers **TESTED**

$200

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