JBL 902VX (1979)
The JBL 902VX is a three-way, three-driver bass reflex speaker from JBL's Radiance series. It was introduced in 1979 at ¥58,000 per unit in Japan. The Radiance line was built around the idea of "from the first step of audio to JBL," meaning JBL sound at a more accessible price. Voicing was handled by the company's internal Sound Quality Examination Committee, called "Golden Year."
It pairs a 30 cm cone woofer with a 13 cm cone midrange and a 7.5 cm cone tweeter, crossing over at 600 Hz and 3 kHz. Rated impedance is 4 ohms, and JBL recommended amplifiers from 10W up to 200W continuous. The enclosure is bass reflex with a walnut wood-grain finish. The front baffle carries the Radiance series' distinctive metalized Mylar finish. Dimensions are 434 x 699 x 326 mm, and it weighs 20.2 kg packed. No frequency response figure was ever listed in the source documentation.
The 902VX shared its tweeter - the 303G - with the smaller 502VX and 702VX models in the same series. A common repair is replacing the tweeter's plastic dust cap with a paper one. Replacement grilles and parts are still available through parts distributors, and the manual covers all three Radiance models together. A 2026 Craigslist listing paired a set with a vintage Kenwood receiver, turntable, and cassette deck at $600 for the whole system, with the speakers described as being in great working condition. A separate listing asking $399 for just the pair has also appeared.
Known Specifications
- Type: 3-way, 3-speaker, bass reflex, bookshelf
- Drivers: 30 cm cone woofer, 13 cm cone midrange, 7.5 cm cone tweeter
- Crossover frequencies: 600 Hz, 3 kHz
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- Recommended amplifier power: 10W – 200W continuous
- Dimensions: 434 x 699 x 326 mm (W x H x D)
- Weight: 20.2 kg (packed)
- Original price: ¥58,000 (one unit, 1979)
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