JBL B460 (1981)
The JBL B460 is a powered subwoofer system from the early 1980s. It is a large-format bass unit built around a 24-inch driver in a sealed enclosure. The period press confirms the driver size: Stereo Review (1981) described the B460 as employing a 24-inch driver in a sealed (acoustic suspension) cabinet. That's an unusually large woofer for a home subwoofer of the era, and it points back to JBL's professional-monitor lineage.
The B460 was a powered design, with a built-in 250-watt amplifier per Stereo Review (1981). It had high-level (speaker) inputs so it could be wired in parallel with the main speakers. The crossover was fixed at 100 Hz, and both Stereo Review and the Audio Critic (1981) confirm that figure. The Audio Critic noted that, as with any subwoofer, performance depended heavily on proper setup and placement, and that the high-level inputs made integration with existing systems straightforward.
JBL intended the B460 for use with its own loudspeakers, specifically the L-series and 4300-series monitors, according to Stereo Review (1981). Both reviews were positive, praising clean, articulate deep bass that integrated well with satellite speakers. The B460 also appeared in JBL dealer advertising through the mid-1980s. Audio (January 1985, p.179) ran a dealer ad for the B460 and B380 promising you could "hear all the low bass that's in today's best recordings." A HiFI-Stereo (September 1982, p.59) show report also pictured the B460 and noted an 18-inch woofer dominating its cabinet. That figure conflicts with the 24-inch driver cited in the reviews, and the review text is the better source over a show photo caption.
The record is thin beyond that. No production years, original price, dimensions, or weight are documented in the available sources. The built-in amplifier's specifications beyond wattage, the driver's model number, and the enclosure's finish options are all unrecorded. What is certain: it was a large, powered, sealed-box subwoofer with a 24-inch driver and a 100 Hz crossover, designed to go with JBL's home monitors.
- Type: Powered subwoofer, sealed enclosure
- Driver: 24-inch
- Amplifier: Built-in, 250 watts
- Crossover: 100 Hz
- Inputs: High-level (speaker)
- Intended use: With JBL L-series and 4300-series monitors
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