JBL J216PROmkII (circa 1986–1989)
The JBL J216PROmkII is a compact 2-way bookshelf speaker from the late 1980s. It's an improved version of the earlier J216PRO and part of JBL's "TLX Foreground Music System" line. It's a bass reflex design with a 16.5 cm cone woofer (a pulp-based diaphragm coated with polypropylene for rigidity with controlled internal loss) and a dome tweeter using a pure titanium vapor-deposited diaphragm. The crossover sits at 3.6 kHz, frequency response is rated 50 Hz to 20 kHz, and allowable input is 60W RMS. Each speaker measures 255 × 375 × 244 mm and weighs 8.2 kg. It also has a magnetic protection design, so it can sit near CRT displays.
The system was priced at ¥33,000 per unit around 1987. Optional ceiling/wall mounting brackets (MB216, ¥18,000 per set) and speaker stands (JS-2, ¥16,800 per set) were sold separately. The brackets fit its intended use in foreground music installations. The J216PROmkII was positioned as inheriting JBL's professional and home speaker system know-how.
Documentation on this model is thin, and the record has a few inconsistencies. A catalog listing dates the J216PROmkII/213PRO to February 1986, while price listings suggest 1987-1989. The earlier date may refer to a different document. No impedance value, sensitivity figure, or production end date appears in the available sources. Auction listings often describe units as "ジャンク" (junk) or "現状品" (as-is). Working pairs in good condition, often serial-matched, have sold for ¥20,000 to ¥39,100, and one "craftsman tuned" pair reached ¥39,100. A related variant, the J216A, also appears in listings, sold as serial-matched pairs.
- Type: 2-way, 2-speaker, bass reflex, bookshelf
- Woofer: 16.5 cm cone (polypropylene-coated pulp)
- Tweeter: dome, pure titanium vapor-deposited diaphragm
- Frequency response: 50 Hz – 20 kHz
- Crossover: 3.6 kHz
- Allowable input: 60W RMS
- Dimensions: 255 × 375 × 244 mm (W×H×D)
- Weight: 8.2 kg
- Price (1987): ¥33,000 per unit
Japanese reference sites audio-heritage.jp and audio-database.com document the MkII as the direct successor to the J216PRO. Little else is formally recorded, and no period reviews or detailed reception notes have surfaced. It found its niche in commercial foreground music systems, and today it survives mainly through Japanese auction listings.
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