JBL S412P

The JBL S412P is a powered tower loudspeaker from JBL's Studio Series. It sits above the S312 as the step-up model. The record on this one is thin. Most of what's known comes from a handful of listings and a single review. It was a large floor stander with a built-in powered subwoofer.

It was a 4-way design with a 12-inch woofer. The low-frequency and mid-frequency driver cones were made from JBL's Polyplas material (cellulose plus polymer), which gave them a corrugated look. The onboard subwoofer amplifier was rated at 200 watts, and the system carried a 250-watt maximum recommended power figure. Frequency response was spec'd at 32 to 20,000 Hz with 92 dB sensitivity. The cabinet came in a dark wood finish, and units were marked "Made in USA."

HiFi-Review (period undated) noted that the size, mass, and woofer dimensions of the S412P indicated serious intent on the part of its designers, placing it firmly in the Studio series lineage. The S412P and its sibling, the S38, took a CEA Innovations 2000 Design and Engineering Award.

A few practical notes for collectors. A replacement tweeter for the S412PCH/230 variant is available from parts suppliers, which helps given the age of these units. One owner on a forum reported a buzzing sound from the subwoofer, described as similar to a 60-cycle hum. Check for that on a used pair. A used listing in Sri Lanka asked Rs 160,000. The original list price was $1,699 per pair.

Known specs:

Type: 4-way powered tower, floor-standing
Woofer: 12-inch; LF/MF cones in Polyplas (cellulose + polymer)
Built-in powered subwoofer: 200 watts
Frequency response: 32–20,000 Hz
Sensitivity: 92 dB
Maximum recommended amplifier power: 250 watts
Finish: Dark wood; "Made in USA"

Model naming is inconsistent across sources. S412P, S412P II, S412P/230, and S412PCH/230 all appear, which likely reflects regional or running-change variants rather than different products. Production years aren't documented in any source we've found.