JBL S4600 (2007)

The JBL S4600 is a large three-way floorstanding speaker released in September 2007, originally priced at ¥460,000 per unit in Japan. It's big - over a meter tall, 53 kg, finished in semi-gloss cherry natural wood veneer. The design follows a traditional JBL formula: a 35 cm (14-inch) cone woofer (the LE14H-4) in a bass reflex enclosure, with compression drivers on SonoGlass horns handling the midrange and ultra-high frequencies. The horn assembly is shared with JBL's flagship Project EVEREST DD66000.

The LE14H-4 woofer uses a pure pulp cone with JBL's Aqua Plus damping material and a 10 cm copper voice coil in a low-distortion SFG magnetic circuit. The midrange is a 175Nd-3, the latest version of the LE175 series 2-inch compression driver, with a pure titanium diaphragm and neodymium ring magnet. Above that sits a 1.9 cm (3/4-inch) compression driver, the 138nd, also with a titanium diaphragm and neodymium magnet. The crossover points are 800 Hz and 8 kHz. The network uses large air-core coils and film capacitors, with the low-frequency and midrange circuits separated to prevent interference. The speaker supports bi-wiring and bi-amplification.

The S4600 is rated at 91 dB sensitivity (2.83V/m), 8 ohms impedance, 300W RMS power handling, and a frequency response of 35 Hz to 40 kHz (-6 dB). Dimensions are 420 x 1,020 x 324 mm including the grille.

A review from November 2008, published on a hi-fi blog, priced the S4600 at $4,000 per pair and described it as a three-way floorstander with the same 35 Hz - 40 kHz response and 91 dB sensitivity as the Japanese spec sheet. The review noted JBL announced the speakers "to hit the shelves this month," which suggests the S4600 was still a current model a year after its Japanese release. The same source says the S4600 looks quite similar to its sibling, the JBL S4800.

Beyond that, the record thins out. Owner reports are mostly anecdotal. A YouTube video titled "Emotional and Strong" pairs the S4600 with a McIntosh MA 7000 and Meridian CD player, and a TikTok listing describes the bass as "36cm", a figure that conflicts with the 35cm spec and should be treated skeptically. Used prices have appeared around US$2,600, and a 9/10-condition pair with original box and grille sold on StereoNET in Sydney. No production end date, no official reviews in the major hi-fi press, and no documented common problems have surfaced in the available material.

Type: 3-way, 3-speaker, bass reflex, floorstanding
Woofer: 35 cm cone (LE14H-4)
Midrange: 5 cm compression driver (175Nd-3) on SonoGlass horn
Super tweeter: 1.9 cm compression driver (138nd) on SonoGlass horn
Frequency response: 35 Hz – 40 kHz (-6 dB)
Sensitivity: 91 dB / 2.83V / m
Impedance: 8 ohms
Power handling: 300W (RMS)
Crossover: 800 Hz, 8 kHz
Dimensions: 420 x 1,020 x 324 mm (with grille)
Weight: 53 kg
Original price: ¥460,000 (1 unit, Japan, Sept 2007)