JBL 4311b Studio Monitors

[pennysdad]

The JBL 4311 came in during the late ‘60s and were used throughout the 70s by almost all of the major studios. These monitors are still considered a high end industry standard product. Designed to have a flat low frequency response at a mind boggling 22hz just below the human hearing level. 4311’s also have a user adjustable midrange and tweeter frequency adjustment on the front face of the speaker, this helps you to smooth out your sound to get the right balance in your room.


- Lifted from:
Just like the Neumann U87 the JBL 4311 control room monitors are a classic industry standard.

http://vintageamps.com/blog/just-li...oom-monitors-are-a-classic-industry-standard/

… and then along came God, and he created the graphic equaliser.
I agree, flat is awful for home, but it's a reference only which is why it belongs in the studio, and gives you an indication as to who the 'odd man out' is a lot quicker when you're mixing/mastering.
you can use eq to suit your taste and your interface for home use…. once you're home.

 

[Northwinds]

yes you're right. it's not an issue THESE days, but my point is, it was THEN…..

it's also a great way to set up at home too! i have a basic mastering suite set-up in my lounge. LoL
i have friends that often come around here and check their recordings on any of up to 20 different pairs of speakers, so never a boring moment…...

That sounds like a blast BD!!! I still have my old Mark III 16 channel console in storage. Have not looked at it since 1990. I would love to have a setup in the house but the wife would nix the idea quickly. I have not had the heart to sell it and it's probably worthless now anyway but man, it saw a lot of use back in the day

 

[pennysdad]

That sounds like a blast BD!!! I still have my old Mark III 16 channel console in storage. Have not looked at it since 1990. I would love to have a setup in the house but the wife would nix the idea quickly. I have not had the heart to sell it and it's probably worthless now anyway but man, it saw a lot of use back in the day

Peavey?

I nearly bought a 40 ch $55,000 Yamaha PM1800 yesterday for only $800.
shows how much they've dropped….

 

[mlucitt]

… and then along came God, and he created the graphic equaliser.
I agree, flat is awful for home, but it's a reference only which is why it belongs in the studio, and gives you an indication as to who the 'odd man out' is a lot quicker when you're mixing/mastering.
you can use eq to suit your taste and your interface for home use…. once you're home.

I'm feeling a little frisky today, too much cold medicine...

If I walked into someone's home and saw a graphic equalizer, I would immediately classify them as a person that does not understand high-fidelity audio reproduction.

First, graphic equalizers are noisy and insert loss of signal (in some cases you could lose 3 db, half your signal). Cranking the amp does not replace the loss of input signal (that is another discussion).

Second, the filters are normally not of the highest quality, maybe 6 db slope. Plus, the fader controls used in these units are old and oxidized unless you move them through their range of travel every week or so (from brand new).

Lastly, are you adding or subtracting from the line input value going to your amplifier? If you are adding bass, you should be using the Loudness selector on most high-end preamps, which properly corrects for amplifiers that cannot deliver true spectrum at lower listening levels due to constraints of the human ear. If you are subtracting bass, then you have a faulty crossover or you have more woofer than you need (is that even possible)? If you are adding high frequency spectrum you likely have a room that has too much sound absorption material such as carpet, drapes, tapestries, etc. If you are adding high frequency spectrum, you might want to increase the Treble control on the preamp.

I have told several of my friends to try their system both ways. First, listen to a wide spectrum passage, such as Yes's "Awaken" with the graphic equalizer in place. Then remove the equalizer and the associated cables and listen again with no controls touched. I have never seen anyone put their graphic equalizer back in place.

Now if you are talking digital sound processing, that is a whole new ball game and beyond the scope of this posting.

Mark, back on the cold meds...

 

[pennysdad]

*note to D2:

Wot do the 4311's sound like sitting only on ONE 'old' box standing upright, which would place the mid/hi's a bit higher than wot they are and closer to ear level?
…. or do you sit unusually low already?
If you do try it, pull the woofer out of the bottom box and stick a pillow in there to stop any extra resonance from that box, and just turn it around so you're looking at it's back. (it looks better…. LoL)

(… off to bed.)

 

[pennysdad]

I'm feeling a little frisky today, too much cold medicine...

If I walked into someone's home and saw a graphic equalizer, I would immediately classify them as a person that does not understand high-fidelity audio reproduction.

First, graphic equalizers are noisy and insert loss of signal (in some cases you could lose 3 db, half your signal). Cranking the amp does not replace the loss of input signal (that is another discussion).

Second, the filters are normally not of the highest quality, maybe 6 db slope. Plus, the fader controls used in these units are old and oxidized unless you move them through their range of travel every week or so (from brand new).

Lastly, are you adding or subtracting from the line input value going to your amplifier? If you are adding bass, you should be using the Loudness selector on most high-end preamps, which properly corrects for amplifiers that cannot deliver true spectrum at lower listening levels due to constraints of the human ear. If you are subtracting bass, then you have a faulty crossover or you have more woofer than you need (is that even possible)? If you are adding high frequency spectrum you likely have a room that has too much sound absorption material such as carpet, drapes, tapestries, etc. If you are adding high frequency spectrum, you might want to increase the Treble control on the preamp.

I have told several of my friends to try their system both ways. First, listen to a wide spectrum passage, such as Yes's "Awaken" with the graphic equalizer in place. Then remove the equalizer and the associated cables and listen again with no controls touched. I have never seen anyone put their graphic equalizer back in place.

Now if you are talking digital sound processing, that is a whole new ball game and beyond the scope of this posting.

Mark, back on the cold meds...

I take quite an exception to you're comment

If I walked into someone's home and saw a graphic equalizer, I would immediately classify them as a person that does not understand high-fidelity audio reproduction.

I use nothing but Klark Tekniks eq's, and Brooke Sirens X-o's.
I know wot you're trying to say, but we are definitely not in the same room.
I'm a pro sound engineer for more than 30+ years. From the ABC to Abbey Road to 40,000 capacity live to air live gigs. I know my shit.
I play my music in every possible combination. wot works for one track may not necessarily work on the next, and so I have my toys to play with to do anything I want to the music. It all depends on my mood, and IF I really want to do it one way, or another.
The one thing I've learnt in all my years, is don't ever listen to those that tell you something can't or shouldn't be done….
Wot may not sound right for the first 5 minutes could sound wonderful after the next 5 minutes. The ear adapts and changes all the time. No one knows how it should be, 'cause no one's the same…. or hears it the same.

 

[laatsch55]

Which I would think pleasing 40,000 screaming, high, excitable, opinionated concert goers nigh to impossible.


And stop being chippy, all of you, c'mon that's not what we're about....dangit...

 

[derek92994]

*note to D2:

Wot do the 4311's sound like sitting only on ONE 'old' box standing upright, which would place the mid/hi's a bit higher than wot they are and closer to ear level?
…. or do you sit unusually low already?
If you do try it, pull the woofer out of the bottom box and stick a pillow in there to stop any extra resonance from that box, and just turn it around so you're looking at it's back. (it looks better…. LoL)

(… off to bed.)

Have tried it, and they sound like they have too much mid range up high and less bass. I have always liked my speakers on the floor but have made an exception for the 4311b's as I know they have to be elevated some. Am quite happy with the position they are in, tweeters and mids are not at ear level but doesn't bother me. From time to time I switch to the speakers sitting on the floor, I still use them on occasion, like when I'm simulation racing and the voice system we use sometimes makes nasty click/pop/static sounds when people have faulty/not properly adjusted microphones.