JBL S412P Single Floorstanding Speaker (Black)

JBL S412P Single Floorstanding Speaker (Black)
Manufacturer: Jbl
Product Type: CE

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com Review
The stately S412P floorstanding loudspeaker is the flagship model in JBL's Studio series (available in beech as well as black). JBL arms this four-way, full-range speaker with a 12-inch, 200-watt powered woofer and dedicated LFE (Low Frequency Effects) input. This LFE input obviates the need for a separate subwoofer for home theater or music listening, especially with programs recorded in 5.1-channel surround formats, such as Dolby Digital and DTS. Remember, though--you'll need to plug the speaker into an AC outlet to appreciate the onboard amplification.

The S412P also features a stunning 92 dB sensitivity for uncommonly loud, dynamic performance with almost any amplifier. Use two for stereo or up to five for multichannel applications (though center-channel placement would almost preclude the use of a television).

Much of what you're paying for here is the powered-woofer component, which alone is worth its weight in bass-chuffing DVDs. However, the S412P also boasts myriad design benefits, including PolyPlas speaker cones, an Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal (EOS) waveguide, a Linear Field Proximity (LPF) bezel, Straight-line Signal Path (SSP) crossover networks, and a FreeFlow flared bass port.

PolyPlas, a polymer-coated cellulose fiber, adds rigidity and damping to a cone without unduly increasing its mass. This cone, together with a durable rubber surround (the part of the cone that attaches to the rest of the speaker), enables the speaker to deliver high sound levels without breakup or distortion--and the S412P can play stunningly loud and distortion-free. If you're listening loud enough to distort this speaker, you should probably be more worried for your hearing than your stereo.

The S412P's driver complement consists of three PolyPlas-cone drivers (with diameters of 12, 6, and 4 inches) and a 1-inch pure-titanium tweeter. All are magnetically shielded to prevent image distortion when you place them near a TV.

The pure-titanium tweeter uses JBL's patented EOS waveguide to focus the sonic image and reduce time-delay artifacts. The EOS waveguide also increases the tweeter's dynamic range and its output at lower frequencies, which improves the transition between the high frequencies and the midrange. The LFP (Linear Field Proximity) bezel, which houses both the tweeter and the 4-inch midrange driver, smoothes out that transition even further. By minimizing the distance between these critical sound sources, JBL sidesteps the phase problems that result from sounds meeting your ears with different arrival times.

JBL's custom-designed drivers allow it to use simple, Straight-line Signal Path (SSP) crossover networks with quality electrical components. These networks further smooth the speaker's frequency and power response while minimizing processing that could otherwise degrade your audio signal. JBL built the S412P's woofers into cast-aluminum frames, which--because of their solidity--reduce distortion and increase power-handling capability over stamped steel frames.

On the inside, the drivers' oversized Kapton voice coils and HeatScape motor structures preserve performance accuracy during extended listening, prolong driver life, and reduce power compression through their responsiveness. Finally, JBL's FreeFlow flared bass port releases bass energy from behind the 12-inch woofer through a vent that precisely matches the size and configuration of the driver and speaker cabinet.

The sound on this speaker is clear, detailed, and punchy. If you like to play your music and movies loud, this is the speaker for you. It sounds good at low levels, but we found that it sounded better the louder we cranked it--especially when we fed the speaker a low-frequency (subwoofer) output from our amplifier. For best results you'll want to listen no closer than 10 feet, on average; close listening tips the S412P's frequency balance too far to the bright side for our tastes.

When it's positioned well, the S412P packs one heck of a wallop. The onboard amplifier deepens the bass response to an impressive 32 Hz, producing the cinematic low frequencies while freeing your surround receiver or amplifier from the intense demands of dynamic bass reproduction. The bass may not be quite as tight or well defined as in good sealed-enclosure speakers, but at this price we're not complaining.

If your space and budget allow, the JBL S412P makes a stunning addition to any home theater or stereo system.

Pros: