JBL 4329P Review
You want a speaker that sounds as honest as a studio monitor, has the bass punch of a small PA system, and also offers a variety of streaming features? Doesn’t exist? Yes, it does: JBL’s 4329P!
As an experienced hi-fi connoisseur, you naturally know that JBL can look back on decades of history and today manufactures transducers for a wide range of applications. From a few grams of true-wireless earbuds to a three-meter-tall cinema speaker colossus, you’ll find the rectangular company logo with the initials of founder James Bullough Lansing.
In the “4329P Studio Monitor,” JBL’s broad expertise converges into a crossover speaker that is meant to find its place both in the recording studio and in the living room. Considering its price of $ for the black veneer variant we had on hand (walnut is optional), the two-way active speaker appears quite basic—or let’s say robust and functional—in terms of workmanship. But that’s acceptable for a pro speaker as long as its inner values are right: The technical design features an 8-inch paper woofer, paired with a front-facing bass reflex port and a 1-inch compression driver from the studio range (type 2409H with a Constant Directivity Horn, radiation angle 90 x 60 degrees between 2 and 15 kHz).
Each speaker houses two amplifiers with 250 watts for the low-frequency range and 50 watts for the high-frequency range. Only one speaker provides connections—this master-slave setup simplifies cabling, especially with the wireless link between the two speakers, but on the other hand restricts usage in home theater, because a single center speaker is typically needed, and the 4329P is only available as a pair.
Extensive Connectivity
You can feed in analog audio via XLR and 6.3 mm jack (combo socket) or via a mini jack. Digital audio can be supplied through the Toslink optical input and USB-B. Then there are the wireless playback options: Thanks to apt-X Adaptive (96 kHz/24 bit), even Bluetooth streams sound high-quality. The network-based transmission paths include AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, which allows music streaming with all common providers (Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, Qobuz, Tidal…).
The JBL connects to your home network via cable and dual-band Wi-Fi. According to the manufacturer, the wireless link between the two speakers has quality comparable to 96 kHz/24-bit streams; via cable (network cable included), the quality should reach 192 kHz/24-bit levels. Volume and source selection can be controlled via rotary knobs on the front, with a handy Bluetooth remote control, or by smartphone—there’s nothing more convenient.
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The 2409H compression driver is found in many JBL pro speakers.
Convincing Measurements
JBL promises an impressive frequency range from 28 Hz to 25 kHz (-6 dB) for this size class, which our lab measurements largely confirmed with boundary frequencies of 33 Hz and 24 kHz. The frequency response is, for a horn system, surprisingly smooth, even at different angles, with a slight drop-off toward the high frequencies. Musicians may criticize the somewhat high latency of 28 ms, as it can be bothersome when playing electronic instruments. The rudimentary room adjustment in the form of a switchable bass attenuation (-3 dB) is not quite sufficient for the large number of placement options.
The JBL offers many analog and digital audio inputs. The left and right speakers connect via wireless or cable.
Impressive Bass
Main board with dual-band Wi-Fi (right). One level up are the audio inputs.
We quickly agreed that we have rarely heard such a powerful bass from an 8-inch driver. You definitely don’t need a subwoofer, even though a connection is available. Listening to “Shake It On” (“Automaton,” 2017) by Jamiroquai, it felt like a PA system was in the room, with the kick drum thumping in your stomach while the vocals remained precise and distortion-free. Subjectively, the JBL plays louder than its 99 dB maximum SPL suggests. That level is mainly due to increasing compression in the deep bass.
Tonally, the speaker plays balanced to warm. It reproduces all essential details, so active listeners won’t get a wrong impression of the music, nor will it hide details. It’s also impressively forgiving when it comes to placement: The JBL works well both nearfield and at a distance, filling wide stereo listening angles with razor-sharp focus without the sound image breaking apart. The only compromise is in the high-frequency resolution: Not that strings or breathy vocal passages sound unconvincing, but it does not achieve that silky sheen in the super-treble range that freely breathing dome, AMT, or ribbon drivers often deliver.
Measurement Diagrams
Frequency Response: Slight bass emphasis, very linear mids, gentle treble roll-off from 4 kHz, very homogeneous sound dispersion
SPL & Distortion at 85–100 dB SPL: Forgiving, clean, only increased distortion in the deep bass range
JBL 4329P Specs
www.jbl.com
Dimensions (WxHxD): 32 x 51.5 x 32.2 cm
Weight: 16 kg
- Lower Cutoff Frequency (-3 / -6 dB): 35 / 33 Hz
- Maximum SPL: 99 dB
- Power Consumption (Standby / On): 1.8 W / 30 W
- Wireless System: 2.4 / 5 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, proprietary (Slave)
- Encoding: SBC / AAC / aptX Adaptive / up to 192 kHz / 24 bit
- Equalizer: Bass reduction (-3 dB)
- Recommended Listening Distance: 1.5 to 4 meters
- Analog Inputs (RCA / XLR / Jack): – / ●
- Digital Inputs (USB / Coax / Optical): ● / – / ●
- Remote Control / App: ● / ●
Practical Usage and Compatibility
Room Acoustics and Placement
Relatively uncritical regarding listening distance. Should be placed on stands and not too close to walls.
- Listening Distance: (from 1 m up to 5 m)
- Distance to Walls: (from 0 m up to 1.5 m)
- Reverberation Time: (from 0.2 s up to 0.8 s)
Rating
- Naturalness: 8 points (was 12)
- Fine Resolution: 8 points (was 12)
- Dynamic Headroom: 7 points (was 10)
- Bass Quality: 9 points (was 13)
- Imaging: 8 points (was 12)
- Measurements: 5 points (was 8)
- Practical Handling: 5 points (was 8)
- Build Quality: 4 points (was 6)
Test Verdict
- Sound: “absolute top class”
- Approx. 8 points on a 10‑point scale (was 59 on a 0–70 scale)
- Overall Score: 8 points (was 81 out of 100)
- Price/Performance: very good
The workmanship is modest for the price—no big deal. The 4329P easily makes up for it with a hefty PA-like sound while still maintaining tonal honesty. You’ll be smiling when you turn it up, guaranteed! Florian GoiSl
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JBL's 4329P are 'TOTALLY AWESOME' streaming hi-fi speakers
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