Loudspeakers

In terms of partnering equipment the 4309s proved surprisingly easy-going. Having started out with them on the end of my usual Naim Supernait 3 amplifier, I stepped up – in power output terms, at least – to Rotel's prodigious RA-1592MkII integrated, and then went to the other extreme with a modest 10W 'desktop amplifier'. Yes, that's way below the 25W minimum JBL suggests for these speakers, but I was delighted if not surprised to hear just how well the 4309 worked with minimum gas.

True, I wouldn't choose this set-up to play Metallica at 'realistic' levels in larger spaces, but for most 'normal' listening, and in the smaller rooms for which the 4309 has been designed, the effect was highly persuasive. Indeed, if these speakers were even more compact, they'd have all the makings of a desktop hero.

Looks Deceive
Back to the heavier amplification, and the JBL speakers worked remarkably well with the big Rotel amplifier, delivering a sound with much greater scale and insight than one might expect from these relatively compact enclosures. Playing the Barenboim/Staatskapelle Berlin recording of Elgar's The Dream Of Gerontius [Decca 4831585], the little speakers are as adept with the weight and scale of the orchestra as with the delicate detail of Catherine Wyn-Rogers' voice gliding over the choir in the dramatic conclusion of the piece.

Yes, bigger speakers will no doubt give even more substance to the musical forces, but it's impressive just how well the 4309s present them, sounding refined and controlled, yet open and airy. They do much the same with the precise, relaxed jazz of the Gidon Nunes Vaz Quartet on their Ebb Tide album of standards [Sound Liaison SL1050A; DXD]. Here the solo trumpet and flugelhorn sound characterful and detailed against the piano, bass and drums, captured live with an elegant mic setup for a real sense of atmosphere and performance.

Yes, you might easily imagine kicking back of an evening with music like this being played on the 4309s... Picture the lights down low and a glass of something warming to hand, the immediacy of these little monitors drawing you into your performances of choice.

Drum And Bass
I snapped back into the present by upping the pace with the fast, dynamic SWR Big Band Charlie Parker tribute Bird Lives [ACT Music 9934-2; 48kHz/24-bit]. Here the 4309s' speed and definition was much in evidence, even when playing the frantic 'Cherokee/Koko' opener at high levels. The speakers use their impressive bass – well, at least for speakers of this size – to give the band realistic scale. The high-speed drumming has both punch and drive, and there's striking clarity even when the musicians are throwing at the track all they've got.

In absolute terms – and here we're talking about speakers both much larger and considerably pricier – these little JBLs do give away something in terms of rib-tickling weight, but then what would you expect with their dinky 165mm mid/bass drivers? What they do well, however, is cover their tracks with a sound so well-integrated and balanced that their sins of omission are easily overlooked, especially in smaller spaces where they shift more than enough air to turn on the thrills. And all this while delivering fine detail and bite in the midband and treble. Also, for the record, having tried them with the treble turned up and down, I returned to the default setting for the best balance of attack and sweetness.

And yes, my friend, they can certainly rock, as was proved with I Don't Live Here Anymore, the big-production latest set from The War On Drugs [Atlantic SEL 2-666913]. There's just so much going on here, and yet JBL's 4309s do a great job of revealing the detail in the dense, retro-tinged mixes while still keeping the music moving along smartly. '80s sound meets '70s-styled speakers? Perfect!

Hi-Fi News Verdict
The old-school studio monitor looks make the 4309s a leftfield choice in a market full of 'me-too' two-way standmounts, but they're well worth a shot. Not only is the sound a whole lot of fun, but these little speakers have subtler abilities on offer, and are just as adept when refinement and detail are required. Add in the ease of drive and sheer quality of design, build and finish, and the 4309s are something a bit special.