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JBL’s Flagship Audiophile Loudspeakers Look Straight Out of the 1970s

According to the legendary American audio brand, it signals “a new era for one of its most revered loudspeaker lines.”

Pair of wooden floor-standing speakers with black horn tweeters and blue fabric covers, one partially removed.JBL
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By Tucker Bowe

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This past October, JBL gave us the first glimpse of its upcoming flagship loudspeaker, the 4369 Studio Monitor.

It’s essentially a new and improved version of its 2015-released 4367 Studio Monitor that, according to the brand, features “a suite of acoustic and design upgrades purpose-built for the most discerning audiophiles and music lovers.”

Fast forward to the present day, and it’s (nearly) finally available for purchase.

Meet JBL’s New Flagships

Pair of black JBL Model 4369 studio monitor speakers, one with grille off showing blue front panel and drivers.
Despite their name, these aren’t conventional studio monitors. The 4369 Studio Monitor is a large passive floorstanding loudspeaker.
JBL

First things first: the JBL 4369 isn’t a studio monitor in the conventional sense. Instead, it’s a large, passive floorstanding speaker — there’s no built-in amplification or active crossover — that stands over three feet tall and weighs 140 pounds (each).

As noted by Darko.Audio, the “studio monitor” name is merely “a nod to JBL’s professional studio heritage rather than describing what’s actually inside the box.”

Pair of large vintage JBL 4369 speakers with blue front panels and wood cabinets in a listening room.
The JBL 4367 was first unveiled at the 2025 Tokyo International Audio Show, which took place this past October.
JBL
Black and blue JBL Model 4369 studio monitor speaker with large woofer and dual bass ports.
The JBL 4369 has a two-way, front ported design that features a newly developed 15-inch cast-aluminum frame woofer and a 3-inch compression driver to handle the mids and highs.
JBL

Upgraded acoustics, vintage aesthetics

JBL designed the 4369 to honor the legacy of its predecessor, the 4367. At first glance, the two loudspeakers look basically identical. Both have the same two-way design with dual front-firing ports. And they share a vintage aesthetic that mimics the brand’s original studio monitors from the ’70s.

However, JBL claims that it has elevated every aspect of the 4369, which includes upgraded driver technologies, a more refined cabinet design, and a next-generation crossover network.

Black rectangular speaker terminal panel with gold and red binding posts and JBL Model 4369 label on wood grain surface.
On the back of each speaker is duals sets of gold-plated binding posts.
JBL
Close-up of the bottom front panel of a JBL Model 4369 studio monitor speaker with dual bass ports and a blue front.
The 4369 in a black walnut finish.
JB:

The result is a high-performance loudspeaker designed both for discerning audiophiles and music professionals. According to JBL, the 4369 loudspeakers deliver “powerful dynamics, stunning clarity, and breathtaking realism.”

Like all loudspeakers in the brand’s Studio Monitor Series, the 4369 are designed and engineered at JBL’s acoustic facility located in Northridge, California.

They are available in two finishes: black or natural walnut. The black walnut models come with matching black grilles, while the natural walnut models come with classic blue grilles.

Front view of a wooden-framed speaker with a large black woofer, blue panel, and black horn tweeter.
Each “furniture-grade” cabinet and its internal bracing are designed to eliminate distortion.
JBL

Price and availability

JBL has announced that the 4369 Studio Monitors will be available for purchase this spring. The company hasn’t officially revealed pricing, but, as stated by Darko.Audio‘s article, a pair is expected to cost approximately $23,000.

That’s a pretty substantial increase over the decade-old JBL 4367 Studio Monitor (which currently sells for roughly $16,500/pair), which they are replacing.

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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