How to spot a fake JBL by packaging
Inspection of the packaging is the first step in how to distinguish a fake JBL. The original box is made of high-quality thick cardboard. It has the correct geometry with clear, even edges. Branded packaging resists mechanical stress well, so it rarely wrinkles.
JBL branded packaging
Replicas use thinner cardboard. This makes the box look flimsy. The brand is not always affixed to the packaging of counterfeits, but only the general appearance is copied. Therefore, if there is no JBL inscription on the box, this is a clear sign of counterfeit.
Packaging without branding
The brand's branded packaging often features a textured surface. Fraudsters do not always copy this feature. Therefore, controlling the texture print is one of the ways to distinguish the original JBL.
Raised surface with textured print
The branded packaging must contain a detailed description, and in different languages. The box contains information about the company, serial number, device characteristics and other data. The packaging of the counterfeit product often does not contain such information.
Lack of information
The original box has an optimal size, which does not allow the speaker or headphones to move freely inside the package. For the fake, not everything is so perfect.
Opening the package
When producing counterfeit products, there is a saving on everything. Therefore, fakers often “forget” to put the speaker in a plastic bag.
Missing package
One of the ways to distinguish an original from a fake JBL is to compare the shades of certain elements on the packaging. Fraudsters often use a redder background for the JBL lettering.
Color comparison
Important! The entire color of the box may vary.
Package color comparison
JBL benefits
There are very real reasons for the popularity of jbl in-ear headphones:
- You will be confident in their reliability. The products of this brand are tested at all stages of production, so that in the end they comply with all norms and standards. The devices are strong and durable, which buyers readily write about on the Internet.
- You will have enough money to buy. There is an opinion that the JBL brand belongs to the premium class, but in reality, manufacturers offer different models at different prices: “economy”, mid-level and expensive options with modern “bells and whistles”.
- Find what you were looking for Jibiel offers on-ear headphones and earbuds, devices for children and adults, as well as standard models for games and noise reduction.
- They will pay attention to you. The brand is distinguished not only by the detailed development of functionality. Manufacturers want to maintain their image, so they produce bright, original devices.
- Connect to anything. Headphones connect to a smartphone, computer, TV via a cord, Wi-Fi or bluetooth.
Image by Nadeem Ahmed from pixabay.com
Barcode verification
The branded packaging must have a barcode. Checking it is one of the ways to distinguish the original JBL. A company usually applies several barcodes in different standards. To verify authenticity, you must use the EAN or UPC code.
Verifiable EAN and UPC barcodes
ATTENTION! The correct barcode is not a 100% guarantee of JBL originality. At the same time, an incorrect barcode is a clear sign of counterfeit.
To check the authenticity of the JBL, enter the numbers of the EAN or UPC standard barcode in the field and click the “Check” button. If the barcode is correct, then it is recommended to also check the country of origin.
Important! This service checks the relevance and correctness of the applied barcode, but does not guarantee that the entered code is not taken from another product and the device being checked is not counterfeit.
Barcodes on branded packaging
Headquarters
The headquarters of the American company JBL, a subsidiary of Harman International Industries, is located in Northridge, California, USA.
On March 11, 2022, Harman International Industries became part of the South Korean transnational company Samsung Electronics Co. as an independent division.
Complete set of original and replica
There is a difference between JBL and a fake in the configuration. Fraudsters often leave this or that element unreported. Sometimes, on the contrary, you can find additional accessories in the box that the original does not have.
The brand actively uses flat cables that look like noodles. All accessories are sealed in film. The original package must include instructions. For fakes, the wires are laid unevenly and tied with wire. You can often find a counterfeit jack-jack adapter that the original does not have.
Equipment and jack-jack adapter
There are many logos and specifications on the original charging box. The fake does not have any useful information or even a brand indication.
Charging power supply comparisons
Important! When assessing the configuration, it is recommended to pay attention to the smell. Replicas often reek of chemicals and rubber.
Let's take a look inside the package
The internal contents of the original and counterfeit packaging are strikingly different. The following inconsistencies are worth noting:
- If the column with the components of the original box is covered with a cardboard board with the inscription Charge 3, glued with foam plastic on the bottom to better protect the contents from damage, then the manufacturers of the copy do not particularly take care of their brainchild - a small thin layer of cellophane and that’s it.
- Under the lid, the manufacturer placed a color photograph from a nightclub, although the box will be thrown away later. Manufacturers of counterfeits, guided by this argument, decided not to spend money on color printing.
- The fake speaker is wrapped in a thin cellophane bag without any drawings. But the copy is carefully sealed in a soft bag, which also contains warning notices.
The original speaker is also accompanied by instructions, adapters, covers for different sockets (Euro, American), charging block and cable.
How to distinguish an original JBL speaker from a fake by weight
The use of high-quality components affects the weight of the product. Therefore, the original is almost always heavier than the replica. The difference is 10-40%. Weighing is a reliable way to identify a fake JBL.
Replica weight
Real speaker weight
The mouthpiece of the era
So, the wide (about a third wider than the mid/bass driver!) front panel is finished with a dark blue coating that is not pretentious, but clearly visible in the interior. In addition to two bass reflex ports, there were quite large holes for attaching a grill - everything is exactly like in the speakers of the 70s and 80s.
The body is assembled from 18 mm thick MDF boards and covered with natural satin veneer. There are two finishing options: black or natural walnut. The square grill, which does not grip the horn, is also black in the first case, and blue in the second. In my opinion, the “walnut” version looks much livelier and more interesting.
On the bar separating the bass section from the high-frequency section, there is a miniature regulator, which can only be turned with a screwdriver or a coin. This is a potentiometer that allows you to adjust the high-frequency part of the frequency response within ±1 dB.
It seems like quite a bit, but, firstly, such a small range hints at a careful attitude towards the phase structure of the signal, and secondly, if the room needs serious acoustic correction, then it certainly should not be done using speaker crossovers.
According to the developers, this regulator should be of particular benefit during the warm-up period, which for the JBL 4309 is several weeks. Officials say the speaker output ratio may fluctuate slightly during this time, and a potentiometer is a great way to keep the sound under control.
The JBL 4309 is responsible for the lower and, partially, mid frequencies by a 6.5-inch woofer with a cast basket, a coil with a diameter of 1.5 inches and a proprietary Pure-pulp cone. It is made, as you might guess, from pure cellulose pulp.
The tweeter is also an original design - it is a 2410H-2 compression driver. It is armed with an inch annular diaphragm made of Teonex film, that is, polyethylene naphthalate, a polymer characterized by increased strength, durability and stability of physical dimensions.
But the most noticeable element of the driver is, of course, the advanced patented High-Definition Imaging horn. The complex internal profile provides a wide radiation pattern: 100° horizontal by 80° vertical in the range of 2–17 kHz (-6 dB).
In addition, HDI technology helps combat the characteristic horn overtones. Moreover, according to the developers, it does this so effectively that the creators of the acoustics were not afraid to lower the crossover filtering frequency to 1.6 kHz.
How to distinguish original JBL by appearance
For replicas, the JBL inscription is often missing not only on the box, but also on the device itself. You can often find portable speakers or headphones with a flimsy label attached to them. The brand name falls off at the first touch.
No brand name
Broken brand name tag
Is there a way out, or what to do if you bought something other than the original?
Despite the seemingly hopeless situation, all is not lost. If you are persistent and full of desire to take revenge on an unscrupulous seller, then we will tell you how you can achieve compensation for damage.
- You need to try returning the device to the store where you bought it and ask for a refund. To do this, you need confirmation in the form of a sales receipt, SMS or order confirmation email. In addition, some stores guarantee returns within 14 days.
- The second way to solve the problem is to file a claim for the sale of counterfeit products in duplicate. Give one to the seller and keep the other for yourself. Before doing this, you need to ask the seller to write on your copy that he accepted the claim, as well as his position, full name and signature.
- The most radical and final option is to sue the unscrupulous seller. Additionally, you can write a complaint to Rospotrebnadzor, the prosecutor's office and the internal affairs bodies that are responsible for counterfeit products. This option, although not fast, is most likely the only one that can truly punish the dishonest seller.
- It is also worth writing to the manufacturer of the original product by email. The company promises that it will sort out the store and help prevent its operation in the future, but, unfortunately, it is unlikely to be able to return the lost money.
How to distinguish an original from a fake JBL by serial number
Checking the serial number is another way to determine the originality of the JBL. Typically the serial number begins with the letters GG, TL, AN, ND, TT, AH, PL. In this way, JBL encodes the factory where the speaker, headphones or other audio equipment was produced.
Example of a serial number starting with AN
Serial number placement option
The serial number is also duplicated on the column itself. It is usually located under the rubber plug of the charging connector.
Serial location
Serial number on the column
Location of the serial number on the portable speaker
You can also see the serial number while disassembling the speaker or headphones. It must completely match the information on the packaging.
Column disassembly and serial number
The serial number is affixed not only to portable devices, but also to JBL speaker systems. It is present on the back of the case.
The serial number is next to the large column
Serial number for home acoustics
Officially, JBL denies that there is a difference between equipment with different serial numbers, for example, GG, TL, AN, ND, TT, AH, PL. Users say the opposite. There are still differences between devices from different factories, which is confirmed by disassembly of speakers and headphones.
Discussion of speakers from different JBL factories
JBL is an American company producing acoustics and audio equipment, part of the Harman International Industries group, which includes numerous audio equipment companies.
JBL was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing. JBL products are high-end speaker systems and accompanying electronics. There are two divisions of this and “JBL Professional”. The first of them produces audio equipment for home use, the second produces professional equipment for recording studios, sound engineers, DJs, etc.
Many people probably know that the American company JBL is named after its founder James Bullough Lansing. The name of this man is also imprinted in the name of another world-famous acoustic brand - Altec Lansing.
The founder of JBL was born in 1902 as James Martini, the ninth child in the family of a coal mine engineer (he had 14 children in total). James lived for some time in the Ballou family - obviously, these were not the worst years in his life, since he later added his name to his own and eventually became James Ballou Lansing. Now no one remembers why he did it and why he chose the name of a town in Illinois as his surname. But what is known for certain and precisely is his keen interest in technology. At the age of 10, he independently built a Leyden jar (an ancestor of the capacitor) to make fun of his classmates. Next came detector receivers, and at the age of 12 he already had troubles with the radio interception service of a nearby military base - the transmitter he had assembled was confiscated from James. However, the boy’s interests were not limited to radio technology alone—as a teenager, he began working in a car repair shop, specializing in engine adjustment. He apparently did well, since his owner sent him to study as an auto mechanic in Detroit.
In 1924, James's mother died, and he left his father's house, going to Salt Lake City. There he worked as an engineer at a radio station, where he met his future business partner Ken Decker. Next - moving to Los Angeles, changing the name and registering the first company - Lansing Manufacturing Company. It specialized in the development and production of speakers for radios. By 1930, the company already employed about 40 people. Just then the boom of sound films began (the first films with sound appeared in 1928), and James’s company expanded its product range - it began making loudspeakers for cinemas.
In 1933, the head of the sound department of the MGM film studio, Douglas Shearer, assembled a group of enthusiastic engineers to develop a cinema loudspeaker that would eliminate the shortcomings of the then-produced systems - bulky and insufficiently high-quality. James B. Lansing was also invited to this group.
As a result, in 1936, a speaker was born who went down in history as “Shearer’s mouthpiece” - he was awarded a prestigious award from the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the annual Oscars are her work). The system raised cinema sound to a previously unattainable level and became the prototype for a great many loudspeakers from a variety of companies.
Another notable - and now personal - development of James B. Lansing from those years was the Iconic, a compact two-way loudspeaker with a 15-inch low-frequency driver and a tweeter loaded onto a small multi-section horn. The speaker became extremely popular in the film industry and was widely used as a studio monitor. And, as some experts believe, its features are easily discernible in many modern two-way studio speakers.
In 1939, Ken Decker, James's partner, died, and he realized that he could not sustain his business alone - the talented engineer was very far from commerce, and the company was constantly plagued by financial failures. He still managed to hold out for a couple of years, but in 1941 Lansing Manufacturing Company was acquired for $50 thousand by Altec Service Corporation, which was spun off from the powerful Western Electric at the direction of the American government. The latter, among other things, was engaged in the production of cinema loudspeakers and was in dire need of its own production of components. The merged company became Altec Lansing Corporation, and James received the post of vice president overseeing engineering development.
Freed from financial worries, Lansing was able to focus on inventing. It was then that he perfected the technology of high-speed winding of voice coils and stamping of aluminum diaphragms for high-frequency drivers, which later began to be used throughout the world. He continued to develop speakers. The most successful of these were the 604 coaxial model and the A-4 theater system (more than three meters high), created together with John Hillyard - the world's first loudspeaker with a closed low-frequency section at the rear and a port at the front.
During the war, the company developed ultra-sensitive electromagnetic detectors that were installed on aircraft to detect submarines - they used the high-energy magnetic material Alnico V, which was later very useful for the production of dynamic drivers.
Like most gifted people, Lansing had a contradictory and very difficult character. Constant disagreements with George Carrington, one of the bosses of the company, made James's departure from Altec Lansing inevitable - five years after the merger, he considered his moral obligations to the corporation fulfilled and registered his own company - first Lansing Sound, then, at Carrington's insistence, was renamed James B. Lansing Sound. This happened just 60 years ago, in 1946.
In those years, American companies produced their products at home; no one thought about moving factories to Asia. James Lansing's factory was located in the town of San Marcos, not far from his ranch, where he grew avocados and citrus fruits. One of the launch products was the D175 bass driver, which remains in the JBL catalog to this day. It was Lansing who began using 4-inch voice coils in woofers, and the first loudspeaker to implement this solution was the D130.
As it turned out, the company was founded at the wrong time—immediately after the war, an economic recession began in the United States. In addition, as we remember, the talented engineer Lansing was a lousy businessman, and under his leadership the company was never profitable. It ended its second financial year with losses of $2,500, it was necessary to borrow money, and by the beginning of 1949 the company's debts had already reached a very large amount for those times of $20,000.
On September 24, 1949, James B. Lansing passed away. Obviously, this could be the end of JBL’s fate, but then we would not be celebrating the company’s anniversary and this essay would not exist. A few years before the founding of the company, James insured his life - the $10,000 received from the insurance went to pay off part of the debt and allowed him to stay afloat. Although much more important than this money was the fact that Lansing managed to gather extraordinary people in a company who continued his work.
It must be said that the authority of James B. Lansing as an acoustic engineer was extremely great, so speakers with the “Jim Lansing Signature Sound” sign were in steady demand, which helped his followers save the company from bankruptcy. The company still remained small, but had already become quite noticeable in the market. This is what caused another attack on the part of Altec Lansing - its bosses did not like the fact that part of their trademark, the word “Lansing”, was being successfully used by a competing company. Long and exhausting negotiations began, as a result of which James B. Lansing Sound Company turned into the acronym JBL, at which time its former logo appeared in the form of an exclamation point, reminiscent of a military award with three letters inscribed in the “medal”. And the ascent of this brand to its current heights began.
Much of the credit for the company's rise goes to the gifted businessman William Thomas, who began to participate in its affairs during James's lifetime, and after his death became the sole owner of JBL, buying out the share from Lansing's widow. William managed to attract to work in the company the same enthusiasts of their work, talented engineers, like its creator.
The company's success has always been based on innovative technologies that have allowed it to achieve significant advantages in the market. For example, in 1954, the 375 high-frequency compression driver was launched into production, providing unprecedented characteristics at that time - linear reproduction of high frequencies up to 9 kHz! And in 1957, the company began to use a fundamentally new method for manufacturing magnetic systems for drivers, which made it possible to reduce their cost and at the same time increase the field strength in the gap by 25%.
From the beginning of the 50s and over the next two decades, the outstanding engineer Edmond May * worked for the company - there was, perhaps, not a single driver or speaker model that he did not have a hand in.
It was in the mid-50s that the concept of Hi-Fi appeared and the demand for high-quality home audio equipment arose. William Thomas was sensitive to the new trend and attracted the famous industrial designer Robert Hartsfield to collaborate - with his participation, the famous Hartsfield acoustic system was developed, which was produced until the mid-80s.
Another great success of those years in the field of consumer hi-fi was the famous Paragon stereo acoustics, released in 1958. Its design was created by Colonel of the US Army Signal Corps Richard Ranger, the author of many inventions in the field of film sound, and its extravagant appearance was created by a talented designer and generally an exceptionally versatile person Arnold Wolf - he developed the modern JBL logo, and in the period from 1969 to 1979 was the president of the company.
Despite the success of home models, professional acoustics remained an important area of JBL's activity. In the early 60s, the company worked closely with the Capitol Records label, and the fruit of their cooperation was the 4320 monitors - they made JBL one of the leading players in the studio acoustics sector. In particular, its speakers were adopted by EMI.
As you know, professional acoustics are often active, so the company develops not only drivers, speakers, but also amplifiers. In particular, in 1965, JBL created a proprietary T-shaped output stage circuit for powerful transistor final amplifiers. A little later, in 1968, the series of three-way studio bookshelf monitors 4310 was launched, the design of which was further improved in models 4311 and 4312. It was JBL that made the world's first 4-way monitors - this was the 4300 series, the production of which began in 1973 .
The rock era that began in the 60s created a need for powerful and overload-resistant concert acoustics. And JBL was able to satisfy her. The D130 driver, developed by James B. Lansing himself, was taken as a basis - after a little fine-tuning it met the new needs. As a result, the famous musical instrument manufacturer Fender Guitar Company regarded it as the ideal head for their guitar speakers. In a short period of time, a fairly wide range of concert drivers and systems was created, which made JBL one of the leaders in this area.
In 1969, William Thomas decided to retire and sold JBL to Sidney Harman of Jervis Corporation. And under his management, the company increased its annual turnover from $8 million to $60 million. In 1977, JBL again changed ownership, and its headquarters moved to Northridge, California - the popular brand was later named after this city home acoustics series. After three and a half years, the company returned to ownership of Sidney Harman and is now still part of the Harman International corporation.
In 1981, the famous L250 was released - 4-way home speakers, which survived reincarnation in 1990 in the L250Ti Limited Edition model, and earlier this year - in the anniversary and improved TL260 Limited Edition.
In 1982, JBL engineers first used titanium as a material for diaphragms in compression drivers, and since 1984 it began to be used in consumer models, which, thanks to new tweeters, received an expanded frequency range to 27 kHz.
The mid-80s were marked by the implementation of the unique iconic acoustic project “Everest” - the third after “Hartsfield” and “Paragon”. In 1985, these speakers received the title “Product of the Year” from the authoritative Japanese magazine “Stereo Sound”. Over four years, about 500 pairs were sold, which is by no means small for acoustics of this class. In 1989, it was replaced by the top-end K2 line, and its newest modification with the flagship K2 S9800 SE was released just in time for its 60th anniversary.
One of those who played a key role in the development of JBL's top models was Ed May's follower, Greg Timbers. He joined JBL in 1972 and eventually rose to become head of the design department of the consumer division at Harman International.
A notable event in the history of the company is the launch of the EON series of professional acoustics in 1995. Now the second generation of these studio systems is being produced, which have gained unprecedented popularity. It must be said that JBL's professional and consumer equipment divisions are formally independent, but in engineering terms they have always maintained the closest connection - the most important innovative solutions, which were first implemented in studio models, later certainly became the property of home systems. So the slogan “Pro sound comes home!” (“Professional sound comes home”) is not just a nice advertising slogan - it is a statement of fact.
Not boring monitors
The test setup was built on Mark Levinson components: a preamplifier with DAC No. 526 and a power amplifier No. 5302 built on the “dual mono” principle (2x135 W at 8 ohms). The digital transport was a MacBook Pro laptop with an Audirvana player, and the speakers themselves were connected with a Nordost FREY 2 cable.
With an impedance of 4 ohms, the sensitivity of the JBL 4309 is 87 dB / 2.83 V / 1 m - the indicators are quite standard. As for frequencies, the passport promises us bass up to 42 Hz and highs up to 30 kHz at a level of -6 dB.
Let's start with the bass, since it was they who presented the first pleasant surprise. The area of the listening room was about 40 square meters, but this did not bother 4309 at all.
It is clear that they did not cause ultra-low tectonic tremors - nevertheless, the bass, as they say, rocked. Moreover, they turned out to be surprisingly energetic and collected. Amanda Fish's blues (album "Free") sounded quite solid and weighty, although the key theme in them remained the beautifully brutal voice of Amanda herself.
By the way, about vocals. Chris Isaac's baritone on the Wicked Game compilation was lively and articulate, but the upper overtones seemed a little tight, so I decided to test my doubts on the higher voices. I put on Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and listen to the high, airy soprano of Fabienne Conrad. Nothing like that: it sounds light, clean and bright in a good way. Great sound!
In parallel with Fabienne’s vocals, of course, I also analyze the sound of the orchestra. The strings play sharply and in sufficient detail, while the flutes, on the contrary, are rather refined and soft. The trombones don't just stand out in the mix, they have a distinct tonal difference. Timpani and bells scatter sparks throughout the room.
In other words, everything is as it should be in the presentation of high-quality, high-quality acoustics. The only quibble is a slight unevenness that seems to occur at the frequency interface. But you can feel it only in those rare moments when the characteristic overtones of a vocal or wind instrument occur in a very narrow area. That's how it happened with Chris Isaac.
When hearing the word “horn,” two typical disadvantages of this design come to mind for many: overtones and a narrow directional pattern. However, if we talk specifically about JBL's developments, it seems to me that these problems are a thing of the past. And in general - in our time, only those few brands that are truly masterful in their development risk installing horns in audiophile acoustics.
One way or another, I didn’t catch the notorious color in the sound of the JBL 4309 at all. As for the focus, it can be described as average in its class. The significant offset from the centerline between the speakers does affect the perception of highs - but no more so than with most dome tweeter systems. And if your room is narrow, then this point can be turned into a plus: with correct positioning, early reflections will be over.
In general, based on the results of listening to a very diverse playlist, the summary is the following: despite the words Studio Monitor in the title, the speakers do not play dryly or boringly. The sound is lively, moderately sharp, with good relief and a fairly accurate tonal balance. Please note: all this is with a hefty horn. The music scene for this price class is quite wide and remarkably detailed.
