JBL 8340A Professional Speakers

The JBL 8340A is a passive cinema surround speaker, part of JBL’s professional loudspeaker line. It is not a typical home audio or studio monitor speaker. Its design is highly specialized for use in professional movie theaters, as a surround channel speaker to reproduce the extended dynamic range of digital soundtracks.

Key Specifications and Design:

• System Type: Passive 2-way, high-power cinema surround speaker.
• Drivers:
  • Low Frequency: A 10-inch (250mm) long-throw low-frequency driver.
  • High Frequency: A 1-inch (25mm) titanium diaphragm compression driver combined with a constant coverage horn.
• Power Handling: It has a high power handling capability of 250 watts continuous pink noise and a peak power handling of 1000 watts. This is a testament to its design for the high dynamic range required in cinema applications.
• Sensitivity: It has a very high sensitivity of 96 dB SPL (1W/1m), which means it can produce a high volume with relatively little amplifier power.
• Frequency Response: The frequency response is specified from 45 Hz to 18 kHz (-10 dB). This is a wide range for a surround speaker and allows it to reproduce a lot of low-end information without needing a separate subwoofer.
• Coverage: The horn-loaded design provides uniform and precise sound coverage, with a 100° horizontal and 80° vertical coverage angle, ensuring consistent sound for all seats in a theater.
• Enclosure: The speaker has a durable, lightweight, rigid molded enclosure made from a high-impact plastic (H.I.P.S.) with an angled front baffle.
• Mounting: It’s designed for wall mounting and uses a specialized bracket system (like JBL QuickMount™) for easy installation.
• THX Approved: The 8340A is approved by Lucasfilm, Ltd. for use in THX-certified installations, which is a testament to its quality and performance standards.

Who is the JBL 8340A for?

This is not a speaker for a home stereo, a home theater, or a music production studio. Its purpose is highly specific to professional installations:

• Cinema and Movie Theaters: The primary use for the 8340A is as a surround speaker in commercial movie theaters.
• Post-Production Facilities: It can be used in mixing rooms for film and television where an accurate, THX-compliant surround sound setup is required.
• Large-Scale AV Installations: It might be used in large auditoriums or venues that require a professional-grade, high-power speaker with a wide and consistent dispersion pattern.