JBL Paragon D44000WX - Matt Garrett

Available to the worldwide audio community is one of my 2 Paragon's from my current collection. JBL Paragon. D44000 (Walnut). Rare very early Paragon from the 50s... Serial # 175 to be exact. This unit houses the famed 150-4C LF drivers that were used in the very early Paragons. This is an original piece that has very light detail cosmetic help but is still original All components and every aspect is of course original as you will see in photos.

Although nothing of this age is going to be 100% perfect, this example is a very good original that is about as good as I have seen in the 50s versions without needing hard help. I would not hesitate to call it as good as it gets, but everyone has their own opinions and I have tried to make this site a fair way of making your own. If you click the many photos below, they will blow up into insanely large examples that will allow you to get down to the very details of the unit. What you will see below are very discriminating photos that will show you exactly what you are dealing with. Although you see it in a garage, this is no ordinary garage. Its my home away from home. I have many high watt florescent lights turned on backing up the camera to absolutely rip to shreds and exaggerate every flaw in the unit. It still looks great even there but its an above honest representation of how this unit looks and has survived time. In any listening room presentation, #175 is as beautiful as they come and will look far better than what I can do on this. Thee is one photo at the end that will show you.

The configuration of #175 is of course 150-4C/375/075. The 150-4C are original day one cones and of course the 375s and 075s are all original as to be expected with all wax seals in place. This is also the only Paragon I have had in my hands (and I have had over 100), that every class component is consecutive serial numbered. Meaning the 150-4Cs, 375s, etc. This is very indicative of the early ones they say but only one I have seen.

Sonically the unit has no excuses. As far as physical condition, the photos should really tell the story. I am the second owner. The first is very interesting story as with many of these units. They were not just bought by joe blow really. This was a donated Paragon when new in 1956 to the Amarillo Baptist Church. A respected physician and life long member was the donor. I will provide more info on that should you be the buyer along with documents stating. The neat thing was that it was integrated into the alter architecture backdrop and was placed high above everything and never seen or touched by human hands on its own platform covered by what I would say is grill cloth in its "box". Sadly they missed out on the neat looks of the unit, but it is a conservative setting. Looked like one giant wall speaker of sorts in the paneling above the alter. Possibly this is the only Paragon I can say no one has ever sat anything on top of over its life. Now that does not mean it did not get dirty up there, as it did and required lots of cleaning... but it was unharmed. In 2009, the church was remodeled and a newer PA system was put in place. It is said that the newer system does not sound near as good. Older people like it as it does not shake the church anymore they say. As you may know the Paragon serves best as a large auditorium reproducer, mainly a center channel in a theater or auditorium, so the guys that put in in back in the 50s knew their stuff it would seem. It was powered by tube gear in the day they say, but that was later replaced sometime I would guess in the 70s and was powered by a standard issue of the era DC300 until its removal. Interestingly the audio company called me on it as they had no idea what it was other than researching on the net... so you can say I lucked into it, but with the internet, you can well be sure they knew what it was worth. Now being a Texas Baptist church, you can bet this speaker was the broadcaster of many hell fire and brimstone sermons probably with the Hammond B3 mixed in for the sound you would expect to hear! It was said many a famous people spoke though this unit to the congregation over its life too. It is an unseen piece of history so to speak.

CLICK ANY PHOTO FOR AN EXTREME BLOW UP!

Above, the only thing really wrong was missing one knob on R channel crossover. In this photo there is a generic one on it but I am procuring an original. That is really the only complaint.

No fading or sun ever hit this unit... and no human hand touched it.

Perfect matched 150-4C and consecutive serial numbers on every component

Consecutive Serial Numbers

Perfect matched 375's and they are also consecutive serial numbered

Perfect matched 075's and they are also consecutive serial numbered

N7000s Consecutive also

150-4C mounted in its Paragon as it has been since the 50s.

You are lucky enough to have a paragon in a house, I have one in the house and garage! Garage is better for not bothering family and really a better room!

Below is just one photo of my other in the listening room... the rest are #175

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