JBL Paragon - D44000
Matt Garrett - Dallas Texas - 214-878-3823
Paragon #236 is currently being offered to other like collectors!
You can email me at Cadillacman@mcsmk8.com
JBL D44000 Paragon Speaker circa 1959... Click here for The Most Collectable Audio Piece on Earth
Available to the worldwide audio community is one of my 2 Paragon's from my current collection. JBL Paragon. D44000 (Walnut). Circa 1958-1959. I currently have 2 in my collection. #340 is the first and its roughly 1962. This one offered here is a very early Paragon, Serial # 236 to be exact. This is an original piece that has had no cosmetic restoration. I will tell you what has been done below. Although nothing from 1959 is going to be 100% perfect, this example is a very good original that is extremely presentable as you see it. 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 see above is how #236 will look displayed in a listening room. That is my #340 just for the one photo. The one for sale (#236) is more desirable amongst collectors. What you will see below are very discriminating photos that will show you exactly what you are dealing with. The wood floor room above is my listening room. The room you see with the red carpet is my collector car garage where I moved #236 into so I could get every angle imaginable. I have over 50 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 a listening room presentation, #236 is as beautiful as they come and is a side by side match in color and grain to #340.
As mentioned #236 is a very early Paragon. The earlier Paragon's were a little different than the examples built from roughly 1960+. Some consider them better, but having owning many of these speakers over the years, I consider them just different and refer to any Paragon as good as the other if the condition matches. One thing is a fact, very few early Paragon's were made and even having the high 236 Serial # does not mean there were 236 unit made prior. The numbering system was not exact on these and over numbers the amount actually made. No one knows for sure how many Paragons were actually made from the beginning in 1957 to 1983 at their end but most "experts" will agree there are 1000 at the very most with possibly a few hundred left on earth with any integrity today.
On the early Paragons, the way to detect them is the fact the top board is actually a plywood piece and the second generation used a thicker but compressed wood top board. Photos will show below. The back of the early units had no provisions for the JBL SE408S amplifier that would make the Paragon a self powered speaker. Although not very desired even in the later units, the amplifier simply was not available on the early ones thus there are no provisions. The crossovers in the early units were mounted vertically from each other, the later side by side. This was just to make room for the SE408S provision. The older units were tagged with a decal on the bottom only, if it was lucky enough to survive time. The later units had the serial #s stamped in the top boards and also had the standard large "JBL" plate emblem on the rear with a JBL serial running #. That running serial # on the plate has nothing to do with the Paragon Serial # and is often confused. It was said to be the number of items JBL made, thus its so high. The Paragon # is identified by the stamp in the top board on the later units. The early was by the decal and the occasional hand written pencil marks found on all of them.
The main thing that most aging audiophiles will agree on that makes the early Paragon a little more desirable is the use of the LF driver. The early examples used the 15" 150-4C, same driver in the early Hartsfields for the Paragon too. The later units used the LE-15. Many audiophiles profess the superiority of the 150-4C over the LE-15, but I prefer an LE-15 but only if its properly articulating. I am probably the minority on that but I am one of the few that can actually demonstrate the an LE15 paragon side by side to a 150-4C Unit. Big problem with the LE-15s are the Lansaloy surrounds hardening over time, so with that factor, the 150-4C is better to last the test of time. Both are fine Alnico drivers so its really a minute difference. On the open market, the 150-4C has about 3 times the value of an LE-15 though, so use your own judgment there. Using these differences, one should easily be able to detect an early Paragon vs a later Paragon. I will show you some below in photos just FYI. All Paragons used the 375 mid and the 075 VHF, well at least until 1980. Then they used a 376 mid and a 077 VHF. These 1980+ units are actually more rare than the early. It is said possibly 20 Paragons max were made after 1980. Those of course can be identified by the use of the 376 and 077 and have serial #s in the 1000 range stamped in the top boards.
Back to #236. It is all original with the exception of 4 VERY minor things. The grill cloth over the 075s was changed by me some time ago. That original cloth had just become too brittle. You could not ever detect if I did not tell you. The 150-4Cs have been reconed. They were aging but still just fair, so I bit the bullet. See the links above and below to see in great detail. They have been done using FACTORY VINTAGE ORIGINAL 150-4C cones... Mega $$ to do and a ton of work to find the actual originals being horded by other enthusiasts. I had them done by one of the best places, not even in this country, and the Alnico magnets were also charged/matched when the work was done. The are as good and correct as the good old days, probably better actually.
The 375s and 075s have never been touched or opened. Now one bolt hole on the 375 SN# 24453 is missing one wax seals over the years but I guarantee they are virgin. I could stuff one back in there to avoid the whole subject, but the unit is as it has survived time honestly so I leave it as it lay. The 3rd minor alteration is the front emblem. The early units either had the old JBL logo emblem or no emblem at all. I have and have heard no explanation for the variances. Even the Lansing Heritage Link will show you an example with and without right on the same brochure from the late 50s. This one came with none. I have put the proper early 60's vintage metal emblem in its proper place. For me to obtain one of the old metal JBL emblem means a vintage JBL speaker unfortunately died somewhere. I added the emblem really to match it to #340. I used its placement location measuring from #340. It can be removed, changed for the earlier or left as is. Just my little addition that most will never recognize as not being original to this particular unit. The last thing changed is the cabinet wiring. Although I am no interconnect freak, I do think the original wires from the crossovers to the drivers was rather thin. I went up a gauge on that and have all equal length wires to the drivers. The wires are just like original, just a little bigger.
Sonically the unit is 100%. No excuses. I went to pains taken efforts to assure that. As far as physical condition, the photos should really tell the story. I am the second owner. The first was in CA. #236 was never moved until I moved it from his home some time ago. #236 has some flaws but they are really minor as a whole package. The unit has NO sun damage, the delicate front refractor board is virtually perfect including the top surface and there are no cracks, chunks, delaminating, etc on the unit anywhere. The flaws are cosmetic light scratches and mars, nicks and one unfortunate dreaded cup mark. Every flaw the unit has can easily be accepted by displaying the unit with small items on the top, just as you see me do above with #340. It has as many flaws too. Again, nothing is perfect, no unrestored Paragon I have ever seen in the past 20 years is perfect, most certainly not this unit BUT its still exceptional and one of the best examples of an early Paragon as you will ever see again!
150-4C Driver Info and Open Cabinet Photos!
Paragon 236 came with 150-4C Serial #s 11603 and 11624. This link will show you these original drivers but they now have new correct cones in them! The original cones were aged and rebuilding these LF drivers properly is one of the biggest assets I have ever done to any Paragon. Most people cry original, original, but the LF sonic quality just went up a good 40% with this work and they now are balanced too. The still are factory... Just not original from 1958... Most people do not realize what LF drivers have lost over the years, even in pristine shape. The magnets get degaussed, the coils loose their resistance and get way unbalanced as a pair, and of course the paper ages on the cones obviously. I did not believe the difference myself until the before and after. The same happens to the 375 and the 075 to an extent, but not near the extent of the LF drivers. PS... the 375s and 075 are all with .2 of an ohm. After tracking down and purchasing a pair of JBL original 150-4C replacement cones that have not been available for a very long time and paying a crazy price to obtain, I sent the units off to have the cones installed and the Alnico magnets charged and balanced. CLICK to see these photo that are documenting me receiving the 150-4Cs from David at Vancouver Audio and showing the exact match on the meter of the pair.
Photo Information
Please note! All photos were taken with a Canon 20D with EFS 17-85 Lens. The photos on the red carpet are under high watt florescent lights. Meaning there is no flattery there. Although my garage is rather decent, its not exactly the best place to see a Paragon. I also used the flash on many to see it in different light and bring out more of the flaws. If you click each photo they will blow up to an 8MP size. Here you can really get critical to the point of almost too much information. You will see many flaws, mars and even a cup mark. The unit also shows a good bit lighter than it actually is due to the high power lights on it. It is the exact side by side color as the top photo once placed in a listening room like mine. Unit is Walnut. Also keep in mind when displayed in a room correctly, it looks like a million $. These photos are just to show you the bad while representing the unit as a whole. This is one nice unit and the best early Paragon I a have ever encountered.
Click Here! To See Entire Paragon with Marantz Components
CLICK EACH PHOTO TO SEE A VERY HIGH RES PICTURE!
More of a natural light photo. The 50 (quantity) florescent lights are turned off here and this is sun from windows and skylights.
Note cup mark. This is an exaggerated photo due to the massive light, but its there.
Serial # Decal. These are only on the Early Versions 58-59.
Although this carries the # 236, I believe its actually the 132nd Paragon Made.
Here you can see the hand written pencil marks that identify the rear of the refractor and match up to pencil marks on the L+R Cabinet
Each are # 132. This is why I would say this is the 132nd made and the 236 is a serial # that is probably higher than the actual count.
The small serial # tag shown on bottom of Left Channel Cabinet.
Open Back. See the link at top of page to see tons of photos of the inside of this Paragon
See the larger cabinet wires. You would be amazed how thin the originals were.
Rear Shot.
Below, this is a good shot to see the top board of this unit. Here you can tell this is a plywood piece. Only the early units had this.
The later units had a thicker compressed wood top board as seen in the next photo down. 1960-1983 or so.
Below, this one photo is NOT THIS PARAGON but a photo to show the top board of the 2nd generation of Paragons to compare to above.
This is actually a very early 2nd gen.
See that it is compressed wood, also with its Serial # embossed in it. Early ones did not get the embossed # in them.
Paragon 236 Driver Complement
Right Channel
VHF JBL 075 16 Ohm SN# 9775 Meter 8.4 Ohms-reading date 05/08 1958 Original Driver
HF JBL 375 16 Ohm SN# 24455 Meter 8.2 Ohms-reading date 05/08 1958 Original Driver
LF JBL 150-4C 16 Ohm SN# 11603 Meter 8.2 Ohms-reading date 05/08 1958 Original Driver, Re-coned 04/08
Left Channel
VHF JBL 075 16 Ohm SN# 8100 Meter 8.4 Ohms-reading date 05/08 1958 Original Driver
HF JBL 375 16 Ohm SN# 24453 Meter 8.2 Ohms-reading date 05/08 1958 Original Driver
LF JBL 150-4C 16 Ohm SN# 11624 Meter 8.2 Ohms-reading date 05/08 1958 Original Driver, Re-coned 04/08
Click For Driver Info and Open Cabinet Photos!
Click Here! To See Entire Paragon with Marantz Components
You can email me at Cadillacman@mcsmk8.com
