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Considering JBL L5's...any thoughts?

Sonance'84

Sonance'84

moe.ron
Subscriber
I have been wanting to try some JBL speakers out recently and came across a pair of L5's locally for a decent price. That got me researching the L5 and the L series (1990's) in general...which generated a lot of good stuff, but some bad also.

The L series (1990's) in general seems to be known as the last "real" JBL's and considered quite good by some people, but obsolete drivers and no re-foam kits are available for this series. That makes me very stand-off'ish.

I really want something along the lines of a studio monitor or pro series stuff...but not much is coming up around these parts for good money.

If I got the L5's, I would be running them with either a Marantz SR5003 90wpc receiver or an H.H. Scott 35wpc tube integrated amp...mainly for music, not HT. Also, I would be directly matching them vs. Klipsch Forte's with new crossovers, which are my main speakers with the Scott for 2-channel listening.

---> I basically want to know if anyone has experience with the L5's and what your thoughts are? Comparison's with older JBL studio monitors would be great as well. Is the response curve neutral or close to it with the L5's? Are they a good speaker overall and worthy of trying out if not just to re-sell if I don't like? :D

Thanks in advance for any help regarding the JBL L5's!
Cory :thmbsp:
 
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Depending upon your definition of "decent price", I don't think you can go wrong. The L5 has very favorable reviews by people who have heard them. I'd be on them. Go for it.
 
Only one set has come up around here, in the last 3 years. I got them, but was tempted with a trade straight across for a pair of, Altec VOTT's A7's. Well, I couldn't resist and I made the trade. Ever since I've been looking for another pair with no luck. I have also had 2pair of L-166 & L-36, needless to say they've all been sold. Ive also herd L-100 , but they've all been to harsh on the ears. If you can get them at a decent price get them, and don't look back!
Actually, if you can afford them, go get them. But realy if you have to beg, steel, or barrow go get them. On the other hand, stop listening to me and just go get them. Ca-piecsh......oh yeah when you get them, we need pics of the speakers & your smiling face.
 
Cosmos said:
Depending upon your definition of "decent price", I don't think you can go wrong. The L5 has very favorable reviews by people who have heard them. I'd be on them. Go for it.
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I own L3's, but here's my take. First they replaced my Mach One's, but only because they matched better with my center and surrounds. Bottom end is very present in HT mode and quite listenable for music. I also have a pair of L88's, which I prefered for the 2-channel stuff over the L3's, at least for the music selection I listen to. Unfortunately the L88's worked very poorly as mains in the HT setup so they were moved out leaving the L3's.

What can you take from this? Every review I've read where the L3 went head to head with the L5 favored the latter, not by a landslide, but better all the same. I can understand why as the L3's didn't have the presence in the mids like the L88's, where the L5's seemed to be better at too. Also the L5's perform better in the bottom end, though on paper barely.

I'm not the least bit disapointed. As for rebuilding, I believe both are equiped with 035tia which are rebuildable (if not 035tia is a correct replacement for the 035ti), and I believe surrounds are now available for the other drivers. Like anything, just takes time for this stuff to come around, and they're not that old.
 
If you put this in the forum that allows discussion about price you might get more useful information to help with your decision! Everything is relative.

I own the L1, L5, and L7s. The L7 is amazing and the L5 not much less amazing. Nowhere near as much deep bass in the L5 but that's not always a bad thing. My family hates my playing the L7s when they're elsewhere in the house and the L5 is far more "neighbor friendly" with its more modest output. Compared to other JBL studio-monitor-type speakers I own, I'd rate them pretty close in my appreciation and enjoyment of them with my L96s, L80T/3, and even 4412As. They can play with any of them and, like the L96, seem to do a good job with any amp, in any room, with any music. My main system is a pair of 4345s and I've owned L112s since they were new, so I have a good basis for comparison. I don't know anyone that has had a pair that doesn't enjoy and respect the L5s for their great sound and superb value. They've surprised a lot of JBL folk who have some awesome 43xx monitors as their basis for comparison. :thmbsp:

I've seen quite a few L3s with shredded surround material, but never an L1, L5, or L7 even using the same driver. :dunno:
 
Thanks for all the replies...very helpful. :thmbsp: This story has a twist now though. :D

So, while talking to the guy on the phone, I mention that I've been looking for some older JBL's but would like to look at the L5's anyways. He then says he has a pair of L100's sitting in his closet. To get to the point, I went and grabbed the Century L100A's, lol!

Now, this is not a pair of speakers I want...but the deal was too good to pass up, so I'll sell them and see if he still has the L5's. I didn't even listen to the L5's, but I'm kinda glad because I would have come home with (2) pairs of speaks judging by your replies.

The L5's were a little marked up on the top's and the grill cloth seemed a little loose, but overall in pretty good shape. The bases were attached as well. Hopefully he still has them once I get rid of the L100A's!

I have really been looking for some L112's since the last (2) pairs got away on me. I'm wondering if I'd be happier with the L5's though? :scratch2:

Cory
 
bobspets said:
OK as Paul Harvey would say what's the rest of the story? Did ya get theL5's?
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Wow, this was a while ago! Yeah, I grabbed the L5's a couple months later...he still had them. I hooked them up to a Yamaha M-60 amp and a Rotel RC-850 pre. Overall the speakers sounded pretty good at normal listening levels, but when I had on material with really low end frequencies the LF 8" woofer would make "farting" noises which were very audible. There was nothing wrong with the speakers either, no rubbing voice coils or anything. This was only on certain passages too, not during ALL of the bass.

My Klipsch Forte's have never done this, to this day, no matter what material I have on or what volume. The Forte's sounded better to me anyways. During the time I had the L5's hooked up, I kept thinking of the Forte's in the back of my mind. Possibly the feeling you get when cheating on a loved one?

So, I sold the darn things and moved on. I think my room was too big for them and they couldn't keep up. In a small room, I'd think they would do fine. Definitely worth trying at the prices they go for nowadays.
 
I like them but think that tweeter comes up short in comparison to something more modern. But the more modern loudspeaker will cost you more. And yes I've made the direct comparison. I liked the JBLs until I heard them side by side with the PSB Synchrony. But those are expensive and new.
 
I wanted to add to my post #8 above...that my Forte's have the Bob Crites Ti tweeter diaphragm and completely new crossovers. The L5's I had were bone stock. And the "farting" I mentioned was only at higher volumes (not ear bleeding)...at low volume they sounded fine. Just not as dynamic as the Klipsch.
 
Sonance'84 said:
Wow, this was a while ago! Yeah, I grabbed the L5's a couple months later...he still had them. I hooked them up to a Yamaha M-60 amp and a Rotel RC-850 pre. Overall the speakers sounded pretty good at normal listening levels, but when I had on material with really low end frequencies the LF 8" woofer would make "farting" noises which were very audible. There was nothing wrong with the speakers either, no rubbing voice coils or anything. This was only on certain passages too, not during ALL of the bass.

My Klipsch Forte's have never done this, to this day, no matter what material I have on or what volume. The Forte's sounded better to me anyways. During the time I had the L5's hooked up, I kept thinking of the Forte's in the back of my mind. Possibly the feeling you get when cheating on a loved one?

So, I sold the darn things and moved on. I think my room was too big for them and they couldn't keep up. In a small room, I'd think they would do fine. Definitely worth trying at the prices they go for nowadays.
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OMG, you probably had a bad surround, either separating or breaking down. I've run into this with various speakers. I'll admit I could be wrong, but it is something I've dealt with and corrected with ease.
 
Copa1934 said:
OMG, you probably had a bad surround, either separating or breaking down. I've run into this with various speakers. I'll admit I could be wrong, but it is something I've dealt with and corrected with ease.
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The rubber was fine, very pliable and soft. I've run into dry and cracked JBL surrounds...this was not the case. I also checked for separation from the cone, which there wasn't any. The fact that it happened on both 8" drivers was even more frustrating. There very well could have been separation that I didn't notice though.

I even had a local AK member with me upon inspection before buying and during listening tests. Neither of us found issues with any surrounds or voice coils. I wasn't looking for a fixer upper just to try out; I wanted to spend as little as possible to "demo" them in my home. They were nice L5 specimen...but didn't fit my criteria.
 
I just came across a Marantz SR-6400 and I hooked it up to a pair of L5s.

I think they make a great combination.

I was playing Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow on them and I'd have to say the imaging was really awesome. I don't think I have heard it played like that before. The guitar comes out crystal clear with that combo.

I think you will probably like them together.
 
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