• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

JBL 82's - worth $40?

beatcomber

beatcomber

AK Member
There's a thrift store near my office with a pair of JBL 82's with grill covers for $39.99.

I don't really NEED another pair of speakers (unlike a lot of AK'ers, heh heh), but I'm interested in hearing my '62 VM 1448 tube amp (20 wpc) with something other than the Klipsch Heresys I'm currently using.

So, what's the verdict on the JBL 82's? Are they worth getting, or are they duds? If they're only so-so, I will definitely pass.

Here's a similar pair:

906-JBL-JBL-82______-P-A01.jpg
 
Register to hide this ad
hard to believe that someone here does not have an opinion about JBLs, Perhaps there is meaning in the silence.
 
I've had two pairs of them. I gave one pair to my daughter and sold the other pair for(wait for it!), $40. They're not bad at all. Will take quite a bit of power. Re-cap them and your good to go. Amazingly, the titanium tweeter is quite smooth, even at high volume levels.
 
Decent cabinet size for the woofer, but that era metal dome tweeter was harsh at best. It's still sold under the Goldwood brand currently, about $4 each IIRC.

I'd sleep better if you got them for half what they are asking.

Cheers,
Russ
 
Thats a great price for those speakers.

I have the JBL 62s which are the little brothers to those. My mom bought a pair new in '86 to accompany her L100s and I have them today (though the L100s are gone due to voice coil rub).

The 62s are good speakers and take a lot of power. I'd get them if I were you just because I have the 62s.
 
RuSsMaN said:
Decent cabinet size for the woofer, but that era metal dome tweeter was harsh at best. It's still sold under the Goldwood brand currently, about $4 each IIRC.

I'd sleep better if you got them for half what they are asking.

Cheers,
Russ
Click to expand...

The Goldwood tweets are not nearly the same as the JBLs in materials, sound or quality.

That said, I like the 62Ts but probably wouldn't jump on a pair of 82s at $40.

je
 
I've got a pair that I just recently acquired, but I haven't hooked them up to my main system for a good audition. Nonetheless, I've listened to them hooked up in my shop and they sound fine to me. I have not listened to them critically, but they are certainly not 'horrible' sounding.

My guess is that depending on your local market, you can probably find better speakers for $40 but it may take some time. In my case, I'm planning on trying out these tweeters in another speaker system I have that has a weak high end. So, if for nothing else, you can get a potential keeper or something that may serve you for other projects.
 
Off topic...

Russ! Long time no hear from! :wave:

Back on topic...

Scott
 
RuSsMaN said:
Actually they are almost completely identical, I've had both side by side, taken apart on the bench. Same tweeter, same bad sound cochise.

Cheers,
Russ
Click to expand...

I have two of each here, side by side, and they're not identical at all. The plates themselves seem to be from very similar molds, but the plastic is different (Goldwood's is more brittle), the terminal layout is different, the terminals are different, the screws are different. The difference in sound is audible & shows up obviously on an RTA.

Maybe Goldwood (or JBL) used more than one source for their parts at different times, and the one you have was from the same source as JBL & the one I have is not.

je
 
I've had a set in my office for more than 5 years. Driven by a Sonos ZP120 amp (25wpc). I'm a big fan of bass, and these speakers deliver. And the titanium tweeter is crisp, but like an earlier post, it does stand out. Overall, I LOVE these speakers. And they are just the right size for my office.
 
How can you complain about $40 JBLs?
Certainly get what you pay for ...
if you don't like them, swim upstream to the better model$ ...
 
JBL.jpg I just picked up a pair at a yard sale for $10: beat up and no covers but they sound great with my other new thrift store find: Kenwood KR-A20 Receiver. Total system cost $15.20. Going to clean them up and will post pic of my new office stereo!
photo.php
 
I just picked up a pair of L62 and I'm pretty shocked how good these little suckers sound. I got them very cheap, and think I'm going to use in my workshop. They dethroned the Audix IV
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom