Jbl C44 Paragons Info Please Please

[Super Bee]

IMHO.....

The L-300 is a WONDERFUL speaker system. A great full body sound with clear highs. Not to mention it has a kick-ass look.

The L-200 is about the same size but is a great deal muddier. They work well with McIntosh solid state gear. The sharper SS highs seem to balance out the muddy aspects of the L-200.

Both speakers are good sized with angled fronts. The L-300 has a more "Mod" look with a glass top.

Hey Dave,

Did he happen to comment on L300 vs L250 vs 250Ti?

My memory, from 30 years ago, of the L300 was that is was a beautiful but marginal speaker not deserving of it's footprint. The L200 was not that deserving and I can't recall the L250. Further, I don't think I ever heard a 250Ti, but would love to..

 

[gonzomeep]

Hi, Super Bee! :thmbsp:

BEE's a good friend from LHF, folks, so it's O.K. to tussle with him a bit. He's up to it.... :yes:

Yeah, he'd have to be... :yes:

 

[superdog]

I just picked up on this thread and read through it.I would have flipped them as i thought you eventually would do reading early in the thread.It certainly seemed to be a gold mine with everything that came with it but like was mentioned it would have cost money to bring them back to original condition.These types of finds are for serious collectors.To each their own but i would have sold and sought a pair of L300's and other pieces of audio that I normally could not afford.At least you can say you owned a Paragon at one time.

 

[goatster]

catching up on old thread

I'm a newbie to AK and searched on paragon. Surprised me a little some of the comments here on tonal quality of the 'gons.

I had a friend in the late 70's that had paragon driven my 2 HK citation tube amps, HK tube preamp, and a decent (might have been Thorens) TT. I was 20 he was mid 30's --

Never forgot the first time I heard the Paragons. Sat down with a beer, and Ron put on a latin jazz record Fania All Stars live. There was a conga drum solo from Ray Baretto where when he hit the lowest pitch drum, it made my sternum 'thump'. I had never experienced that before except in live music. The soundstage was HUGE and deep -- trumpets sounded like they were right there!

Listened to that system 100 times probably over a period of a couple years until I moved away. Have to say it was more impactful than listening to every other speaker I have ever heard -- including full range electrostats, Maggies, ML's, Klipschorns, etc. Always still praying I find a paragon in an estate sale el cheapo. Probably not gonna happen!!!!

 

[Zonker92]

Return of the living thread!

I suspect the criticisms of the Paragon don't have much to do with their impact or dynamics. Probably they have more to do with their linearity, imaging, and other factors.

I haven't heard them, myself.

 

[BMWCCA]

I'm a newbie to AK and searched on paragon. Surprised me a little some of the comments here on tonal quality of the 'gons.

The Paragon was an incredible piece to see and hear back in the '60s and '70s. It filled the showroom and made everything else one-dimensional by comparison. But, believe it or not, audio has moved along over the last fifty-years. JBL has eclipsed their own icon and created new icons along the way. I haven't heard a Paragon in years but I'll bet I'd still love the sound and the experience would still bring a smile to my face! I somehow doubt I'd prefer the sound to my 4345s, however.

I'll likely be in St. Louis next month if anyone there wants to let me again experience one of those great pleasures of my youth!