The specs are published, so cost is what ever the retail is for the parts. If you buy the "kits" then yes it's a tad on the expensive side and makes more sense to buy what might be considered superior speakers.
The specs on the kits I bought were not published, or at least not by Troels Gravesen. I could see specifically what to expect from the crossovers from what he published on his web site.
So you're going to have to explain to me why buying the "kits" I bought were a bad idea. I saw a wealth of information regarding them, and thought that they were a good DIY project. If Troels provided the component lists, I'd still have bought the kits from him, as I appreciated the work he put into the effort.
I bought a pair of speakers when, I will have to admit, I was less knowledgeable about sound quality. Figured I'd take on a project that provided better sound from them. Worked out well for me, but at a cost -- you deem the cost too high. Well, I'm not investing in L100s for an investment, that's for damn sure. Everything I buy I buy for the reason of listening. Could I have achieved my goal of better sounding speakers in a more cost efficient manner? Sure! But sometimes you just have to say 'WTF'.
I'm not one to profess upgrading something, no expense spared, but I am one to weigh the value of the investment. I wouldn't put $500 (or more) into L100, let alone buy a pair for that price.
Eh, I'd not put anything into a Mach 1, either, or anything else from Radio Shack. Not into receivers and there is little else they produced of interest to me. Mind you, I'm not ragging on RS, I just wanted to put into perspective what we perceive as valuable and the various definitions that can be derived from it. I look at JBL and see a company that has for years and years produced speakers that are a part of Americana. Like them or not, L100s were a big part of that. The L100 sold in HUGE numbers. I see them as addition to the baseball and apple pie thing.
The L100 has held a certain value for a long, long time. It's one of those speakers that is known the world over and is overvalued in my estimation. I won't deny that. But it isn't known for its sonic qualities. Well, not ones many people would attribute to good speakers.
Zilch, who is well documented, wasn't averted to experimentation, just more often than not was really more practical about it.
I recall a few conversations I had with Zilch regarding speakers via PM. He was, to say the least, an intriguing and intelligent man, who didn't hesitate to speak his mind -- which is what I appreciated about him the most.
I believe that he tried to keep the cost of the projects he published down, but I doubt he'd have had a problem with someone throwing money at something worthwhile. Is the L100 in that category? No, but I had fun building the crossovers all the same.
John
