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JBL Configurations

nelsress

nelsress

Super Member
This weekend I picked up a nice pair of JBL LE 14 woofers, a pair of LE 20 tweeters and a pair of LX2 crossovers. The crossovers are 3-way so any help with what wires go where would be much appreciated also. Can anyone tell my what midrange matches up with these items and what style of cabinet would provide the best sound from this configuration? These are the first JBL speakers I've ever owned. Thanks much!

Nelson
 
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The LX2 was designed for use with the 123 woofer and the LE20. It crosses at 2500Hz and is 8-ohm. There is no JBL configuration using a midrange designed for these components or the ones you have. You could use the LE14 with the LE175DLH crossed at about 500 like the S1 system and then maybe add an 075 UHF with an N7000 network, but that gets into some bucks (just to add the ring-radiators) beyond the total value of what you have now.

The LX8 is what is listed to go with the two components you have, crossing at 2000 so it would seem what you have should work okay as a two-way in a bass-reflex cabinet of two-cubic-feet in volume or larger (JBL says 1.6 min).:dunno:
 
Thanks BMWCCA, I appreciate the info. What's your opinion on these items, sound-wise? I realize everyone's tastes are different. I've got speakers I love listening to with Jazz and female vocals but when I play rock and rockin' blues they don't do it for me. I've always heard that good JBL components make great rock speakers.

I'd love to hear your opinion and that of any and all AK members regarding the JBL components I've got and whether or not they'd work with them or sell them and get different ones. Thanks!!
 
nelsress said:
Thanks BMWCCA, I appreciate the info. What's your opinion on these items, sound-wise?
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Depends on the condition of the woofer surrounds. Are they LE14As? Without a photo, I'm guessing they still have the original Lansaloy white-ish surrounds that could be hard as a rock after forty years. A re-surround could be in order to help them make any decent bass, or you could try the brake-fluid therapy many suggest. The tweeter was never the best JBL had to offer. If everything's working properly they should provide a vintage-JBL experience without much in the way of extended highs or very-low lows. If the surrounds are rock-hard, don't expect much bass at all.
 
BMWCCA, thanks for the replies. Ooops! Hold the phone! My mistake! After donning my glasses and looking closer at the crossover, it IS in fact an LX8, NOT an LX2, sorry. Also these are LE 14A's and it appears they have been refoamed somehow(?). From what you're telling me though, BMWCCA, I'd probably be better off selling these and picking up some other JBL offerings that offer both better highs and lows and perhaps even mids? Everyone seems to love the D130's, and the bullet tweeters. Is there a 12" equivalent to the D130's? I've got some furniture grade enclosures that have about 2.7 cu. ft that are on 4"-5" legs with a pair of EV-12's in them right now that I could use. Any suggestions? Thanks again.
 
nelsress said:
BMWCCA, thanks for the replies. Ooops! Hold the phone! My mistake! After donning my glasses and looking closer at the crossover, it IS in fact an LX8, NOT an LX2, sorry. Also these are LE 14A's and it appears they have been refoamed somehow(?). From what you're telling me though, BMWCCA, I'd probably be better off selling these and picking up some other JBL offerings that offer both better highs and lows and perhaps even mids? Everyone seems to love the D130's, and the bullet tweeters. Is there a 12" equivalent to the D130's? I've got some furniture grade enclosures that have about 2.7 cu. ft that are on 4"-5" legs with a pair of EV-12's in them right now that I could use. Any suggestions? Thanks again.
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If your LE14As have been re-surrounded properly they may actually kick the D130's butt in a low-end comparison. The D130 is a wonderful speaker, light, and darn quick for a 15". But it was designed as a full-range driver with a light aluminum voice coil. Deep bass is not its forte. Sound great on strings though. I still love mine. There is a 12-inch version called the D131 that used the same magnet and VC just a smaller basket. A great speaker, too, but the LE14 was designed to maximize output from a cabinet designed for a 12" woofer and is probably better for your application than either extended-range drivers or the D123 12". The 075 tweeter has a reputation for being quite harsh and, without a decent mid-range in the system, it's stretching to fill the gap between it and a D130 at 2400Hz where it's normally crossed.

I'd use what you have and see how it sounds. Might be a killer system compared to any you've heard. Well worth the experience since you already have the parts! If you can, mount the LE14 on the front of your cabinet baffles so you won't have to enlarge the 12-inch opening too much, if at all.
 
Great, thanks, I like the idea of using what I've got to see how it sounds and without a midrange, it sounds like it might sound pretty good, given what the LE14 was designed to do and given the fact that the 075 is harsh/bright sounding without a separate mid-range in my system. Thanks again, I appreciate the help!
 
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