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JBL L100(4311) vs pioneer hpm 100

Audi0

Audi0

Super Member
This is has always made me curious. The hpm 100 vs jbl L100(the ones pictured are 4311 close enough). People bring up this debate time and time again. Then just these 2 months alone I managed to find these sets on the cheap.

I recently rebuilt the 4311 with new precision dayton caps / L pads. Plus a recone of the mids (tape covering hole currently). The hpm 100 are as is / as found. Yes a re cap here could help.

All of this ran off marantz 2285B

My first impressions don't mean much. As I got to remove my Vega D7 to make this a close comparison. Putting the pioneers back further. As there far too close to my listening position.

-Some notes the modern le5-2 rebuild kit is made for later units. So its 91 db not 95. That has made me irritated abit. 1 kit does not fit all.

-Also my room is not usually like this. I've made a huge mess of things doing this.
 
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It looks to me like this is more of an exercise to determine which speakers sound better in a cramped and cluttered listening room with no acoustical treatments, not necessarily which speakers are a better design.
 
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Having multiple sets of ported speakers in one room negatively affects bass response.

No need to recap those JBLs unless there was an electrolytic in there. But the L-100 Century x-overs do not have any. Replacing or cleaning the L-Pads, yes.
 
Coolhandjjl said:
Having multiple sets of ported speakers in one room negatively affects bass response.

No need to recap those JBLs unless there was an electrolytic in there. But the L-100 Century x-overs do not have any. Replacing or cleaning the L-Pads, yes.
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He's already replaced the JBL caps. He hasn't done the Pioneers.

Are you recommending he not replace the Pioneer caps?

Thanks!
 
malden said:
It looks to me like this is more of an exercise to determine which speakers sound better in a cramped and cluttered listening room with no acoustical treatments, not necessarily which speakers are a better design.
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That's fine. At least both speakers are in the same environment.

It'll be which speakers sound best in his room. :thumbsup:
 
Mr Boochie said:
He's already replaced the JBL caps. He hasn't done the Pioneers.

Are you recommending he not replace the Pioneer caps?

Thanks!
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There are tons and tons of posts dealing with JBL x-overs. My L-100 Century’s have two caps. IMO, there is no need to bother with them. Save your time and money.

I have no experience with Pioneers. There is a Pioneer forum here. I suggest the OP post there to see what people are doing with HPM crossovers.
 
The 4311 had bad lpads. Really froze up ones. They required plyers to even make them move slightly. Tried a few things including technician in a can. But they they were still really stiff but able to move by hand afterwords. I thought about taking the pots apart but I just decided for new ones. The caps I had on standby for so I just swapped them out. As its a pain accessing this crossover. Yes they tested fine. 3.1 / 3.3 / 8.2 / 7.8 low esr. Fools errand maybe it was done more for peace of mind.

I've been taking apart my setup to make things work. Going to put each on stands. Etc. Got to clean things up abit. Get most of this out of here.
I have not had the time to go as far as I thought.

It does cross my mind to rebuild the pioneer crossover (maybe an improved version)but I have other projects on the go. Like a hk730 that has been nothing but problems.

All I had in this room previously was my Vegas and dalhquists. I just started stacking. To play around with these.

There is a set of yamaha 690s sitting in the garage(they haven't) made it in the house yet that I could be comparing these too. However that is a completely different speaker.



As for when I get some time it will probably be Sunday. Then i cam do some proper listening and report back.
 
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If I had the Dahlquists and the appropriate power, I wouldn't be bothering with the other speakers. Certainly it is fun to play around, but to me, the JBLS, Pioneers and Yamahas are lesser speakers. And the fact that you have a pair of Cerwin Vegas in the room suggests you like different styles, so to you, it make make a great deal of sense.
Until the dome on the JBL mids is replaced, you won't really be confident you are hearing what you should be.
 
Audi0 said:
The 4311 had bad lpads. Really froze up ones. They required plyers to even make them move slightly. Tried a few things including technician in a can. But they they were still really stiff but able to move by hand afterwords. I thought about taking the pots apart but I just decided for new ones. T
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Were these similar to the L-pads in the original L100?

Thanks!

!_L100_crossover_-_ERSE_caps.jpg
 
So I've had the chance to fiddle around with the pioneer a little more. I have them on stands with basically all the other speakers shifted out of the room.
All I can say is there difficult to place in a near feild setting. They get phase issues or off axis response issues quick. I would need to be further back. Those crossover mods mentioned could help.
The voicing though seems very similar to jbl. I wouldn't say the same.

This room may not work at all with these pioneer. May have to drag them into another room to do an evaluation.
 
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Audi0 said:
This is has always made me curious. The hpm 100 vs jbl L100(the ones pictured are 4311 close enough). People bring up this debate time and time again. Then just these 2 months alone I managed to find these sets on the cheap.

I recently rebuilt the 4311 with new precision dayton caps / L pads. Plus a recone of the mids (tape covering hole currently). The hpm 100 are as is / as found. Yes a re cap here could help.

All of this ran off marantz 2285B

My first impressions don't mean much. As I got to remove my Vega D7 to make this a close comparison. Putting the pioneers back further. As there far too close to my listening position.

-Some notes the modern le5-2 rebuild kit is made for later units. So its 91 db not 95. That has made me irritated abit. 1 kit does not fit all.

-Also my room is not usually like this. I've made a huge mess of things doing this.
Click to expand...
 

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I have 100s and 900s which are pictured. Can not tell the difference. 900s are totally rebuilt boxes and all. Just acquired a set of 4311s and a SX1250, so we will see
 
Some may be tired of hearing my opinion but, as the owner of the first pair of L100s I ever heard back in 1970, I don't understand why any one would pay today's asking prices for them and not get twice the performance from other JBLs at half the price. The constant comparison to the HPM is understandable but neither are what I would want to listen to today. I am also the original owner of my JBL L112 (1981) yet I hardly see anyone comparing L112 or 4411 to even the L100, much less the HPM. It's a mystery!

JBL L100 finished.jpg

JBL Basement updated.jpg
 
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