JBL L100 Century speakers - would you buy these?

[ta131js]

What do you think? :scratch2:

Kinda far from where I am, and not bargain priced - but still gives me the itch.
Seller sounds as though he knows what he has.

It could be my monitor, but the foam ring looks to be missing (or different color) around the right tweeter. (The seller emailed saying nothing is missing)

These are the L100 (early?) model, and not the more common L100A you see on eBay.
http://www.audioheritage.org/html/profiles/jbl/l100.htm

Are they more/less desirable? Sound different/similar?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/ele/1137484498.html

Not mine. No affiliation, etc.

 

[BMWCCA]

I'm as much of a JBL fan as any here and, personally, I wouldn't go twenty-miles out of my way to pick up an L100 unless the deal was so good I knew I could sell them and make money. That being said, for that money you could try them and see for yourself and always sell them if they don't do it for you.

I grew up with friends who had them and I've owned JBLs for over fifty years and never had a desire to have a pair of L100s. Now start talking L112 or L96 and you'll pique my interest. You can do far better, even in JBLs—especially since you're in SoCal, for the same money. Prices are rising on many vintage JBLs but you can still find deals on the L7, L5, L80T, or L96 within the range of those L100s. Zilch will likely chime in with his "fake but fun" assessment and I'd agree. If these are to be your first pair of JBLs, I'd not be in a hurry to make them L100s.


030, L26, L96, L112, L150A, LX22, L20T, L80T, L1, L5, L7, 4412A, 4345

 

[javamanad]

I've had three pair of JBL L00's and love these speakers. If you have the time and the fuel, then yes - take the drive. The faded ring around the tweeter is very typical foam rot, but this foam is not part of the driver itself, rather the padding around the tweeter that helps buffer the driver from the grill. These rings can be had for $12/pair on eBay - just bought two myself a couple weeks ago. JBL Century's are fantastic speakers, but be aware the adjustment pots may need cleaning with contact cleaner.

 

[hwirt]

Here's a review of the L100 from Stereo Review:

 

[Fred Sanford]

I've had three pair of JBL L00's and love these speakers. If you have the time and the fuel, then yes - take the drive. The faded ring around the tweeter is very typical foam rot, but this foam is not part of the driver itself, rather the padding around the tweeter that helps buffer the driver from the grill. These rings can be had for $12/pair on eBay - just bought two myself a couple weeks ago. JBL Century's are fantastic speakers, but be aware the adjustment pots may need cleaning with contact cleaner. You can read my review of these here: http://hificollector.blogspot.com/search/label/JBL Century

Those foam rings can still be had from JBL for about $2.

je

P.S. oh, yeah, I have about $75 in my four L100s, I'm pretty content with that. I listen to them less often than any other type of JBLs I have here except maybe the crappy TR225s. Monetarily, that price isn't so bad for the condition they seem to be in.

4333As/L110s/L46s/L100s/4401s/L20T3s/TR225s/HP420s

 

[70salesguy]

If you have to ask, that means that you didn't really want them very much.

If you did, you would have gone for them.

They're most likely gone by now.

IMHO, that was a pretty good deal.

 

[ta131js]

If you have to ask, that means that you didn't really want them very much.

If you did, you would have gone for them.

They're most likely gone by now.

:scratch2: Yeah, I waffled because of:
1 - distance
2 - not a 'score' price
3 - it seems to be the earlier version
4 - the grille is not what I remembered

I told myself to resist :nono: - and I listened this time... :sigh:

My Holy Grail is AR9, not this one - but still in a 'like to own very much' class.

To this day, I can't listen to 'Saturday Night Fever' without visualizing these speakers that my friend had - with funky looking orange grille. :yes:

:thmbsp: Thanks hwirt for the Stereo Review article.
It made me feel good to read their positive review.

OK - I'm going to be patient.

These speakers have to land on my lap eventually - if I look diligently.
I got my pair of Dynaco A-25s that way..

Now - back to CL.
And tomorrow is Saturday - that means more garage sales....

 

[70salesguy]

:scratch2: Yeah, I waffled because of:
1 - distance
2 - not a 'score' price
3 - it seems to be the earlier version
4 - the grille is not what I remembered

1. Just curious, as this varies in people's opinion, how far away were they?

2. That was a pretty decent price if they were in good shape.

3. The earlier version would add a certain amount of "collector" value.

4. The original grilles would have been long ago deteriorated, the present grilles could be the factory replacements that JBL made available for a while. Also, reproductions of the originals are available in all 3 colors.

Remember , these speakers are definite "icons". But no harm in waiting for the deal that's right for YOU!

 

[ta131js]

1. Just curious, as this varies in people's opinion, how far away were they?

2. That was a pretty decent price if they were in good shape.

3. The earlier version would add a certain amount of "collector" value.

4. The original grilles would have been long ago deteriorated, the present grilles could be the factory replacements that JBL made available for a while. Also, reproductions of the originals are available in all 3 colors.

1. The speakers are about 75 miles away - not considered far for S. Calif.
2. Yeah, but I have seen lower on CL. Mine has to be out there somewhere currently owned by widows or retirees ready to downsize or switch to home theatre setup. Maybe I'll get lucky one of these days. :yes:
3. Good to know.
4. I have seen these on epay - they still look good to me.
I don't mind having all three. Great for rotating and wife appeal (these brown ones are just right for Thanksgiving, red ones for Xmas, blue ones look cool for those hot summer days).

 

[70salesguy]

JiBbLing away!

1. The speakers are about 75 miles away - not considered far for S. Calif.
2. Yeah, but I have seen lower on CL. Mine has to be out there somewhere currently owned by widows or retirees ready to downsize or switch to home theatre setup. Maybe I'll get lucky one of these days. :yes:
3. Good to know.
4. I have seen these on epay - they still look good to me.
I don't mind having all three. Great for rotating and wife appeal (these brown ones are just right for Thanksgiving, red ones for Xmas, blue ones look cool for those hot summer days).

1. I found it humorous when I visit the L.A. area and ask someone "how far is it to a certain place", they always reply with how long it takes to drive there!

2. California is "the happy hunting ground" for JBLs. I have seen many JBLs on eBay that if I were in CA, I might have bought!

3. Keep this in mind while you continue to look.

4. My original pair had the "russett brown" grilles and looked great. My best friend bought the orange ones and they really stood out in his living room! I would like to pick up a pair of the brown ones again, but I installed the factory replacement grilles in my frames years ago.

Good luck on hunting! Let us know if you find some, but remember, a good deal doesn't last long - be ready to do the "cash flash"!

 

[JohnVF]

I thought the earlier ones didn't have the vertically aligned drivers? And..I thought the vertically aligned drivers were preferred, then the mirror imaged ones, and then the not mirror imaged ones (which I have). I personally don't get the demand for these...they're nice enough but so are a lot of other speakers. They're 'fun', but I've had more fun with better speakers. Just my opinion!

 

[brutal]

Inline L100 should have the LE20 HF driver which didn't have foam dispersion rings, just the aluminum black face doughnut to cover the silver face and screws. If you get a mod itch these are not the ones that you can pretty much just slip some 035Ti and XO mods into...

 

[70salesguy]

More JiBbling!

The original L-100s were the vertically aligned units.

The L-100A changed the alignment, moved the port and added the foam ring aroung the tweeter.

To the best of my knowledge, there were no "mirror imaged" L-100s. This was only available in the professional 43XX series.

I disagree with our friend Zilch's "fake but fun" evaluation, and obviously so did the earlier posted review from Stereo Review!

Remember no other component will sound as different from person to person as a loudspeaker system! When I was 70salesguy, 3 young men who were in the U.S. Navy came into my store one day. All had received their "re-up" bonus and were looking to buy a nice pair of speakers. After extensive listening to several pairs, each bought a different pair!

One bought a pair of Rectilinears, one bought a pair of ARs and the third one bought a pair of Marantz!

Perhaps it is my own personal "hearing curve" or the equipment I use with them (originally Pioneer Silver Series and later, Crown) that makes them sound so good to me. I have L-100s, L-100As, 4310s, 4311s, 4312s, L-200s and L-26s. I just find them to be very detailed and they do not produce any of the so-called listener fatique that some people complain about with many speakers.

But as is often quoted here, "You are the only one who has to like the sound of your system"! :yes:

 

[superdog]

If your in the market for a pair the price was very decent.I was fortunate to pick up a pair for $35.The Stereo Review is contrary to what a lot of people believe about these speakers.I happen to like these and I also like my L112s in a different way.

 

[SoCal Sam]

:scratch2: Yeah, I waffled because of:
1 - distance
2 - not a 'score' price
3 - it seems to be the earlier version
4 - the grille is not what I remembered

I told myself to resist :nono: - and I listened this time... :sigh:

My Holy Grail is AR9, not this one - but still in a 'like to own very much' class.

To this day, I can't listen to 'Saturday Night Fever' without visualizing these speakers that my friend had - with funky looking orange grille. :yes:

:thmbsp: Thanks hwirt for the Stereo Review article.
It made me feel good to read their positive review.

OK - I'm going to be patient.

These speakers have to land on my lap eventually - if I look diligently.
I got my pair of Dynaco A-25s that way..

Now - back to CL.
And tomorrow is Saturday - that means more garage sales....

AR9's are L100's? Man, you have to expand your horizons. Both have plenty of bass that at times is overbearing. The difference is the L100 can be very bright while the AR9 are somewhat dull and ponderous.

 

[SoCal Sam]

If your in the market for a pair the price was very decent.I was fortunate to pick up a pair for $35.The Stereo Review is contrary to what a lot of people believe about these speakers.I happen to like these and I also like my L112s in a different way.

You can't go wrong for 35 clams, even if you don't like them. I had the L-100 and L-112 side by side and it was the L-112 in a landslide. The L-112 is much more neutral than the L-100.

 

[IXLR8]

It has been over 3 years since I listened to a set of JBL L100 speakers. The owner had a house full of speakers mostly all vintage. The JBL's he siad had to be his hands down favorites and would never part with them. They without a doubt sounded wonderful with his set-up and placement.

The real question for you would you drive 75 miles for the AR9? Would you pay a fair but not super price?

 

[SoCal Sam]

It has been over 3 years since I listened to a set of JBL L100 speakers. The owner had a house full of speakers mostly all vintage. The JBL's he siad had to be his hands down favorites and would never part with them. They without a doubt sounded wonderful with his set-up and placement.

The real question for you would you drive 75 miles for the AR9? Would you pay a fair but not super price?

Personally, no I wouldn't go around the block for AR9's unless they are dirt cheap. AR9's in good shape are worth around $500. Beware, they are about 100 pounds each and if you don't like them, they are worse than boat anchors. Give them a careful listen before buying. And make sure all of the drivers are working.

 

[IXLR8]

Personally, no I wouldn't go around the block for AR9's unless they are dirt cheap. AR9's in good shape are worth around $500. Beware, they are about 100 pounds each and if you don't like them, they are worse than boat anchors. Give them a careful listen before buying. And make sure all of the drivers are working.

ta131js had said, "My Holy Grail is the AR9". Myself do have the AR3a speakers and have never thought about the AR9 but have given thought to JBL of different flavors. Thanks for the heads-up on the L-112.

 

[superdog]

You can't go wrong for 35 clams, even if you don't like them. I had the L-100 and L-112 side by side and it was the L-112 in a landslide. The L-112 is much more neutral than the L-100.

Yes indeed.These L100's were in very good condition sans the foam on the grill.The L112 is a better speaker but the L100 is definately a fun speaker.I actually prefer to listen to the 100 most of the time.