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Jbl l100s

corpblues

corpblues

AK Member
I am still searching for a pair of nice speakers to match to my McIntosh MAC 1700. The market price for vintage JBL L100 and similar vintage speakers seems to be at a high.

I am considering a pair of JBL L100S located nearby. But I can not find much information about them. I have found references to them being a military px version of the JBL 100T3, but I can't find information an absolute fact.

The pair that I'm looking at do need new grill cloths but otherwise appears to be in good condition. I have not listened to them yet.

Any opinions on JBL L100S and a fair price for them?
 
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With these it's pretty much the value of the individual drivers. They are the woodgrain vinyl covered version of the L100T (or T3, I'm not 100%)... No nice wood veneer, that's the difference.
 
Like HyKlas said, same as the T (not T3) but with a vinyl wrap instead of veneer. Great sounding speakers, I owned a pair of L100A's once.
 
I don't know how prices in your area tend to run vs mine, but I recently purchased a very nice pair of L100's here in NW PA with new cloth grills (replacements for that ugly cubed foam) and beautiful real walnut veneer for $400. The only thing I have done to them is oil the cabinets, get replacement (original metal) JBL logos for the grills (old ones were missing--they got lost with the deteriorating foam grills) and swap out the binding posts for modern 5-ways, so I have in total less than $450, including fuel to go get them. And I have the original sales receipt from 1977, warranty card and manuals.

Needless to say, I would consider $600 even a bit high, especially with needing to do the grills.
 
The OP is referring to L100"S".

$600 is too high, even if perfect. You could easily get in to the real wood veneer version for that price.
 
I saw a pair at a vintage shop in nice shape for $400.00 which I thought was too high. I'd think $300.00ish would be more in line.
 
HyKlas said:
With these it's pretty much the value of the individual drivers. They are the woodgrain vinyl covered version of the L100T (or T3, I'm not 100%)... No nice wood veneer, that's the difference.
Click to expand...

While I've never dissected one, it is generally accepted among JBL folk that the L100S (vinyl cab series post "Century") have the same drivers and networks as the wood-veneer L100T3 which many consider an upgrade from the '90s
vintage L100T (again, not "Century" which is another whole can of worms).

The later L100T/3/S use the 2214H/-1 black woofer with foam surround. A great bass driver. The original L100/A/etc. used the 123A/1 white-face driver with cloth surround. There's really very little comparison between the sound of the two series.

Keep looking for the L100T or T3 and you won't be disappointed—even if you have to pay $500 or more for a good pair.
 
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Thanks again, AK community is amazing place to obtain expert advice. I'll be a AK paying member for as long as I have ears.

I would be happy to pay $500 for a quality pair of JBL L's in the Dallas area. I thought I would be able to find a pair here and save the shipping, but no luck so far. Seems that the local pick up are adding that saving back into the price. So if anyone knows of a nice pair in DFW area, let me know.
 
corpblues said:
Thanks again, AK community is amazing place to obtain expert advice. I'll be a AK paying member for as long as I have ears.

I would be happy to pay $500 for a quality pair of JBL L's in the Dallas area. I thought I would be able to find a pair here and save the shipping, but no luck so far. Seems that the local pick up are adding that saving back into the price. So if anyone knows of a nice pair in DFW area, let me know.
Click to expand...

Patience! Get to know the product and be ready to move quickly. Have you made an offer on the L100S? In need of refoam he'll be sitting on them a while at his asking price. Make an offer. Vinyl be damned. It's the sound you're after.

I've seen plenty of L7s in Texas at a decent price. The larger the cabinet, the harder they are to ship. I bought my first pair three houses down the street off Craig's List for 1/3 the asking price. Right place, right time.
 
The Century 100 is the original L100 style speaker from the 70s ...
Their iconic foam eggcrate grills have nothing in common with the newer L100T or L100S speakers
The L100S is like the L100T and L100T3, completely different, more modern speaker than the Century speakers..
That said - I would go for the L100T and not the L100T3. Both use the same drivers but the T3 has a lesser quality wood veneer
and the L100T can pretty much be upgraded to the smoother sounding T3 specs by swapping in the T3 crossover.

Oerets said:
Here is what I did to my Century 100's when the foam gave out.http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=664195&highlight=jbl+foam+grille

Barney
Click to expand...
 
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hjames said:
The Century 100 is the original L100 style speaker from the 70s ...
Their iconic foam eggcrate grills have nothing in common with the newer L100T or L100S speakers
The L100S is like the L100T and L100T3, completely different, more modern speaker than the Century speakers..
That said - I would go for the L100T and not the L100T3. Both use the same drivers but the T3 has a lesser quality wood veneer
and the L100T can pretty much be upgraded to the smoother sounding T3 specs by swapping in the T3 crossover.
Click to expand...

I posted the link more for post #5 benefit. Along with my assessment of the value on the model in this thread.

My personal choice would be the Century L100's, or similar speakers in a real wood veneer. I just prefer wood veneer over vinyl pictures of wood covered boxes. Especially with the amount the OP is willing to spend.


Barney
 
Oerets said:
I posted the link more for post #5 benefit. Along with my assessment of the value on the model in this thread.

My personal choice would be the Century L100's, or similar speakers in a real wood veneer. I just prefer wood veneer over vinyl pictures of wood covered boxes. Especially with the amount the OP is willing to spend.


Barney
Click to expand...

I think we all prefer real veneer to plastic wrap and spaghetti wood fake veneer. I had 1 pair of L100 Century speakers, and 2 pairs of the L100Ts ...

Too many folks think there is a connection between the old L100 Century and the 80s design L100T and T3 speakers.
There is no connection, other than that they are all JBL brand and made in the USA.

I prefer the 2214 woofer and the rest of those systems to the older L100 system. My UREI Monitors use a coaxial form of the 2214 woofer.

The real Question is: does the original poster know there is a difference, and does it matter to him, as the L100 and L100T/L100S sound MUCH different.

corpblues said:
I am still searching for a pair of nice speakers to match to my McIntosh MAC 1700.
The market price for vintage JBL L100 and similar vintage speakers seems to be at a high.

I am considering a pair of JBL L100S located nearby. But I can not find much information about them. I have found references to them being a military px version of the JBL 100T3, but I can't find information an absolute fact.

The pair that I'm looking at do need new grill cloths but otherwise appears to be in good condition. I have not listened to them yet.

Any opinions on JBL L100S and a fair price for them?
Click to expand...
 
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Oerets said:
I posted the link more for post #5 benefit. Along with my assessment of the value on the model in this thread.
Click to expand...

The problem is neither you or #5 understood the model under discussion in the thread title. Don't think of it as a plural of what you own. It's a different model completely, as many here have tried to say in various attempts at clarity.
 
At this point I have no idea what the hell anybody in this thread is talking about. :headscrat
 
BMWCCA said:
The problem is neither you or #5 understood the model under discussion in the thread title. Don't think of it as a plural of what you own. It's a different model completely, as many here have tried to say in various attempts at clarity.
Click to expand...

The OP stated he was wanting "vintage L100's" is the first post. Sounded they were settling I felt on the model L100S mention. My point is just wait for what you really want rather then getting the other pair.

The L100S are great speakers but I would still would pass on them as keepers. Sorry L100S owners just my opinion that is all.





Barney
 
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