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JBL L150 vs L300

rocknroll1

rocknroll1

Well-Known Member
Looking to up grade my jbl 4312b's. I have found these within driving distance and was wondering how much difference there were in these 2 sets of speakers assuming both are in VG shape. The l300's are 3.5x the price. I assume the l300's would be a better investment but really don't want to lay out that much money unless they are really worth it sound wise. I don't have any experience with these 2 speakers other than what i read on the WWW and then i can't find any direct comparison. Another concern I have is would a sx 1250 be good enough to get full benefit from the 300's or would it limit enough to where the 150's would sound almost as good. I play mostly classic rock and R & B. As always I value the options I get on AK.
 
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Probably need to ask this question in "Dollars and Cents" for a question about values and prices.

JBL L300s have compressionDriver/Horn midrange and the 077 slot tweeters -
Compression drivers are a different kind of sound - somewhat polarizing. You need to give a listen and see if you like that sort of thing.
 
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You need to go listen to both and decide from there, especially since your laying out that much money. They are Two entirely different animals.
 
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I don't have much experience with the L300s but I have had a pair of L150s for a while now. One thing to consider about the L150s is the passive radiator. It tends to give the bass a bit different texture compared to most ported speakers. Whether that is "good" or "bad" is a matter of preference, but it is certainly different. I happen to like it quite a bit. As far as the 160wpc SX1250 being enough, keep in mind that the L300s have 5dB higher sensitivity than the L150s, so the L300s should actually do better with less power than the L150s. I would assume that the L300 would have more power handling, but JBL lists 300watts as the recommended maximum amplifier power for both (not that the stat is very useful). For what it's worth, I was able to easily take my ~240wpc Yamaha M-2 amplifier to it's limits with my L150s. I now use a pair of bridged amps for ~700wpc. I'm sure that both the L150s and the L300s would be able to push that SX1250 to it's limits, but again, the L300 should be much louder at that point due to it's higher sensitivity.
 
I've had 3 pairs of L-150, and still have a set of L300. Although the L-150s are excellent speakers, the L300s are better in every way, and despite having compression drivers rather than cones n' domes, they are very pleasant and smooth. Due to their clarity, I find that I don't need to crank 'em up loud like I did with the L-150. Probably my middle-aged ears, but that's another story. The L-300 is one of very few speakers I've heard that delivers great clarity and detail without being fatiguing.
Oh, the L-300s will do LOUD in ways that few non-PA speakers can.
 
I have heard L100's and didn't fall in love with them but have not heard the other 2 and don't know that i will have a chance to until i go to try them out
and both of them being over an hour drive in opposite directions.
 
L-150s and L-100s don't really sound much alike. L-150s are smoother, flatter, and have more extension at both ends of the spectrum. You have to remember that the 4310/L-100 was specifically designed to compete against the Altec 604.
 
The L100's not in the same league as these 2 speakers. VW vs Porsche. I've not listened to the l 150's but I listened to the L300's for 3 years. My only regret is I didn't buy them when I could. But it's your ears not ours, you have to listen to them to understand what we have to say. If you have the opportunity and the means go listen, you will be rewarded. I do get to listen to L200's and Altec 19's at a friends, the voice, the clarity, the power, the magic are worth every visit. I am not deprived, I own 3 pairs of JBL's all good in their own right. 200's, 300's or 19's won't fit in my house!
 
My thinking is: if you have the means, pick up the L300's. I have the pro versions. The 4333Bs, bi-amped and electronically crossed woofer to mid. As someone here said before, they will be available at my post mortem estate sale. Tarior said it, good, smooth, extreme clarity on all types of music.
 
The compression driver in the L-300's will give you dynamics that you won't get in the L150's, or almost any other speaker out there. A very difficult speaker to beat for classic rock, and will be every bit as good at low, medium, high, and FREAKING LOUD levels. And, yes, they are better investment wise, but I personally only buy what I want to use and usually vintage to get more bang for my buck.

These are high efficiency speakers, so your 1250 has PLENTY of power and IMO a classic for these speakers. My DIY L-300's back in the day could get painfully loud driven by a 60 W Pioneer SA-8500 II integrated, and the volume knob never got far beyond 12:00.

If you can,listen to both first.
 
well I think I know what i am going to do. I have $2300 in the old rat hole so I think I will put $1000 back for L150's and bet the rest on New England -3. If N E wins I will pick up the 300's instead. that way I end up with a expensive set L150's or a cheap pair of 300"s
 
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You might also read up on both systems before you do any driving - some of the systems this old have had who knows what replacements done to them over the years, almost always for the worse.
 
Jeffery said:
You might also read up on both systems before you do any driving - some of the systems this old have had who knows what replacements done to them over the years, almost always for the worse.
Click to expand...
Both pair are supposedly 2nd owner and original except foams.
 
160 wpc and L300's. I don't know if I could be in the same house with that going on, let alone the same room. If one need that much volume, they would have to be nearly deaf, or soon would be!

I would go for the L300's if I could afford them. My L200's with 077 slot tweeters added sound very good, but the L300 is an all together better design package. BTW I love the compression drivers!
 
rocknroll1 said:
well I think I know what i am going to do. I have $2300 in the old rat hole so I think I will put $1000 back for L150's and bet the rest on New England -3. If N E wins I will pick up the 300's instead. that way I end up with a expensive set L150's or a cheap pair of 300"s
Click to expand...

I would suggest simply waiting on the L150's and keep saving up for the L300's or 4333 equivalent pro model (sometimes at less cost). But before that, I would listen to each and decide which appeals to you best and represents the best value to you, your ears, and your pocketbook. No sense owning a $1000 pair of speakers if you don't like the way they sound. It would not necessarily be easy to resell again at the same price to another local buyer.

If you're deciding to "bet" to win the difference, good luck. Wouldn't you rather have a sure $1300 in your pocket now rather than risk it? Hope you're better than the "trader" who decided to bet puts against Apple earnings doing well and the stock tanking to -20% of yesterday's close (121.7). If the stock closes above 128, he's lost $250K. That's pretty much how he has squandered almost $2.5 Million (with an M) already in inheritance. Apple stock closed up 3.39 at 125.02 in after hours trading.

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/day-trader-betting-last-250-000-apple-shares-184407664.html
 
mech986 said:
If you're deciding to "bet" to win the difference, good luck. Wouldn't you rather have a sure $1300 in your pocket now rather than risk it? Hope you're better than the "trader" who decided to bet puts against Apple earnings doing well and the stock tanking to -20% of yesterday's close (121.7). If the stock closes above 128, he's lost $250K. That's pretty much how he has squandered almost $2.5 Million (with an M) already in inheritance. Apple stock closed up 3.39 at 125.02 in after hours trading.

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/day-trader-betting-last-250-000-apple-shares-184407664.html
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Though AAPL has many times past reported good earnings, gapped up the next day, only to head back down to the dismay of faithful shareholders.
Good luck to your gambling friend.
To the OP, save up for some S8Rs:beerchug:
 
I own a pair of both the L300 and L100's There is a marked difference in the two, that's for sure. The L300s are for sure worth more than 3.5 times the price of the L100's if the 100's are selling at the usual prices for second hand ones. I'd part with my L100's but never my L300's. L100's are not uncommon to find, but L300s don't appear for sale everyday, and ones in good condition are even harder to find.
 
Jeffery said:
You might also read up on both systems before you do any driving - some of the systems this old have had who knows what replacements done to them over the years, almost always for the worse.
Click to expand...
It's pretty tough to mistake anything else for a JBL driver, even from the outside.
 
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