Hey guys! New to the audio world. I have a pair of JBL L150s and am absolutely loving them. One of the Mids (LE5-10) occasionally produces a metallic ringing noise. I was wondering what you guys think could be the problem. There is a pair of LE5-6s and LE5-12s for sale on ebay currently. Would it be better to purchase one of those pairs or to have the LE5-10s I have reconed? Thanks in advance for any help/advice.
JBL L150s Mid replacement/reconing
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Chris Brown
Super Member
I'd start by removing the problem driver and giving it a close inspection. It's possible that it might be an easy fix. The dust cap is metal. Make sure that no part is lifting-up at all. If the dust cap is damaged, it's also possible that debris has got into the magnetic gap, in which case it could potentially be cleaned. It's possible to buy replacement dust caps. Also check the spider underneath (beige/yellow/brown accordion fabric) to see if it is lifting-up or has become detached at any location. Hooking the driver up to your amp directly and playing a test tone at low volumes might help to reveal any problems.
If nothing obvious is found, then replacing in pairs is certainly an option. LE5-6, LE5-8, LE5-10, and LE5-12 are all fully interchangeable. LE5-8 and LE5-12 have a silver frame (instead of black) but that difference is only cosmetic.
Having your pair reconed would come down to confidence in your skill or that of the person you take it to. Are you, or they, using the correct recone kit? Be very weary of low-quality generic kits that have become very popular (and low-quality businesses that think using those kits is okay). Example: https://reconingspeakers.com/product/jbl-le5-2-le5-9-aftermarket-recone-kit/
These low-quality generic kits claim compatibility with multiple LE5 models that all have different voice coils. Obviously one kit couldn't be compatible with all of those models simultaneously if it was anything other than a sloppy copy. It provides a paper dust cap when most original LE5 drivers used metal dust caps, etc.
If nothing obvious is found, then replacing in pairs is certainly an option. LE5-6, LE5-8, LE5-10, and LE5-12 are all fully interchangeable. LE5-8 and LE5-12 have a silver frame (instead of black) but that difference is only cosmetic.
Having your pair reconed would come down to confidence in your skill or that of the person you take it to. Are you, or they, using the correct recone kit? Be very weary of low-quality generic kits that have become very popular (and low-quality businesses that think using those kits is okay). Example: https://reconingspeakers.com/product/jbl-le5-2-le5-9-aftermarket-recone-kit/
These low-quality generic kits claim compatibility with multiple LE5 models that all have different voice coils. Obviously one kit couldn't be compatible with all of those models simultaneously if it was anything other than a sloppy copy. It provides a paper dust cap when most original LE5 drivers used metal dust caps, etc.
Oh my god man this is such a thorough response. I really appreciate you taking the time to write all of this out! For disconnecting the driver, would you refer to the L150 manual? Also, if it were just a matter of replacing the dust cap, do you recommend any particular brands for that? In terms of reconing, would they need to be using an original kit or are there any aftermarket options that would work? Last question, does this pair of LE5-6s look to be in good shape? Again, thank you so much dude!
Chris Brown
Super Member
It's not really possible to buy actual spare JBL parts at this point so it's about trying to get as close to stock as possible. The dust cap is aluminum. I think something like this would probably work just fine: https://www.ebay.com/itm/167780289639
An original kit would be very rare at this point. The quality of aftermarket kits varies but the cheap kits are pervasive. I think that your best bet would be to identify what is actually wrong with the problem driver, and see if it can be salvaged.
Looks good. DCR is close enough. One cone has what looks like very minor water damage but almost certainly just cosmetic.
It's most likely just sticking to the paint on the cabinet after all these years. Just use a putty knife and gently tap around the edges with a small hammer until it lifts up.
BMWCCA
Addicted Member
I find that using low heat from a heat gun applied to a stuck driver frame while applying slight force from the thinnest putty-knife in the drawer always seems to work. Few drivers are glued in and even those with gaskets get stuck to the original JBL paint. You may still pull some paint off, but it's usually covered by the driver already. 