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JBL L166 Horizons

hjames said:
I've had a number of older JBL speakers with the pinch posts or twist posts.
Can't believe JBL used that cheap junk for so many models.
Pull the woofers to get access and replace the rear connectors with proper 5 way connectors,
In a heartbeat, and don't think twice about it! ;)
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I can certainly understand replacing the JBL stock terminals to accept thicker wires or (in my case) banana plugs, but in over 60-years of JBL ownership I've never once had a broken terminal, whether push, twist, or otherwise. Can't quite figure out what everyone is doing to destroy them so frequently. But then most of the more-than-a-dozen pairs I own are too large to just be falling off a bookshelf.

I do keep a large supply of paired banana jacks on hand to modify other speakers and some Crown amps to accept Pomona plugs, but all of my "modern" JBLs (over the past 30-years?) use them already.

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SaturationPt said:
It depends I guess.

On my L100A and L65As I kept them as-is, I just used wire with a "speaker pin" termination. Not a great terminal nor a great way to terminate IMO, but I wanted to keep the speakers original.

I finally gave in on my L300As, remvoved the plastic twist-lock terminals and installed nice big 5-way binding posts so that I can use banana plugs. They go through the same holes so no drilling or altering the cabinet, attach to the ring-terminals inside, and kept the original terminals.

If I ever decide to re-install the original terminals it'll mean removing the woofers to do so, but they can be reverted to completely original, and I get to enjoy using my real speaker cables and not fussing with those silly little plastic ones, I'm very happy I converted them.

I suggest converting to binding posts / banana plugs and just keep the old terminals, well worth the time.
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That was what I was looking for. That some modern 5 ways would fit through existing holes without modification. I'm going to look into this.
 
Notice that the panel that you're going through on these older JBLs is about 3/16" thick (not the thicker cabinet material) so banana jacks for thicker material might require spacers or washers to adequately clamp on the terminal panels. Also, I like to use a wave-washer on each to help retain pressure as the material does compress a little, frustrating to have to pull the woofers to tighten them once this happens (don't ask).
 
I got to bring them home today. Found out a little history, just no absolute dates yet. They have just been reformed and they said the insides have been gone over, not sure what that means, hopefully, that caps have been done. I'm listening to them and they sound great already even without properly positioning them. I am super pleased that the tweeters are in such good shape as is the grill, only the one grill needs a badge.
I will refurbish the cabinets and those speaker binders are cheesy and I know they are going to break. I am going to replace it with some 5way binding posts assuming I can find something that doesn't require me modifying the cabinets. I'm happy :D

edit: While not consecutive numbers they are really close.
 

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Congrats on your purchase. I’m the second owner of mine, have had them for a long time now. Prior to acquiring these, I’ve used 4311’s and L100’s in this particular room along with a Mac 1700. The 166’s are my favorite of the lot. That’s a great price BTW, I’ve seen them go for much higher. Enjoy.
 
Looks like PO refoamed on front side of cone. A big No No. Then later refoam was done properly to backside of cone. My 4412 were the same way and to hide the visual issues I decided to refoam to front of cone to hide visual blemishes like yours. Congrats I have a set of L166 and preferred them to 4412 which are now sold.
 
nolasally said:
Looks like PO refoamed on front side of cone. A big No No. Then later refoam was done properly to backside of cone. My 4412 were the same way and to hide the visual issues I decided to refoam to front of cone to hide visual blemishes like yours. Congrats I have a set of L166 and preferred them to 4412 which are now sold.
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I'm fairly anal about the looks. At some point and maybe while I have the woofer out of the cabinets for refinishing and changing out the binding post, I may have them re-coned.
 
No original cone kits have come up for sale for a long time, which will be a problem for you. Aftermarket re-cones? I’d sooner toss the speakers.

See what you can do to make the correct cones look good.
 
SaturationPt said:
No original cone kits have come up for sale for a long time, which will be a problem for you. Aftermarket re-cones? I’d sooner toss the speakers.

See what you can do to make the correct cones look good.
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Well, they do sound fine the way they are and the grills are perfect with the exception of one of them does not have a badge. I guess I will just leave the grill on.
 
I know that badges are available. There is a guy who sells them on eBay, also sells JBL fabric and grille frames (Huntley Audio), I have heard they are very good quality. He might have a website to avoid the eBay crap, located in Indiana or Illinois.
 
SaturationPt said:
No original cone kits have come up for sale for a long time, which will be a problem for you. Aftermarket re-cones? I’d sooner toss the speakers.

See what you can do to make the correct cones look good.
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Fortunately, those can be reconed pretty much identical to original with aftermarket parts. The correct cones are available. If the original mass rings are missing, then weight will have to be added to make up the difference.
 
His drivers work! cosmetic damage id say is less harmful to value than recone with aftermarket cones, not to mention the cost of reconing job. In OP case a total waste of money for no gain!
 
I'd say you're wrong, in this case especially. 122A aren't museum pieces. They're meant to be used.
I can probably think of two other re-coners on this board who would tell you the same thing.
 
How long have you been re-coning speakers? I've been doing it since the late '90s. I'm also a fan of JBL and care enough, have the knowledge, and the professional contacts to get the job done properly.
I'm not sure where you get off saying that I, or the two aforementioned fellows, will ruin the value of the OPs speakers through incompetence or indifference.
 
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