JBL L5 vs JBL L80t, how much of an improvement?

[89grand]

I have a pair of JBL L80t's, and while I like them fairly well, I find myself loving them on one song, and almost cringing on others because of the hot upper mid and treble. I managed to tone them down a little with some minor eq adjustments with my Pioneer VSX-1121-K receiver/preamp, but I found myself wanting to fiddle with things too much from song to song. Before anyone asks, I tired a pair of t3 crossovers and actually preferred the originals, so that wasn't the answer for me anyway.

I grabbed my DCM Time Window 1's from the secondary system and put them in place of the JBL's, and I actually prefer the DCM's. They may lose just a bit of detail on some tracks, but they generally sound very good from song to song, and are much more pleasing on average. I listen to such a variety of music, that a speaker has to be able to deal with whatever I ask it to. The JBL's are just too picky, so they are in the secondary setup. Just for the sake of record, I run a 150wpc AudioSource AMP Three, so I have enough power I think.

Now, onto the real question, how does the L5 compare to the L80t? I've heard they were better, and have no doubt they are, but I'm not really looking for another set that sounds like a L80t, with just minor improvements, but a speaker that, while may have some of the same traits, it is a JBL after all, really improves on the L80t's current strengths and weaknesses. Bass response isn't a huge issue as I run three subs, so the L80t's larger woofer isn't a concern. Is the L5 what I'm looking for? Is it really that good, as good as I've read that it was?

 

[BMWCCA]

I have two L80Ts converted to T3 crossovers to deal with just what you're experiencing. I have about a c-note or less in each. I like them a lot and often try to compare them to my L96s, which they have yet to better.

I have a pair of L5s that I dearly love. I often compare them to my L7s but they actually don't rattle the house as much which is considered a benefit to my family. I think an L5 is twice the speaker an L80T is. The 80T is a great bargain JBL. The L5 can stand with the big boys.

 

[89grand]

So I take it, the L5 is a very noticeable upgrade. I may just pursue the ones I found, because if they are a considerable upgrade to the L80t, they're easily worth the asking price it seems.

I still kick myself in the ass for missing a set of L7's for $300. I have several gmail accounts and didn't realize I had used a certain one to respond to a CL ad, that isn't my primary one, until one day I used it, and had seen the seller had accepted my offer for $300, that I had thought he had ignored. That email was several weeks old at that point. The L5 might be better suited for my room though actually.

 

[89grand]

One more question since you know these speakers, is it still correct that you cannot get new surrounds for these?

A lot of my searching reveals older threads so maybe things have changed since. Are they foam? If so, they will eventually take a dump I'd think, and would hate to buy these knowing when they crap out, they're crapped out.

 

[BMWCCA]

One more question since you know these speakers, is it still correct that you cannot get new surrounds for these?

A lot of my searching reveals older threads so maybe things have changed since. Are they foam? If so, they will eventually take a dump I'd think, and would hate to buy these knowing when they crap out, they're crapped out.

L5s are neoprene. The L7 12-inch is foam. There are reports of separation in the surrounds on the neoprene but I've seen the complaint mainly on the L3 which seems incapable of handling what people want to throw at that lesser model (dance studio with a small amp was one such noted failure). I've not seen it on the two-pair of L5s which I've purchased. My theory is they are under far less stress in the L5 and L7 but I could eventually be proven wrong.