jbl mutant or not?
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bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
Sad, those are what's left of a pair of L150's.
Looks like they were long ago gutted of their JBL componets.
http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/jbl/specs/home-speakers/1979-l150/page2.jpg
Looks like they were long ago gutted of their JBL componets.
http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/jbl/specs/home-speakers/1979-l150/page2.jpg
soundmotor
super modified
Looks like the PR at the bottom is still there. I can't say they were a complete hackjob though. Looks like some thought went into it and care taken on the execution. Maybe not perfect but it does look reversible. I don't know how desirable the L150 is or the cost to put it together. If they are desirable and they were mine, I'd put them on the back burner and take my time finding the parts at the right cost. I've brought back a couple beauties that way and for not too much money relative to their worth after being restored.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
Chris Brown
Super Member
That’s sad.
If you want to restore them you’ll have to figure out if they were JBL L150’s or JBL L150A’s.
Both used the 128H woofer. One of the best 12” woofers JBL made though it doesn’t hit as hard as others like the 2214H it will go lower and is more accurate IMO. If you can’t find any the 128H-1 is identical other than having a black cone.
L150 came with LE5-10 Midrange and 033 tweeter
L150A came with LE5-12 Midrange and 044 tweeter
LE5-10 and LE5-12, as well as the LE5-6 (L36, etc) and the LE5-8 (L166, etc) are all acoustically identical and can be used as replacements. LE5-10, LE5-6 have a black faceplate, LE5-12, LE5-8 have a silver faceplate.
The way the 033 and the 044 tweeters were mounted in the cabinet’s weren’t the same, so that will be part of the reason you will need to discover if they were L150’s or L150A’s, and hopefully permanent modification wasn’t done to fit those aftermarket parts in. If it is an L150, and you can’t find any 033’s, 034’s can be used in their place with some minor issues related to the plastic frames of the tweeters rattling at high volumes.
I would assume the crossover network is also gone since it looks like the L-Pads have been removed.
If you want to restore them you’ll have to figure out if they were JBL L150’s or JBL L150A’s.
Both used the 128H woofer. One of the best 12” woofers JBL made though it doesn’t hit as hard as others like the 2214H it will go lower and is more accurate IMO. If you can’t find any the 128H-1 is identical other than having a black cone.
L150 came with LE5-10 Midrange and 033 tweeter
L150A came with LE5-12 Midrange and 044 tweeter
LE5-10 and LE5-12, as well as the LE5-6 (L36, etc) and the LE5-8 (L166, etc) are all acoustically identical and can be used as replacements. LE5-10, LE5-6 have a black faceplate, LE5-12, LE5-8 have a silver faceplate.
The way the 033 and the 044 tweeters were mounted in the cabinet’s weren’t the same, so that will be part of the reason you will need to discover if they were L150’s or L150A’s, and hopefully permanent modification wasn’t done to fit those aftermarket parts in. If it is an L150, and you can’t find any 033’s, 034’s can be used in their place with some minor issues related to the plastic frames of the tweeters rattling at high volumes.
I would assume the crossover network is also gone since it looks like the L-Pads have been removed.
Refoam the PRs, install 128H-1s and JBL PT-H1010 waveguides with BMS 4555 drivers.
http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=44254#post44254
You're keeping the L150 LF section and adding 100° x 100° constant directivity HF.
That'll get you kick-ass downsized quasi-4430s. :thmbsp:
Russellc
Addicted Member
It's not madness.
AR, KLH, Advent, Heathkit, JBL, Altec, Klipsch, Dumpster Bins, ... anything.
Technological advances have made simple two-ways eminently viable, and there's more to come.... :thmbsp:
Mchaz
Outputs roasting on an...
I think Zilch has the right idea here. :yes: Maybe I'm wrong, but restoring those back to original spec seems like it would end up taking a lot more effort and money than just tracking down a pair of complete originals. So why not make a franken speaker that keeps true to the JBL heritage?
They'd be "truer" with 2344(A) horns and 2425/6 drivers, but butt-cheeks are pretty hard to come by these days.
We're looking at cabs pre-cut for 12" woofers and a pair of passive radiators here, basically, and I don't think many would argue that 4430, quasi-, even, isn't a major step up from L150..... :yes:
westend
Audiopile
I was thinkng wave guide canidate, also. FWIW I was running a set of smaller Klipsch w/passive radiator and an AMT1 on top and it was pretty good. Needed some crossover work, of course. My point is the bass woofers in these older speaks is still fairly good and can be modified on the top end to produce an even beter speaker. Good luck with whatever direction you go.
Listening to 4312a's w/ Leo Kottke "Standing in my shoes" Sounds like he's right next to me. I can hear the body resonance of the guitar on the trailing notes,
Listening to 4312a's w/ Leo Kottke "Standing in my shoes" Sounds like he's right next to me. I can hear the body resonance of the guitar on the trailing notes,
