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JBL re-introducing the L-100

The official JBL stands arrived yesterday. I've been alternating back and forth between the Classics and the Performance Series PT800/PS1400 stacks (which I absolutely love), comparing the two. The Classics are very pleasant to listen to, and image extremely well. They also reproduce piano and drums (particularly bass drum) very accurately. The grills do not IMO have a significant effect, so I've been leaving them on, and watching them like a hawk when the cats go near (those foam grills are like catnip to my four legged family members). I'm considering ordering a alternate blue set of grills for them, as I have blue grills for my Centurys too. One day, it would be cool to set them both up in the same room, and really spend some time comparing the performance of each of them.
 
Ds2000 said:
That one wasn’t in the store, so no. Based on what I heard, I’d like to tho.
I did hear the DD-67000, and it’s just such a good speaker.
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My apologizes to the OP of this thread for the slight hijack...

but sense you mention the DD67000. Have you read the interview with Greg Timbers (worked on the DD6700 project.) former designer and engineer for 43 years with JBL, back in 2017 with PF (posi + ive feedback forum) sorry, no link info. you may be able search the Lansing forum and find it.
Naturally, he owns a pair of DD6700's and he explains his 2-channel set-up at home. All I can say is, holy cow! I want to hear it! In a quick nut shell, He runs 4 solid state amps 400w each (one for each woofer) and 2 - 120w tube amps, one for each large compression driver and a 30w integrated solid state amp (believe it or not) for the 2 UHF compression drivers. He uses a Pass Labs XVR1 electronic crossover. Also, DEQX HDP4 with DEQX Premate.

My favorite, maple finish. I've always been a JBL fan and one day I will own a pair (probably used, the only way I'll be able to afford them.)
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I am still really, really enjoying the L100 Classics. Absolutely terrific sound, so well worth the purchase price. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I have now purchased the grills for them in all three colours (black, blue and now orange), I wanted to get them while they were available.
 
wu6fiend said:
I am still really, really enjoying the L100 Classics. Absolutely terrific sound, so well worth the purchase price. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I have now purchased the grills for them in all three colours (black, blue and now orange), I wanted to get them while they were available.
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i would do the same. makes em look fresh, everytime you change grill colors!
 
Here are the new Classics, beside their namesake, the Centurys. Note the size difference. The Classics are atop a pair of Deertree Audio stands, while the Centurys are sitting on the new JS-120 stands. A friend is coming over for a listening session, we will report our observations, and also compare them both to the PT800/PS1400 Performance Series combos.

Looking at them all together, I am struck by how long my affection for JBL has lasted, and how many I have owned (and still own), since my first pair (L60T) way back in 1987.



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wu6fiend said:
Note the size difference. ...
Looking at them all together, I am struck by how long my affection for JBL has lasted, and how many I have owned (and still own), since my first pair (L60T) way back in 1987.
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I'd love to . . . but the picture is sooooo small!
 
My friend is a musician, also a vintage audio lover. Initially, he preferred the sound of the L100 Centurys, but then the tide began to turn in favour of the the new Classics. My opinion did not change, I thoroughly enjoy the Classics, and can happily listen to them for hours/days on end without fatigue. They excel at rock/pop music. He found them excellent value for the money, and stated that if he was in the market, he would purchase them without qualm. One day, I would love to have a dedicated listening room, as having this many speakers set up in our living room is understandably a temporary thing. The Performance Series also performed well, but its bass is more subtle/subdued in comparison. They are still my go-to speakers, and are still used daily.
 
I'd like to see a comparison of the new L-100 to the 590s. I have my 590s paired with vintage 4311B and L19, but would be curious to know how the new L-100 fits into the sonic picture.

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Just want to add on to this thread about how much I am enjoying my L100 Classic's.

I bought them new about 2 months ago and enjoy them more each day. A surprising amp pairing came with the old Sonic Super T Tripath amp. I don't rush break in, so I brought this out of the closet to put some hours on them... it's still there, all 10 watts of it. Future plan is either my Pass XA30.5 and/or Bedini 45/45 but in no hurry.

For reference, I use some highly tweaked Maggie 3.6's and Legacy Focus SE's in other systems. The JBL's are not embarrassed.

My opinions... I think they are worth the 4k and their dedicated stands are excellent.
 
Had the Classics for 4 months now... love them more each day.

One night, I was trying to figure out what it was that made them so enjoyable... for me it's their bass. Not just the amount or how low, but the resolution. Current pairing is with a ss Pass XA30.5. The JBL'S work excellent with my tube Marantz 8b, especially in the midrange, and the Pass really brings out what the bass is capable of, talking about quality not quantity.
 
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I sold a spare power amp, and put together a demo setup in the basement in order to demo it (with vinyl) for the buyer. The L100 Classics were pressed into service for this purpose, and I spent several hours just listening to them.

I am quite torn between my beloved JBL PT800/PS1400 (Synthesis Performance Series) that I daily use for 2 channel listening, and the L100 Classics. They are that good.
 
I power my set of L100's and a set of L19's with a Marantz 1090. Then pay my vinyl on a Marantz 6300 using a Ortofon blue cartridge and head. I did add a JBL PSW-1200 sub a few weeks ago. WOW.
 
End of line, late to the party, I bought a pair at an ok discount. If anyone is interested, I'll post a subjective review. WHEN THEY COME IN. My intuition is that they will pair well with my gear.
 
z-adamson said:
Intuition as to how speakers will sound with your gear prior to hearing the speakers. Hmm..

How does this work?
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Intuitively! I'm no expert, but I know my amp a bit, specs-wise, sound-wise, on two systems, and I've heard and read about those jbls. Enough to have an intuitive, neither empirical nore soundly theoretical, take on the thing. But see, I may find I was wrong. That's the deal with... intuition?
Educated guess? Gamble? What would do the trick?
 
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