JBL speakers are they really that good?

[hwirt]

They look really nice, never had the chance to audition them but have heard lots of good reports from other owners. The powered bass modules also eliminate the need for really big power amps but they certainly deserve top quality gear driving them. The fact that they are modular allows an easy transition from stereo to surround 5.1 etc. :thmbsp:

 

[hjames]

I bought a pair of JLBs from a guy in a van once. Figured "$1999 list...these HAVE to be good." He wanted $600...all I had on me was $133.28. He still sold them to me. Did I do good?

Yes you did Gunga Din!

What the heck are JLBs?? What the heck do JLBs sound like ...
I think they're like Zeppo lighters or Bratling watches ...
sorta seems like something you once heard of, but it isn't really ...
Don't assume it was a typo! Perhaps they were white van speakers?

i am a fan of JBLs ... (and I don't mean L100s!)

 

[hatrack71]

I am loving my 4333As and L-200Bs and Apollos(when I refoam the LE-15As). I am currently working on building a pair of C-38 barons with an 002 load using N-7000 crossovers instead of N-2400. Are L-100s JBLs? Hmmm... I didn't know that. They certainly don't sound as good as anything I have here.

 

[mrkirker]

It's been years since I've heard a set, and maybe time has sweetened the sound, but I'd love to have a set in my living room, none-the-less!

 

[Rapidan]

I like L100's. There, I said it and I feel much better. I've owned my set since 1982, bought 'em used from a studio where I was working. It's popular to bash them now, just like in that era we sneered at Japanese receivers and direct drive turntables.

That said, I'm under no illusion as to where they are in the hierarchy. To me, they sound close to the Altec 604's and UREI 813's they were voiced to emulate, that is, full of impact, slam, and immediacy, but not terribly accurate. They're good for gauging relative track levels and mic placement when recording, in that material monitored or even mixed on them tends to sound good on most other systems. But they are tough to listen to for long periods, especially at higher volumes. Many other JBL products of the era sound better.

I recently purchased a pair of new JBL LSR2325P's, little powered 2-way monitors with a 5" woofer and silk dome tweeter. They best the L100's in every way, including bass rendering and accuracy. Still, there's something about the L100's that prevents me from getting rid of them, and judging from the continued interest and discussion (plus the robust used market!) I'm far from alone.

 

[Mancave Man]

I've always liked the L100.

 

[hjames]

Yep, some folks like L-100s. Myself?
Found a pair of L-100s at a good price a couple of years back, got new grill foams and all of that.
Played them for 4 months, but I couldn't figure what all the excitement was all about.
I made some nice money when I flipped them - but for some folks it's apparently like reclaiming their old college memories - that's cool.
I'm not into bashing them, I just didn't see the point, so I sold them to someone who did.

I've got plenty of other JBLs I like better that I will keep.

 

[superdog]

Count me in on the L100 fan club.No they don't do everything well but what they do well they do very well. p.s. I want that poster.

 

[djnagle]

I have JBL E140 woofers in Barzilay cabs with JBL 2441 on Edgarhorns. SWEEEEEET!!!

 

[dnewma04]

Moderator's Note: If you are reading this thread and believe the original poster is trolling, please use the report post icon in the upper right of the post

and flag it for the moderators to review.

I have read and participated in the post and don't see obvious reasons to close the thread.

 

[woad_yurt]

I play guitar and think JBL G125s and G135s are the best things ever made. I have no experience with JBL home audio stuff but the ones they made back a bit for instruments are killer. I heard one 12" G125 once and they ruined all the others for me. It's quite a pain because I think they haven't made them for a good 25 or so years. Where most other guitar speakers top out around 5000 hz, the G125s do 7000. The 15" G125 goes to 6000. If their pro audio products are indicative of their home audio stuff, I can understand why the cost so much.

 

[Franz]

compared to what most people listen to music with (earbuds? really??) even a 2-way
Radio Shack with a 10" woofer sounds like the voice of an angel...........

 

[tube-it]

I've owned allot of JBLs and am probably a bit of a fan boy, L100, Olympus, L77, L88s, 4315s, Decade L26, and a few others. The build quality has always drawn me to them. Massive Voice Coils, Cast Frames, Heavy braced cabinets, to name a few. I think JBL's big thing are there ability to articulate the signal accurately, especially in the bass region where most speakers fail, and there efficiency. I think because JBL speaker were born out of the studio environment these aspects were a big part of there development.

So far I've held on to my Olympus and 4315s and have no plans on ever selling them. That being said, I also own a pair of Bozaks Urbans and my own home built speakers that were built with the old Rectilinear III sound in mind. I use the 4315s in my amateur recording studio and really appreciate there accuracy but for musicality my home built speakers and Bozaks tend to me more musical and forgiving wich is better for everyday listening, especially if the source is not the greatest. The olympus are fantastic for just blowing your socks off and pissing off the neighbors Not many other speakers can truly represent the sound of Mickey Hart's 23hz Helmholtz Resonator on Plannet Drum

 

[Littletoot]

I've owned allot of JBLs and am probably a bit of a fan boy, L100, Olympus, L77, L88s, 4315s, Decade L26, and a few others. The build quality has always drawn me to them. Massive Voice Coils, Cast Frames, Heavy braced cabinets, to name a few. I think JBL's big thing are there ability to articulate the signal accurately, especially in the bass region where most speakers fail, and there efficiency. I think because JBL speaker were born out of the studio environment these aspects were a big part of there development.

So far I've held on to my Olympus and 4315s and have no plans on ever selling them. That being said, I also own a pair of Bozaks Urbans and my own home built speakers that were built with the old Rectilinear III sound in mind. I use the 4315s in my amateur recording studio and really appreciate there accuracy but for musicality my home built speakers and Bozaks tend to me more musical and forgiving wich is better for everyday listening, especially if the source is not the greatest. The olympus are fantastic for just blowing your socks off and pissing off the neighbors Not many other speakers can truly represent the sound of Mickey Hart's 23hz Helmholtz Resonator on Plannet Drum

I get my kicks with The Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" - first track - those drums, oh, those drums. 4344s AND 4315s together. Stops people cold. Neighbours? Don't need no stinkin' neighbours! (Actually they are pretty cool...)

 

[daveg3588]

Every time I listen to my friends L-200's I get to see the framed poster in his family room.
I don't know how I missed this discussion, but this is great fun. Purchased my L-166's in 1976, $400 ea my 4301's $178ea. in 1978. Both have been refoamed once. And my 4311's as part of a used system in the 90's. Although components have changed, rooms and layouts, all of these are used as daily drivers it just depends on the mood and the music.

 

[Nuvintage]

I owned 4312A, L-100T and L-80t. I loved the aquaplas woofers, and midrange. Never heard a JBL tweeter that I was total satisfied with, at least not on the level of the well executed mid and woofer.

 

[MoTeD]

Well I'm done drooling over this thread. Off to listen.

 

[statman122]

Just got home yesterday with a near mint pair of 4412's, I have to say I'm in audio bliss right now! picked up a pair of L20t3 dirt cheap on the same trip figuring if nothing else I'd have backup tweeters, but those little guys sound really amazing for their size!

 

[BMWCCA]

I owned 4312A, L-100T and L-80t. I loved the aquaplas woofers, and midrange. Never heard a JBL tweeter that I was total satisfied with, at least not on the level of the well executed mid and woofer.

You might try the T3 "upgrade" to the L80t. Most agree it really helps the tweeter. And there are those who say the opposite, too.

Personally I'm fond of the 044 in my L96/L112/L150As.

Just got home yesterday with a near mint pair of 4412's, I have to say I'm in audio bliss right now! picked up a pair of L20t3 dirt cheap on the same trip figuring if nothing else I'd have backup tweeters, but those little guys sound really amazing for their size!

I know what you mean; I love my 4412As nearly as much as my L112s! My L20T is a fantastic little speaker eclipsed only by my L1s. The small two-ways are as fantastic in their own way as are the 10-inch three ways like the L96 and 4313B. Don't ever part them! You can always buy the 052 if you hurt your 035s but instead just make sure you're giving them plenty of clean power so you won't hurt them.

 

[fpitas]

I owned 4312A, L-100T and L-80t. I loved the aquaplas woofers, and midrange. Never heard a JBL tweeter that I was total satisfied with, at least not on the level of the well executed mid and woofer.

My impressions of JBL back in the day were similar; the bass and lower midrange from their 12s and 15s was what impressed me. When I could some day afford good speakers, that was the sound I wanted. Midrange on up I preferred the sound of Altec horns, although the old JBL slant-lens horns sounded nice.