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New to Me JBL Decade L-16

I purchased mine in the summer of 1975, with a Marantz 2235 B receiver, at Atlantic Stereo, Newport Beach, CA. Great system for a college room. The package was about $500 then. The L26 and L36 were also available, just not the cash.
 
captnmac said:
I purchased mine in the summer of 1975, with a Marantz 2235 B receiver, at Atlantic Stereo, Newport Beach, CA. Great system for a college room. The package was about $500 then. The L26 and L36 were also available, just not the cash.
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Cool story, excellent dorm room system! Do you still have the speakers or receiver?

My son may end up getting these JBL L-16s someday. But I've got time to think about it--he's five. :D
 
Yes, I still have the 2235b. It's in the queue for restoration. Bought the lamp kit from An AK member. Some serious scratchiness on the volume control, but it's been in storage for 20 yrs. Sold the JBLs in Ann Arbor, MI, when in grad school, in 1979. Picked up my Dual 604 TT that I still use daily at the same time. Had to replace the stylus on the V15/III recently.
 
I sold these back in the 70's. They were the smallest of the Decade series. L16 with 1.5" tweeter, and 8" woofer. Then there was the Decade L-26 with same tweeter and 10" woofer. Then the Decade L-36 same tweeter, 5" midrange, and a 10" woofer.
Next up in those years moved you to the L-88, and L100 Century series. The L-88 was a two system with same tweeter as above, but with 12" woofer. You could buy the +12 kit to add a 5" midrange (same as above), or buy the L100 Three way system. Many people didn't like the grilles on the L100's, and preferred the L88+12. The Pro monitor line ad the 4311 which was a L100 in different type cabinets.
 
I've had two sets of JBL L19's since college. They are still some of my favorite "Natural Sound" speakers, to my ear.

The ear likes what it likes I guess.
 
IIRC the the L16, L19, and 4301 share the 116A 8" woofer. The L16 has the LE25-2 tweeter, the L19 and 4301 have the LE26 tweeter. They all have different crossovers.

I had 4301's in my house on loan and loved them. I have a pair of L16's parked in Montana with my fiancee. She opted for AR4X's that I restored for her with EL84 integrated that I also restored for her as well.

My plan is to get the L16's here and spend some time with them and ultimately upgrade them with the 4301 crossover.

http://www.jbl.com/resources/Brands...uments/en-US/TechnicalSheet/L16 DECADE ts.pdf
 
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pete1729 said:
IIRC the the L16, L19, and 4301 share the 116A 8" woofer. The L16 has the LE26 tweeter, the L19 and 4301 have the LE25 tweeter. They all have different crossovers.

I had 4301's in my house on loan and loved them. I have a pair of L16's parked in Montana with my fiancee. She opted for AR4X's that I restored for her with EL84 integrated that I also restored for her as well.

My plan is to get the L16's here and spend some time with them and ultimately upgrade them with the 4301 crossover.

http://www.jbl.com/resources/Brands...uments/en-US/TechnicalSheet/L16 DECADE ts.pdf
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L19 and L19A (which uses the 116H woofer) both use the L26 tweeter.
 
PiMaxC said:
I know I'm reviving an long dead thread but I just have to point out that awesome flower grill on one of the speakers in that photo. Anyone have any idea what model that is?
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I need 10 pairs of those in my life, stat.
 
montrecott said:
Thank you for the info, 70salesguy! That was about the time I was getting into audio and dreaming of owning JBLs, which wouldn't happen until much later. I did however spend a lot of time listening to JBLs (and other assorted speakers I couldn't afford) in audio showrooms during the mid/late seventies while I was in high school. People in our culture like to make fun of salesmen but I remember all those stereo sales guys (and at that time every stereo sales person I saw was a guy) being very nice to me. Plus they dressed so cool: flared polyester slacks, shirts with hang glider lapels, white belts.... But we all dressed so cool in the seventies, didn't we? :D
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it was 1974 i saved up 250 bucks working at corner groc store to get 1st quality stereo a sherwood 7050 with a whole 8 watts of clean super sounding power bsr turntable and small omega speakers 1 speaker failed store gave me credit for and i wanted l16s but they cost 69 dollars and coudnt afford it had to settle for pioneer proj 80s good for the price but no jbls thats for sure
 
montrecott said:
Thanks! These are indeed pretty amazing for their size, with really good bass. You could run these with 15wpc in a small room and get lots of volume. I may try them with my 22wpc Fisher tube amp just for the heck of it. It might also tame the bright high end just a bit.
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Are they OK to run with an SX 880?
 
JerStC said:
Loud, good. But would bass keep up? They’re little. (8” woofer).
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Give it a spin and see what you think. Bass of those speakers is good for their size. I did find them bright on the top end. The L-96 has a much smoother tweeter IMO.
 
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