RSL-can someone identify

[vintageaudio]

Maybe one of our West Coast members can be so kind to indentify the model of these Roger Sound Labs speakers.
As you can see they are 3 way with a 12" woofer and a port.
They sound to me like the old JBL L-100's.

thanks much

 

[stickman]

This appears to be a very early version of RSL's "studio monitor" line which was modeled after the JBL L-100 as you mention. The early RSL speakers have a connection plate in back that usually lists the city of Van Nuys (later models were made in Canoga Park) and may say "RSL Cross-over" on it without any sort of model number ID. The founder of RSL designed these speakers through listening tests and he had a very good ear. Later the studio monitor models included 3300's (good), 3600's (very good), and 3800's (not so good). While working for RSL in the late 80's / early 90's I bought one of the last pairs of 3600's off the assembly line and I've been enjoying them ever since. I always considered the later 3800's a poor sounding speaker with noticable cross-over cancellation issues......

PS - RSL never manufactured their own drivers, so if you were to remove the drivers and note the EIA codes you could figure out where they were sourced. (Well except for later models that used Foster/Fostex drivers from Japan...) If your drivers have square magnets, they'd be from CTS.

 

[vintageaudio]

Thanks big time, Stickman! :thmbsp:

I rescued these from the curb....got to talk to the owner, however and he says he bought these new in 1978...in California...at a Rogers Sound Labs store---did not remember the model...doesn't say anywhere on the speaker.

After all these years and all the moves this fella has made--he has carried them across the country a few times.....his wife is making him get rid of them---he was happy I grabbed them.

I took them home and hooked them up to a Carver MXR-150 and Wow! They sound really good--I am very impressed.

I think I'm gonna really enjoy these. I would love to more about them, in case anyone else knows more--I'm all ears.

thanks

 

[vintageaudio]

Please, any other Rogers Sound Labs fans or any other California people who can shed more light on these.....it would be much appreciated.

thanks

 

[Jim M]

As stickman said yours seems to be an early model of their Studio Monitor series and they were made to be in direct completion with the JBL L100's.
RSL is still in business and you can download their early catalogs off their site.
You can see the links to the brochures at the bottom of their page.
http://www.rslspeakers.com/Support/index.cfm?page=SupportHome

I don't see your particular speaker shown in the brochures but if you send them an email with a picture attached they are willing to help identify them for you
help@rslspeakers.com

I have a beautiful pair of the 3600's myself. They sound as good, if not better, than the famous JBL L100's so I can believe you when you say how nice yours sound.
I think you made a pretty good score there :thmbsp:

 

[vintageaudio]

Thanks Jim.
I downloaded the brochure and sent them an email.

Good info!

thanks again