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Top sounding JBL bookshelf speakers

nolasally said:
@BMWCCA i know you and Chris brown are the Jbl experts here but I’ve owned those s38’s and while they are not offensive IMO they don’t hold a candle to older L1’s or L20t’s. Cheap cabinets, cheap drivers. Remind me of Jbl LX series.
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As knowledgeable as we know you to be, were your S38s the originals, or the Series-II? I'm far from the expert here. I have only my own experiences. And years ago we did an in-person small JBL shoot-out in the Shenandoah Valley where I supplied the L1 and L20t for comparison with the 18ti and others. The L1 was the favorite, but all were playing in the same "open-air" room environment with no walls nearby. I've often called my L96 my "desert island" speakers for their ability to work well anywhere on any kind of music. The L5 of bookshelf JBLs? But even the LCR305 can play with most of these if you approximate—as close as reasonably possible—a blind test . I'm not making these comparisons from memory, because even swapping speakers from those you're used to to something new may require very long exposure to re-calibrate your ears and brain. I buy them all and keep them so I can make these A—B comparisons any time I want!

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I actually had both s38’s at one point or another. Not at same point. As I said though not offensive just seemed like a cheap speaker with white van bling. Not my cup a tea.
 
i have the s38bee, and as a bookshelf speaker they sound pretty good. in fact they are the only jbl speakers i have left, besides the l46's, which are something for you to consider, l56's as well.
 
Audiohound said:
JBLs purchase by HK and now Samsung left a bitter taste on the once iconic brand.
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Yeah I feel similar when I see brands being bought and then used mainly as a label for products that have no connection to what actually made the brand great.

At least in the case of the Studio 5 series recommended several times in this thread, they were designed by Greg Timbers, who also designed many classic JBLs including the B460 that you said you used, as well as the L250, etc. So in that case at least, the shared heritage, the connection to the past, is still intact. Of course, in the time since the Studio 5 series was first released, Greg Timbers was let go by JBL... So the Studio 5 series might actually be one of the last consumer JBLs we will ever see that isn't just a Samsung speaker with a JBL logo. I'll admit, this thought was a factor when I bought my 590s.
 
I have had my S38's for quite some time....they may look a bit "different" but I enjoy them. They get some bad reviews but I find them really nice to listen to.
 
oneputt said:
Thinking about getting some JBL bookshelf speakers and was wondering what everyones opinion was on the best sounding ones. Only interested in bookshelf speakers, no floor standers. Already own JBL L100's and JBL L36's which I enjoy, just thinking about trying something different. One of my thoughts was JBL L112's which I've never heard but have read they are great sounding speakers. Anyone have any opinions on these or any other JBL bookshelfs that sound better than the L112's
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I like model 62 & 82 Circa 1987
 
Surprised a bit, that no one has mentioned the L19 or 18Ti. Both are very good for their size.

Or, if something the size of an L112- the successor to that- the 120Ti- is quite good. As is the 4412 (the pro model of the same size and age of the 120Ti).

Regards,
Gordon.
 
GordonW said:
Surprised a bit, that no one has mentioned the L19 or 18Ti. Both are very good for their size.

Or, if something the size of an L112- the successor to that- the 120Ti- is quite good. As is the 4412 (the pro model of the same size and age of the 120Ti).

Regards,
Gordon.
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Thanks Gordon...I was very Impressed with the L46..21 inches tall 2 way / 8 inch woofers ...how does the L19 compare
 
oneputt said:
Thinking about getting some JBL bookshelf speakers and was wondering what everyones opinion was on the best sounding ones. Only interested in bookshelf speakers, no floor standers. Already own JBL L100's and JBL L36's which I enjoy, just thinking about trying something different. One of my thoughts was JBL L112's which I've never heard but have read they are great sounding speakers. Anyone have any opinions on these or any other JBL bookshelfs that sound better than the L112's
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In the Op's own words, "The best sounding Bookshelves" He Never mentioned cost limitations.
One only has to go to the JBL website and the 4349's are listed
As Bookshelves. So were Pioneer Cs99a's and they are slightly larger.
I'm not the guy to argue with the speaker pro GordonW
But the 4349's are WAAAY better than the New L-100 classics, and 4412's, L-112's.
I would argue these are the best sounding 12" bookshelf speakers in the more than 75 yr history of JBL.
Sure they are 2x the price, but if bought right on the used market, Like close to 1/2 of the List price,
Probably from, the guy who wants to step up to the 4367's.
They will keep their value better than most any other New speaker on the market Bar None
 
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Nyjblbob said:
In the Op's own words, "The best sounding Bookshelves" He Never mentioned cost limitations.
One only has to go to the JBL website and the 4349's are listed
As Bookshelves. So were Pioneer Cs99a's and they are slightly larger.
I'm not the guy to argue with the speaker pro GordonW
But the 4349's are WAAAY better than the New L-100 classics, and 4412's, L-112's.
Sure they are 2x the price, but if bought right on the used market, Like close to 1/2 of the List price,
Probably from, the guy who wants to step up to the 4367's.
They will keep their value better than most any other New speaker on the market Bar None
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My vote is depending on your age & how much room you have….less is more / keep it simple….
 
Fomoco1649 said:
I like model 62 & 82 Circa 1987
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I rescued a filthy pair of grey JBL 62T speakers a couple of years ago. Covered in dust and splattered in various goo. They also smelled bad. The grilles were not really salvageable. Removing the grey dust revealed some nice brown cabinets and a wash with wood furniture soap removed the smell. The tweeters needed vacuumed and the woofers were carefully and meticulously cleaned with soapy water to gently remove the thankfully water soluble goo on them. They were just a delight to listen to once I plugged them in. A very solid bookshelf from what was then a low end / mid range speaker in the late 80s.
 
absolve2525 said:
I picked up a set recently, and I'm blown away. Such a great, big open sound with punch and detail from a small speaker!
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Years (decades?) ago over on LH we did an Atlantic Coast small speaker shootout with bunches of JBLs from 10-inch, on down. I believe of the smaller boxes, the L1 was chosen as the best, even including the 18ti. Of course a lot of that depends on whether your bookshelves can handle a speaker with a rear port or not. I have L112, L96, S38, and 4412A in addition to L1 and L20T. Is there anyone who really uses the L112/4412 on bookshelves?

I'm constantly surprised that in all these discussions no one (except me) ever mentions the Pro-III Plus. These are usually found on the cheap, often needing surrounds on the small satellites, but I think my last pair cost me twenty-bucks with the passive sub (the "Plus" part). Whenever I'm playing a set of these in a room with larger JBLs, anyone walking in assumes they're hearing the largest speaker in the room. If these weren't made of plastic, they'd get a lot more respect, but they are definitely worth playing with—and the satellites are ported on the front baffle for bookshelf or near-field use. Replacing surrounds on these is not for the faint of heart and requires physically prying the case apart with the help of a heat-gun. Strongest glue I've encountered in a speaker cabinet. I've done two pair and am in no hurry to do a third!
:yikes:

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GordonW said:
Surprised a bit, that no one has mentioned the L19 or 18Ti. Both are very good for their size.

Or, if something the size of an L112- the successor to that- the 120Ti- is quite good. As is the 4412 (the pro model of the same size and age of the 120Ti).

Regards,
Gordon.
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I have a pair of 18Ti which I bought new in the mid 80s. Great little speaker that still gets used everyday, now as our TV speakers. I've run them with everything from an Adcom 555 to a Leak stereo 20 and they always sound good.
 
BMWCCA said:
Years (decades?) ago over on LH we did an Atlantic Coast small speaker shootout with bunches of JBLs from 10-inch, on down. I believe of the smaller boxes, the L1 was chosen as the best, even including the 18ti. Of course a lot of that depends on whether your bookshelves can handle a speaker with a rear port or not. I have L112, L96, S38, and 4412A in addition to L1 and L20T. Is there anyone who really uses the L112/4412 on bookshelves?

I'm constantly surprised that in all these discussions no one (except me) ever mentions the Pro-III Plus. These are usually found on the cheap, often needing surrounds on the small satellites, but I think my last pair cost me twenty-bucks with the passive sub (the "Plus" part). Whenever I'm playing a set of these in a room with larger JBLs, anyone walking in assumes they're hearing the largest speaker in the room. If these weren't made of plastic, they'd get a lot more respect, but they are definitely worth playing with—and the satellites are ported on the front baffle for bookshelf or near-field use. Replacing surrounds on these is not for the faint of heart and requires physically prying the case apart with the help of a heat-gun. Strongest glue I've encountered in a speaker cabinet. I've done two pair and am in no hurry to do a third!
:yikes:

View attachment 3261191
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Yeah, a guy I work with, had to refoam a pair of these Pro III speakers.

He was virtually at the point of inventing new and improved swear words, by the time he finally got the cabinets apart.

They do sound good, though.

Regards,
Gordon.
 
GordonW said:
Surprised a bit, that no one has mentioned the L19 or 18Ti. Both are very good for their size.
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I find the 18ti to be rare and in short supply, most likely because they were generally harvested for their parts in the goal of upgrading L250 to 250ti. Cheaper to buy the whole speaker at one point than to find just the tweeters.
:dunno:

As for separating the Pro-iii, I found a wrecking bar jammed in the seam and twisted helps.
 
If its anything smaller than a L300, a DD series S3900, any 4400 series with a 15" woofer, I am not interested. I mean a 4367 is a good speaker but it doesn't have the bass extension I am after. If the speaker isn't flat to 30 HZ with useful extension to 25 hz its not on my list. . That is unless its a fill speaker for a HT system or to be used for low level elevator music. I mean back in the late 50's it was all about 30 to 15,000 HZ. Today its all about the high end that guys of over 40 mostly can't hear anyway. Remember music is built from the bottom up and not the top down.
 
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