[Vintage-Audio] Re JBL Differences

Tue Mar 4 16:35:00 2003

Michael, 	

Send me the link to the speakers off list, please. 	

If you can find a pair of James B. Lansing eight inch full range, they will do
wonders in a front ported bass reflex cabinet. I had them with my first stereo
system. Sold them to a friend in 1974. I am now trying to find him, but not sure
if he is still alive, being as he was older than I.   Probably does not even
have them, but you never know if you never ask. 	

I paid $36 per speaker in December 1964! No cabinets, my late father built them
from plans supplied by James B. Lansing.	

Why do I say James B. Lansing instead of JBL? It seems the older speakers of
higher quality and superior performance were before 1980 and were always refered
to as being James B. Lansing's. The newer ones are called JBL. I think the
original company has changed ownership. I have been told by those who rebuild
speakers professionally that the new products are vastly inferior to the older
products the company manufactured.  I was flat out told not to purchase new JBL
speakers, as I would be sadly disappointed when I compared them to the older
ones.	

Duane W8DBF	

----------
From: Salmons, Michael <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [Vintage-Audio] Re JBL Differences
Date: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 4:09 PM

Duane,

There is a of pair of L-100s on- no groaning, now- ebay- going for $460 at the
moment. the drivers look very good. the original grills have been replaced, and
the cabinets look pretty good. of course you wouldn't be able to hear them in
advance. Some ebay sellers say if you have a problem with them you can return
them, but there is no such language in this particular auction. So... never
mind...

I do admire your indefatiguable defense of the JBL sound. I remember comparing
the L-100s (although in retrospect it may have actually been a pair of 4311s) to
other speakers of the day back in the mid seventies and favoring their sound
then, especially when driven by superior electronics. JBLs that i have heard
have the uncanny ability to root out and expose a system's weaknesses. Or maybe
those brilliant highs are just tempered correctly with a good tube amp.

As a result of the traffic on this list I have been getting more and more
interested in partaking in some vintage JBLs myself again. But I have an
irresistable preference for smaller speakers. Does anybody have a favorite
smaller JBL? Any kind words for, say, the L19s?

Michael S.

-----Original Message-----
From: Duane Fischer, W8DBF [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 10:55 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Vintage-Audio] Re JBL Differences

Bob, 	

Thank you. If I am not in error, the L-200 was a two-way and was a studio
monitor. Is this correct? 	

I have had no success in locating either Century L-100 or L-300 in two years. I
have found one pair, but could not close the deal. Way too much money! Not going
to spend big dollars, sight unseen and not being heard. Not good when they
arrive and I have to have them rebuilt! 	

Looking around at what is available today, I sure do not find anything I like
very well. What, in your opinion, is comparable to the Century L-100 or L-300?
Allowing for your dislike of the highs, or lack thereof.  	

What about the Electro-Voice EV-12 or EV-15 series. Any specs on them? I have
never seen a pair for sale, the foam suspension broke down and they got tossed
most of the time. Sad too. Good speakers I am told, and they can be fixed for
about $50 per woofer.	

Duane W8DBF	

----------
From: WBob <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Vintage-Audio] Re JBL Differences
Date: Monday, March 03, 2003 10:42 PM

The JBL company developed a very successful studio monitor, the 4320 
that was a big heavy box. Wanting a smaller product for small 
studuios, the developed a smaller one, the 4310 and with a fancy foam 
grill, moving the tweeter and mid back to the plane of the woofer and 
with a change in management it became the L-100 or "Century". It has 
a 12 inch woofer, 6 in mid and an cone tweeter. The highs suffered 
from the poorly placed tweeter and they changed to more dispersive 
tweeters subesequent versions of the L-1xx series.

The L-300 is a 15 inch version of the L-100, in a bigger cabinet 
although not the size of the 4320 and has the LE-85 mid and 077 
tweeter. I've never seen one.

WBob

Duane Fischer, W8DBF wrote:
> 	
> What specifically are the differences between the James B. Lansing Century
L-100
> and Century L-300 speaker systems?	
> 	
> 1. types of speakers used	
> 	
> 2. crossover frequencies	
> 	
> 3. cabinet size and weight	
> 	
> 4. continuous RMS rating	
> 	
> 5. power required for efficient operation 	
> 	
> Thank you.	
> 	
> Duane Fischer, W8DBF	
> 
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> 
> 

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