MOST ICONIC Loudspeaker of ALL TIME! - JBL L100 Classic Speaker Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 มี.ค. 2019
- ✅ 🛒 JBL L100: bit.ly/3bPYrBt, bit.ly/3tNNZlQ
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► TESTING THE L100s
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► COMPARABLE LOUDSPEAKERS
Klipsch Heresy IV: bit.ly/35GRnlQ, bit.ly/heresyiv
Klipsch Forte III: amzn.to/2ToGeAl
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JBL HDI-1200P Powered Subwoofer: bit.ly/3gf810M
► JLB L100 REVIEW
MOST ICONIC Loudspeaker of ALL TIME! - JBL L100 Classic Speaker Review
You may not know it by name but you sure know it by its iconic style and legendary performance, that's right, we're talking about the JBL L100 Classic. In our JBL L100 speaker review, we find out if JBL Audio is still the KING of loudspeakers. JBL L100 review!
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Jamo S809: amzn.to/356tnK5
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Kanto Bookshelf Speaker Stands (budget): bit.ly/Kanto26
SolidSteel Speaker Stands (best): bit.ly/2VOs7p3
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Audio Technica LP140XP: amzn.to/33OfgXO
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Great review, appreciate how you approach audio, it should be fun!
I too am a recovering audiophile, began in 1976, KEF 104 and Macintosh, I was hooked!!!
Then sold audio in California for University Stereo form 78-82. JBL L100/4311, were the hot ticket. New classic tweeter huge improvement. Q: you mentioned a Crown Amp, yet not listed here - what model? Thanks!!
It's funny I have that Maxwell add on my wall and I didn't know it was the JBL L100 , so now I know , and I'm looking at it (because It's right there) and I think it's very funny , I see the little differences but that not really important so keep that to myself ...
The Maxwell in the end is funny but I have that add on my wall and that not a wine glass that he has but a martini glass , maybe you knew that already but if you didn't now you know ...
At $4000 they should actually include at least a pair of Cardas Clear speaker cables. These speakers are very very cheaply made in China and selling for $4000 is simply robbing the customers. These cost probably less than $300 to produce in China + shipping cost to the US at around $60
Holy S*&t when I saw these new Classics I completely eliminated every thought of purchasing ANY other speakers. I lusted after them as a teen, could never afford them but knew a friend who's older bro had a pair... I loved them then and over the top happy JBL rechristened these beasts... I'm picking mine up tomorrow, pure joy :-) THANKS for the review. I just wanted to feel a little better as my wallet's taken a big hit but you only live once, man. I'm 65, retired and looking forward to these in my life for the remainder. Great job on the review and your opening brought back serious memories... peace
Did you end up getting them after all? What kind of rig are running them thru?
How are you liking them?
Do you still enjoy your pair three years later ?
I bought the JBL Century L100 at a yard sale this past summer. It was like finding the holy grail. I was speechless as I paid the lady. I took them home and tested them in my garage with the garage stereo system. At about that same moment my three miniature dachshunds took off after a cat down the street.
As I walked up the street to my house, with my little villains, I could hear the clarity of the JBLs. At a half a block away the sound was incredible. I had to stop and listen for a moment. I could hear every note perfectly. All I could say is, "This is the reason why these speakers are so sought after." Even with a tear in one of the woofers, there was zero distortion.
I have to tell you and I doubt you will believe it but it was the best $3 dollars I have ever spent. They are currently stacked in my dining room waiting for restoration. They will be my most beloved winter project ever.
One of the best moments in life:-)
My granddad just gifted me an old pair of l100 centuries and they sound so good I don't even have words.
$4000- The stands should be included for that price!!
try adding few zeroes, this is cheap :)
This is actually cheap considering we have speakers like Sony AR1 which costs 27k dollars and even better kharma enigma veyron which costs around 678k dollars or even better someone had a record of spending 1.5 million on a home theatre ;3 people are gay
I totally agree!
live in the UK and there £4000
Nah the stands are $300/piece. That's only $4600 for a set of speakers and stands. The only question now is do I want speakers or another term of college?
Love your review. Thank you. I am in Melbourne Australia and have owned the L100's since 1977. I love them and enjoy using them very much. A brilliant loudspeaker indeed. I would love to hear a side by side comparison with the L100 Classic.
You are right. The are worth it, and big power in an amp makes them sound like you opened a screen door that you've always been looking through...
I bought a pair of L110s in 1979 for 992.00. I still have them, and they are still amazing. How did JBL design speakers up to the task of 21st century digital audio back in the disco era?
This was how I got a pair of L100 for free. In the early 80s I followed my colleague to attend a service job on a B&O turntable that had a straight motor driven tone arm. The lady owner was not too pleased with the unit because it was having problems frequently. Since we could not have it repaired onsite, the unit was taken back to our company. On our way out she called us back. She asked us to do her a favour by dumping a pair of JBL L100. Wow! I said to myself, this was jackpot. Fortunately my colleague was not interested in HiFi. So we lugged it down from her apartment to our van. The speakers were ok except for foam grilles that had disintegrated. When I was in the apartment, I also noticed that lady (must be her husband) had another 2 pairs of JBL 4312. Yes 4 pieces. They were about the same size as the L100 but with crossover controls up front.
Today I still have the L100 and I really love to play The Eagles' Hotel California (live) on it. It is like being there. 😆
I rarely comment on youtube but i just want to reach out and say that i really appreciate your videos. The quality of writing/thought and delivery are outstanding. Looking forward to more content from you. Take care!
Thank you so much!
Love the review. Your explanation on the speaker stands and having them leaned back a little to extend height of the soundstage is spot on. Although I don’t have the JBL L100’s in my room, I do the same and have experimented with this with many speakers and it always makes for a better sound Stage.
I know Mapleshade Records is big into mounting speakers low with an upward rake. Maybe something to check out as they make stands for ALL types of speakers with this idea in mind. Thanks for watching!
I have a pair of L100s bought in somewhere around 1975. They have light appearance blemishes but perform as they did new . Amazing Quality. Still fantastic after all these years
The attention to cinematography, the editing, the ambient music and scene transitions are all on point. I just found your channel a few weeks ago randomly. Bravo, I'm subscribing and look forward to this learning adventure of a channel. Thank you
I own a pair of original JBL L100's that I bought in 1972. They still sound awesome. Only thing I've needed to do was replace the foam around the tweeter and the foam grill with a cloth grill.
I am going to be buried with my pair !!! Still going strong from when I got them in the 70's
Love the channel and your vibe Andrew! Keep up the great work.
Thank you Tom, appreciate you watching!
The original L100 was based on a studio monitor that was designed to be used at fairly close range.
As far as I can tell, the consumer versions were designed to be ideal at a greater distance suited to living rooms.
In any case, they are one of the most desirable audio products ever put on the market.
I've happily owned a pair of L19s since 1981, and some years ago I bought a pair of 4310s at a moving sale for $25.
Most people prefer unnaturally emphasized bass. The L100 and its close relatives are designed for correct bass levels.
When you buy good quality you get something you will have for many,many years and that makes them a bargain. Great review
I love your reviews. So good. Have a good weekend xx
I really appreciate that, you too.
I loved my original L100s. They rocked something fierce. I now miss them. Thanx for this review. 💰💰💰💰
Wow! One of the most articulate, thoughtful and informative reviews I have seen on these speakers. Just ordered a mint demo from a dealer on AudioGon and can't wait for them to arrive - they will be replacing a three times as expensive Magico S1.
Appreciate you watching! Enjoy your speakers!
Should've installed hair extensions for the brilliant intro & close. In 1980 I auditioned a used pair of L100s and a pair of L166s, and purchased the L166s - which were in their own right JBL classics. Great review!
As always you nail your reviews and speak in a language that makes sense to anyone - not just audiophiles and techno nerds. Now I need to start saving some money...
I appreciate you watching!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE BEGINNING OF THE VID MATE!!! That was frekin hilarious 😂😂😂 Now gonna go on watching, but jeez the beginning 😂
Hope you stayed until the end ;)
@@andrewrobinsonreviews i indeed did. I love your reviews of products (tho I cant afford any of them), and even more the new series where you talk about your records. These just feel so true, real. Great point of view or how would I call it- to think of the hobby the way you do- and having a story behind a record. That's what makes vinyl so special. Keep up the good work man!
Great review, JBL does it right....I have had a pair of L300 @ L220 in my home since early eighties and still has the lusting power. Definitely will be looking at these to add to another set-up.
This video convinced me, I just picked up a set. Just got them home and so far I am impressed, still early in the break in process. Great sounding speaker and it disappears into the room like no other speaker that I tried in this same room. Andrew, always great videos but you are starting to cost me a lot of money. :-)
Appreciate you watching. Are you still liking these speakers?
i purchased my l100s in the early 80s they were supplied with quality timber jbl stands
The late 60's and early 70's saw a revolution in music, and music reproduction. So exciting back then.
Thanks for the video! Brought me down memory lane, back to my dearly departed Avid 102a loudspeakers that I rocked for many years, until they were replaced with some powered tower Paradigms as I shifted from audiophile to surround sound.
I purchased a pair of JBL L100's in 1976 while stationed in Germany where, as soldiers, we could make these purchases tax and duty free. That said, it was a debilitating price to pay on my low salary but turned out to be one of the best purchases I ever made. They were driven by a Phase Linear 4000 pre-amp and a Phase Linear 250 Watt power amp, and a beautiful Thorens turntable, black widow turn arm (I believe to be the first carbon fibre based product I ever came across), and a very decent cartridge and needle.
Good stuff back then
Today better, I like Vintage to admire and respect but old technology not for me anymore.
The L series have ALWAYS been the best. I own and use primarily two sets of l112's. The 12inch driver for the l100 classic looks like the same driver of the l112 with foam surrounds not folded paper. Thank you Mr. Lansing for the L series of speakers. I paid $1100.00 1982 dollars for my first set of l112's
I have 2 pairs of L112 and my buddy has some original L100s. The L112's annihilate everything in their path. Best ever. I had some JBL's with titanium drivers (4208 monitors) for 25 years and got rid of them for the L112's in my writing studio and also our home studio. Love JBL.
@@PaulyStax In 1979, the L100 was not a current model in Canada, so I bought a pair of 4313s, the pro version of the L110. I paid 992.00CDN. In about 2008, I got a set of used L110s for I think 200.00. The L110s have more bass than the 4313s. Just posting this for price reference.
my personal favorite are the 4311b's. heard them many times in studios. basically the commercial/industrial version of L100s. with a high power, hi quality amp they are just an experience- especially with 70's to early 80's music, much of which was mixed or mastered thru them.
Kudos to you for doing the maxell thing at the end and finally breaking that stoic demeanor and letting your inner fanboy peek his head out
Another great review, Andrew. All you needed to add to the intro was a floor lamp, a martini on a table, and Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries". I've been waiting for you to post this one ever since Jerry mentioned that you were in line for a pair. Are these going to be your new reference speakers?
The original 3-way JBL L100 Century was the home version of the original JBL Professional Studio/Control room version 3-way 4310, which was updated a few years later with the 4311. I bought my JBL 4311WX-A Control Monitors 3-way fantastic speakers in 1978 new in Montreal, Canada for $900 Canadian. It was expensive but I was very happy as I was about to build my own ultimate speakers from JBL components and I went to the JBL store and was shown the 4311 model and bought that one instead of trying to build my own. It has gone through over 20 moves as I moved from Montreal to Vancouver then Toronto areas. The speakers and drivers are still in original and perfect condition never having any repairs. Not the driver but the tweeter foams are somewhat deteriorated but still there and original and still sound perfect. The 15,000 days that I have used them I have enjoyed them immensely with zero regrets as always sounded awesome at low and mid and high volume whatever the music source and with both a low power or higher power amplifier or receiver. They can even handle 1,000 watt peaks with minimum distortion. P.S. I do play and enjoy them with all of the about 25 different types of music on them in the over 2,500 cds and 400+ lps and 1,000 cassettes that I collected over the years and still have. Long live JBL and Rock and other great music!!!
I’ve owned a pair JBL 4311 wxa control monitors since 1978 and am still convinced that they are awesome after all this time. Curious how they would compare to the L100 classic ?
I would love to see the L65 come back.
Hi Andrew, I love your channel thoroughly and have shifted my energies largely to the content you provide. Really insightful and simple !
I want your opinion on JBL L100 Classic vs Klipsch Forte III ? Which one is your favourite as why ? What are each ones strength.
Your reply will be very important to me :)
Fantastic review, so good that I went out and bought a pair along with a Luxman L-507 uXII amp and it sounds awesome.
Listened to your review through original Black label L-100s. Still love these things!
Nice! Thank you for watching.
Good to see you back Andrew. Although 4 grand isn’t cheap, the are a ton of speakers that cost a lot more. A great pair of speakers rewards you more in the long run than any other components. Also if this is a speaker that you want, wait for it to go on sale or buy it used.
Appreciate the comment and support and agree with you 100%.
Love your reviews
Thank you Andrew
I had the L100 before back in '76, and you had me at "they're back !!" I really didn't want to refurbish the old cabinets, but there is a place that will do it. Outstanding !!
Definitely check the new ones out. Thanks for watching!
Great and interesting video.. BUT every concert i did attend, the voice of the performer came from a PA system somewhat colouring the voice i`m sure
Yup and Auto-Tune 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Go hear a real orchestra or choir.
Since this updated JBL L100 Classic came out the used price of the original older model doubled from maybe about $400 to $1,000 Canadian and some want $1,000 for very rough used ones, so this new model release jacked up the price 2 or 3 times of the original order home or studio version.
Great video man! Great speakers, and great Maxell add! Thanks for the great videos!
Thank you for watching.
Better than original? Maybe, although-
If you want to hear what Tom Dowd or Quincy Jones heard when producing The Allman Brothers or Michael Jackson's recordings- you would want the original L-100s.
The original L 100 was a prettier version of JBL's professional studio monitors that many of our favorite records were mixed on. They were made in Northridge California, USA.
JBL Professional was selling so many of the monitors to folks in the industry who took them home, they introduced the L 100 for everyone to own through retail stereo shops.
I remember when I got my first pair new. The retail price was $333 each.
I got mine for $450/ pair since a Bass player I was working with had a girlfriend who worked at Sam Goody and she gave me her employee price.
$450 was a stretch for me at the time but I've still got those same speakers and they bring me enjoyment every day. For 20 years that first pair 'worked' in my commercial photo studio in a warehouse and those flat-wound voice coil, Alinco V magnet drivers pumped Steely Dan to Charley Parker loud and CLEAR 10 hours a day.
If you've never held one of those well crafted beautiful cast aluminum drivers in your hands it is a delight.
I now have two pairs both mated to GFA 5500 Adcoms, one pair in my living room and another to keep up with with my Drumbs in the basement.
A few years ago one could pick up L 100s for a couple of hundred bucks and my nephew once pulled a pair off the curb just ahead of the trash truck in the rain!
Now a whole new generation of listeners are snatching up the original L 100s on Ebay and their value is rising like an old 911 Longhood-
Listen to a pair with some acoustic music like a jazz piano trio with upright Bass and you'll know what excellence is.
Don't hesitate. Treat yourself.
I picked up a pair of 4311 monitors, (They are the pro-summer version of the L100's), for $40. I then found a mint Crown DC300a with wood case for $150. About a week later I came across
a Mcintosh MX 115 tuner pre-amp in really nice shape for $500. My thinking was that I will have a nice vintage secondary system to my "BIG", show off system. Well, I did not think that this
new "Old" system could come close to the big boy in my living room BUT. After some set up in my man cave room I was blown away how much I liked how it performed.
The more I listened the more I became in love with what my ears and head were hearing. I know, I know, a lot of audiophile snickering is going on but people the sound is smooth and clear,
the room is small so I am only about 12 feet or so from the JBL's and I leave the volumes at a near-field level but people I love the sound stage of this system !
You don't have to spend a lot if you look around for the right vintage gear. For a lot less than 4K I have a great, (IMO) sounding set up.
The stuff is out there, just look for it.
Check out the retro color grilles made for them on ebay. They're awesome! I chose red, but want the royal blue and burnt orange versions, too. Lights up the room, along with their superior sound.
Exactly! I've sold my beautiful and powerful room radiator BAT VK-500 for a vintage Sansui AU D11 mk2. I have to admit, the Sansui is faster and there for more engaging.
JBL make great sounding speakers, I would not hesitate to splash out 4 grand for those speakers BTW geat review, keep up the good work
Thank you so much.
Way back in the early seventies it was very difficult to audition US made gear here in the UK. Luckily, in Cardiff (Wales) we had a very enterprising and serious dealer who imported a lot of American audio equipment such as Audio Research, MacIntosh, JBL and KLH. I went to audition a smaller pair of AR2s or AR3s I seem to remember but was immediately drawn to the Century 100s, initially by their appearance, which was so much cooler than the traditional designs of the time. The dealer hooked them up to a MacIntosh amp and Bam, I was hooked.....but, the dealer pointed to two large boxes that had clearly just arrived and said let's try these as well. They were a pair of the then new KLH 28s. Even though they hadn't been run in they still sounded superb and something inside me suggested that I preferred them over the JBLs. As a comparison he also wired up a pair of Yamaha NS-1000Ms which I found too brittle sounding compared to the two US speakers. To be honest I would have taken either of the JBLs or KLHs. I never did buy the AR2s or AR3s. and as I couldn't afford to buy either pair of my new objects of desire I left empty handed. However just as I and my friend were leaving the owner of the store called us over and, pointing to the KLHs, said that if I could get one each under each arm and carry them out of the store I could have them. I did try but to no avail, those things were an awkward shape, quite large and were damned heavy. I just wish he had made the same offer on the Century 100s as I think I might just have managed them.
Interestingly, even though I have been an avid follower and user of mainly British audio equipment later in life I turned once again to the US and found my favourite system of all time. Whilst using a Naim CD player and old Ariston turntable I partnered them with a Krell amp and Martin Logan speakers. For me a marriage made in heaven......but those Century 100 Classics do look very tempting.
Wow great review! I own a newer set of Wilson Audio loudspeakers with matching subwoofer but my other audio setup is backed up with my true and trusty original JBL L100s with matching serial numbers 511xx ... I absolutely love them. ❤
The L110’s were sweet and I have owned both. The Yamaha NS1000’s were also tremendous as well. As you correctly say how good they are for rock and roll. Play Jackson Browne’s The Pretender and you get the gig.
Totally agree about The Pretender. Especially when shopping for headphones.
EASILY, one of the BEST REVIEWS I HAVE EVER SEEN...I love it please keep up the good work. And if you can I would really love your take on the Klipsch RF 7 III'S, the Triton Reference, and for similarities sake the Klipsch Forte III'S. THANKS again for an Awesome review!
Thank you so much!
(Without yet hearing the L100 Classics) ... I suggest they are similarly placed to the Klipsch Forte IIIs ... so try the Klipsch Cornwall IIIs and be blown away (if you can handle the physical size increase).
Great articulate review without being overly technical. I was a teenager when the original came out and I could not afford them. I have always wanted a pair, and today I can afford them but that price is still as Danny Kay once said in White Christmas is somewhere between being and ouch especially when if you can find the original issue they go for from $500 - ($900 in really good shape). Great review, keep up the good work.
1975 I bought 2, 1976 I bought 2 more, for that "quad" sound. They still work, with minor repairs to foam. I bought 2 L112 also for another room. So glad they were only $400 or less then. Still the best IMHO. I seen JBL in every recording studio I been in. back in the day, I thought and still do, they do country and Rock, better than any other speaker. with a sub woofer now, they still rock.
Good video, i own JBL 4435 and i love it!
Great speakers, I didn't know about all the Pro Series back then. I upgraded from my L36's to 4315's and know what you mean.
I have to say I am 💯% totally agree with your review. I went to my local audiophile shop to ear those sit in a couche on their stands and listening to Ledzep 2 remastered and I was blown away by the natural sound out of them...no bells no whistle....only true voice bass distortion and 🥁......found a pair of old bigger Bros L112 refoamed and I got the same feeling now in my room drived by a Moon 250i. Sound natural and perfectly balanced and high and bass and mid are alive in my face....next pair will be new century plus 2 sub
As a bass player I needed something that sound like a live band not mic only pure live sounds.....that is what JBL is all about for audiophile. Thanks great review honest and true
You had me till 4k, must be nice being you. I will put these speakers on my bucket list of things I can't afford, thank you for sharing.
Yup like Lamborghinis lol
This is a great video as are all of yours Andrew. I'm rocking a cheapo pair of Dayton Audio B652AIR right now to my turntable, and a pair of Vanatoo T0s on my desktop. Now I'd really like to save up for a larger pair of mains. Have you had the opportunity to try any of the Klipsch Heritage models (I'm thinking maybe the Forte IIIs) and if so, would you think any of those models would compare well to the L100 Classics? Keep up the good work.
Good to see you back on the Tube Andrew.😁
Where I live, these vintage L100 always cost upwards of $1,300, and even thise that hv poked mids and no grilles go for $900 to $1000. So price wise, 4.3k seems a fairly good deal now on a brand new L100 Classic.
I really think the real hype is Harman Kardon no longer allows the woofers to be made of hardened paper, cheapening the model and downgrading its performance. Plus, there's no more alnico magnets to it no more. Those two differences are where the remake of L100 really lie IMHO.
So, for similar reasons, I'll stick to my quad 4320 for a while more.
Alnico speakers do feel different. I am building a cab to l100 dimensions and using some high end 60s cts components to finish the project. I may switch it up and run dual midranges, I am unsure.
Back in the day (‘75) I bought a pair of 4311’s - the “pro” version of the L100. $300 each. The best audio purchase I’ve ever made. At the time the JBL competed heavily with Bose 901’s. I never could understand why, after listening to any of these, anyone would choose the 901’s. The sound was heavily colored as is described in this video and nowhere as sharp as either of the JBLs. But in the day, max wattage/channel was the in thing and Bose could handle more (on paper) but at lower resistance (4 ohms). Still, after listening to them all the 4311’s were, and are, sheer perfection for accurate reproduction. I still own them...
A good solid rectangular cabinet and quality drivers will always be the best speaker ..
Thanks for taking us back!
That Mag Ad really got a lot of attention.
With the success Klipsch has had with their Heritage series, I’m not surprised to see JBL go back. I had the L100’s and gave them up for the Klipsch Forte’s. A speaker with the sweetest bass and overall balance of anything I heard at the time.
This includes a pair of 1981 era $3500 Infinity RSII’s, and the Celestion SL600 Sub Sat system which was considered a bargain at around 3K.
Today, the Forte’ III’s are available for $3,600 and the snobs that hated Klipsch back in the day seem to think the New Forte’ is a great speaker.
If it still has that incredibly clean deep bass of the original, something that was lost on the Forte’ II in exchange for a larger rear radiator that muddied things up, the Forte’ III’s must be a real bargain.
Sorry for the windy reply but I was a big fan of BIG CLEAN SOUND back in those days.
Before the WAF came into play.
By the way, where’s the scarf?
Appreciate the comment and thank you so much for watching. If you like Klipsch's Heritage Series you're going to definitely want to stay tuned... ;)
The JBL 100's classics included with the right accompanied equipment, are speakers we all grew up with, loved whenever we heard them and quite possibly could be the last speakers anyone will ever need because they sound good with any music or sound thrown at them. Good review as always.
I didn’t grow up with them, so no, we didn’t all grow up with them.
I thought the most iconic loudspeaker was the Japan Fisher Electronics made Realistic Mach One (the original 4024A from 1976). I still have mine in perfect condition.
I have a pair of Mach 2's. Awesome sound pounders!
I have them and love them. Was going to get the new POLK SDA,s as a replacement, but after your POLK review of them, keeping them
Hey I love love love your channel. Thank you. I listen to everything, but I’m a bit of a bass head. Can you do a 2.0 or 2.1 tower suggestion on great bass heavy speakers. I love disco,dance,electronic,post punk electro... etc. there is very little information online about this subject. And let’s face it you’re the best. Appreciate it & all you do. You’re videos are second to NONE !
I acquired a pair of the original L-100s from a yard sale about 10 years ago. Of course they have different grills and the cabinets are scuffed up somewhat. However they sound really good. I use them with my computer and also as part of my repair shop.
My main system uses another classic speaker. A pair of Acoustic Research model AR-3a.
How much is a used yard sale set of L100's?
I paid $10 at goodwill for mine.
@@mikehancock6280
I paid $30 for the pair about 15 years ago. This was before the demand for vintage hi-fi equipment became strong. They were were not in very good shape cosmetically, but the sound excellent. I use them in my electronic shop and computer system. They are driven by a Dynaco PAT-4 Preamp and a Marantz Model 250 power amp.
I own JBL 4311's... Really nice monitors...
Same here! And there's a guy that makes and sells original color grilles on ebay for them. I had a tough time between royal blue, burnt orange or red. Went with red as my 4311's are the grey color instead of walnut. I may get the others just to change it up a bit. Completely turns the room into something new.
once upon a time I own the L96 which was a scaled down version of the L100... I absolutely loved my L96
Wow... I loved the explanation. Subscribed!
Thank you.
I still have my 4311 s and I love them
I have 4343s and love them.
I have 4311's also...
I always wondered why the Maxell guy, if he could afford JBL L-100s, a nice leather jacket, and a butler, didn't just buy Ride of the Valkeries on CD.
Love your videos on audio man!
I appreciate that! Thanks for watching!
Beautiful speakers, pleasure to listen to you man
What an opening. It's brilliant.
It was that..what a memory :-)
I've been lusting this speakers for years. $4000 a pair ffs
Don’t bother, it’s all hype.
@@omgwtfpwnd go away stupid, and take your cheap \ass polks you probably own, with you.....JBL rules......
@@nodoubt46able JBL because "I wanna hear the truth".
@@nodoubt46able I've got a pair a Polk Audio SDA SRS 1.2 TL with 13 drivers with the liquid coupled 15 inch subwoofer that will probably blow these things out of water but that was the reference Polk speakers back in the day and they still sound great.
The tilt provided by the stands is usually intended to align the acoustic centers of the drivers to make the lobing behavior correct at the target, AKA, listening position. Just thought you should know....Enjoyed the review.
Ive always hoped JBL would rise up to the name they were back in the 70s when my first major audio purchase was JBL thx for the vid
they look fantastic, but where are the cables?
Blue tooth?
The L100s were a revisited consumer version of the JBL 4313 monitor
4311, not 4313.
Excellent review and "Spot on" Thanks Andrew
Thank you for watching!
Just installed new jbl competition series in my Acura recently. They are great.
Nice review. I own a pair of JBL 4312 .
Another great model from them! Thanks for watching!
I wanted a pair back in the 70's but moved up to 4315 so I know how happy you are with your 12's.
@@stoutdog56 they sound pretty good. Running them threw a Yamaha CR 2040
The JBL's of the 1960's and 70's were designed and manufactured in the USA. Harmon Kardon,, AKG, and JBL are now subsidiaries of SAMSUNG (Harmon Industries International), designed and manufactured...elsewhere. A factor in performance? You decide.
What I would prefer to see is furniture-grade cabinetry and real-wood veneering. I think people would be willing to pay more if the speaker exudes craftsmanship that comes from skillful woodworking, rather than a vinyl wrap woodgrain covering. If they built speakers with cabinets like the ones that Kenrick Sound refurbishes, then people would be more likely to say that the heyday of JBL has returned. These are nice speakers, but apart from the sonic hardware (speaker components, basic cabinet design) not quite fully realized.
What do people assume that a product made in East Asia wont be as good as if it were made in their home country?
@@patl709 The question is whether Samsung will be able to manage all of the audio manufactures that they purchased for their $8 billion dollar outlay. By the way; the companies included in that spending spree also included high-end JAPANESE audio manufactures, including Crown, Infinity, and AMX.
When James Lansing, the founder, and chief audio engineer at JBL passed away, the company was bound to lose some prestige, he was one in a million. In fact, the company had lost its way long before Samsung stepped in. I can't speak for the "high-end" JAPANESE companies---and they are East Asian!---but as a quality control engineer in the telecommunications industry for 30 years, I can safely say that some European audio manufacturers---AKG specifically---have been floundering for years.
As to what Samsung is up to, and whether they can make this work is to be determined. But no one myself included, is suggesting they're not capable. Calm down.
@@Acoustic_Theory The originals were real walnut veneer over pressboard. The pressboard is important acoustically because it is more homogeneous than solid wood and is more consistent in tone and damping.
Now the truth be told. 👍
Great review, and it came across as honest. I have the JBL 4319 on Deer Creek Audio stands that I got a year ago and they are about the same size. Everything you've described about the L100 I could cut and paste about the 4319. JBL has been overlooked for far too long. As much as I love my 4319, I'd love to hear the L100 with that pulp paper mid range driver. They are exactly the same in price which makes me now wish I should have waited, but that is just sour grapes on my part.
Great review and amazing pair of speakers.. although I would love to hear your review and opinion on Klipsch forte III speakers.. i have always been interested in those😊
I'm going to try and get my hands on a pair. Hang tight, and thanks for watching!
I asked the same question. I would love to know how they compare.
Funny how one year later your tune has changed as these are starting to fall apart due to terrible build quality.
Would be happy paying $4000 US for these, but alas I live in Australia - so I get to pay $8495. Nice one.
Naaaa?
I loved that old Maxell ad of the 80's
went to a mates and his father had them they are truly incredible ive never heard music so clean and just perfect
I'm curious, did you pay the full $4K for your JBL L100 pair ?
I was wondering did TH-cam convenience JBL too send these speakers too him for a review? I've seen videos of TH-camrs getting products donated too them for reviews and sponsors look at your cell phone reviews Google pixel 3 XL is one of those videos talking about. Google gave TH-camrs these phones to review
OK, so when I'm at a concert and I'm listening my favorite musicians live, I'm still listening through microphones, amplifiers and loudspeakers. So does that add colorization?
Unfortunately, yes. And depending on the venue, it's something they're trying to avoid. Good concert sound engineers do the best they can, venues might also make an effort to spec their PA equipment for this as well. Truth told, concerts are not a reliable example of the band's ideal sound. Uncontrolled environments, crappy clubs with crap gear, etc., too many variables. Rarely do live shows better capture a band's "intended" sound better than their albums - and the money bands throw at their studio production ahould make that obvious.
Concerts are simply for the Live Experience. Not the perfect example of how your favorite band should sound. Rare is the live album that sounds better than the studio release.
@@d112cons It's a bit subjective if the band sounds better live than studio recordings and depends on the band. Sometimes I listen live performances just because they aren't "perfect" and there are interesting moments created on the spot. For example: Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, The White Stripes, etc. make great live performances and improvizations. Erykah Badu said it best: performing in studio is like perfecting the moment, performing live is like creating it.
@@vdochev I'll offer a counter point by way of agreement! It's applicable for the right type of artist, and the right type of music. An orchestra, for example, is never meant to be heard anywhere but live (hence, the importance of a suitable concert hall, and the demand it places on a transparent, uncolored audio system at home). Clapton and others were born for the stage.
These days, too many artists are TH-cam-kids, or EDM junkies. For them, their sound is defined by what comes through their own headphones. Not to mention the vast amount of bands that suck live simply because nobody "gigs" anymore to get things right. For them, the concerts are just a way to bring in cash. Their identity as an artist lives on their hard drives. Thus, the concert experience rarely offers the definitive version of their work.
@@d112cons I can agree with that.
@@d112cons Very well said.
I went with the Altec Lansing Model 14 which were half price but just as sweet with its Manta Ray mid/high horn and its 12" woofer. I had to have both woofer re-coned because the foam suspension disintegrated in 2003 but the new ones wont, 35 years and counting... The power amp driving those, Kenwood Basic M1 at 105 W/Channel.
Would love to see you do a review of the JBL 4312G’s. Seems like a great alternative to the JBL L100s for half the price with similar characteristics on paper.
I think I will just fix my L100's I have now.
Though I agree on your vision on neutrality of a speaker your example is somewhat unbelievable; If you remember your favourite singer from a live performance through a PA system you can hardly speak of an uncoloured sound. This singer will sound incredibly coloured and with different colourisation depending on equipment used and venue-acoustics.
Dude you totally totally nailed that Maxell Ad vibe !!!
These are timeless to me. New ,old makes no difference. I loved these. Play it for me. Make me laugh, make me cry, make me angry, mostly, make me feel. L100 JBL. It IS the speaker. This is the life and afterlife speaker for me. The best ever made? Stop doing that! This isn't about that. This speaker is far from perfect. But it is about telling the most truth they can. It is why it is life to me. Your life may vary. If you are looking for hyperbole, go somewhere else. Andrew are you spot on! I even cloned these as a young college kid. Man it was fun! My true happiest time for me. Now it is about compromises. Then, it was about the music, not someone's Area 51 secret project of alien materials. Just so damn honest. There, done! Love your videos Andrew.
THANK YOU! Appreciate your enthusiasm and love for the L100. It's a fun speaker. Thanks for weighing and for all your support!
These are neat speakers, and this is a neat video. However, these speakers cost $4000 which makes me sad. I'm still gonna watch the video.
Just buy a pair of Century's L-100 or L-112 4311 4312 4411 used for about $1000 or less for example is the solution.
@@marvinmartian7281 Exactly! Positively. Hands down. $4300 USD is absurd. I'd like to know is everything.. from drawing, components to finish, totally USA product? Only then can I justify the pricing? Otherwise, "Old tech" comes with old pricing! They should have built-in D-class amps? Hold those Crowns amps please!
@@jamiesmith6838
The price demonstrates how much inflation there has been over the last 50 years. A solid gold Rolex could have been had in the early 1960s for $300 and today that same rolex would cost about $30000. In reality that rolex should only cost about $1000.
It is not that anybody is over charging inflation has caused this.
@@bighands69 Don't forget or overlook devaluation of the fiat currency? That causes prices to skyrocket too! Doesn't help wages have stagnated for decades. Just as the work day doubled! Rolex nor JBL still are not worth their weight in gold.
@@jamiesmith6838
Currency devaluation combined with over regulation and high taxes is the cause.
The L-100 was replaced by a much better speaker, the L-112,which btw the new L-100 classic resembles more then the original L-100.
Imho the L-100 Classic is more a L-112 MK2 with a noticable higher pricetag than the original L-112. The rest is just PR talking.
Absolutely! I was just about to write exactly that!! Tower Records had 2 pairs in their SOHO store before closing their doors, not L-100s! The L-112s are nicer looking too with grills off! The blacked out mid-range and tweeter gives the new L-100 a cheap look..black works with their 4312B studio monitors.
Even their L-166 Horizon were superior to the L-100s, and sexier with their egg carton style grills!
This guy is pure P.R. Crown amp? I'm getting a headache.
The midrange looks like it was mounted crooked,excellent video though.I've had several endeavors with JBL speakers as a kid but I remember when I was in high school early 80s one of the things I constantly thought about was having a system in my living room powering a pair of L100s.I was a young musician at the time and I remember being about 17 years old playing for a group of self proclaimed hot shots recording at a recording studio called Nickel Recording in Hartford Ct.The main playback monitors were a simple pair of L-100s mounted to the wall on brackets,and their were moments when the engineer would really drive the speakers and let me tell you,indesputable quality for sure.
Good work 🤘