Recommendations for a JBL speaker project?
Hello.
I discovered this site after I began researching the possibilities of building a pair of the L100s by buying individual parts as I find them and building the cabinet on my own. I was also planning on updating the original crossover wither newer caps and the like, as well as trying out oneor two of the new improved crossovers for the L100. ANyway, after reading through numerous posts on this site, I have noticed several comments along the lines of, 'Why bother with a DIY L100 when you can simply buy a complete set for less money than you would spend building a pair piece by piece.' With that comment in mind, I'm hoping that some of you will share recommendations for "better" JBL speakers for a project of this nature.
Here are some parameters:
I would like to keep this project at a low to moderate pricepoint ~ $500 or less for parts, not including the materials for building the cabinet.
I listen mostly to various styles of rock and jazz with the occasional foray into classical music.
I (read "The Wife") do not want gigantic speakers.
The speaker and its parts certainly don't need to be as omnipresent as the L100, but I would like to locate the necessary parts in a few months (or less) rather than a year or two.
By the way, I have been a member of the JBL club since 1983 when I purchased a pair of J325 speakers that are with me to this day. I look forward to something better.
Thanks.
-Steve
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No shortage of opinions here...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Mascali
In budget:
I'd have to go with the L100t or L100t3. They are cheap and sound fantastic stock and the Xovers can be charge coupled and/or bypassed. There is plenty of info here for this.
The veneer on these leave something to be desired. So redo them in the exotic wood of your choice over the original cabs and presto! you've got one nice sounding and looking set of speakers. Really cheap too.
Some really great points... as others have pointed out, you will do better buying a complete system over buying ala carte and these two systems are real sleepers... their size won't entirely frighten your wife and they are capable of filling a modest room with fantastic sound... they are well balanced and all around good speakers. Also as Don points out, it is likely the cabs will show wear and the veneer won't likely be salvageable so you can tweak the networks and give them a facelift to get your DIY ya ya's out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Mascali
Streching the budget:
The next step up would be 4430 clones. Search "Quick and Dirty". Zilchs' work will blow your socks off. These are as good as a JBL gets IMHO.
I wouldn't go this route unless you are in love with the 4430 and your wife doesn't mind a pretty large speaker... I'd rather have the L100t3 over the 4430 in most instances... With improved networks in a pair of custom built well braced mirror imaged cabinets you'd really have something...
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