![]() ![]() 4310 – fist set of studio monitors featuring distinctive oval baffle for medium and high frequency units.There are different version of both studio monitors as well as consumer speakers: I dare to say that these are one of the most iconic speak grills ever made. And this provocative style is one of the most characteristic features of the JBL L100 speakers – the open cell foam grilles with truncated pyramids. JBL claimed for these to be acoustically identical to the studio equivalents, but finished in more provocative style, appropriate for home environment. This in turn, encouraged JBL to produce the consumer version of these monitors – JBL L100. In fact, these monitors became so popular, that many musicians and engineers started purchasing these for home use. These speakers quickly became first choice for many well known studios, including Capitol, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, London/Decca, RCA, etc. Two years after the work begun, JBL Professional Division introduced the 4310 studio monitors. The requirements were: high power handling, high acoustic output without distortion and smooth frequency response thought entire audio spectrum – all of that from a 45l enclosure. Growing demand for more compact control room monitor, forced JBL to start working on the 4310 model. In the late 60s JBL already had a great reputation for making very accurate, full size monitors for studios. The JBL L100 Century are the consumer version of the legendary JBL 4310 studio monitors. Consequently, it is possible that even if you conduct the same upgrades as I did, your JBL L100 Century will sound different than the pair I reviewed. 30 and often 50 years it’s a long time, and one can never be sure how this time affected driver suspension compliance, ferrofluid cooling is some tweeters, etc. You will not get the same sound if you buy them and leave them in ‘original’, out of spec condition. Moreover, bear in mind that purchasing vintage speakers is always a gamble. This means that my subjective views below refer to the sound that could be achieved with these speakers, with a bit of work. Speakers in their original condition, were unlistenable, mainly due to the poor connection at the l-pads, which caused distorted sound. More details about these upgrades can be found in the upgrades section. The internal wires were replaced with basic OFC cables. I also replaced the crackling attenuators with like-for-like l-pads. On this occasion, I recapped the crossovers with basic polypropylene capacitors, as the original ones where slightly out of their tolerances. Please note – usually before reviewing vintage speakers, I recap the crossovers to ensure that capacitors are within manufacturer’s specification. I made an offer and couple of days later I became an owner of a set of legendary JBL L100A.Īs expected from 40 years old second hand speakers, they had normal wear and tear marks on the cabinets, slightly pushed in tweeter dust caps and crackling potentiometers – nothing that would put me off from buying them. I patiently waited for a year, and eventually, a set came up on eBay – 2h drive from where I live. I did like the all-around sound of a pair if L1's.After experiencing JBL L26, I really wanted to get my hands on JBL L100 to see what they are all about. This opinion stems from having owned many JBL speakers (note: I admit they might not be the "great JBL's" they were known for before the Harmon reign). I now find the titianium tweeters annoying and overbearing. plus getting older and my tastes of listening have matured. However this decade I became a vintage audio junkie, speaker whore.whatever we want to call it. All original, never serviced, still rocking, even the foam surrounds are in tact. When my folks moved, they asked if I wanted the old system and I did. So when my folks weren't home I would crank The Beastie Boys since the LX22's sounded better. The Onkyo/JBL set up destroyed my bedroom system. I was around 14 years old and had a decent pair of Cerwin-Vega! D-something and a Sony receiver. My parents bought a new pair of LX22 back in the day along with a Onkyo TX-860 receiver to replace/ update from a big pair of Quadraflex speakers and receiver in the living room. ![]()
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