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View Full Version : Favorite small JBL's and Altecs



Robh3606
11-05-2003, 06:53 PM
We spend a lot of time on the big boys! What's you favorites on the other end of the scale??? I dragged out a pair of L20t3 with the 115H-1 polypropylene cone and the 035's. You forget just how good those little guys can sound.

Rob:)

4313B
11-05-2003, 07:01 PM
Here's my list :)

XPL90A
4406 (044Ti substituted for 035Ti/035TiA)
18Ti
4301B/L19A

boputnam
11-05-2003, 08:11 PM
For me, the 4301B's are simply astonishing. I marvel at their capabilities all-the-while I'm in the shop, where they work for me.

As close to a 4345's response-wise, in a sensibly sized two-way, that I have found. My wifey keeps thinking we could salvage the Family Room decor, but I have no idea what she's talking about. Looks PERFECT, to me... :rotfl:

Mr. Widget
11-05-2003, 08:21 PM
Does JBL make little speakers?:D

Oh yeah, those ever popular L100s are made by JBL aren't they.

jim henderson
11-05-2003, 10:59 PM
I have biamped L300s in my home theater and L65s in a bedroom, but I'm constantly amazed at how good the L19s in my bedroom sound. They're on a cheap Technics SA-EX140 receiver that uses a strange class H+ amp, which has great dynamics at low to moderate volume levels.

Now I want to hear Giskard's other recommendations (XPL90A, 4406 (044Ti substituted for 035Ti/035TiA) and 18Ti) ;)

Don C
11-05-2003, 11:41 PM
I'm wondering if I can make an XPL90a crossover for my L20T3s. And will it make them sound like they are worth $649 each?

JBL Dog
11-06-2003, 02:25 AM
Yeah, I have a pair of 4301BE's (w/15 watt energizer on board) in the garage and they kick butt for little guys.

And, uh.... Audiobeer, Control 5's aren't bad as long as you're running two at a time!

:D :D

This message comes from JBL Dog :band:

gyusher
11-06-2003, 03:14 AM
My favorite small JBL is the L-46 and then the L-19, as mentioned I am constantly being amazed at the L-19. For a time I had both hooked to my Pioneer SX-1250 in my office/computer room.
I was able to instantly switch back and forth between the two. The better tweeter on the 46 wins but both are fine loudspeakers. Every time I would get to thinking they were not adequate they would play something that would get me scratching my head saying WOW! I use my L-112s now, some consider it a small speaker. . . . .
I am excited about my Altec Three find, after refoaming I cant wait to see how these old war dogs sound. . . .

Wardsweb
11-06-2003, 07:05 AM
I think the entire L series were pretty amazing. I have an affinity for the L-26. It has such an open live sound and packs a punch for a small speaker. When put up against many a larger speaker, the little 26 comes through way ahead of the competition.

Maron Horonzakz
11-06-2003, 07:57 AM
Any thing shorter than a Hartsfield is a small speaker. Any thing narrower than a Paragon is a small speaker. PaPa speaker PARAGON, MaMa speaker METRAGON, Baby speaker MINIGON.

Mr. Widget
11-06-2003, 10:24 AM
Maron,

Thank you. Finally someone has put this discussion into a framework that I can understand.

JBL Dog
11-06-2003, 11:26 AM
Originally posted by Maron Horonzakz
Any thing shorter than a Hartsfield is a small speaker. Any thing narrower than a Paragon is a small speaker. PaPa speaker PARAGON, MaMa speaker METRAGON, Baby speaker MINIGON.

I knew it! I have a completely dysfunctional family of JBL speakers!

:banghead:

Daddy's (Paragon) nowhere to be found and I have two mom's (Metregon's) taking care of baby (Minigon).

Does this mean my Metregon's are ...... ??? OMG!! I think I need counseling!! I knew Melissa Etheridge was sounding way too good through the Metregon.

Where's David Crosby when I need him.

This message comes from JBL Dog :band:

4313B
11-06-2003, 12:02 PM
"We spend a lot of time on the big boys!"

Evidently this thread is no exception :rotfl:

scott fitlin
11-06-2003, 12:08 PM
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Audiobeer
11-06-2003, 12:31 PM
Originally posted by JBL Dog
And, uh.... Audiobeer, Control 5's aren't bad as long you're as running two at a time!

:D :D

This message comes from JBL Dog :band:

BITCH :bomb:

JBL Dog
11-06-2003, 12:44 PM
Originally posted by Audiobeer
BITCH :bomb:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

This message comes from JBL Dog :band:

Ian Mackenzie
11-06-2003, 02:11 PM
Does any one have an LE8T in a box.

I read this is a highly sort after driver (even if the box is not so small)

Ian

jblnut
11-06-2003, 02:12 PM
I spend the greatest part of my day listening to music on the discontinued Media 2000 system w/sub. I got a lot of them from ubid when they were discontinued ($49 for a $200 system) and I like them a lot. I have them on both my home and work PC's and for low-mid volume MP3 listening , they are great. Not sure why they died such a quick death in the market - it's a shame.

Giskard is right on the money about the other ones though. The smallest XPL and TI series do something the larger ones don't do - they image very well. Sometimes smaller is better....

jblnut

cary
11-06-2003, 02:16 PM
In my office at work I have a pair of L20T's powered by a SS Technics amp. My workshop has a pair of L19's powered by a pair of Heathkit AA-161 tube amps.

Cary

mikebake
11-06-2003, 02:38 PM
Well, friends, they don't get much smaller in JBL's than one called the MICRO!! Did anyone buy any of these off the tent sale!! I bought what I thought was a PAIR, when it arrived it was in a box sawed in half and was just ONE!!! Har! I've never even listened to it yet, but it LOOKS cute!! I'll have to fire it up and check it out. I might be suprised!!!! Add to a sub, might not be so bad!!!
Check out the literature; no phase problems HERE!!!

http://www.jblpro.com/pub/obsolete/Control_Micro.pdf

4313B
11-06-2003, 02:39 PM
Originally posted by Ian Mackenzie
Does any one have an LE8T in a box.

I read this is a highly sort after driver (even if the box is not so small)

Ian
LE8T's and LE8T-H's are fantastic drivers. I've used them quite a bit over the years in many different enclosure volumes, sometimes with PR8's. Their incredible bandwidth comes at the price of power handling, efficiency, and intermodulation distortion.

4313B
11-06-2003, 02:46 PM
Originally posted by Don C
I'm wondering if I can make an XPL90a crossover for my L20T3s. And will it make them sound like they are worth $649 each? I've watched grown women literally melt at the sight and sound of the XPL90A... They didn't even bat an eye at the price...

jblnut
11-06-2003, 02:52 PM
I hope you didn't let them get away ! Finding a good woman who appreciates fine loudspeakers (large or small) is no easy task !

We want names and numbers !!

:-)


jblnut

boputnam
11-06-2003, 03:03 PM
Originally posted by Ian Mackenzie
Does any one have an LE8T in a box. Hey, Ian...

I do - two NOS in original boxes. I had a project idea for them, but it is not going ahead.

The surrounds are in good shape, but over the +15yrs being boxed, need regluing, so I bought two new surrounds, but haven't done them, yet. They are beauties - replete with mounting hardware, and rubber gaskets.

I had used one pr here, in my Altec Corona refits (over my workbench - apologies for the crummy cropped pic):


Anyway, send me a pm if interested. I could be inclined to let 'em go to a "fan"...

Oldmics
11-06-2003, 03:36 PM
Does any one have an LE8T in a box?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey,Does this count?

Mr. Widget
11-06-2003, 10:35 PM
Hey Oldmics,

How does it sound?

I would be worried about a resonance with that crack in the plexiglass.

Oldmics
11-06-2003, 10:48 PM
Spl was incredable for such a small box.Not only did it crack the plexiglass it blew the whole speaker apart!!!!! Talk about Xmax. Have to get Giskard to repair this one.

JBL Dog
11-06-2003, 10:55 PM
Originally posted by Ian Mackenzie
Does any one have an LE8T in a box.

I read this is a highly sort after driver (even if the box is not so small)

Ian

NOS LE8T's are frequent visitors to Ebay. I believe there is an Ebay seller out there that has quite a few of them. Not listing them at the moment, but do keep an eye out for them.

Good Luck!

This message comes from JBL Dog :band:

Don C
11-07-2003, 09:29 AM
Has anyone got an XPL90A techsheet? Now that I said the idea out loud, it's starting to bug me. I feel a project coming on...

4313B
11-07-2003, 10:43 AM
Tech Sheet

thevott
11-07-2003, 03:04 PM
My favorite small Altecs are Model Nineteens. Seriously though, remember those little mass-produced Altec 409 ceiling speakers. My brothers and I used those for car speakers in the '70s. They were a tad bit under 100dB/1 watt SPL and for 35 bucks a piece they didn't burn out too easy either. A lot of great memories attached to those 8 inchers! As for JBLs, My marble-topped L-101s are lovely little speakers. They need a bit of EQing in the bottom end though. Of course, guests don't need coasters under their drinks either. But the best thing is that the wifey like them!!!
Mark

Ian Mackenzie
11-07-2003, 05:41 PM
Bo,

You should get those LE8T going, here's a plan.

Ian:smthsail:

GordonW
11-10-2003, 10:28 AM
IME, LE8s (and really, any other sort of truly "full-range" drivers) tend to sound better with passive radiators than ports.

In short, passive radiators don't allow "midrange reflected hash" from the inside of the box, to escape to the outside. OTOH, ports, being a "hole" in the box, can "talk"... ie, pass midrange from the back of the driver out of the box, which can "color" the sound of the speaker system. This is a more noticable effect in full-range drivers, than woofers... in a woofer, you're usually filtering out the midrange before it gets to the driver, so there's nothing to escape out the port. However, in a full-range, the one driver is doing ALL the work... so there's lots of midrange floating around inside the cabinet from the driver back...

That being said, I have a pair of PR8s available... not NOS, a few cosmetic flaws (cracks in the Aquaplas, repaired at the time of refoaming and not noticable unless you're seriously close-up), but refoamed and working fine... :D

Regards,
Gordon.
self-promoting shill... hey, I'm not even trying to front! :cool:

Todd W. White
12-10-2003, 05:41 PM
Hi guys!

Saw this late, but here's my take -

I really LOVE the small Altec Model 8, Series II speaker systems!

Here's Don's scan of the literature that I have in my hand on them:

http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/altec/specs/home-speakers/model-4-6-8.htm

Now, according to Bill Hansuchak, the BEST smaller home speaker Altec built while he was there was the CHALLENGER series. He said they hardly sold any, but they measured so smooth that it was stunning!

I have some literature on them . . . somewhere. . .

Punch
12-11-2003, 07:48 AM
4301B
4406

...that's why I own them :D Seriously, they have a great "punch".

locanti
12-14-2003, 04:05 AM
Definitely JBL C56 DORIAN with S1 system for me,even if GISKARD prefers them with flowers in the potato masher !!!!Nothing under 2.5' CU can make such tigh bass and nothing than 175DLH for a dynamic and clean sound up above 1500 HZ.

Just one thing:you can't listening at real level without blowing the 175 diafragms :banghead:

4313B
12-14-2003, 05:43 AM
Originally posted by locanti
Definitely JBL C56 DORIAN with S1 system for me,even if GISKARD prefers them with flowers in the potato masher !!!!JK! :p

locanti
12-14-2003, 06:17 AM
I understand it was.In fact I wonder what to do with a pair of 2345.Any suggestion?:confused: :D

Earl K
12-14-2003, 08:52 AM
Hi Locanti

Look at this thread on a "New 1400 Tik Product" (http://audioheritage.csdco.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=858) for some inspiration on what you might do with your 2345 uni-radial horns . ;)

<. Earl K :cool:

locanti
12-14-2003, 08:56 AM
:confused: Did someone listening these strange loudspeakers?:hyp:

bhamvett
12-16-2003, 12:59 PM
I love my Altec Lansing Monitor 15's! Not too small,and not too
big!