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View Full Version : L200 & L300 ????



mbottz
06-14-2006, 10:16 AM
I finally acquired a set of L-200's and was comparing them to my L-300's.
The L-200's seem to be a lot more efficient and have a higher volume level for the same input than the 300's. Is this correct? The specs look like the efficiency would be about the same. Any info is appreciated

Regards

mb

remusr
06-15-2006, 11:51 AM
Original L200's with 2 ports and LE15B corrugated surround woofer are spec'd 84dB at 15ft. The later L200B & all L300's have 1 port, use the 136A or 136H foam surround woofer and are less sensitive at 80dB at 15ft. The LE15B is louder but has higher Fs so doesn't go as deep as foam surround LE15A much less the 136A(=2231A) & 136H(=2231H). The LE15B's corrugated surround should last much longer than the foamies.

Mr. Widget
06-15-2006, 01:33 PM
...and then there is this. Though I still believe what Zilch has done to some of the L200s is a crime never-the-less.

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=5964&postcount=2

Widget

Zilch
06-15-2006, 02:22 PM
Yeah, well, I've still got a pair of 4325s, if I want boomy, inaccurate "juke-box" R&R coloration sans VHF.

Plenty of L200 cabs have sold for peanuts around here over the course of the last year or so.

I'd have thought Mr. Widget would snag several sets.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=9732110349&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

[Just waitin' for them LE15Bs to top $1000 a pair, now.... :p ]

Mr. Widget
06-15-2006, 02:41 PM
Yeah, well, I've still got a pair of 4325s, if I want...Good point, why didn't you chop them instead? Sure they are rare, but I don't think anyone is collecting them, and aesthetically they are simple big brown boxes...

Oh well, JBL did make plenty of L200s. I suppose there are plenty to go around.


Widget

Zilch
06-15-2006, 02:46 PM
Good point, why didn't you chop them instead?Odd as it may seem, I chopped the L200s 'cause I LIKE them. :p

Same with chopped Olympus.

[It's the HL91 2307/8 that sucks....]

remusr
06-16-2006, 04:17 PM
You guys are such purists! I had L200's and loved them and now I have L300's and love them (and 4430's, 4435's,...)! Just a different sound - that L200 sound is very lively and effortless, lots of volume!

garyl
06-17-2006, 03:02 AM
Back in 1976 when I wanted big boxes, the shop I dealt with carried JBL, Altec, CV and Klipsh. They had one room dedicated to big speakers and I toiled over which pair to purchase for a couple of months.
I am not entirely sure if price did not guide me but it was a toss up between the L 200 and the Altec 19s.
I bought the 19s and a friend bought the L 200s.
I still think the 19s are louder but I also like the looks and sound of the L 200s. When the L 300s hit the floor I considered selling the 19s but did not. Hard to believe after 30 years the 19s and the L 200 are still singing loud and clear.
I am not much of a purist but I sure do appreciate quality such as these.

Gary

mbottz
06-23-2006, 08:22 AM
Would my L-200's benefit from changing the LE-15 to a 136? Or should I leave them as they are for collectibility? If I change to a 136 what else is required tomake them sound good.

Thanks

MB

Zilch
06-23-2006, 10:26 AM
1200 Hz crossover in L200 is too high for 136A.

800 Hz crossover in L200B is too low for HL91, but kinda works as a compromise. L300 uses a more suitable longer horn, but it won't fit in the L200 cab, i.e., you can't make L300 outta L200 without punching the driver out the back.

L200 cabinet should be retuned (and bracing added, incidentally) for an extended bass woofer like 136A, too.

2235H is a better choice than 136A, on many accounts.

I'd say first priority issue to address with L200 is lack of VHF.

HF boost of L200B doesn't solve it very well, because HL91 seriously beams in the vertical dispersion up there.

LE85 can make beautiful VHF on a suitable horn used two-way, but the easiest approach for L200 is to add a UHF driver and the correct crossover(s), perhaps tackling the LF problem at the same time, if you perceive there is one....

Steve Gonzales
06-23-2006, 10:59 AM
[quote=Zilch]

It's the HL91 2307/8 that sucks....



Oh no, wait til the 4345 Club hears about this! :applaud:

mbottz
06-23-2006, 11:51 AM
What jbl stock crossover would be best with the 136? How about the 2235H? also what suggestions do you have for the VHF crossover?

Here is a wild idea I had. Tell me what I am not thinking about. -------

What if I were to install the 2235H as suggested, and add the H92 horn, only install it with a modification to support the extra length out the front of the cabinet. Then block one port with a custom plug which would house an 077 tweeter. Would this improve the sound with the right crossover? Any suggestions for the crossover? Please refer to JBL crossovers as I am not proficient with the crossover thing.

Is this an effort in futility? or should I just appreciate them for what they are?

Thoughts?

Regards

MB

Mr. Widget
06-23-2006, 12:27 PM
Would my L-200's benefit from changing the LE-15 to a 136? Or should I leave them as they are for collectibility? If I change to a 136 what else is required tomake them sound good.Rather than telling you to do this or that, we should ask, "What about your L200s do you not like?"
...or should I just appreciate them for what they are?
I'd be inclined to enjoy them as they are. If you want to turn them into L300s you can do as you are suggesting... I would build little dog houses and pop the drivers out the rear an inch or so. Don't forget to support the driver, the L92 has even more leverage on the baffle.

Use the stock L300 network. The N333 is the correct model. You can also use the pro version the 3133.


Widget

Zilch
06-23-2006, 01:05 PM
Stock crossovers: 3110 (800 Hz) and 3105 (7000 Hz) or 3106 (8000 Hz).

L300's N333 or pro 3133 are harder to come by, but the better solution.

Outside of those, it's active crossovers or DIY territory, both fun pursuits.

Again, retaining HL91 at 800 Hz is a workable compromise. Extending H92 out the front will likely work, but destroys the L200 esthetic. I suppose a custom grille could be made to mitigate that somewhat.

However, both of those horns also have time delay problems. There's other, perhaps better, answers if you're willing to move beyond the L300 model, but they won't be L200s anymore, either.

I see little downside in mounting 077 on the centerline in the space above the horn. It's a simple hole-saw cutout, and can be reversed later with a plywood block, if desired. I wouldn't try to work it into one of the ports; you'll want both of them available for bass tuning (below).

You can do all of the above without changing out the LE15B woofer, and retain the boomy bass, if you like that.

For extended bass, install 2235H and close one of the ports with a 4" plumber's test plug. That lowers the tuning to around 27.5 Hz. Keeping both ports open is an option for tighter (too tight, probably, 36.5 Hz) bass, as well, or extend the two ports for whatever intermediate tuning you might prefer.

Did I say to add bracing inside the cabinets in the course of doing this stuff? You're well advised to do that. They're big boxes and need it.

These modifications might be done in phases, and you can stop wherever you like. L200s are an excellent DIY learning platform, in my experience.

"Appreciating L200s for what they are" means "balls-out frat dance party mounted upside down near the ceiling and cranked to the max" to me. Be sure the crossovers have had the mandatory upgrades to protect the LE85s before actually doing that, tho.

[I've got 4691B Cabaret stacks for such purposes; beautiful upgraded L200s can be SO much better employed.... :p ]