JBL Electronics

[leif]

It is mostly talk about JBL speakers here. No wonder why. But have any of you any experience with JBL amps? How are they?

[alexkerhead]

They only made more professional stuff, but I hear their amps are really nice acoustically.

[Zilch]

They only made more professional stuff....http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/jbl/catalogs/1967/amps.jpg

http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/jbl/catalogs/1969-home/page17.jpg

[Thom]

Late 60's I think they had a 60 watt and a 40 watt amp if I recall correctly. Sort of funny looking. I think designed to make powered speakers. Sounded good. Always looked ok at the free clinics McIntosh used to put on.

[leif]

what about using so called professional amps at home? Will it be good, or...? Remember that overbuilding is a JBL way of life :applaud:

[grumpy]

Hi Leif,

I wondered if that was the intent of your original question...

I only have experience with the 62[369]0 series, but they are quite robust
and sound great for PA and bass (and pretty darn good otherwise). I just
happen to like other amplifiers from mids on up a little better. If I had no
direct comparison, I'd be quite happy with them, especially for what they
tend to go for :D

-grumpy

[doodlebug]

I had one of those SE400's back in the 70s and it was quite nice compared the DIY Southwest Technical Products amps - anybody remember them? - I had built up as an engineering project for school.

It was stable and clean sonically but the form factor did not lend itself to most folks understanding of what a power amp needed to look like. Since it was marketed as a power amp specifically designed for the JBL speaker, I'm sure it got lost in all the other gear available and would have been exclusive to JBL dealers, too. I'd say it was designed for the install-and-forget sort of retail customers.

As I recall, the circuit topology for the SE400 used a tranformer between the driver and final stage and used the most common 2N3055 transistor for outputs. The thing was built like a tank, too, with a cast aluminum face that served as the heat sink.

I believe this same series of amps were used in the 'back end' of some of the integrated amps JBL marketed to the home consumer.

Cheers,

David

[leif]

Hi Leif,

I wondered if that was the intent of your original question...

-grumpy

Yes it was.
I have the posebility to buy a couple MPA 1100.
I know that is over over overkill in a living room. But I also run a project that I can use those for. I have 4 4628b that I use for presentations of My African Aid Organisation, and could need an amp or two to use for those 4 speakers. The sound quality at those presentations is not of much importance of course, but you know how it is... it is always nice to buy something of high quality.

Leif
(www.maao.no (http://www.maao.no))

[Zilch]

Big "Plus" of 6200 series for home use (except 6290) is there's no fans.

Did I mention how inexpensive they are on eBay?

They're heavy, though. Don't think I'd be haulin' them around as part of a portable system anymore....

[leif]

Yes, I have found out why weitght is important for bands and so that is touring a lot. Mine speakers are about 50kg each, and the amp I have used, is 30kg. I am TIRED in my arms and body after moving it from upstairs and out in the car. Not to mention lifting it back up the stairs to second floor.
active speakers would be the answer. Light and simple. But I hate plastic!

JBL MPA 1100 is the ones I can buy: http://www.jblpro.com/pages/electronics/mpaamps.htm

[grumpy]

re MPA1100 ... maybe ask Nikolas about his experience. -grumpy