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View Full Version : Harmon International induced cost cutting changes Post 1975



AMACNEE
04-13-2004, 04:26 PM
Just read an ad on ebay and would like to get the opinion of some of the forum members on the sellers comments. The as is for a set of L100's and while I am not trying to get the debate on the L100's going again I would like to understand the accuracy of the comments. The seller states that the speakers are 2nd generation (1973-75) version of the L100 and are "considered best of breed by most knowledgable JBL enthusiasts because of the inclusion of evolutionary improvements like a functional bass port and the use of heavy-duty Alinico magnets on both the LE 5-2 midrange and the D123A woofer, but produced before Harmon International induced cost-cutting changes (elimination of Alinico magents, etc- post 1975)". Were speakers produced after 1975 inferior:confused:

4313B
04-13-2004, 04:47 PM
Originally posted by AMACNEE
Were speakers produced after 1975 inferior :confused: Some would like to think so, but the long answer is no.

scott fitlin
04-13-2004, 05:16 PM
Speakers produced after 1975, especially by JBL are definitely NOT inferior. Yes, by 1980 or so the industry had shifted away from Alnico magnets due to the increasing cost of cobalt, but many fine speakers have been produced using ceramic ferrite magnets.

There is a difference in sound to some Alnico magnet drivers vs ferrite magnet drivers, but both have been used with great success!

:cool:

Robh3606
04-13-2004, 05:39 PM
Don't believe it. It just is not true.

Rob:)

John Nebel
04-13-2004, 06:13 PM
A good friend who is an EE and specializes in analog and RF - almost a black art now - built himself a home theater. He looked around at components and decided he couldn't do much better than his 4430's from the mid-1980s for main speakers.

Spontaneously he said that JBL / Harmon has to be the best audio company in the world.

John

DavidF
04-13-2004, 09:35 PM
Originally posted by AMACNEE
...the inclusion of evolutionary improvements like a functional bass port and the use of heavy-duty Alinico magnets on both the LE 5-2 midrange and the D123A woofer,
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Alnico motors were standard well before 1975, seems contradictory to call their demise evolutionary. I agree with all said above, the home speaker did not suffer for the move to other materials. Guitar musicians may take sides on the issue, though, claiming that the old alnico motors provided a better, or more distinct, I am not sure which, sound on guitar amps.

DavidF

boputnam
04-14-2004, 07:21 AM
Originally posted by DavidF
Guitar musicians may take sides on the issue, though, claiming that the old alnico motors provided a better, or more distinct, I am not sure which, sound on guitar amps. I understand the same, and this translates to guitar pick-ups, as well, where alnico is as legendary ;) as it is, here. There seems a less-edgy tone from alnico pickups - intrinsically - so that the artist may add that tone quality at-will, giving greater tonality flexibility.

subwoof
04-14-2004, 02:33 PM
OK - put a pair of JBL E120's into your favorite Fender twin guitar amp and YOU will long for the old days of low power, light weight alnico...

Distinct sound, sure..

Keeping the testicles intact, priceless..

sub