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View Full Version : First generation L-100s ?



newguyrick
03-24-2009, 01:40 PM
Hi guys. I picked up this pair of L-100s. What can you tell me about them ? Are they original ? They sound great. How rare are they ?
Thanks, Rick
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/PanClan1/Pan-Clan/JBLs/Dscn8100.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/PanClan1/Pan-Clan/JBLs/?action=view&current=Dscn8100.jpg)

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/PanClan1/Pan-Clan/JBLs/Dscn8171.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/PanClan1/Pan-Clan/JBLs/?action=view&current=Dscn8171.jpg)

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/PanClan1/Pan-Clan/JBLs/Dscn8169.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/PanClan1/Pan-Clan/JBLs/?action=view&current=Dscn8169.jpg)

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/PanClan1/Pan-Clan/JBLs/Dscn8168.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/PanClan1/Pan-Clan/JBLs/?action=view&current=Dscn8168.jpg)

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/PanClan1/Pan-Clan/JBLs/Dscn8167.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/PanClan1/Pan-Clan/JBLs/?action=view&current=Dscn8167.jpg)

boputnam
03-24-2009, 04:12 PM
They look all original to me. That is the first variant of the L100 series, with the LE20-1 tweet. Nice looking. A well cared-for pair!

Akira
03-24-2009, 04:55 PM
They look in remarkable shape for their age. I would suggest you play them upright as the in line array with disperse much better in the vertical plane.
If you like 70's classical rock you are in for a treat.

Can you tell us a bit of their background and how you came to aquire them?

mike
03-24-2009, 05:48 PM
From my experience the first generation L100's are pretty rare compared to the later offset ones. I would guess that there are dozens of pairs of the later ones for every pair of early ones. They are also a better design than the later ones in some respects.

Mike

newguyrick
03-24-2009, 07:05 PM
Ever since the early seventies , when a friend of mine had two pair of the offset midrange L-100s hooked up to a Pioneer Quadraphonic receiver , I’ve wanted my own. Sometimes life takes over ones wants & needs and speakers were low on the list. When I found these on Craig’s list last fall I was actually looking for a receiver. (I’ve gotten lucky there, Marantz, Fisher, and Onkyo.) They were bought with no grills. The guy just didn’t have them. I thought I’d make the grills myself until I found them on E-bay . I was so happy when they arrived and fit like a glove. (thanks Billy’s Bass Place)
The plan is to re-do the den and make a music room. Until then they’re in my bedroom driven by a Marantz 2275. They really sound great. As good as I remember my friend’s sounding so many years ago.
They are stacked on a pair of Infinity 4000’s. (which also sound great)
Please expand on your comments . I’d like to learn as much as I can about L-100s Rock On ! Rick

AmericanPie
03-24-2009, 09:29 PM
L100 freak here. I purchased mine (4 of them) in the early '70s and have powered them since new with a Sansui QRX-6500 4 channel receiver. Although the Sui doesn't have much power (rated 35wpc) it's an unbelievably warm, clean sound and I've always loved the synthesized 4 channel feature...I guess I fell in love with it during my "hazy days", listening to vintage Pink Floyd and Moody Blues :blink:.

In retrospect, if I had purchased a stereo amp back then I probably would have bought a pair of L200s instead of the four L100s. Those things are so cool, and even though (like the L100s) they've been surpassed in sonic performance I still think they're awesome looking.

If you're looking to truly bring back memories, get some repro foam grills from one of these guys:

http://www.foamspeakergrilles.com/
http://www.foamtrends.com/

It's on my list of things to do; I just haven't decided which color to get. I might also upgrade to a stronger amp (I'm thinking of another vintage Sansui receiver, the 9090db) and use the 6500 to drive four L86s. I know there's a pair of L200s and/or L300s in my future too, if I can find the room.

newguyrick
03-25-2009, 12:48 PM
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll74/PanClan1/Pan-Clan/JBLs/MeDorkcopy.jpg
here's a shot of me in 1972
A wet behind the ears 20 year old.
Notice the L-100 in the lower left corner.