L20T's?

[Ralph856]

I just want to check that these L20T's are likely to house the 115-H, 035Ti and N20T

I haven't seen them in black before and the position of the logo plate is different from the one in the L20T technical sheet (see below). It also says the rated impedance is 6 ohms but 8 ohms on the speaker. There could have been small superficial changes during its production cycle. The drivers do look genuine enough from the photos.

The seller says they were only five years old- but I thought were only in production for a few years in the mid-eighties. Is this true?

Has anyone seen this flavour of L20T? Thanks

http://manuals.harman.com/JBL/HOM/Technical%20Sheet/L20t%20ts.pdf


http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/L20t.jpg




http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/L20Tblackfront.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/L20Tblackrear1.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/L20Tblackrear2.jpg

[hjames]

American L20T's, bought from ebay a few years ago (shipped to me from California).
Only change in mine is the eyebolt in the side, so they can be hung from the ceiling.
Perhaps the European models were slightly different?

I was surprised when I opened mine up to find they had 035Tia tweeters,
instead of the 035Ti tweeters I would have expected.
They sound real nice for such little guys!!

[Ralph856]

Ok, cool, so there may have been a euro version.

As long as they the 115-H, 035Ti and N20T (or better) and the same quality cabs, I'm fine about it. Don't mind black. Planning to feed them with a Berning ZH-270 or two.

[hjames]

Hi Heather!
Yeah, thanks for that. I'm sure it's fine, as you said previously.
What amp have you found works well with them?

Cheers

Well, I ran them briefly as a stereo pair with a Yamaha receiver - roughly 90w/ch - they sounded fine. Currently they are running as the rear surround pair off my Harman Kardon AVR 335 receiver, less power, but I have the low bass split off and fed to a central SUB channel.

BMWCCA has a pair of them too, and he runs his off a Crown amp - roughly 150-200w/ch if I remember correctly. The trick with any speaker like this is a to have a good reserve of power for quick transients - you wouldn't run this wide open with that kind of power, but when you don't push amps into distortion, the speakers can tolerate brief transients at those higher power levels.

[Ralph856]

Also about to collect a pair of L19's and will be interesting to compare them to the L20T's. The 116A's will prefer a lot less power though.

[Ralph856]

Well the L20T's arrived a little shabbier that I was led to believe and sadly with one tweeter not working. The speakers were well-bubble wrapped but also moving about a little in their shipping box with not enough filling material (newspaper cuttings!), which might explain the tweeter problem. Pulled it open and found one wire loose.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/DSCF1517.jpg

On reconnecting it, it still doesn't work and not sure why this might be. I guess another loose connection somewhere. Hmm. It says 66310 on the plastic surround.

Here's the network:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/DSCF1520.jpg

I get the impression from the cabs that these are a latter run of the L20T, made possibly in the nineties or noughties. It's a shame that nobody here can confirm this:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/DSCF1537.jpg

[Robh3606]

On reconnecting it, it still doesn't work and not sure why this might be. I guess another loose connection somewhere. Hmm. It says 66310 on the plastic surround.


Are you joking?? Where is the magnet?? All I see are the top plate and the plastic bezel. You should not be able to see the back of the diaphram and voice coil.

Rob:)

[hjames]

Are you joking?? Where is the magnet?? All I see are the top plate and the plastic bezel. You should not be able to see the back of the diaphram and voice coil.

Rob:)

My L20Ts had 035tias - others have had 035ti - some with terminals 180 apart, some side by side.
The tweeter back view ought to look like one of these:

http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=8358&stc=1&d=1118456538

See Johnaec's post here -
http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=59135&postcount=5

[Andyoz]

Oh David, I failed to see the problem when you sent me those photos earlier....the bloody magnet is missing...I assume it's not banging around in the enclosure or you would have seen it.:)

[Ralph856]

Yikes, I'll open her up later and reinvestigate.

Must say, I'm really impressived with the HF detail, even with one tweeter. More detail than I remember with the Esotar in the Merlin VSM's.

[Andyoz]

Yikes, I'll open her up later and reinvestigate.

Just shake the enclosure and listen - only joking but all the damage would have been done by now anyway.

[Ralph856]

Well had a look inside and couldn't see the 035Ti magnet until I realised it was attached firmly to the poor 115H-1. Took some effort to prise it off:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/DSCF1540.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/DSCF1549.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/DSCF1550.jpg

Is it fixable or not?

Continue to be impressed with the L20T. It seems to bring out all the Telefunken/ Valvo tube goodness that the Berning ZH's have to offer, especially in lowest feedback mode.

[Andyoz]

David,

Just get them back to the seller for refund ASAP. He's been a silly boy and those cabinets have taken a bashing in transit. They come up from time to time on eBay. The 18Ti's are much rarer but you'll be bidding against me when they do turn up.:p

Good you like the sound of the 035. I really like the sound of the JBL metal tweeters and was one of the things that surprised me when I first listened to the 250Ti's. I actually bought them for their powerful bottom end, but they image like beasts and the high freq has a great balance between edge and overall smooooooothness.

[wu6fiend]

I always thought the L-series (L20T, L60T, L80T and L100T) were available in only one finish, namely oak. I have a pair of all four speakers, and their finish is identical. Until...I came across a pair of L100T speakers for sale on the Canuck Audiomart site, which were a black finish, very similar to your L20Ts. I wonder if the black finish was geographic-specific in availability, or a special order, or... I have now seen two pairs of European L20Ts in black while browsing on eBay. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who can offer some insight into the finish question.

In answer to your dilemma about the non functional 035Ti, I sympathize. I too bought a pair of L20Ts, and due to poor packaging, they arrived with both tweeters crushed. I have since purchased a replacement pair of 035Ti tweeters from a kind local enthusiast. Cost was $100. Have a look on eBay, lots of 035Ti's for sale on there.

[Allanvh5150]

Or maybe JBL could start bolting drivers together instead of using glue!
:)

Allan.

[4313B]

Or maybe JBL could start bolting drivers together instead of using glue!Yep. I'm quite irritated with the glued together drivers like $1,500 435Be's. :rotfl:

[Ralph856]

In answer to your dilemma about the non functional 035Ti, I sympathize. I too bought a pair of L20Ts, and due to poor packaging, they arrived with both tweeters crushed. I have since purchased a replacement pair of 035Ti tweeters from a kind local enthusiast. Cost was $100. Have a look on eBay, lots of 035Ti's for sale on there.

Thanks. The only 035Ti I can find on ebay right now is another one with severed magnet. Shame they aren't fixable:

[/URL][url]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JBL-035Ti-Tweeter-AS-IS_W0QQitemZ130299475677QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Hi_F i_Speakers?hash=item130299475677&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JBL-035Ti-Tweeter-AS-IS_W0QQitemZ130299475677QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Hi_F i_Speakers?hash=item130299475677&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318)

Anyhow, I think I would be more inclined to ask the seller for my money back rather than spend the same amount again on replacement tweeters. He used a flimsy, too large a box, without enough material to stop the speakers moving about (immediately obvious when I was handed the box):

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/DSCF1529.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/DavidS_025/DSCF1528.jpg

[wu6fiend]

That's a shame. Don't give up on the L20Ts, if they are in overall good shape, I would be more inclined to fix what is broken than to return them. If you can get your money back, and that is what you want, then good. Otherwise, all the components regularly appear for sale on the internet, and are reasonably inexpensive. The hardest item to find in good shape are the grills (I know, I am still searching for one, and have been for months). I don't know what you paid for your L20Ts, but I see them usually going for about $250. If you paid significantly less than that, you could fix what is broken, and maybe still come out ahead. They are terrific little speakers, I think one of JBL's best efforts.

[Ralph856]

I agree they are a good design and great speakers for a small space. I paid about UK £90 incl shipping.

[Andyoz]

David,

Get them back to the seller ASAP. They have recieved a hell of a knock to dislodge that magnet so there may be other issues hidden from view :o:

[Ralph856]

But Andy..........they sound so good :o:.

[Andyoz]

But Andy..........they sound so good :o:.

Even in mono :)

Another pair will turn up

[Ralph856]

Couple of quessies:

Are 035Ti still available new?

Is it best to replace both tweeters when only only one is broken? (to make sure they are matched)

Thanks