Restoring L150's need PR300 passive radiators

[tictac]

Hello, first time posting but always have respected Lansing products...

Found a pair of L150's at a garage sale yesterday for 20.00. They need some TLC. The Cabs are OK but the woofers need refoaming; the mid and tweeters are OK but someone did a sloppy rewire to a bigger gauge wire and possibly a failed attempt of trying to bi-amp. The bottom 12" holes were empty and not being familiar with these speakers I thought they were missing some woofers but come to find out they are passive radiators.

I was wondering if anyone has any of these for sale.

Any other tips you might have for restoration would be appreciated.

TT

[rdgrimes]

They do turn up on fleabay from time to time. Sounds like you have a lot of work to do, so consider converting these to L150A while you're at it.

I have one that has a new surround installed on the front of the cone. I replaced it with one I got off the bay for cosmetic reasons. Make me an offer I can't refuse. ;)

Also note that people have run these speakers with the passive hole covered up. Or, take apart a 12" driver and use it as a passive.

Wait till you are certain the woofers are good before making a move, they may just be passive material whether you like it or not. :(

[Allanvh5150]

If you do a search for PR300 on Ebay, you will find a pair.

Allan.

[BMWCCA]

If you do a search for PR300 on Ebay, you will find a pair.Or just click on this: http://ebayitem.com/330356729516

:)

[rdgrimes]

Hey maybe those came from tictac's speakers? :D

[BMWCCA]

Hey maybe those came from tictac's speakers? :DFrom Oregon to Arizona? Why not? :dont-know

[tictac]

So what's involved in converting L150's to L150A's?

[BMWCCA]

So what's involved in converting L150's to L150A's?
Crossovers and tweeters.

[rdgrimes]

So what's involved in converting L150's to L150A's?
You can use a crossover from L150A, L112 or L96. Swap in an 044 tweet and you're done. The L150A uses a cosmetically different mid driver (LE5-12), but they are sonically the same.

[BMWCCA]

You can use a crossover from L150A, L112 or L96. Swap in an 044 tweet and you're done. The L150A uses a cosmetically different mid driver (LE5-12), but they are sonically the same.Sounds kind of like cannibalism to me! ;)

Philosophical issue? Is it really enough of an improvement to the L150 to essentially sacrifice an L96 for the mods? (Obviously orphan parts would be best, but the question stands.)

:dont-know

[tarior]

Sounds kind of like cannibalism to me!

Philosophical issue? Is it really enough of an improvement to the L150 to essentially sacrifice an L96 for the mods? (Obviously orphan parts would be best, but the question stands.)

:dont-know
Agreed!
I've never heard L112s or 96s, but I have L150s and like 'em very much the way they are.
OTOH, if I had some 044s, X-Overs and L150s with dead tweeters....:hmm:

[rdgrimes]

The OP has questionable XOs so replacement or modification to 150A spec is a reasonable route to take. However, the XO points are not hugely different, and the 044 will operate just as well at 4K as it will at 3.7K. (maybe better) Obviously the LE5-10/12 can do either as well.

My own preference is for the 044 over the 033, and I would probably use that even with the L150 XO.

I don't think anyone suggested cannibalizing anything. The L96/L112/L150A XOs are often found for sale. Looking for all 3 simply widens the search. One other potential benefit from grabbing a pair of XOs would be having 2 pair of L-pads to choose from if you have one or 2 that are bad.

The biggest audible difference in the 2 XOs might be the 1000 vs 1100 XO point, but even that is arguable. However it does fall smack dab in the middle of most musical sounds. Questions of quality in the 2 XO designs I leave to someone else.

All this assumes that the goal is to have the most pleasing sound. If purity and keeping the speakers original is the goal then it's a different discussion. I think these speaker's previous owner has already made that choice for the OP.

[tarior]

The OP has questionable XOs so replacement or modification to 150A spec is a reasonable route to take. However, the XO points are not hugely different, and the 044 will operate just as well at 4K as it will at 3.7K. (maybe better) Obviously the LE5-10/12 can do either as well.

My own preference is for the 044 over the 033, and I would probably use that even with the L150 XO.

I don't think anyone suggested cannibalizing anything. The L96/L112/L150A XOs are often found for sale. Looking for all 3 simply widens the search. One other potential benefit from grabbing a pair of XOs would be having 2 pair of L-pads to choose from if you have one or 2 that are bad.

The biggest audible difference in the 2 XOs might be the 1000 vs 1100 XO point, but even that is arguable. However it does fall smack dab in the middle of most musical sounds.

All this assumes that the goal is to have the most pleasing sound. If purity and keeping the speakers original is the goal then it's a different discussion. I think these speaker's previous owner has already made that choice for the OP.

Good points.;)

[Allanvh5150]

I have L150's and L150A's and they both rip quite nicely. I do prefer the A's though but for a reason that I cant quite put my finger on.

Allan.

[rdgrimes]

L150A:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250491322355&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

L150A:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250494670168&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

L150:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270453123383&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[tictac]

Wow,

this is all good info, I think I'm going to look for some 044 tweeters after I find the PR300 passive radiators.

Looking at the ebay links I saw a pair of speakers I use to have; when I got married my wife said they were too big and that I should get rid of them. They were L-65 Jubals. I sold them for 250.00 in 1990. :( To be fair we were living in a mobile home at the time... but still...

[BMWCCA]

L150A:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250491322355&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

L150A:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250494670168&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
That starting-bid-of-$1000 pair may be sitting there for a while. The pair at $600 with thirteen bids already has a chance to be a record-setter, and I linked to them yesterday in another thread. Great speakers. I already own a pair—but not for long if this is the money they're bringing in the worst economy in a quarter century. ;)

[grumpy]

The pair at $600 with thirteen bids already has a chance to be a record-setter

... which is a crime. If they were lighter (re shipping), they should out-
run L112's (IMO).

[rdgrimes]

That starting-bid-of-$1000 pair may be sitting there for a while. The pair at $600 with thirteen bids already has a chance to be a record-setter, and I linked to them yesterday in another thread. Great speakers. I already own a pair—but not for long if this is the money they're bringing in the worst economy in a quarter century. ;)
Pristine L150As have sold for $1K before. I have the original dealer sales receipt for my pair which was for $950, but was prolly a close-out after they were discontinued.

[rdgrimes]

I finally got around to looking this up. Here's the main reason why one should use the 150A XO instead of the 150 XO if you are swapping tweets:

033 has a nominal DC resistance of 3.6-4.4 ohms
044 has a nominal DC resistance of 5.4-6.6 ohms

This difference will result in the N150 XO not functioning to spec. I leave it to someone else to say what it would do in terms of XO point and slopes. But the best solution would be a modified N150 XO or just using a N150A.

[BMWCCA]

Pristine L150As have sold for $1K before. I have the original dealer sales receipt for my pair which was for $950, but was prolly a close-out after they were discontinued.rd: I'm certainly not comparing current used L150A prices with sold-new pricing from thirty years ago! Just with what they've been bringing lately, or even over the past five years! ;)

grumpy: We all know any vintage JBL that has already received fourteen bids with three-days left will most likely continue to climb. Don't despair; these L150As should eclipse L112s in value, and probably will. But there's that WAF, their size, shipping, etc. to consider. Don't get me wrong; I'm cheering for them!

My L150As are the first JBLs I bought after joining this group, on a tip from Don Mascali. It's probably time to get them out of their boxes again. :applaud:

[grumpy]

No despair intended :) That folks are willing to spend twice that on something
new and get half the speaker, and none of the support does make me... er...
...ok, I'm Grumpy, and I'm an audio dinosaur.

[tictac]

Quote from rdgrimes: I have one that has a new surround installed on the front of the cone. I replaced it with one I got off the bay for cosmetic reasons. Make me an offer I can't refuse


Do you have a pair or just one? I'd be interested if you have a pair.

TT

[BMWCCA]

L150A:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250491322355&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT


http://www.mye28.com/images/smiles/popcorn.gif

[tjrad]

Hi Guys,

I have two 150A's WITHOUT the woofers.. Used them for a subwoofer that I built. The passives were professionally refoamed a couple years go. Tweeters and midranges are in good shape. Crossover is original. The cabinets are finished in black and the grill cloth is grey..

They are just sitting in my bedroom and would like them to go to a good home.

Problem is, I live in San Jose, CA and don't want to mess with shipping..

Let me know if you want to make a trip to get them.

Tom

[BMWCCA]

Let me know if you want to make a trip to get them.Drat geography!

If you do decide to part them and ship, the tweeters wouldn't be too much trouble and I'd love to have them as spares for my L150A, L112, L96 collection! Gray grilles would be the cat's PJs, too!

Thanks for offering them here.

:applaud:

[rdgrimes]

Hi Guys,

I have two 150A's WITHOUT the woofers.. Used them for a subwoofer that I built. The passives were professionally refoamed a couple years go. Tweeters and midranges are in good shape. Crossover is original. The cabinets are finished in black and the grill cloth is grey..

They are just sitting in my bedroom and would like them to go to a good home.

Problem is, I live in San Jose, CA and don't want to mess with shipping..

Let me know if you want to make a trip to get them.

Tom
One word: craigslist
In that area, someone will snap them up.

[rdgrimes]

http://www.mye28.com/images/smiles/popcorn.gif
That pair sold for something in the $800s. This pair brought the full $1200:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250494670168&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Here's a pair of L112 XOs:
http://cgi.ebay.com/JBL-L112-SPEAKERS-CROSSOVERS-PAIR-COMPLETED_W0QQitemZ290348586918QQcmdZViewItemQQptZ Vintage_Electronics_R2?hash=item439a1fd7a6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14