JBL L15 Refurbish

[Pigboat]

Hi All

Help with L15 Refurbish
1) Cabinets, dampening, leave it, add to it, remove/replace it ????
2) 034 Tweeter has lost it's silver paint/aluminum? covering, works, replace, repaint ??
3) Crossover, Cap replacement suggestions
Change inductors to air ?
Change resistors ?
Build external "charged xover" ?
Change xover frequency to 3K(read somewhere?)
4) Change connectors
And anything that will help with project.
Not worried about keeping original.
Just having FUN.
Pair of 4406's after these.

Thanks
Pigboat

[Mr. Widget]

You don’t mention the woofers. Are they original? What is the condition of their surrounds.


Widget

[Chris Brown]

Some thoughts on the 034. I'm not sure I've ever seen the inside of an L15 before. I am somewhat surprised that the tweeter is not in it's own sealed chamber. The 034 has an "issue" where it's fragile plastic frame will allow the entire tweeter (not just the dome) to vibrate like a passive radiator during heavy bass due to the internal cabinet pressure. This is why it's listed as being "not safe" for use in the L110 and L110A and it's even worse when used in the L150, despite being a direct fit/replacement for the 033 that those speakers use. Maybe it's simply that the woofer is so tiny in the L15 that it does not create enough internal cabinet pressure to be an issue. It's a great tweeter though. I have a pair that I got cheap years back to try in my L150s, and my backup plan should my 033s ever die is to create my own sealed chamber for the 034s somehow so that I can make them work. In your particular case, I have to wonder exactly what happened to them that caused them to have all of their aluminum worn off. I believe the aluminum was "Vapor deposited" originally, not sure if it's something you can simply repaint. Take solace knowing that similar tweeters such as the 033 still sound fantastic despite never having the aluminum coating in the first place :thmbsup:

[rdgrimes]

IMO you will spend your time and money better by moving on to one of the later 6" 2-way models. The L15 just isn't very good, and yes the low crossover point is part of the reason. Pretty much any of the "ti" or "L" series 6" models or even the later S26 are all better speakers. And don't forget the 4406 and similar pro models.

[Pigboat]

On L15's
Only one tweeter was in that condition. Audio out of both sounded identical. Ohm out the same.
Drivers are pristine.

Next pair "is" a set of 4406's
Both 035 tweeters have open voice coils to be replaced.
Drivers are nice. Cabinets very nice.

Just passed on a set of Pristine L166's to a new home.
That was a killer "L" Series. Should have kept those.

There's a set of L100's close for $800.
Working a trade on those right now.

[Pigboat]

Hi All
I expected all "little" more project feedback.:banghead:
So, step right up.
Purchased from Goodwill $24.99 - 50%:applaud:
Same deal on 4406's $49.99 - 35% :bouncy:

Small room, so the idea is to use 5, 4406's as surrounds/center,
have 3,as their near-field, if I'm correct. ??
Fronts will be my Klipsch RF-7's, add "BEAST" sub, all set.

RF7's main listening,to be replaced with L100's, In the works.
Hoping L100's are better than L166's I just sold.
Loved those 166's
Sorry off track. Retired

Two more questions
1) Tweeter cages, wouldn't they cause sound wave dispersion issues,
also some mechanical vibration transfer to tweeter, so, remove ?
2) Isolate tweeter somewhat ?

Is this the right area of the Forum, for these questions ?

Thanks

[Pigboat]

You don’t mention the woofers. Are they original? What is the condition of their surrounds.


Widget
Nice woofers, surprisingly.

Hi, see new on tweeters ? Thoughts ?

Any other thoughts on project ?

Read profile.San Fran(sell you a pooper scooper :D)Are you the 1 in 11?
Lived in, Piedmont 1954, Oakland 1958 and Walnut Creek (Pleasant Hill High)1967 to 69. Military brat
Great Times,16 years old, every weekend either Fillmore West, or Winterland. Unbelievable!
Then boot camp San Diego. Party Over, life's reality starts.

Thanks for feedback

Pigboat

[SEAWOLF97]

.
Hoping L100's are better than L166's I just sold.
Loved those 166's

not ..IMHO

120Ti's better than either.

[Pigboat]

not ..IMHO

120Ti's better than either.

Thanks for thoughts
Preferred JBL 2-way?
I have L15, and 4406's

Bottom end of those L166's was fantastic.
Worked great with,
Adcom GFA555
Adcom GFP565
Thorens TD160/Shure V15III

Also "Seawolf", you ride on boats ???
Pigboat STS2/SS USS WillRogers SSBN659G 69/75

[SEAWOLF97]

Thanks for thoughts
Preferred JBL 2-way?
I have L15, and 4406's

Bottom end of those L166's was fantastic.
Worked great with,
Adcom GFA555
Adcom GFP565
Thorens TD160/Shure V15III

Also "Seawolf", you ride on boats ???
Pigboat STS2/SS USS WillRogers SSBN659G 69/75

was a "CTI" then a "PH"

VP69 (Whidbey Island) 72-74(P2-V Neptunes)
CVA-64 (Connie) 71-72 (floating city)
HA(L)-3 (UH1b's-Hueys) 70
NSA - Da Nang 69-70 (m151a1)
DLIWC - Monterey -68/69

also have Adcom GFA555 with GTP500-2 & couple of V15-3,-4,-5's

2 ways ? liked L-19, L-16,L-26,L-88 ..have a near mint pr, L-15 right now.
best 2 way I've ever heard/owned was ESS AMT-10b.

SSBN659G 69/75
remember Zooomie ? (CNO) ..hung out with him for a day - 72

best sub flick ? Crimson Tide

[Pigboat]

VP69 (Whidbey Island) 72-74
CVA-64 (Connie) 71-72
HA(L)-3 (UH1b's-Hueys) 70
NSA - Da Nang 69-70
DLIWC - Monterey -68/69

also have Adcom GFA555 with GTP500-2 & couple of V15-3,-4,-5's

2 ways ? liked L-19, L-16,L-26,L-88 .. best 2 way I've ever heard/owned was ESS AMT-10b.

best sub flick ? Crimson Tide

Actually, The Enemy Below

Hueys, I prefer 7 blades under, never 2 blades over.

Monterey Monterey International Pop Music Festival June 16 to June 18, 1967
I mover to Walnut Creek 67/69 16 yo Great times Fillmore West and Winterland .
Inducted in Oakland 69. boot San Diego. Party over
Dad AF Lifer, Me brat

ESS AMT-10b.

https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/DXUAAOSwh-1W12qR/s-l225.webp
(https://www.ebay.com/itm/ESS-AMT-1B-Speakers/191818078034?hash=item2ca93f9752:g:DXUAAOSwh-1W12qR)


ESS AMT 1B Speakers

(https://www.ebay.com/itm/ESS-AMT-1B-Speakers/191818078034?hash=item2ca93f9752:g:DXUAAOSwh-1W12qR)$2,199.00
Free local pickupor Best Offer
Free Returns
100 Watchin

HOLY #*!+%#

[SEAWOLF97]

Monterey Monterey International Pop Music Festival June 16 to June 18, 1967
I mover to Walnut Creek 67/69 16 yo Great times Fillmore West and Winterland .
Inducted in Oakland 69. boot San Diego. Party over
Dad AF Lifer, Me brat

ESS AMT-10b.

https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/DXUAAOSwh-1W12qR/s-l225.webp
(https://www.ebay.com/itm/ESS-AMT-1B-Speakers/191818078034?hash=item2ca93f9752:g:DXUAAOSwh-1W12qR)

HOLY #*!+%#



nope, not 1b's ..10b's. 2 way bookshelf.

DLIWC Monterey ..on the hill , just above Fisherman's Wharf, can see Cannery Row.

Boot also NTC Sandy Eggo. Grew up as a Santa Barbarian, inducted LA.

Did see CCR, Animals, Canned Heat ..etc @ Pleasanton Horse Track - near SF
Ravi Shankar too (SF area). Joni Mitchell - Big Sur = all 1968



VP69 (Whidbey Island) 72-74(P2-V Neptunes)


hunting subs - theirs, not ours.

[Pigboat]

nope, not 1b's ..10b's. 2 way bookshelf.
DLIWC Monterey ..on the hill , just above Fisherman's Wharf, can see Cannery Row.

Boot also NTC Sandy Eggo. Grew up as a Santa Barbarian, inducted LA.

Did see CCR, Animals, Canned Heat ..etc @ Pleasanton Horse Track - near SF
Ravi Shankar too (SF area). Joni Mitchell - Big Sur = all 1968


Santa Barbarian= Silver Spoon:D Surfer Dudes&HOT Chicks

Did I see you at Altimont ?
Great Times

Just did road trip last year Convertible Top down 17k miles
FLORIDA to SD, up to Washington,down to Vagas, up to Dakotas, over to Maine, down to Key West,
and everywhere in between.SD or all of West Coast kinda changed.

[Pigboat]

Santa Barbarian= Silver Spoon:D Surfer Dudes&HOT Chicks

Did I see you at Altimont ?
Great Times

Just did road trip last year Convertible Top down 17k miles
FLORIDA to SD, up to Washington,down to Vagas, up to Dakotas, over to Maine, down to Key West,
and everywhere in between.SD or all of West Coast kinda changed.

Avatar is me looking at you, 1972, inside sonar shack, 40+ days on patrol
Nice hair and sideburns, thanks Zumwalt

[SEAWOLF97]

Santa Barbarian= Silver Spoon:D Surfer Dudes&HOT Chicks

Just did road trip last year Convertible Top down 17k miles
FLORIDA to SD, up to Washington,down to Vagas, up to Dakotas, over to Maine, down to Key West,
and everywhere in between.SD or all of West Coast kinda changed.

>>Santa Barbarian= Silver Spoon Surfer Dudes&HOT Chicks ...yes & yes2

When resided in LA, summers were in Carpenteria. Would love to live there now.

labor day 1972 ... in my MGB roadster , raced a Dat2000 from BigSur to SLO on Hwy1 ...both full bore for 100 miles. Fantastic drive ... sunburned to a crisp, but good times.

Now, cycling is more fun for me. :D

[Pigboat]

>>Santa Barbarian= Silver Spoon Surfer Dudes&HOT Chicks ...yes & yes2

When resided in LA, summers were in Carpenteria. Would love to live there now.

labor day 1972 ... in my MGB roadster , raced a Dat2000 from BigSur to SLO on Hwy1 ...both full bore for 100 miles. Fantastic drive ... sunburned to a crisp, but good times.

Now, cycling is more fun for me. :D

72/75 In "MY 71 MGB", 5 of us, 2 "B"'s, Dat1800, 911S, and Nick's BIG Block Mustang, up and down from Sub Base New London, to Portsmouth N.H. Some runs on "95" would like to forget.
Not a straight road in sight, off 95.
Last "run" on Rt.1 was 1968 from SF to Santa Cruz on my 1957?, Triumph 650,
Raked 10" over springer, 21" front wheel, solo seat, rigid frame, NO front brake!!Beast
Ran with a BSA, and 750 Norton(nice). Stoned to the BONE !! Scared to Death.

My ragtop now is a Toy Solara, The run outside of SF north, tested these 66 year old arms.
Thank God for automatic transmissions, could have never sticked it..Here in Fl. Straight ....

Do we have to move this to the Nostalgia Forum?

How bout New London, First time I sat in front of a,

JBL D44000 Paragon

As a Sonar Tech, We were all about sound and our stereos. We could talk specs, to death.
So this thing was something else. But of course, married, E4, Thank goodness for sub pay $105/mo.
Had a set of Nova's, Garrard SL95B, and Laffyet receiver.
Tender pukes loved us STs, we had "Tapes" Scotch 202's, 1.5 mil, Could "comshaw" anything.

"Now, cycling is more fun for me."
Could not believe West Coast, Bikes everywhere, with the right of way !!!

[Pigboat]

nope, not 1b's ..10b's. 2 way bookshelf.

DLIWC Monterey ..on the hill , just above Fisherman's Wharf, can see Cannery Row.

Boot also NTC Sandy Eggo. Grew up as a Santa Barbarian, inducted LA.

Did see CCR, Animals, Canned Heat ..etc @ Pleasanton Horse Track - near SF
Ravi Shankar too (SF area). Joni Mitchell - Big Sur = all 1968



hunting subs - theirs, not ours.

"hunting subs - theirs, not ours."
Got simulated "Sunk" by a Hormone from the "Moskva"
Hard to pick up helicopters. Torpedoes from nowhere.

[Pigboat]

"still have L15,L19, projects to work on.[/QUOTE]"

Are you addressing the same issues as me on L15's?

Actually have not had the feedback on my specific questions
as I would have expected. Kind of disappointed.

[SEAWOLF97]

Are you addressing the same issues as me on L15's?


https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ele/d/portland-vintage-jbl-walnut-bookshelf/6907469320.html



As a Sonar Tech, We were all about sound and our stereos.

sonar was the only school that I did not qual for. :( they tried to push me to OCS, nukes ..etc. An extra 4 years when you are 19 was too much extension.

[Pigboat]

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ele/d/portland-vintage-jbl-walnut-bookshelf/6907469320.html




sonar was the only school that I did not qual for. :( they tried to push me to OCS, nukes ..etc. An extra 4 years when you are 19 was too much extension.


Way lucky here. Selected, Photo Mate(closed), Air recon(dumb), GM(loved my guns, figured brown water Swift, VN, AGAIN Dumb), and radio,
"electronics" BIG deal back then. Only guy in company 733 to go to subs. They all looked a me like I was crazy.
Didn't know i even volunteered ??? Went from Vacuum tube theory71, Transistor/diode72, Digital:confused:73,
Still young and dumb, didn't realize I was on the leading edge. Theory of Sound rounded out my audio.
Sent to "A" School NO Extension:D
There was 12 of us. We stayed at ASW Base :confused: They hated us. No watches, front of line at lunch chow. School was a small building on the tip of Point Loma next to new lighthouse.We had a periscope and hydrophone array out in
channel leading into SD.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/254194825347-0-1/s-l140/p.jpg (https://www.ebay.com/itm/JBL-L15-VINTAGE-SPEAKERS-EX-CONDITION-WORK-GREAT/254194825347?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648)


JBL L15 VINTAGE SPEAKERS ***EX CONDITION *** WORK (https://www.ebay.com/itm/JBL-L15-VINTAGE-SPEAKERS-EX-CONDITION-WORK-GREAT/254194825347?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649)

ORDER TOTALUS $276.50

Damaged in shipping $100 off.

[Don C]

I went to Polaris electronics training in the Navy, (Dam Neck VA) but there were no L15s there. I did visit with a guy once back then who had L15s sitting on the floor. I thought that they were too small to be floor speakers. Still think so. I've owned two sets of L15s since then myself, but I can't help with modding them because I never thought they needed any mods. I liked them just fine in factory config. Form experience, I can say that they are surprisingly tough. Jerry, my room mate, proved so by getting fall down drunk, cranking the volume to maximum, then passing out with the door locked from the inside. You can drive a lot of people nuts with L15s playing the same Styx cassette LOUD on repeat forever. I thought we'd get some relief when the tweeters blew, but they never did. Tough speakers. They also sound great converted to car speakers, sitting in the back of a Chevy Monza hatchback. I hope you have as much fun with yours as I did with mine.
I don't think any mods are worth the effort. If the crossover are at least working, and the foam inside the tweeter is either removed or replaced, and the woofer foam is good, enjoy them as is.

[Pigboat]

I went to Polaris electronics training in the Navy, (Dam Neck VA) but there were no L15s there. I did visit with a guy once back then who had L15s sitting on the floor. I thought that they were too small to be floor speakers. Still think so. I've owned two sets of L15s since then myself, but I can't help with modding them because I never thought they needed any mods. I liked them just fine in factory config. Form experience, I can say that they are surprisingly tough. Jerry, my room mate, proved so by getting fall down drunk, cranking the volume to maximum, then passing out with the door locked from the inside. You can drive a lot of people nuts with L15s playing the same Styx cassette LOUD on repeat forever. I thought we'd get some relief when the tweeters blew, but they never did. Tough speakers. They also sound great converted to car speakers, sitting in the back of a Chevy Monza hatchback. I hope you have as much fun with yours as I did with mine.
I don't think any mods are worth the effort. If the crossover are at least working, and the foam inside the tweeter is either removed or replaced, and the woofer foam is good, enjoy them as is.

I'm sorry Either I missed this or old age:blink:
I really wanted to us as a A/B test to try and determine reality of Modding?
Do 1 and leave other original and hear a diff, good, bad ???
Thanks for input and Story:)
So MT ?? Boomers ?? :dont-know:
Or Tender "PUKE" LMFAO:applaud:

[Ian Mackenzie]

https://manuals.harman.com/JBL/HOM/Technical%20Sheet/L15%20ts.pdf

https://reconingspeakers.com/product/jbl-033-034-aftermarket-diaphragm/

It depends on what your aim is?
You could replace the larger crossover cap in series with the tweeters with a polypropylene type. Just remove the hit melt glue with a knife and un solder the older caps and replace. After market tweeter diaphragms are available if required.

I saw you had some Adcom amps?

The L15 is the consumer version of the 4401 as I understand it. Its' a small bookshelf loudspeaker of about 87 db efficiency. This means it will take 4x the power to reach the same volume as a 4343. So don't expect the world from it. But you are not getting the most out of your Adcom amps.

What you might eventually consider is grabbing a reasonably inexpensive active crossover and use the L15 as your mid / high array above a larger woofer from around 100 hertz. The reason is the L15 has limited output below 100 hertz but it has a clean mid range. A 12 inch woofer like this. https://reconingspeakers.com/product/jbl-363242-001-jbl-lsr4312-12-replacement-speaker/ or this https://reconingspeakers.com/product/jbl-es250p-es250pw-12-woofer-363389-001/

Simply build a suitable vented box for the woofer and place it under the L115. Grab an Ashly active crossover off Ebay, set it up with 2nd stereo power amp and you have a project you can evolve that will give you some real bank for your buck.

[SEAWOLF97]

What you might eventually consider is grabbing a reasonably inexpensive active crossover and use the L15 as your mid ....



The Speaker Safari actually scores some
............ (wait for it) ...................... speakers
(and they be JBL too :bouncy:)

All drivers work , no refoams needed , have all grille pegs and both grilles ,
twist lock posts looking good , cabs will need slight retouch (very slight)

And they sound really fine ..detail,detail, detail,...detail..detail...
surprisingly good bass from little 6.5's.



L-15 pics:

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?17712-Speaker-Safari&p=413000&viewfull=1#post413000

[Don C]

The little JBLs are fun, as for the L15s in particular, I thought they were the best in their class at the time. Times do change. Give a listen to these LSR705Is if you get a chance. The low level detail is amazing. My "office"

85293

[Don C]

This is an older thread, and I'm not sure that the tech support is still needed. So OK to go way off topic?
The younger generations have a new saying, "OK Boomer"
It has a double meaning for me, having served aboard the Andrew Jackson. Old age is taking a lot of memory away, and I can't remember the city I was standing in when I took this picture. But check out the cool BMC bus on the pier, definitely somewhere in the UK. But not Dunoon, as the tender is tied up instead of anchored out in the firth.

85299

PS, I was probably trying to get e picture of the Toyota at the time, I was a big car nut back then. And still.

[Mr. Widget]

The little JBLs are fun, as for the L15s in particular, I thought they were the best in their class at the time. Times do change. Give a listen to these LSR705Is if you get a chance. The low level detail is amazing. My "office"It is amazing what JBL Pro has been able to get out of their little monitors.

Nice wire management by the way. :D


Widget

[Don C]

Nice wire management by the way. :D


Widget

A bite of reality. I was walking through the house ten days ago or so, trying to decide what to take out of the house and stow in the RV, in case we needed to evacuate and leave the house to the fires. My mind was well focused on the task. I left the XPL200s, the M2 clones and the SAM3s all behind, all too much weight and space. I can't even move the darn M2 clones by myself anymore. I took the LSRs and the little Anthem receiver. Had to quickly take all of the wires and wrap them up. Lots of wires, it's part of a 5.1 system. I haven't returned everything to normal yet. I'll get there. In the end, all is well, the fire never got closer than five miles or so. We breathed a lot of smoke, and sat in the dark , listened to a lot of generators, froze, and watched hero firefighters swooping enormous DC 10s and even 747s close to the ground putting that fire out. I suspect that I look ten years older now than I did last month.

[SEAWOLF97]

A bite of reality. I suspect that I look ten years older now than I did last month.

wow Don , glad you guys made it safely , I've lived in the SF Valley and Santa Barbara and threat of wild fires is always in the back of your mind.

Older ? My 59 y.o. wisp of a sister-in-law (Vietnamese) had a stroke about 4 months ago ... she has aged about 40 years .. was vibrant and now looks like a ghost .. grey hair and skin. :eek: