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View Full Version : Lpad Quality ? ( L-Pad )



Earl K
09-14-2005, 11:43 AM
Hi All,

I haven't purchased Lpads this century :D ( & not even back in the 1990s' ) .

- So, now I find out that they are generally made with a plastic body-core instead of the older ceramic body variety ( at least the 100 watt type from Solen ).

- Is the plastic body-core type acceptable ?

- Does anyone make & sell the older ceramic type ?

- or are they all this newer plastic type construction ?

- What about JBL ? ( what do they presently offer )



(OK, I'm hopelessly behind the times ) :blink:

EDIT What about this unit from "Parts Express" ?

spkrman57
09-14-2005, 12:02 PM
I will admit I only use the 50 watt and 100 watt models as they hold up well, don't seem to be noisy. I have had no problems or failures on these.

I use them mostly for horn and tweeter use where only a few watts are used, but feel the higher wattage units give good performance.

I too balked when a few years ago I received some units with plastic bodies instead of the ceramic bodies. But I believe(my opinion only) that this is a special plastic that should hold up to use in a hot condition without melting(at least within realistic usage).

So they get my vote, not to mention they are only around $10.00 each which is cheaper than they used to be.

Just my 2 cents worth!

Ron

jkc
09-14-2005, 12:31 PM
My local electronics shop sells L pads that look the ones in the photo.

I rejected them when I did an impedance plot, the impedance varied over the attenuation range more than I was happy with.

From memory up to almost 2 ohms with significant effect on freq plot.


So I made step attenuators in 2 dB increments with 5 steps the centre being theoretically correct.


Worked out cheaper to.

I was using high order 24 dB crossovers which are very impedance sensitive, a lower order crossover would not care so much.

Uncle Paul
09-14-2005, 01:59 PM
Anybody have experience with Fostex L-Pads? Can't tell from the pix if they are ceramic or plastic. They are spendy - wonder if they are worth the extra cost?

http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_comp/pdf/att.pdf

majick47
09-18-2005, 07:45 PM
Not exactly thrilled with the quality of the PE L pads either, would be interested in finding some ceramic or new old stock original/old style JBL L pads.

B&KMan
09-19-2005, 01:00 AM
Not exactly thrilled with the quality of the PE L pads either, would be interested in finding some ceramic or new old stock original/old style JBL L pads.


Hello great member...

well see pict of
---- original L-Pad JBL

----and 3 part L-Pad

check th equality of metal and the number of turn of wired resistance in small ring of JBL (2 x more than 3 part.)


maybe the JBL is better , noble metal but really rust, tarnish and dirt...

any is pict of step attenuator by rotary switch and resistance ???

:cheers:

pelly3s
09-19-2005, 06:09 AM
try looking at madisound, they tend to have higher quality parts than parts express.

majick47
09-19-2005, 09:56 AM
Thanks Pelly3S for the info re Madisound possibly having better L pads than PE, I'll check it out and greetings to a fellow MA board member.

pelly3s
09-19-2005, 03:57 PM
there arent too many jbl guys out this way its nice to see another one

CraigStrat
01-16-2006, 06:06 PM
Hi,

Parts Express only has 16 ohm L-Pads with a 3/8" shaft. I have a pair of 4343's in oiled walnut. Isn't a 3/8" shaft too short to get through the baffle? Is there a workaround for this? (Replacing the shaft?)

4343's require: (2) 16 ohm L-Pads, (1) 8 ohm L-pad
per cabinet... Is this correct?

Parts Express L-Pads, specifically the 50watt models were recommended to me.
Does anyone have any input on the 50w vs. 100w models?

Thanks,
Craig

Guido
01-17-2006, 04:38 AM
Hello great member...

well see pict of
---- original L-Pad JBL

----and 3 part L-Pad

check th equality of metal and the number of turn of wired resistance in small ring of JBL (2 x more than 3 part.)


maybe the JBL is better , noble metal but really rust, tarnish and dirt...

any is pict of step attenuator by rotary switch and resistance ???

:cheers:

B&K Man
Are you sure your pics show 2 L-Pad with the same resistance? Not one 8 and one 16 ohm?

Guido
01-17-2006, 04:39 AM
Hi,

Parts Express only has 16 ohm L-Pads with a 3/8" shaft. I have a pair of 4343's in oiled walnut. Isn't a 3/8" shaft too short to get through the baffle? Is there a workaround for this? (Replacing the shaft?)

4343's require: (2) 16 ohm L-Pads, (1) 8 ohm L-pad
per cabinet... Is this correct?

Parts Express L-Pads, specifically the 50watt models were recommended to me.
Does anyone have any input on the 50w vs. 100w models?

Thanks,
Craig

I had the same prob. The PE L-Pads does not fit! Buy them from JBL. Price should be app. 25 USD :banghead:

toddalin
01-17-2006, 11:24 AM
I've been using the 100 watt ones sold by Parts Express (but purchased locally) with no problems and they have not been noisey (yet?).

edgewound
01-17-2006, 11:46 AM
You could try www.solen.ca (http://www.solen.ca). Yes...they are in Canada.

They sell some good stuff.

Zilch
01-17-2006, 02:18 PM
O.K., I'll ask again: Who's got a source for shaft extensions?

All's I've got is expensive servo stuff.... :(

4313B
01-17-2006, 02:24 PM
The venerable 8 ohm L-Pad 58450 was changed to N36-58450 but now it's 69911. They are available from Pro.

51594 is the 16 ohm L-Pad we all know and love and it's still available from Pro as well.

I never use the ubiquitous and cheap 8 ohm 10285 L-Pad so I don't know if it is around anymore.

I have no idea where JBL is actually sourcing these various L-Pads these days as I haven't needed to buy any L-Pads since the very early 90's.

toddalin
01-17-2006, 02:27 PM
O.K., I'll ask again: Who's got a source for shaft extenders?

What I did was to countersink the hole around the shaft so I could put the nut on it. The knob still goes on far enough that it stays on tight and covers the countersink. Of course if someone wants originality, this may not be the best route.

One could countersink the interior of the cabinet and that wouldn't show unless opened, but the countersink would have to be MUCH larger (as big as the diameter of the pad).

CraigStrat
01-17-2006, 05:14 PM
Thanks for all your help guys, in particular Giskard.

I will place my L-Pad order to JBL Pro for:

(4) 51594 16 Ohms
(2) 69911 8 Ohms

I'm not into countersinking the interior of my cabinets :blink:...
The above seemed like a much safer method.

This forum is proven time and time again an invaluable resource for all of us Vintage JBL afficianados. I am 22, and was not around to get any of this info "the first time around."

Thanks Again,
Craig

Flodstroem
01-18-2006, 02:53 AM
Hi folks
Hey look what I found, regarding L-pads, a L-pad calculator:
http://www.lalena.com/audio/calculator/lpad/
(maybe this is not any news but Im getting older?) :o:
Regards