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Heinz
11-12-2005, 08:57 AM
Hi every one!http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif

New on the forum..... but have lurked around for som time now.

The reason im posting is that i found my dream loudspeaker L300 on a Swedish advertising board and want to share my story.

Everything started 1978 when i boght my L19 speakers. The dream then was the L300. That speaker cost so much money here in Sweden so that was only fore the rich people.

5 years ago the dream started again. Reading magazines and different webbpages searching for the ultimate speaker gave result last Friday.

Reading on the "Blocket" site www.blocket.se (http://www.blocket.se/) i found a guy that have a pair of L300 for 7000:- Sek ( 680 $ ) Quick call to the guy and weryfying questions we came to a deal that he should e-mail me some pictures.

Reacived the picturs late Friday evening an made a quick call to the seller and tell him i want the L300. He told me that the first one that show up in his place get the speakers. He promised mee to hold the speakers until early saturday morning when his girlfrend goes to work. I asked him if he be up 7.00 !!!! il be there then. This was 22.00 friday evening and i told my wife Annki that il shuld travel up to Örebro ( Middle of Sweden ) and thats 500km of traveling in the middle of the night. She saw that my dream was verry close now an told me to drive slow and no speeding!!!! http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Started 3.00 in the morning. Everything went smoth until half way to Örebro. Looking in my rear mirror i saw a car closing upp fast.... Ok i vas driving over the limits too an had a 6:th sense tha this could be the police!!!!!

Was i right YEEEESSSS!!!http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/biggrin.gif Pulled me over and asking for the drivinglicence. Some questions from the guys and i was siting in the car. They tried to trick me to say how fast i was driving but i was tricky toohttp://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/biggrin.gif . Suddenly one of the police guys started asking questions on my car. Lycky me....he was a car entusiast also!!!! My Mercedes C43 AMG was in his taste and he told his friend to get out of here an told me to take it easy. Puuuu that was close for my driving licence.

Later i arived in Örebro and Mattias the guy vith the speakers was a realy nice guy ant telling me the stories on how he bought them and who the guy was that originaly bought them new. A close inspection of the speakers and handed over 7000:- sek to Mattias.

Wow.... im in heaven now!!! http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif

Mattias helped me with the speakers and we realy had problem to get them in the car whitout doing damage on the spakers or the car interior.

9.00 in the morning i went home and arived 6h later in Halmstad. The trip back vas like a dream. 6h feelt like 10 min.

Unlodead the speakers at my office with help from our son Andrée!! First question from him was: have "mum" seen those!!!! they are huge!!!

Later that day Annki saw the speakers and told me we have to se how they looks when you are ready with the restauration. If they fit in with the outher furnitures.

Restauration begins:

Made a call to LN Högtalarservice i Gothenburgh (LN Loudspeakerservice). Olle and Urban at LN have worked with JBL speakers for 30 years an have fixed my L19 for refoaming for 2 years ago and they have the foam in stock for my L300. They told me that not many L300 vas sold her in Sweden an there is 3 Paragon speakers in Sweden.

Ordered new glass with the corect thiknes after some investigation on how they were made and right color. ( Thanks to Olle att LN for info )

Next is the Cabinet. One scratch and two compressions in the wood on the rounded corner need to bee fixed. Taking in a expert on wood to get the right wood color back to New. Need to fix the black surface on the stand. And doing a analyze on the paint to get it absolutly right.

The grills have som stains and need to be fixed. One cross member ned to be duplikated to get them "as new".

My goal is to get they as close to "Mint" as posible.

I have some questions for you Guys here on the forum. Should i replace the cable conectors with some new gold plated???.

The original is so "Tiny" and you cant conect a good cable.

If i replace the conectors, Would you think this ruins the walue as a original speaker???

The same question is about the membrans. Change the Aluminium to Titan ??

Thanx in advance for your input!!!

/Heinz J Söderström


Sorry bad spelling and gramma, English is not my native language!!!!http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif

spkrman57
11-12-2005, 09:13 AM
Great pics and your English is good enough for us to understand what you mean. I know you are very happy with your new purchase and we can't wait for the pics when the total restoration is complete.

Ron

alskinner
11-12-2005, 09:29 AM
Welcome to the L300 club. In answer to your questions. If you want to keep them original the 2421 aluminum diaphram is the way to go, even though they are an upgrade to the original LE85 diaphram they still retain the original type sound, only better. Although titanium diaphrams are nice on some horns the H92 used in the L300s IMO is not one of them. As far as the connectors, you are right they are small. One solution if you want to keep them original is to use a smaller wire from the connector to a connector strip and then you can use as big a wire as you desire. Bottom line is to decide how original you want to keep them. Of course if you want to modify them there are a lot of options.

Regards
AL

Rolf
11-12-2005, 09:47 AM
Hi and welcome to another scandinavian JBL "nut"!!http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/tongue.gif Greetings with your L300http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/applaud.gif


Hi every one!http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif



Reading on the "Blocket" site www.blocket.se (http://www.blocket.se/) i found a guy that have a pair of L300 for 7000:- Sek ( 680 $ )


Really good deal! In Norway you a lucky to get a pair for about 10-15000, but of cource here we know what "gold" is.http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon10.gif



Unlodead the speakers at my office with help from our son Andrée!! First question from him was: have "mum" seen those!!!! they are huge!!!

Later that day Annki saw the speakers and told me we have to se how they looks when you are ready with the restauration. If they fit in with the outher furnitures.


Lucky for me I owned the Paragon when I found my wife.http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif




They told me that not many L300 vas sold her in Sweden an there is 3 Paragon speakers in Sweden.



I do not know how many L300/4333 in Norway, but a lot. About 15 Paragons as far as I know. Yggdrasil may know.




I have some questions for you Guys here on the forum. Should i replace the cable conectors with some new gold plated???.

The original is so "Tiny" and you cant conect a good cable.

If i replace the conectors, Would you think this ruins the walue as a original speaker???

The same question is about the membrans. Change the Aluminium to Titan ??

Thanx in advance for your input!!!

/Heinz J Söderström

Sorry bad spelling and gramma, English is not my native language!!!!http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif

I would change the terminals, and have changed on my speakers. If you can get the aluminiums, so do it. They sounds a little better. (In my opinion)

Chas
11-12-2005, 10:38 AM
Welcome Heinz, nice story. Good luck with your project:)

Charlie4350
11-12-2005, 11:11 PM
Congratulations on the 300's

yggdrasil
11-13-2005, 05:00 AM
Very nice score, congratulations. :applaud:

Try the speakers with the original terminals and diaphragms. After a while you can decide if you want to to anything.

Keep us posted.

Very good price, my brother paid NOK 8000 (approximately SEK 9000/$1100) for a pair of 4333 in the same conditon.

I am not sure how many Paragons there are in Norway, last time I heard it was 11, but that was ten years ago. 9 sold new and 2 used from Denmark.

kevf
11-13-2005, 06:12 AM
Welcome Heinz,

I have the 4333's and I'm certain your L300 will not disappoint. Enjoyed your story but what I can't figure out is how the heck did you get the speakers IN YOUR CAR!!! I have images in my head of one speaker strapped to your car roof and one sticking out from your trunk :blink:

Heinz
11-13-2005, 08:12 AM
Hi http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif

Thanx for the welcoming from everyboody and your input on my questions.

Have decided that i keep the original cable conectors. Making a adapter with big surface area to mont on top and clamping around of the originals. Have them gold plated to get maximum conectivity. You guys gave me that ideahttp://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/applaud.gif

Keeping the original aluminum diaphram to keep them in original spec.


kevf !!! The grills and lenses in the trunk and one speaker in the backseat and one in right front seat wit alot of blankets. No prblem vith the one in the backseat but the one in front seat was on the edgehttp://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif That night was my only goal to be ther in Örebro first of all 30 people that had called Mattias!!! Could have used my wifes old Volvo 740http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/banghead.gif

Will post more pictures later with all deatails etc.

And here is one more

speakerdave
11-13-2005, 12:16 PM
Great post, Heinz. I do love the adventure story that goes with buying a used pair of speakers sometimes, and yours is a classic nicely told. Thanks for a good read.

David

Mr. Widget
11-13-2005, 12:46 PM
That is a great story! It is amazing how similar so many of our stories are even half way around the world. I grew up in Northern California about 8 hours away from the JBL factory, but here too the JBLs of my dreams always seemed out of reach too.

Please keep us posted on your progress. CONGRATULATIONS!!!


Widget

morbo!
11-13-2005, 02:00 PM
lucky the cops wasnt an audiophile too
i could see him in your lounge room enjoying your new speakers

lolol

Regis
11-13-2005, 11:40 PM
Congratulations on getting your dream speaker system. You will love these speakers. The L-19 is a nice speaker, but the big JBL's will put a big smile on your face! The story was very good and I think many of us can relate. I've left work at the drop of of a JBL ad and I'm gone, 300 miles if necessary. Welcome and when they are done being restored, let us know what you think of them. :D

jtgyn
11-14-2005, 01:05 AM
Very nice catch!!

Regards Scott

Heinz
11-16-2005, 05:58 AM
Hi

Time for some update about my L300.

Picked up the new galsses today.

Next is to take out the the elements for refoaming and make a trip up to LN Högtalarservice in Gothenburg.


The best to you all....

Heinz

LE15-Thumper
11-16-2005, 09:01 PM
Sorry, wrong Country !

As we say here in Canada, EH ? No No not that ....




This: "He shoots, he scores !!" :D



Good for you Heinz !!:applaud: :applaud: :applaud:









Nice Car too !!!

Heinz
11-28-2005, 10:03 AM
My project continues :) :) :) Several friends have droped by my office just to have a look at the L300. Everybody is impressed about the qualitywork that JBL speakers have.

In the nighbour office one guy have booked a listening evening when they are ready.

So.... today the 136a came out of the cabinets. ( se pictures )

Now i have to setup a meeting with LN Högtalarservice in Gothenburg. I hope they have time before Christmas!!!!

More update later...

BTW LE15-THUMPER!!!! Thankyou for your words....:) The car is like a formula one car :D

Until next time..... the best to you all on the forum / Heinz

mech986
01-16-2006, 02:02 PM
Hello Heinz, any updates to your L300 restoration? Did you get the 136A's back from the refoaming? Your photos and story so far are very motivating!!

Regards,

Bart

paragon
01-16-2006, 02:21 PM
You are a lucky man, indeed !
Heinz, i love the L300 !:applaud:

Eckhard

Titanium Dome
01-16-2006, 03:12 PM
If he got everything put together, he's probably enjoying them so much he doesn't have time for posting here. ;)

ReEdger
01-16-2006, 09:10 PM
Going from L19's to L300's is like going from a lizard to T-Rex!:D
Good luck with your restoration. I would love to have a project like yours!

Heinz
01-17-2006, 04:04 AM
Hi everyone :)

Sorry for not updating the tread. I did not have the time to go up to Gothenburg for refoaming befor our christmas break. The shedule now is week 5. My company take to much time right now:(

I promise to have more pictures and a detailed story as soon i have more to share :)

Have read a lot on the forum and im not the one that make "10 post a day" :D This forum has so much knowlege :applaud: and my donation is on the way soon.

The best to you all / Heinz

Heinz
04-05-2006, 12:53 AM
Hi hevery one on this super forum:applaud:

Longtime since i made a post on the forum ann now its time for update.

Went up to Gothenburg an had the refoaming done. Olle at LN Högtalarservice made a good work with my 136A:s´. Had a nice chat with him abaut everything and found out that he is from the same city as me. Talked about different speakers for my DIY project. ( Yeah a mini JBL )

We ralized later that we could talk for ours and days and then need a chest of beers if we shuld continue

Back in home town i was werry curius on the sound. Mounted the woofers back in the cabinet.

Next problem was: I need a Amplifier..... hummm Marantz or Yamaha ?? No way i take the Yamaha Reciver...... Sounds so bad that .....Dustbin next for that one. Record player !!!!! To much work to pullout the Micro Seiki from the stand. Have i a good CD player. ( Hate the sound fron CD. Love the Vinyl sound ) Tested Philips DVDR70, Grundig, Eltax, Sony, Eltax. Elatx sounds best in the list so we go for that one together with the Marantz!! OK i know.... not the best player or amplifier but im out listening throu the market an found so far im upp for Harman/Kardon AVR7300 & AVR740 or Denon 4608 is on the list next to spend some cash on.

Las day i fired upp the system early in the morning when i was alone in the office. :) :) :) :D :D

Im smiling since then..... al day long....:bouncy:

Later the other guys arrived an yoined me in the "Smile contest"

The first impression is: Clear krisp and deatailed.

Testaed a varity of music styles and they sound better and better for every houer that goes.

The music we played is:

John Fogerty, Premonition Album
MeatLoaf, and Friends Album
EAGLES, Hell freezes over Album
Depeche Mode, I feel loved
AC/DC, Stiff Upper Lip
ZZ Top, Antenna Album
Stefan Andersson, Walk Right On Album

And everyone is impressed about the sound. Annika at one of the office by mine made the best comment: You can realy her the vocalcords when they are singing.:applaud:

Thats all for know..... More comes in a day or two when i compare this to a 130000$ dollar Burmeister setup at a local HIFI dealer.....:bouncy:

/ Heinz

hapy._.face
04-05-2006, 05:38 AM
This is a great story to read. It is so nice to know you are happy with the speakers you have wished for all these years. Looks like you did a proper job cleaning them up- beautiful. It's nice to know they have given you such pleasure. The 'smile contest'....I know that feeling. I'm experiencing it right now with my system. It's a wonderful thing!

Thank you for sharing the story and pictures!

As far as comparing it to another (very) high end system- don't be in any rush. Nothing will ruin the 'smile contest' like hearing something "better"- and out of reach. Enjoy it for as long as you can- just my advice.

Imaging (a lack of) seems to be about the only trade off I can find in JBL speakers. JBL's do what they do- and they do it in spades!!! I'll take that over most any other high end manufacturer's offerings- and for a lot less money. The L300 is a great example of what JBL is about. Enjoy that lush JBL signature sound, Heinz!!!

Take Care (of you and the L300's!)

Travis

Regis
04-05-2006, 06:58 AM
Congratulations Heinz! I'm glad you like the L-300's as much as I do! You will never be bored with them. They will always amaze you with the power, clarity and depth of detail. The bass will shine ten different ways, from hard percussion to a saxophone working it's way down to the lower register. Your speakers look beautiful and you should be a proud papa! :D