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  1. #1
    Senior Member jim campbell's Avatar
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    L300???

    I used to have a JBL system that I acquired piecemeal and built custom cabinets for.It started its life as an (030)-3 3 way in mdf boxes with 136 A woofers,le 5a mids, and 077 tweeters which sounded better than the 030 2 ways with the 075 ring radiator.Later I found some le 87 hl 91's and had custom cabinets made up with 10 cubic foot ported woofer cabs and separate smaller cabs to individually mount the others ala the old Fulton J that i had seen.This system proved to be a great system for some twenty years although costly to maintain especially with the cost of the horn diaphrams that would blow from time to time.I am interested in corresponding with anyone who can give me any info about these components and possibly assist in the design of another system like it.Though I no longer own the components I miss the way these beasts sounded and i have yet to hear anything out there that I like as much.Most of the stuff out there is of the 2 way wife friendly background music kind of thing.Any input would be appreciated.thank you...Jim Campbell

  2. #2
    Regis
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    Welcome! Interesting set-up you had. Maybe you could clarify the "le 87 hl 91's ". I imagine this is in reality, the LE-85 compression driver with the H-91 horn? Also, did you use this to replace the LE5 midrange? You were probably blowing diaphragms because the crossover wasn't set up correctly to accomodate a compression driver vs. a direct radiator (cone type) speaker. The compression drivers are very, very efficient and don't require a lot of power to make em' loud. Too much power and you kill the very expensive diaphragms.

    If you were to do it over again, wouldn't it be easier just to buy a vintage JBL speaker system that's all together ready to go? The L-300's can be had for about $1,500, more or less depending on condition. Or your can peice one together, but it'd be just as expensive if not more. There's a lot of specialized knowledge in putting together speaker systems, including enclosures, component selection and crossover design. With the problems you had with the last speaker system, can you say it worked out as well as if you either purchased a finished system?

    Consider other JBL speakers, besides the L-300 if price is a problem as many perform quite well. I haven't met a pair of vintage JBL speakers that I haven't had some kind of liking for yet. L-65's, L-150's, L100T, 4310's, etc, etc.

    It'd be helpful to know where you're located as well.

  3. #3
    Dang. Amateur speakerdave's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jim campbell
    . . . . of another system like it. . . .
    Welcome to the forum! Your question will remind many of us where we stood on this whole project not so long ago.

    There are many possible systems "like it" if I know what you mean. I suggest you begin by using the library link above and reading up on home speakers and pro speakers until you identify some models you would be interested in buying or copying. Then use the search function above to find threads where these speakers have been discussed. Then you may be prepared to tell us more specifically what you want to do and also ask some specific questions. You should also have an idea by then how much money you want to spend on this project and how much of the work you are prepared to do yourself.

    David

  4. #4
    RIP 2011 Zilch's Avatar
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    Two-ways don't HAVE to be either wife friendly OR background music kinds of things....

    O.K., O.K., you want L300's.

    Never mind....
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  5. #5
    Senior Member jim campbell's Avatar
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    L300

    Yes I have considered a factory system,but I must confess the cabinets that I had built sounded awesome ( someone else built them ).The woofers in Zilch's picture with the big lens look like mine.Are they L136a's?I live in Winnipeg, Siberia and i never did hear what the stock L300 sounded like.Most of the information that I got back when I made them was unclear and if you asked 10 people you got ten different answers.As to the specifics;
    1.Are L136a' s the way to go or were they replaced by something better by JBL?Mine would be at least 30 years old.
    2.After some time the vocals seemed to be a bit harsh,but since the x over point from L136a to Le85/hl91 is 500 hz could an aging woofer have been the problem?
    3.Is 18 db per octave slope ok as I think factory was 12?
    4.With the 077 the x over freq was 7500 hz and I wonder if this rendered them redundant (or partially so)?
    5.What would be a better alternative to the Le85/HL91 set up in a similar price range.
    6.Are these components the actual L300 stuff or are one or more from another system?
    7.If one were willing to spend about 5 k US or so on components and size /weight wasnt a huge issue what would you choose?
    8.Is it blasphemous to consider altec horns?
    I have heard a few Paragons now and again but I believe that all things being equal I preferred mine.I still have my L220's but I miss the old ones.Since I dont have any buddies who can service this stuff, maintenance is costly. I lean towards newer technology,for this reason as well as parts availability. I dont believe whats on the market today will yield the same kind of sound that the JB's didat any price.Sorry about the wife friendly crack but I think you understand .Audio Research tube pre amps ,monster macintosh amps and 15 inch Jb's do it for me and Ill stand on any single ended triode in my cowboy boots and say that.With apologies to Steve Earle thank for your input...jc

  6. #6
    RIP 2011 Zilch's Avatar
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    Woofs in my pic are 2235H, the recommended replacement for 136A.

    A major problem in your earlier design was running LE85's on the short H91 horn crossed at 500 Hz. Look to L300 for guidance....

  7. #7
    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zilch
    A major problem in your earlier design was running LE85's on the short H91 horn crossed at 500 Hz. Look to L300 for guidance....
    Or look to the 4343 for an upgrade. Or get a much bigger horn and a 2" driver for a nice three-way. Or...

    There are so many options, opinions, decisions, etc. etc. I agree with Zilch that I would not ask the LE85 to play down to 500Hz and I certainly wouldn't ask it to with the 1200Hz HL91.

    To paraphrase what JBL used to say... our hearing is most acute in the midrange, so put your money there.


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