Adjusting JBL L4 loudspeakers

[jan_slagman]

Hi friends,

Lately i won a pair of JBL L4 loudspeakers on Dutch Marketplace.
I have read many positive comments on Audio Review and on this site as well, but i still can't discover the praised quality of this speaker.
I placed them in several positions but they still don't sound tight and controlled. Actually they sound a bit dull to me. In my opinion they need loads of power. I use a Harman Kardon Citation 16a (2 x 160 Watts RMS)to feed them, but compared to my JBL 4312a Control Monitors they sound
weak and they have an uncontrolled bass response.
Can anyone tell me what's going wrong ???

With kind regards,

Jan Slagman
The Netherlands

[clmrt]

L4? Never heard of it..?

*edit*

Oh - THAT L4...lol

http://www.marktplaats.nl/index.php?...tml%3Fxref%3D1

[BMWCCA]

Can't link to the JBL spec sheet for that L4 in the auction but other Google hits, also in Dutch, make reference to an L6 and L8. The driver's listed in the L4 spec sheet aren't familiar to me. These seem to be a line of consumer speakers similar to the lower-line versions in the US. If you want something that will please you as much as your 4312s, you'd be looking for the L5 floor-standing 4-way model, or maybe the L3 2-way.

Seems, according to Google, the L4, L6, and L8 were made for and sold by a distributor in Holland with some similar components popping up in New Zealand. Hard to find any reference to the L4 outside the Netherlands.

From the L4 spec sheet at the above link:

• A608 210mm woofer 40mm voice coil
• A605 130mm mid-range 25mm voice coil
• A0403A tweeter
• NL4 crossover

Looks similar to the LX500 and the woofer matches LX800 and LX1000 which were also not sold in the USA.

You don't suppose JBL was guilty (again) of naming a lesser line of speakers in such a way that might attempt to equate them to a more-famous series of venerated JBLs?

[johnaec]

You don't suppose JBL was guilty (again) of naming a lesser line of speakers in such a way that might attempt to equate them to a more-famous series of venerated JBLs?

Yeah - it does seem unfortunate they called that the L4, which could easily lead someone to believe it was a natural transition between the L3 and L5, which, in reality, are a completely different line of speakers...

John

[jan_slagman]

Hi friends,

I have to apologize because i made the mistake mentioning a JBL L4 instead of the JBL L3 loudspeaker i won on Dutch Marketplace. Before writing the message i had been looking at a JBL L4 loudspeaker on Dutch Marketplace and i think thatswhy i automatically mentioned the wrong loudspeaker.
I would be very pleased if you would give your comments for the JBL L3. Thanks for your comments on the JBL L4 too.

With kind regards,

Jan Slagman
The Netherlands

[clmrt]

Ach!

[BMWCCA]

Oh, well then, you need to read this thread: http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/s...ead.php?t=7498

The entire L-series (L1, L3, L5, and L7) is discussed here. I can't help you on the L3 since I have only the L5 which is every bit comparable to the 4312 (if not better! Yeah, I'm a convert!). The L3 is challenged by a smaller cabinet and asking the 8" to walk and chew gum at the same time since it's a 2-way. The same woofer in the 4-way L5 must have a much easier life.

The set-up instructions referred to in the thread are available in the L-series owners manual which can be downloaded at JBL.com:
http://manuals.harman.com/JBL/HOM/Ow...5%207%20om.pdf

[jan_slagman]

Hello BMWCCA,

Thanks a lot for your information. I will give it another try.

With kind regards,

Jan Slagman
The Netherlands