L 15 vs L20T

[midlife]

I have a pair of L15's that I like alot and need another similar sized pair of speakers for another room. Do the L20t's compare with the L15's, thanks

[rdgrimes]

The L20t should be a clear winner. The L15 has a XO freq. of 2500, which is far too low for the 034 tweeter. The L20t uses 3000 and a much better tweeter. Generally they will sound similar, but when pushed the L15 will start to scream much sooner and much worser. The 034 really works well crossed over at 3500+, not so much below that. the L46 is another candidate, also uses a 3000 XO and sounds MUCH better. Although they are almost as large as an L86.

Don't forget there are 18ti floating around too which also use the 3000 XO.

[4313B]

18Ti, L20, L20t3, 4406 and the fancy XPL-90A

My 18Ti's and 4406's have been replaced by Tannoy DC6's, same foot print, better performance (twenty years newer, to be fair to the JBL's). I made that decision when JBL dumped the D8R044Ti and C8R115H-1 recone kits.

I do still have one pair of 4406's sitting here on the shelf. They belonged to my late sister-in-law. I haven't looked them over or listened to them to see how they are.

[SEAWOLF97]

Although they are almost as large as an L86.

Don't forget there are 18ti floating around too which also use the 3000 XO.

I think RD and I agree that the L86 is a very nice speaker. Everybody that heard it, wanted it.

I traded an old Luxman receiver for a pair 18Ti's with a guy in Seattle ... he completely misrepresented them. Should have suspected when he had no , and could not make any pictures. Turns out, NO grilles ... "can't remember where I put them"

So he paid a dumb kid to meet me in Vancouver, Wa. with the speakers. DK threw them face down in the bed of his pickup. Mashed up a 044Ti , of course. One speaker had a wrong sized Rat Shak woofer. I was pissed, but took them.
Gave them signal at home and they sounded surprisingly good. Rescued the good tweet , kinda rescued the mashed one too. Cabs were beat, but sold them for more than I paid for the Lux.

Anyway, they had enough potential that last week pulled the trigger on another pair that were offered here. UPS says delivery tomorrow. Hoping for better luck this time.

Is UPS better than a dumb kid with a Datsun pickup ?

[midlife]

The L20t's use which drivers? And reasonable price for a clean pair? thanks

[MikeBrewster77]

Is UPS better than a dumb kid with a Datsun pickup ?

Eh...........

the L46 is another candidate, also uses a 3000 XO and sounds MUCH better.

FWIW I'll throw my vote behind the L46 also (and certainly if you want to move up the food chain, the L86.) That said, JBL played fast and loose with the term "bookshelf" in those days.

[MikeBrewster77]

The L20t's use which drivers?

[rdgrimes]

Eh...........
JBL played fast and loose with the term "bookshelf" in those days.

True enough, the L46, L86 and L96 are surprisingly close in size and none of them really conjure the term "bookshelf" when you get up close. But still I'd want the L46 over any of the 6" 2-ways mentioned, if I had room for them. The L15 is clearly at the bottom of that food chain.

[Wornears]

I paid $50.00 for an almost mint pair of L20T, but that was a couple of years ago off of Craigslist. I've seen them from $100 -- $150. I use mine as my desktop computer speakers.

[SEAWOLF97]

I've had L16's , 4406's and the use of L20T's ....the 18Ti's showed up today and I'm impressed ...cabinetry is great , they match the 250ti's and I get the 044Ti doing both mid and HF duty (xo=3k) ....always been a sucker for small 2 ways , they image wonderfully.
Added a little 8 inch passive JBL sub and its now a very livable system....had 20 inch Target speaker stands sitting around and mounted them there (the stands weigh more that the speakers)
Ran my standard CD "Brothers In Arms" and heard little nuances that had been missed before ....don't know if that's imagination OR if because they are at ear level (where as the 250's are higher) OR because the 044Ti is doing mid duty now too.