Paragon

[clif]

For those interested in 150 vs LE15 the attached may be of interest

[rloggie]

A good item for the library?

[Zilch]

That letter belongs in the archives here. Maybe talk to Don about setting up a "Communications" section in the library....

[Oldmics]

is probably the most defining piece of evidence ever published regarding the reason behind the driver change.

Excellent-Thanks for posting.

Oldmics

[Mr. Widget]

Where was that when we were debating this very topic a few months back....EXCELLENT!

Thanks.

Widget

[Maron Horonzakz]

That goes to show you that you can mix the LE series with the other high effiency series units.

[Oldmics]

I would love to know what JBL considered "very hi power levels" at the time this letter was written.


George was working hard on New Years Eve.

Oldmics

[Matt Garrett]

Very interesting letter that confirms what I have felt all along over the years of messing with 150s and LE15s. A ll the older "audiophiles" I know always claim the 150 is the way to go over the LE15 in the Hartsfield and Paragon. To me it is kind of like the altec 416-8a compared to the 416-8b, the later driver, at least to my deaf ear, seems to be a good bit better all the way around with better low response and power handeling. I was always second guessing myself prefering the LE15 over the 150 as I was always told the LE15 was inferior to the famed 150. I never understood why you would use a 150 when you have an LE15, or the same with the altec 416-8a when you have a 416-8b. Glad to see that JBL did not think I was an idiot all this time.

I bet the high power levels they were talking about were about 60 watts.

[GordonW]

I bet the high power levels they were talking about were about 60 watts.

That would make sense. This is the era when amps such as the Mc. MC60 and MC275, the HK Citation II, the Marantz Model 9 and such, started to appear. Instead of "topping out" at about 35-40 watts max, as was the case for the most part before 1959, you started seeing amps of about double that power, as the 6550 tubes started becoming "in vogue"... and people started working on designs with "doubled-up" EL34s and such.

It does seem that the LE15, with its roll surround and longer voice coil, would definitely get the edge in lack-of-distortion over the 150-4C (shorter coil, and fabric surround). Some may prefer a more "colored" sound, but if the goal is LINEARITY, then the later model drivers definitely will win that fight...

Regards,
Gordon.