| Author |
Message |
James
Guest
|
 Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 1:08 pm Post subject:
Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
I have a pair of JBL L-65's , a 20 year old 3-way speaker. Boy,
these were nice speakers when I first bought them !!
The woofers are 10 inch designs, and both need reconing. The cost , with
associated shipping, will be in the $450 range for the pair.
I am wondering if my investment would be in the right direction. I know
that speaker technology has advanced a lot in 20 years, and that dollar for
dollar, I would assume that you get more with current purchases.
How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to get something as good
or better in today's market, and what recommendation of speakers would you
suggest ?
I would be interested in receiving any comments.
Thanks !!
--James--
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Mark D. Zacharias
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:12 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
"James" <jnipperxxx@nospamfdn.com> wrote in message
news:4Pmdnf_xnpGOi9PeRVn-ug@comcast.com...
| Quote: |
I have a pair of JBL L-65's , a 20 year old 3-way speaker. Boy,
these were nice speakers when I first bought them !!
The woofers are 10 inch designs, and both need reconing. The cost ,
with
associated shipping, will be in the $450 range for the pair.
I am wondering if my investment would be in the right direction. I know
that speaker technology has advanced a lot in 20 years, and that dollar
for
dollar, I would assume that you get more with current purchases.
|
Not necessarily so. Good speakers often cost upwards of 2K per pair or more
these days. $250.00 / ea speakers from Best Buy aren't going to be as good
as 250.00 / ea. speakers bought 25 years ago. Mid-Fi speaker technology has
changed almost NOT AT ALL in this time. No later than 1975 all the Thiele
parameters etc were well known. Woofers are built the same way. Crossovers
still have slopes, and resulting phase shift. Low frequency response is
still a trade-off between efficiency and cabinet size. Crummy piezo tweeters
have replaced decent dome tweeters in many speakers.
| Quote: |
How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to get something as good
or better in today's market, and what recommendation of speakers would you
suggest ?
|
I can't advise you here - I haven't followed the market much - except to say
that your own personal tastes have to rule or else your chances of
satisfaction with your purchase go way down. If you do buy new, be prepared
to do your homework and spend substantial time listening to your prospective
purchase, using CD's you are very familiar with as a source. Otherwise you
may just as well buy some commodity product with no regard at all for sound
quality. If you really like the L-65's it would certainly be easier just to
have them reconed - but insist on original JBL parts.
Mark Z. |
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Tim Schwartz
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:05 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
James,
This sounds high for reconing. I'd suggest you get an estimate from:
Millersound Labs
1422 Taylor Road
Lansdale, PA 19446
phone: 215-412-7700
I've had excellent service from them. In any event, whatever the
estimate, go out and listen to new speakers in the price range of the
repair and see if you like them as much as what you have now. My guess
is that you may want to repair what you've got, even though I don't know
the L-65's.
Regards,
Tim Schwartz
Bristol Electronics
James wrote:
| Quote: |
I have a pair of JBL L-65's , a 20 year old 3-way speaker. Boy,
these were nice speakers when I first bought them !!
The woofers are 10 inch designs, and both need reconing. The cost , with
associated shipping, will be in the $450 range for the pair.
I am wondering if my investment would be in the right direction. I know
that speaker technology has advanced a lot in 20 years, and that dollar for
dollar, I would assume that you get more with current purchases.
How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to get something as good
or better in today's market, and what recommendation of speakers would you
suggest ?
I would be interested in receiving any comments.
Thanks !!
--James-- |
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Mr.T
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:30 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
"James" <jnipperxxx@nospamfdn.com> wrote in message
news:4Pmdnf_xnpGOi9PeRVn-ug@comcast.com...
| Quote: | I have a pair of JBL L-65's , a 20 year old 3-way speaker. Boy,
these were nice speakers when I first bought them !!
The woofers are 10 inch designs, and both need reconing. The cost ,
with
associated shipping, will be in the $450 range for the pair.
|
Do they really need reconing, or just new surrounds? That would be lower in
cost.
| Quote: | I am wondering if my investment would be in the right direction. I know
that speaker technology has advanced a lot in 20 years, and that dollar
for
dollar, I would assume that you get more with current purchases.
|
Only if you adjust those dollars for inflation.
| Quote: | How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to get something as good
or better in today's market,
|
Yes much more.
| Quote: | and what recommendation of speakers would you suggest ?
I would be interested in receiving any comments.
|
I suggest you get another quote for repairs.
Or be prepared to spend *far* more than $450 on new ones.
For starters, check the prices on similar sized new JBL speakers. You may be
in for a shock.
MrT. |
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Powell
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:45 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
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"James" wrote
| Quote: | I have a pair of JBL L-65's , a 20 year old 3-way
speaker.
The Jubal (L-65) was last manufactured on or about 1978. |
MSRP $462
| Quote: | Boy, these were nice speakers when I first bought
them !!
Indeed. The cabinet is oiled walnut with a nice smoked |
glass top.
| Quote: | The woofers are 10 inch designs, and both need reconing.
The cost , with associated shipping, will be in the $450
range for the pair.
This speaker employs a 12" woofer, 5" mid-range |
and either 1.4" tweeter (1978) or Comp. Driver
Horn (<1976).
| Quote: | I am wondering if my investment would be in the right direction.
I know that speaker technology has advanced a lot in 20 years,
and that dollar for dollar, I would assume that you get more with
current purchases.
Speaker are incrementally better today. Your speakers |
were never designed to handle digital media. In addition
the material sciences involved in speaker building has
greatly benefitted from computerization which wasn’t
available in the 70's. Today we can build better
mouse traps but they often lack the aesthetics of the
Jubal, for example.
| Quote: | How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to
get something as good or better in today's market, and
what recommendation of speakers would you
suggest ?
"good or better"... please define? |
Much would depend on your intended application? IMO
$450 might be better spent on new (modern) drivers and
crossovers, there are many source vendors. I recently
did this with a pair of 70's vintage Altec speakers with ok
(fair) results. |
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GregS
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:00 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
In article <wru3f.4222$1X5.662@fe05.lga>, "Powell" <nospam@noquacking.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
"James" wrote
I have a pair of JBL L-65's , a 20 year old 3-way
speaker.
The Jubal (L-65) was last manufactured on or about 1978.
MSRP $462
Boy, these were nice speakers when I first bought
them !!
Indeed. The cabinet is oiled walnut with a nice smoked
glass top.
The woofers are 10 inch designs, and both need reconing.
The cost , with associated shipping, will be in the $450
range for the pair.
This speaker employs a 12" woofer, 5" mid-range
and either 1.4" tweeter (1978) or Comp. Driver
Horn (<1976).
|
Wow, I didn't know they veered from the slot horn.
I thought the whole idea of this speaker was to use the new slot horn.
| Quote: | I am wondering if my investment would be in the right direction.
I know that speaker technology has advanced a lot in 20 years,
and that dollar for dollar, I would assume that you get more with
current purchases.
Speaker are incrementally better today. Your speakers
were never designed to handle digital media. In addition
the material sciences involved in speaker building has
greatly benefitted from computerization which wasn’t
available in the 70's. Today we can build better
mouse traps but they often lack the aesthetics of the
Jubal, for example.
|
Digital media? I remember digital ready! But its hard to find woofers with square
wire.
| Quote: |
How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to
get something as good or better in today's market, and
what recommendation of speakers would you
suggest ?
|
The jubal played very loud. I'm sure they can handle "digital" media.
They were a bit bright, I thought at the time, so I didn't spend the $800
or so to buy a set. I was really impressed by the look and advertising sheet,
but not the sound.
greg
| Quote: | "good or better"... please define?
Much would depend on your intended application? IMO
$450 might be better spent on new (modern) drivers and
crossovers, there are many source vendors. I recently
did this with a pair of 70's vintage Altec speakers with ok
(fair) results.
|
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GregS
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:03 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
In article <dilsr0$3q5$1@usenet01.srv.cis.pitt.edu>, szekeres@pitt.edu (GregS) wrote:
| Quote: | In article <wru3f.4222$1X5.662@fe05.lga>, "Powell" <nospam@noquacking.com
wrote:
"James" wrote
I have a pair of JBL L-65's , a 20 year old 3-way
speaker.
The Jubal (L-65) was last manufactured on or about 1978.
MSRP $462
Boy, these were nice speakers when I first bought
them !!
Indeed. The cabinet is oiled walnut with a nice smoked
glass top.
The woofers are 10 inch designs, and both need reconing.
The cost , with associated shipping, will be in the $450
range for the pair.
|
Forgot to mention, they are 12 inchers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
| Quote: | This speaker employs a 12" woofer, 5" mid-range
and either 1.4" tweeter (1978) or Comp. Driver
Horn (<1976).
Wow, I didn't know they veered from the slot horn.
I thought the whole idea of this speaker was to use the new slot horn.
I am wondering if my investment would be in the right direction.
I know that speaker technology has advanced a lot in 20 years,
and that dollar for dollar, I would assume that you get more with
current purchases.
Speaker are incrementally better today. Your speakers
were never designed to handle digital media. In addition
the material sciences involved in speaker building has
greatly benefitted from computerization which wasn’t
available in the 70's. Today we can build better
mouse traps but they often lack the aesthetics of the
Jubal, for example.
Digital media? I remember digital ready! But its hard to find woofers with
square
wire.
How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to
get something as good or better in today's market, and
what recommendation of speakers would you
suggest ?
The jubal played very loud. I'm sure they can handle "digital" media.
They were a bit bright, I thought at the time, so I didn't spend the $800
or so to buy a set. I was really impressed by the look and advertising sheet,
but not the sound.
greg
"good or better"... please define?
Much would depend on your intended application? IMO
$450 might be better spent on new (modern) drivers and
crossovers, there are many source vendors. I recently
did this with a pair of 70's vintage Altec speakers with ok
(fair) results.
|
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Mr.T
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:43 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
"GregS" <szekeres@pitt.edu> wrote in message
news:dilsr0$3q5$1@usenet01.srv.cis.pitt.edu...
| Quote: | Speaker are incrementally better today. Your speakers
were never designed to handle digital media.
|
Of course they were, they just didn't know it (or advertise it) at the time.
| Quote: | In addition
the material sciences involved in speaker building has
greatly benefitted from computerization which wasn't
available in the 70's. Today we can build better
mouse traps but they often lack the aesthetics of the
Jubal, for example.
|
Exactly, or cost a lot more in todays dollars.
| Quote: | Digital media? I remember digital ready! But its hard to find woofers with
square
wire.
|
Those JBL woofers DO have square wire, or flat ribbon wound on edge to be
more accurate.
Nothing to do with digital of course.
| Quote: | The jubal played very loud. I'm sure they can handle "digital" media.
|
Exactly.
| Quote: | They were a bit bright, I thought at the time, so I didn't spend the $800
or so to buy a set. I was really impressed by the look and advertising
sheet,
but not the sound.
|
You didn't realise there was a treble control on the back? :-)
| Quote: | Much would depend on your intended application? IMO
$450 might be better spent on new (modern) drivers and
crossovers, there are many source vendors.
|
Yes, and most of them aren't any better.
I'd fix the JBL's.
MrT. |
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Powell
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:10 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
"Mr.T" wrote
| Quote: | Much would depend on your intended application? IMO
$450 might be better spent on new (modern) drivers and
crossovers, there are many source vendors.
Yes, and most of them aren't any better.
Quack,quack,quack... |
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Powell
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:10 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
"GregS" wrote
| Quote: | Speaker are incrementally better today. Your speakers
were never designed to handle digital media. In addition
the material sciences involved in speaker building has
greatly benefitted from computerization which wasn’t
available in the 70's. Today we can build better
mouse traps but they often lack the aesthetics of the
Jubal, for example.
The jubal played very loud. I'm sure they can handle
"digital" media.
Uh? What causative relationship exits between loudness |
and digital media? Certainly frequency response and
dynamic range differ greatly between analog and digital
media. |
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nyob123@peoplepc.com
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:42 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
"James" <jnipperxxx@nospamfdn.com> wrote in message
news:4Pmdnf_xnpGOi9PeRVn-ug@comcast.com...
| Quote: |
I have a pair of JBL L-65's , a 20 year old 3-way speaker. Boy,
these were nice speakers when I first bought them !!
The woofers are 10 inch designs, and both need reconing. The cost ,
with
associated shipping, will be in the $450 range for the pair.
I am wondering if my investment would be in the right direction. I know
that speaker technology has advanced a lot in 20 years, and that dollar
for
dollar, I would assume that you get more with current purchases.
How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to get something as good
or better in today's market, and what recommendation of speakers would you
suggest ?
I would be interested in receiving any comments.
Thanks !!
If you like the sound of the Jubal's and there's nothing available for the |
same $450.00 that competes, then it's money well spent. |
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jakdedert
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:07 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
James wrote:
| Quote: | I have a pair of JBL L-65's , a 20 year old 3-way speaker. Boy,
these were nice speakers when I first bought them !!
The woofers are 10 inch designs, and both need reconing. The cost , with
associated shipping, will be in the $450 range for the pair.
I am wondering if my investment would be in the right direction. I know
that speaker technology has advanced a lot in 20 years, and that dollar for
dollar, I would assume that you get more with current purchases.
How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to get something as good
or better in today's market, and what recommendation of speakers would you
suggest ?
I would be interested in receiving any comments.
Thanks !!
--James--
You didn't describe the actual problem with the woofers, beyond 'blown'. |
I'm not familiar with that particular model; but a chance exists--with
no more than your description to go on--that the woofers merely need to
be refoamed. IOW, is the woofer actually 'blown' (burned, open or
warped voice coil), or are the woofer surrounds (the outer ring around
the circumference of the cone) rotted or deteriorated?
If the latter--and again, I'm not familiar with these particular
woofers, they may not even 'have' foam surrounds--the woofers can often
be economically and easily saved...maybe even a DIY solution...certainly
more cheaply than the $450 you quoted.
OTOH, if the *voice coils* are actually blown, keep an eye out on Ebay
for replacements. I just replaced both the woofers in my Pioneer HPM
100's (same vintage, much higher MSRP in 1976) for $71, including
shipping, by diligently searching Ebay for three years until a suitably
priced pair came along. It took that long only because I wasn't willing
to pay over $100 for such.
I originally purchased these, sans woofers, for $40 in 1989. I bolted
in a pair of JBL K-120's, which sounded 'okay' and used them like that
until now.
Now...they sound fantastic!
jak
jak
jak |
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James Lehman
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:08 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
| Quote: | Speaker are incrementally better today. Your speakers
were never designed to handle digital media.
|
What nonsense is this? Anything you can shove down a pair of thick copper
wires to a passive loud speaker system is analog, regardless of the source.
What could possibly be in a "digital" signal source that could not be found
in an analog source? Dither? Bad switching noise? Digital drop-out?
Nonsense! Open reel tape machines and good old record players have had the
ability to cover the entire range of human hearing with awesome dynamics and
signal to noise ratio, decades before digital recording was anything more
than a technical curiosity.
A good speaker is a good speaker.
James. :o) |
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jakdedert
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:22 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
jakdedert wrote:
| Quote: | James wrote:
I have a pair of JBL L-65's , a 20 year old 3-way speaker. Boy,
these were nice speakers when I first bought them !!
The woofers are 10 inch designs, and both need reconing. The cost
, with
associated shipping, will be in the $450 range for the pair.
I am wondering if my investment would be in the right direction. I know
that speaker technology has advanced a lot in 20 years, and that
dollar for
dollar, I would assume that you get more with current purchases.
How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to get something as
good
or better in today's market, and what recommendation of speakers would
you
suggest ?
I would be interested in receiving any comments.
Thanks !!
--James--
You didn't describe the actual problem with the woofers, beyond 'blown'.
I'm not familiar with that particular model; but a chance exists--with
no more than your description to go on--that the woofers merely need to
be refoamed. IOW, is the woofer actually 'blown' (burned, open or
warped voice coil), or are the woofer surrounds (the outer ring around
the circumference of the cone) rotted or deteriorated?
If the latter--and again, I'm not familiar with these particular
woofers, they may not even 'have' foam surrounds--the woofers can often
be economically and easily saved...maybe even a DIY solution...certainly
more cheaply than the $450 you quoted.
OTOH, if the *voice coils* are actually blown, keep an eye out on Ebay
for replacements. I just replaced both the woofers in my Pioneer HPM
100's (same vintage, much higher MSRP in 1976) for $71, including
shipping, by diligently searching Ebay for three years until a suitably
priced pair came along. It took that long only because I wasn't willing
to pay over $100 for such.
I originally purchased these, sans woofers, for $40 in 1989. I bolted
in a pair of JBL K-120's, which sounded 'okay' and used them like that
until now.
Now...they sound fantastic!
jak
|
In fact, check out this auction, current bid: $34, with three bids and
three days to go:
<http://cgi.ebay.com/JBL-126A-PAIR-FROM-JUBAL-L65-GREAT-CONDITION-NR_W0QQitemZ5817707556QQcategoryZ73372QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem>
"JBL 126A PAIR FROM JUBAL (L65) GREAT CONDITION NR!!!"
Seller indicates "new foam surrounds" which enhances my suspicion that
yours might be easily fixed.....
jak |
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Stephen Worth
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:36 pm Post subject:
Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ?? |
|
|
In article <4Pmdnf_xnpGOi9PeRVn-ug@comcast.com>, James
<jnipperxxx@nospamfdn.com> wrote:
| Quote: | How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to get something as good
or better in today's market, and what recommendation of speakers would you
suggest ?
|
You're going to have to spend at least four times the repair cost
to even get in the same ballpark. 70s JBLs are great. Fix em up.
See ya
Steve
--
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