How does JBL L166 compare to modern ~$300 speakers?

[Wesley Hunt]

I have a pair of old JBL L166s that I'm thinking of having reconed, and
they might need one new tweeter diaphragm. I'm told this will cost
around $250-300 for the reconing, and another $100 or so if I get the
diaphragm. How would these speakers compare, in fidelity and efficiency,
to modern speakers in the $300-400 US /pair price range? Obviously, I
can't make the comparison myself before I pay.
--
Wesley Hunt
(remove "no spam" twice)

[Joseph Oberlander]

Wesley Hunt wrote:

> I have a pair of old JBL L166s that I'm thinking of having reconed, and
> they might need one new tweeter diaphragm. I'm told this will cost
> around $250-300 for the reconing, and another $100 or so if I get the
> diaphragm. How would these speakers compare, in fidelity and efficiency,
> to modern speakers in the $300-400 US /pair price range? Obviously, I
> can't make the comparison myself before I pay.

They will sound better than most $400 speakers.

Another thing to consider is selling them as-is and applying the
money towards a new pair of speakers.

JBL still makes these speakers, or something very close to them,
btw, if you want a better sounding modern version of them.

www.jblpro.com - look at the recording models. The 4400 series
is virtually identical to the L series of old - just newer and
with better crossovers and so on.

[Wesley Hunt]

In article et>,
Joseph Oberlander > wrote:

> www.jblpro.com - look at the recording models. The 4400 series
> is virtually identical to the L series of old - just newer and
> with better crossovers and so on.

How would the 4408A compare to the L166?
--
Wesley Hunt
(remove "no spam" twice)

[Joseph Oberlander]

Wesley Hunt wrote:

> In article et>,
> Joseph Oberlander > wrote:
>
>
>>www.jblpro.com - look at the recording models. The 4400 series
>>is virtually identical to the L series of old - just newer and
>>with better crossovers and so on.
>
>
> How would the 4408A compare to the L166?

Humm - tough one. My guess is fairly simmilar, just in a 2 way
configuration instead of a 3 way.

http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/specs/home-speakers/1976-l66.htm
The manual from it.(isn't the web cool?)

A new version of it is the 4412, which is a superb speaker,
but again, the little 4408 or 4410 would likely more than
equal it today.

Me? I'd get a set of 4410s as replacements, since the old JBL
L100 type 12 inch drivers only went down to 35hz at -6db(see
below)

http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/jbl/specs/home-speakers/1988%20l-series/page07.jpg
(click on the screen to make it larger)

Note in the small print the +/-6db accuracy. Heh. The new ones are
much better as +/-2db, which again, isn't surprizing as speakers
were still crude devices until computers were used for designing
and materials testing. Most of the stuff in the 70's was actually
pretty dreadful compared to today's technology.

http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/jbl/specs/pro-speakers/1983-4312/page4.jpg
Here are simmilar speakers to yours - just a bit newer and
monitors. Note how +/-3db is a "monitor" back then. :)
Makes you wonder what crud most speakers back then were.
I know of +/- 1db monitors today, btw.

45db low end at -3db. This is consistent with the sheet for your
speakers. I'd listen to some 4410s in a pro shop and see if
you aren't suitably impressed. Then buy them online at
www.musiciansfriend or simmilar for a good price(search for
"JBL 44" on that site)

Lastly:
http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/jbl/specs/pro-speakers/1995-4400a-series/page4.jpg
Zoom in on the specs page - note the flat response.

IMO, the 4412 aren't really a bit better - as the cabinet would
need to be a real tower with about twice the volume to do that
big driver justice. Also note the nearly identical 4410A and
4412A graphs.