Indestructable

Older technology

I'm the original owner of these speakers. I purchased them in 1985 I think. At the time I'm sure they were leading edge in speaker tech. One thing I've often wondered about is how well do they stack up against current offerings? Certainly JBL has been demoted in the H/K pecking order since the time of this model. The dealer I got mine from is still in business but has started to sell Infinity since JBL has not offered anything substantial for some time. Anyone out there know of any tweaks to deaden the cabinets on these? Also any opinions on the overall sound of these speakers from other owners present and past would be nice. Thanks!

Very good bass
Great sound generaly, but a litle bit high in the top op the sound. I have chance the look off mine, covert them with rosewood instet off the original wood, and it look whery nice.

Not made off MDF

Generaly very good sound and looks, i have just recoted my 12" and it cost my 300 pund for 2
what is the new-price for these?
iff you hawe pictures off these speakers, please send one to me!!

Goes a long way to make a so-so amp sound good. Accurate bass without bottoming out.

veneer, some structural weaknesses, mounted angle on binding posts

These trusted friends were found working as the display model at Best Buy and were glad to be away from the riffraff. They have been fed by Sony, Yamaha, Pioneer, Harman Kardon and several professional strength amps. They spent their early years being dragged from home to dorm to frat. In that time they were driven loud and hard. They have been dragged around so much they thought they were on tour, but the only problems were some loosening wood on the bottom and some chipped veneer. I blew a midrange 3 years ago and Best Buy honored my 5 year warranty extension and went digging for a new mid.
They have since retired to the living room, leaving the new home theater in the capable hands of my other friends from Hope, Arkansas. I haven't noticed any cone deterioration, but after reading other reviews I will keep it on my mind. These are certainly classic speakers which won't sweat under any stain. They even do a nice job holding lamps which is the only reason my wife allows them within sight. If you bump into one gathering dust, do yourself a favor and find it a home.

Similar Products Used:

3-way CVs,

Clarity of the Mids, and High drivers. Excellent low freq response.

"Manly sized"

I bought my L100t's new in 1987 from the Post Exchange at Fort Bragg NC, and have been in love with them ever since. Before that I owned a set of AR's that sounded good also, but could not stand up to the power that I wanted to feed them. A SoundCraftsman 85002 power amp that pushes 250 watts per channel. Over the years the L100's have never wavered, in fact they sound just as good today as they did when I bought them. Thats the sign of a good speaker, so much for "outdated technology." Not to mention the over all size of the speakers. This adds to their appeal, to have me tell it.

My system includes
SoundCraftsman:ProPower10,ProPower3,85002-Power Amps,R2215 EQ
Lexicon: cp3 THX Surround Processor
Sony: DVDS300-DVD Player, SLVN81-HiFi VCR, DTC-ZE44 DAT Recorder, MDS-JE630 MiniDisk Recorder
Monster Power: HTF3500 Reference Power center
Technics:SH-AC500D Digital Surround Processor
RCA: DTC-100 High-Definition Digital Satalite Recevier
Mitsubishi: WS55809 55" WideScreen HDTV
DBX: 3BX Range Expander
JBL: L110 Horizons(x2), L80t, L100t3, L20t

Similar Products Used:

JBL 4312,4311,L110,L80t,L20t,L60t,L100t3,and Acoutsic Research

Good base / highs...Still look good

Very heavy...

I'm the original owner of these heavyweights. I bought them when I was overseas in the AF about 1986. I agree with what others say about proper placement from vertical surface to get correct bass response. I'm currently driving them with a Onkyo 5099 amp on my old component system but will be purchasing a A/V reciever in the next few months. I still believe that these speakers hold their own even compared to the new tech speakers. These speakers will continue to be my main pair...On my new surround system.

Similar Products Used:

Bose 901, Infinity SM series, Polk Audio

I have had those 'monsters' for 12 years now, they were darned expensivewhen I bought them, my model is made at JBL's European factory, identical to the ones made in California....so I was told.
The cabinet is not sufficiently braced, I guess it resonates on its own a lot,
and doing so interferes with the tweeter, that is nor damped and so some
nasty vibrations are added, with the speakers on the floor the sound was just too boomy, I de coupled them on some spiked platform and it went a whole lot better, I changed electronics and it went even better, I stuffed the rear port
with wool rags and it went even better....notwithstanding I still miss definition on highs, I guess the tweeter is too low spatially, I put a pair
of Wharfedale Diamonds over the JBL's driven by another ROTEL amp and I can
almost get the sound I want....anyway..for rock and roll they are great speakers, Symphonic Orchestra is so and so, chamber music is not good....
they are very generous speakers, unfortunately I like sooo much the JBL sound
and my main interest is just rock and heavy music, so I do not have many choices
around, being so tweaked they are almost okay to me, not boomy anymore and
with the tonal balance towards the higher frequencies, I have been offered
a very cheap pair of JBL's L5000 TI or JAMO concert 11 what a difficult choice!!! I will keep those L100's T anyway to be tried when I can graduate to a
more sophisticated amplification.

Great sound. Nice bass.

Fake wood stuff is coming off the sides of the cabinets at the corners. Surrounds around woofers are disintegrating.

I found them at the side of the road. Somebody was throwing them out. I was driving past and saw one of them and saw they were JBL's so I picked them up. I had been looking for another set of "big" speakers since i blew up my Panasonics. I hooked them up to my early 70's Yamaha CR-820 Natural Sound stereo reciever. I really wasnt expecting them to work but they did and they work great. They are some of the best sounding speakers i have ever listened to. You can turn them up very loud without any distortion or crackling. They can handle it all. Like some others have said they almost sound a bit too boomy sometimes. I will probably have to have new surrounds put on the woofer cones soon. If anyone knows of a good place for this please let me know. All in all great speakers considering I didnt pay for them. Oh and I listen mostly to rock and some dance music and it all sounds good.

Similar Products Used:

Old Panasonic floor speakers, Boston Acoustics CR7's

Clarity, and depth is superberb; full bass

None known--except out of manufacture

I bought these in the mid eighties. They were the best sounding speakers in the shop as I remember. Much better highs, lows, and overall sound than the Bose 901s in the room. And I still love them.

I was very disappointed last year to discover cone rim rot. So, I got the bass speakers re-coned for about $250. They sound as could as new. The bass is just remarkable. I pair it with a Yahama R9 receiver of the same vintage. I plan to use them as my mains in a home theatre set-up.

They're great with all kinds of music; although, I listen to mainly rock, with a dash of classical thrown in. The most impressive listening I've had is to the Tchaikovsky "1812" Overture (Telarc all-digital [DDD] recorded) recorded with real cannons. Verrrrrry impressive.

If re-coning kits are available in 15 years, I may have to maintain the listening legacy of the L100T's.

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None

excellent bass for rock music (rush, stp, pink floyd)Can take any volume u toss its way

heavy

I love these speakers and will never get rid of them. I have owned these since 1989 and have been very happy with them. I mainly listen to rock and roll music and these things are awsome for that purpose. I have them as my front speakers in my surround sound and i find i need to dampen the bass response on some movies. there is no need for a sub woofer as it would be overkill. I would recomend these if u can find a descent used pair and u like rock and roll music mostly

Similar Products Used:

earlier model bose 901, klipsch

Deep bass Super midirange and highend.

can be dificult to set up in room.

I have owned JBL100T3's for nine years or so and can still handle anything i can throw at them . They have a very flat frequency response , deep bass ,smooth midrange and high end. I will Keep these speakers forever.

Similar Products Used:

none