[Lefty]

Hey guys. So I've recently obtained a pair of L-100's. The thing is, I don't know how to make them work. I know how to solder and stuff (built a guitar and bass from scratch) but I'm not really sure what I have to do to get the music pumpin'. So the back of each cab has a black and red stub where the wiring goes. What do I have to do to make them play?

Thanks for the helping and sorry if this is like a noob question or whatever.

[Wayner]

So if  you hook these speakers up to an amp or receiver, they don't work?

Wayner

[WGH]

Hi Lefty, welcome to AC.

I'm guessing in the days of iPods and headphones there are still some noobs who have never hooked up speakers. 

Here is a video to explain how to do it
http://www.associatedcontent.com/video/2942/how_to_hookup_your_stereo.html

What is your input? Or in other words, where is your music, in an iPod or will you use a cd player?

[Lefty]

I'm guessing in the days of iPods and headphones there are still some noobs who have never hooked up speakers. 

Got that right. ;p

What is your input? Or in other words, where is your music, in an iPod or will you use a cd player?

I was thinking of connecting them to my computer for music recording playback.

Thanks for the link. Rock on ya'll.

[macrojack]

Computer speakers usually have built in amplification. They are called "powered speakers". Your JBLs do not have amplifiers on board so you will need outboard amplification. By this I mean you will need to run the speaker output on your computer into an integrated amplifier input. This will require a special interconnect cable with a TRS mini on the computer end and a pair of RCA jacks on the amplifier end. Then you need speaker wire from the speaker connections on your amp to the connectors on the back of your JBLs. For the L-100, you should have at least 50 honest watts per channel.

[WGH]

The JBL L100's are a terrific speaker, if fact I still use a pair in my shop and they have been rockin' since the early 1970's. What these speakers need is a 125 watt amp with lots of current to really sing. Since I bought my L100's, I have been through many amps (early Dynaco, Yahama, NAD 7155, Adcom GFA-535), but none could get the bass right until I got a used Adcom GFA-5400. But that is for later, right now you just want to get them working.

First you will need a Radio Shack Y-Adaptor to plug into the audio out of your computer.


A pair of cheap RCA plug to RCA plug cables to go from the Y-Adaptor to the back of the receiver or amp.


Some speaker wire


And an amp - the Panasonic SA XR55 Receiver for $100 would be a good start.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=60644.0

Wayne

[Toka]

Good pointers just above me...heed them well! 

And good pickup on the speakers...they are classics and are still in demand today. Have you checked to see if the foam surrounds on the woofer are still in good shape? If they have never been replaced over the life of the speaker, they may need to be.

[macrojack]

Nice job, Wayne.

Pictures are worth thousands of words.

[WGH]

Have you checked to see if the foam surrounds on the woofer are still in good shape? If they have never been replaced over the life of the speaker, they may need to be.

Did the L100's ever have foam surrounds? Mine have a pleated surround and are still in perfect shape. I have played the L100's loud for over 30 years and they will not die. But they do have a sound to die for.

I re-did the crossover with high end parts, braced the cabinet, added another 3/4" mdf layer to the back and they are now solid as a rock. They were boomy but now bass starts and stops on a dime. The cabinets are tuned to 40Hz and roll off rapidly after that, plenty of thump at 40Hz but 35Hz and below - forgetaboutit.

A friend came over just after I set up my Von Schweikert VR2's ($3000 retail) and said they sounded just like the JBL's. It is close, but the VR2's are better.

Wayne

[Toka]

Did the L100's ever have foam surrounds? Mine have a pleated surround and are still in perfect shape. I have played the L100's loud for over 30 years and they will not die. But they do have a sound to die for.

Hmm...can't for sure about the L100's, but I did check out a pair of JBL's around a while back that were rotted out...can't recall the model off the top of my head (they weren't mine)...but if the L100's didn't have foam, then all the better!

[Wayner]

They had a pleated cloth surround.