JBL Speakers?
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- Bob Snelgrove
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JBL Speakers?
Guys
What's the difference between D series, K series, 120's and 130's?
thx
bob
What's the difference between D series, K series, 120's and 130's?
thx
bob
- David Doggett
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120s are 12", 130s are 15".
The D series was the original series made in the '60s and discontinued in the '70s. If there is an F at the end it is an instrument speaker. These have a slightly wider voice coil gap that is more robust, but slightly less efficient.
The M series was a JBL copy of the D series for certain manufacturers in the '70s.
The K series is the current production series that seems to be the closest to the old D series.
The D series was the original series made in the '60s and discontinued in the '70s. If there is an F at the end it is an instrument speaker. These have a slightly wider voice coil gap that is more robust, but slightly less efficient.
The M series was a JBL copy of the D series for certain manufacturers in the '70s.
The K series is the current production series that seems to be the closest to the old D series.
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i believe the K series had a higher power rating than the D series
i prefered the Ks to the Ds for sound quality, clearness and reliability
in the long run i did blow 'em out on C6 and distortin' channels on my Twin
i switched to Peavey Black Widows, they handled a lot more that JBLs and sound darn good too !
i prefered the Ks to the Ds for sound quality, clearness and reliability
in the long run i did blow 'em out on C6 and distortin' channels on my Twin
i switched to Peavey Black Widows, they handled a lot more that JBLs and sound darn good too !
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The D-130 was actually designed in the <u>late '40s</u>, and carried a power rating of 25 watts. The "F" (Fender) series was originally rated at 35-60 watts, and improvements led to their ratings being increased to 100 watts by the '70s.
IMHO, all the "D" series were fine sounding speakers, but they were doomed when big amps took the jump to over 100 watts of power in the '70s. The "D" series was, for decades, simply the best you could get for most applications, but some speakers today are far more robust and efficient. For most of us, reliability takes precedence over sound quality. Having the best sounding speaker is a rather moot point if it melts down half-way through a gig.
IMHO, all the "D" series were fine sounding speakers, but they were doomed when big amps took the jump to over 100 watts of power in the '70s. The "D" series was, for decades, simply the best you could get for most applications, but some speakers today are far more robust and efficient. For most of us, reliability takes precedence over sound quality. Having the best sounding speaker is a rather moot point if it melts down half-way through a gig.
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- Bob Snelgrove
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Are the K series really still available? The JBL website shows them as obsolete:
http://www.jblpro.com/pages/obsolete.htm
bob
http://www.jblpro.com/pages/obsolete.htm
bob
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For tons of great info on JBL and Altec check: www.audioheritage.org !
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James Lansing was born in Illinois and his last name was Martini. He moved to California and changed his name to Lansing. He had two brothers who moved to CA and changed their name to Martin. JBL started a very small speaker factory and his brothers worked there. They made 6" and 8" speakers for radios. At night they would wind voice coils at home. Sound came along in movie theatres and Western Electric practically sewed the sound installation business up in movies, so much that the government made them sell it which some of Western Electric's engineers bought. They named it ALTEC for All Technical. Before long they realized that they needed better speakers than were available so they bought James Lansing out and he and his two brothers went to work for them. They named the Co. Altec Lansing. After WW2 James Lansing left and started up his own company and blew the industry's mind when he finally came up with the D130. He was $20,000.00 in debt and took his own life in 1949. A guy that worked with him took it over and made JBL what it is today.
Woody Woodell
Woody Woodell
- Mark Herrick
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Mike Brown has provided historic info on the differences in the BW speakers here on several occasions. A search in the Electronics section should turn it up.
Some of the "newer" speakers had Kevlar impregnated cones as opposed to paper-only cones. The 1501-4 Shallow Basket speaker (smooth paper-only cone) sounds pretty nice!
The 1502-4 with the ribbed cone that was used for a while in the NV 400's is voiced differently than the 1501.
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Some of the "newer" speakers had Kevlar impregnated cones as opposed to paper-only cones. The 1501-4 Shallow Basket speaker (smooth paper-only cone) sounds pretty nice!
The 1502-4 with the ribbed cone that was used for a while in the NV 400's is voiced differently than the 1501.
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