The signs were there. In 2016, JBL announced the release of the 4312SE 70th Anniversary Studio Monitor model. Now, Harman International announced the introduction of the JBL L100 Classic, a modern take on the all-time best-selling JBL L100 loudspeaker. As with the legendary L100 3-way bookshelf loudspeaker released in 1970, the new L100 Classic is in itself a consumer version of the popular JBL 4310 Pro Studio Monitor with updated drivers and crossovers, and a slightly different driver alignment.It is true that like the revival of vinyl and turntables, lots of people are willing to buy modern versions of classic speakers and amplifiers. The Klipsch Heritage and the Dynaco ST70 being good examples of recent initiatives. Announced at CES 2018, the new L100 Classic loudspeaker system features an attractive, 1970's-style retro design, with vintage JBL styling including an iconic Quadrex foam grille in a choice of three colors — black, orange, or blue — all with a black and bronze JBL logo. The enclosures are finished in a genuine, satin walnut wood veneer with black front and rear panels.
"The original L100 speakers were not only JBL's all-time, best-selling loudspeakers, but, from all indications, they were the best-selling loudspeaker system of the decade," says Jim Garrett, Senior Director, Product Strategy and Planning, Luxury Audio, Harman. "The original L100 was introduced at the 1970 CES in Chicago, and here we are almost 50 years later with retro products and designs in high fashion. There is still a huge appreciation and desire for these great looking, great sounding vintage JBL loudspeaker systems. We think consumers are going to love this loudspeaker."
The original L100 production run included the L100, along with the subsequent L100A and L100 Century evolutions that quickly followed and ran thru the end of production in 1978. That fundamental compact 12-inch 3-way design is maintained in the L100 Classic with improvements made to the transducers, enclosure tuning, and crossover network design. Designed by Chris Hagen, the same acoustic system engineer that created the L100T3 in 1988, the L100 Classic benefits from decades of JBL engineering prowess along with the world’s most advanced acoustic engineering resources available in Harman’s Northridge, California design center.
The L100 Classic uses the newly developed JT025Ti1 1-inch (25mm) Titanium dome tweeter mated to a waveguide with an acoustic lens for optimal integration to the JM125PC 5-inch (125mm) cast-frame, pure-pulp cone midrange driver located directly below. The vertical HF and MF transducer arrangement is slightly offset to the right of the woofer below, with HF and MF attenuators located on the upper left of the front baffle. Low frequencies are delivered by the 1200FE 12-inch (300mm) cast-frame, white pure-pulp cone woofer operating in a bass-reflex enclosure system that is tuned via a single, front-firing port tube with flared exit. Connections are made via a pair of gold-plated binding post terminals located on the rear-panel.This passive, 3-way bookshelf loudspeaker measures approximately 25.5" H x 15.5" W x 13.75" D and can be oriented either vertically or horizontally. Optional black metal floor stands are available with included adjustable carpet spikes. The walnut wood frame grille is available with the iconic Quadrex foam insert in a choice of black, orange, or blue.
The L100 Classic will be available in Spring 2018 at an MSRP of $4,000 per pair.
harman.com | www.jbl.com
