Modern JBL L1 equivalent

[RitterSport]

Hi! This is my first post here, so I hope I'm in the right forum, right hangout, and so on.

I have a pair of JBL L1 speakers that I bought probably 15 years ago or more. I really love them, but they are wide and black, and my wife is giving me a hard time about putting them on the wall (we're doing major work on our house) as part of a home theater set up. I planned on using them for front channel speakers, but they don't look right (according to her -- I think the look great!).

So, I'm wondering if there is a more modern speaker that is sort of equivalent (sound-wise), but sleeker and available in white or something.

I love the L1's for the clean, clear sound they have, although they were lacking in bottom. So, I also have a JBL (older, suspended, non-ported) sub-woofer to go with them.

What would be a good replacement that might look better on a wall?

 

[bandphan]

if you are going on wall have you condidered in wall? Are these going to be used for a ht setup? How large is the room, and do you have a budget?

 

[RitterSport]

Room size, etc.

Yes, these will be the front channel speakers for a home theater set-up, but they will also be my main listening speakers (they will be in my family room where we spend most of our time and will be hooked up to all of the main audio sources), along with the sub-woofer.

The family room is 22x17, and it's right next to the kitchen, with a pretty broad opening between them, so the total room size is, in a sense, 43x17.

I could consider in-wall speakers, but it's an outside wall, so I don't know how deep they could be -- I think there's only a stud's width between the dry-wall and the sheathing, so 3.5 inches or so is my guess.

I do have some budget, of course, but I'm willing to spend, say, between $500 and $1000 for a pair, prefer the lower end of that range. I think the L1 speakers were about $750/pair back when I got them.

 

[bandphan]

if your going to use a flat panel tv you could go with some like this http://www.artisonusa.com/artison_006.htm which also has a center chanel included. They attach to the tv and have matching grills for each manufacture. In walls will not be an option. These are under 4'' http://www.us.martinlogan.com/specs/ticket.html a hybrid in wall and these are on wall http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/vignette.html and these also http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/VisionSound. Do you have the sub, receiver, center and surrounds already?

 

[RitterSport]

Thanks! I'll take a look at those. I do have a sub, center, and surrounds already. For the receiver, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the Yamaha RX-V3800.

What do you think of these: JBL LS326W

 

[bandphan]

depending on the speakers you choose, you might not need that much receiver, and you can put the difference into the speakers or a second sub.

good luck

 

[RitterSport]

Pricing on those recommended speakers?

I can't seem to find pricing on the speakers you recommended I take a look at. Can you tell me what the price range is?

I am interested in your opinion of the JBLs I mentioned: LS326W. Are the JBLs in the same league as the ones you linked to above?

That Yamaha receiver doesn't seem that over-the-top to me, plus I'm going to use its two-zone capability for some outdoor speakers, and I plan on using the network functionality for internet radio and so on. It gets great reviews, and they have it for $1,200 nearby -- doesn't seem too high.

 

[bandphan]

I can't seem to find pricing on the speakers you recommended I take a look at. Can you tell me what the price range is?

I am interested in your opinion of the JBLs I mentioned: LS326W. Are the JBLs in the same league as the ones you linked to above?

That Yamaha receiver doesn't seem that over-the-top to me, plus I'm going to use its two-zone capability for some outdoor speakers, and I plan on using the network functionality for internet radio and so on. It gets great reviews, and they have it for $1,200 nearby -- doesn't seem too high.

the ml prices are on their main page under products, ml tickects 399ea, ml vignette 699ea, psb will vary try audio advisor. Im not a huge fan of jbls in that price range. Look at the 863 and 663 for similar features (and more in some cases) and save your self some money, both will power second zones

 

[DD66000]

If you're as used to JBLs as I am, nothing but more JBLs will do.
I would recommend the Studio L series, There are two tower models, 3 onwall models and three bookshelf models, and a sub.
At list prices, they're worth every penny, at internet prices they're a steal.
they come as black ash, beech, or cherry.
Some guys over at AVS, JBL owner's thread, are using a mix of models, some are using all towers and at least one guy is using all LC2 centers all around.
http://www.jbl.com/home/products/series.aspx?SerId=SLS&Language=ENG&Country=US&Region=USA

 

[bandphan]

If you're as used to JBLs as I am, nothing but more JBLs will do.
I would recommend the Studio L series, There are two tower models, 3 onwall models and three bookshelf models, and a sub.
At list prices, they're worth every penny, at internet prices they're a steal.
they come as black ash, beech, or cherry.
Some guys over at AVS, JBL owner's thread, are using a mix of models, some are using all towers and at least one guy is using all LC2 centers all around.
http://www.jbl.com/home/products/series.aspx?SerId=SLS&Language=ENG&Country=US&Region=USA

Have you audtioned alot of other speakers?
the deal with jbls is that through ownership changes, have come sound changes. Im a fan of the late 70's towers(l220)(which also liked power) and early 80's stuido monitors.
The on wall issue would lead to looking at other brands, jbls on wall and tower speakers sound different ,so comparisons to the name and sound would be missleading. Im not knocking jbls, but there are other speakers for his application that might/do have better sonic qualities.

 

[smurphy522]

I too have a set of L1's.
First off, you would not want to think about wall mounting them as they are rear ported and from personal experience sound much better on a sturdy 30" tall stand about 2-3' from the wall. Even the manual suggests minimum 2" from a wall.

Anyhow, you might also look (listen) at Infinity, Paradigm, Definive Technology, RBH (internet only) and EMP (related to RBH), Axiom and Polk. I can attest that the Polks will sound smoother.

Another thing to consider is room treatment (carpet or tile/wood, lots of paintings/pictures/drapes, or bare windows). Those variables will have huge impacts on the sound you hear (or perceive). Also keep in mind what room(s) you have had (and liked) the L1's in the past. If, for example, they were in a smaller room with carpet they might not have sounded too bright. Keep in mind these are somewhat bright speakers (or known to be) due to their 1" titanium tweeter.

I have listened to Paradigm speakers and was quite frankly, blown away by them. The cinema series was what I was auditioning for a large bedroom. However I looked at the Millenia series too. I think they were on-wall mounted (as option) and there was also a trio speaker (R/C/L) to do the whole front sound stage. I can't recall the price of the Millenia's though. The cinema series is definately within the budget. However for the cinema's, that large of a room may be a challenge. You would have to go the route of the 330's at minimum as they have the highest SPL rating.

Good Luck!

 

[DD66000]

Have you audtioned alot of other speakers?
the deal with jbls is that through ownership changes, have come sound changes. Im a fan of the late 70's towers(l220)(which also liked power) and early 80's stuido monitors.
The on wall issue would lead to looking at other brands, jbls on wall and tower speakers sound different ,so comparisons to the name and sound would be missleading. Im not knocking jbls, but there are other speakers for his application that might/do have better sonic qualities.

Have I auditioned other brands, more than I would want to count. There are brands I haven't heard also. But of the ones I have, if I listen long enough, I realize what I don't hear, compared to JBLs.

I've been running high end JBL for 3 decades, the L212, and the current PT800, which is JBL's top of the line dome tweeter based speakers. Also bought a pair of L890, which is one of the models of the Studio L series.

If anyone wants to get an idea of how good the Studio L series is, they only need to cruise through the JBL owner's thread @ AVS. And those onwall models in that series get the job done.
The reason there are so many different speaker brands is we all have different hearing. But there are some brands, that others have just raved about, that I wouldn't take for free. And I won't bother to go into what those are.

 

[bandphan]

If anyone wants to get an idea of how good the Studio L series is, they only need to cruise through the JBL owner's thread @ AVS.

Spoken like a true fanboy Im not knocking them, but as you stated everyones hearing is different, as well as their rooms. Id rather eq a good pair of speakers to fit the sound i like and the room they are in. If you look at my post history i may have mentioned martin logan 3-4 times,(some of which were subs) so im not closed minded in thought. Im merely suggestion the op try some alternatives. The ls326 speaker mentioned by the op states a 30hz-30khz, are you kidding me If the op wants to stay with jbl thats fine, im , agian, just expanding the possabilites.

Sorry for the highjacking, ill stay on track.

 

[DD66000]

There are other brands I've listened to that I thought about buying. Three that come to mind are the VA Beethovens, and James Loudspeakers, Energy Vertias.
The James, when I auditioned them in '02, I thought had one of the very best centers I had heard. And for that reason, I gave them the edge over the Energy. And none of those would be considered to be inexpensive.