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JBL Celebrates 80 Years of the Iconic L100 with Limited Natural Oak Edition
For the JBL super fan or someone looking for a one-of-a-kind set of speakers.
If you visited our record shop back when it was at The Row in DTLA, then you might remember seeing a pair of the classic JBL speakers featured as the centerpiece of our listening setup. Loud and quite versatile (ours were used in both listening and party settings), the L100 Classic is a modern update / reissue of one of the most iconic speakers in hi-fi history. Originally introduced in the 1970s, the JBL L100 brought studio-quality performance with a bold, consumer-friendly design, and became one of the most iconic and best-selling hi-fi speakers from the golden age of home stereo.
“The JBL L100 is more than a loudspeaker. It’s a symbol of JBL’s role in shaping how people experience music at home,” said Jim Garrett, Senior Director of Product Strategy and Planning, HARMAN Luxury Audio. “The JBL L100 Classic 80 honors that legacy while reflecting the engineering standards and listening expectations of today. It’s a celebration of where we’ve been and how far we’ve come.”
Next month, JBL is launching the limited edition L100 Classic 80 speakers to celebrate its 80th birthday, promising a modern take on the iconic line of noise makers. The speakers are the latest reimagining of the firm’s longstanding L100 line, which have been tweaked and updated constantly over the decades. They aim once again to offer a modern spin on the range, mixing elements of the L100’s wonderfully retro design with modernized internals.
“The JBL L100 is more than a loudspeaker. It’s a symbol of JBL’s role in shaping how people experience music at home.”
Limited to 800 units, the JBL L100 Classic 80 is finished in a beautiful natural California oak wood veneer and paired with a vintage-inspired brown Quadrex foam grille accented by a gold-and-black JBL logo, the JBL L100 Classic 80 is as visually striking as it is acoustically capable. The design is further distinguished by a black cone 12″ woofer, selected specifically to complement the warm oak finish and brown grille, along with a black satin wood baffle frame and anniversary edition badging on both the front and rear. Together, these elements reinforce its status as a design statement as much as a high-performance loudspeaker.
We haven’t had a chance to hear these in person yet, but our friends at Ecoustics shared a few of the key sonic differences after testing:
“The cabinet is significantly stiffer than earlier versions, using inch-thick front and rear panels, ¾-inch side panels, and substantial internal bracing. JBL also developed a custom internal damping material with higher absorption than standard Dacron fill, helping control internal reflections and cabinet resonances.”
“The crossover network has been thoroughly updated as well. Heavier-gauge wiring, larger capacitors, and a mix of iron-core and air-core inductors are used, with crossover points set at 450 Hz and 3.5 kHz. The midrange operates across that entire span using second-order filters, while the tweeter employs a third-order high-pass. This approach keeps vocal fundamentals and presence squarely in the midrange driver’s wheelhouse, rather than splitting them awkwardly between drivers, which helps avoid phase issues and preserves clarity.”
Pricing
- JBL L100 Classic 80 – $7,499 / pair
- JBL L100 Classic MKII – $5,279.90 / pair
Specifications:
- Speaker Type: 12-inch (300mm) 3-way Bookshelf Loudspeaker
- Low Frequency Driver: 12-inch (300mm) cast-frame Pure Pulp cone woofer with Dual Spider (JW300SW-8)
- Mid Frequency Driver: 5.25-inch (130mm) Polymer-coated Pure Pulp cone (JM125PC-8)
- High Frequency Driver: 1-inch (25 mm) Titanium dome tweeter mated to acoustic lens and waveguide (JT025Ti2-4)
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 25-200 Watts RMS
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 90dB
- Frequency Response: 40Hz-40kHz (-6dB)
- Crossover Frequencies: 450Hz, 3.5kHz
- Dimensions With Grille: (HxWxD) 25.3-inch x 15.4-inch x 14.4-inch
- Controls: Attenuators for MF and HF level control
- Connector Type: Dual sets of Gold-plated Binding Posts
- Product Weight: 63 lbs (28.6 kg) each
