JBL L100 Classic Iconic 3 Way Bookshelf Loudspeaker Owner’s Manual

: June 12, 2024
: JBL

Table of Contents

JBL L100 Classic Iconic 3 Way Bookshelf Loudspeaker
Product Information
Product Usage Instructions
INTRODUCTION
PACKAGE CONTENTS
PLACEMENT AND POSITIONING
CONNECTIONS
CONTROLS/ADJUSTMENTS
CARING FOR YOUR SPEAKERS
SPECIFICATIONS
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

JBL L100 Classic Iconic 3 Way Bookshelf Loudspeaker

JBL-L100-Classic-Iconic-3-Way-Bookshelf-Loudspeaker-
product

Product Information

Product Name: L100 Classic
Type: Iconic 3-Way Bookshelf Loudspeaker
Model: RB3
Manufacturer: JBL

Product Usage Instructions

Unpack the L100 Classic loudspeakers from the packaging.
Find a suitable location for the loudspeakers on a bookshelf or any stable surface.
Connect the loudspeakers to your audio source using the provided cables. Ensure proper polarity (+/-) matching.
Power on your audio source and start playing your desired audio content.
Adjust the volume on your audio source to a comfortable listening level.
For optimal sound quality, experiment with the positioning of the loudspeakers. Try different angles and distances from walls to find the best soundstage.
If required, refer to the owner’s manual for additional information on advanced settings and features.
To turn off the loudspeakers, power off your audio source and disconnect the cables.
When not in use, store the L100 Classic loudspeakers in a clean and dry place to maintain their performance.

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the JBL <D L 100 Classic 3-Way Loudspeaker

For more than 70 years, JBL has been providing audio equipment for concert halls, recording studios and movie theaters around the world and has become the trusted choice of leading recording artists and sound engineers. The legendary JBL 4310 professional studio monitor helped produce many of the most popular albums of the 1960s and ‘?Os. The 4310 was the inspiration for the L 100 home audio loudspeaker introduced in 1970, which became JBL’s all-time best selling speaker. The L100 Classic is a modern interpretation of the original L100.

The new L 100 Classic honors this storied legacy with its iconic 12-inch (300mm) 3-way configuration, but with all-new drivers, crossover network, enclosure, and features to bring the design up to the highest 21st-century performance standards. Utilizing a compact monitor-type footprint, the L 100 Classic features advanced JBL transducers including the JW300PW-8 Pure Pulp cone woofer, the 105H-1 Polymer-coated Pure Pulp cone midrange, and the JT025Tl1-4 Titanium tweeter.

The L 100 Classic retains all of the performance attributes that endeared the original L 100 to listeners in the ‘?O’s and ’80s, such as exceptional dynamic range and contrast, clean and effortless high output, and precise high impact bass. The updated L 100 Classic adds even greater detail resolution across the full bandwidth, lower distortion and more lifelike stereo imaging, particularly off-axis. The L 100 Classic is sure to become a new legend among music lovers everywhere.

PACKAGE CONTENTS

One L 100 Classic loudspeaker
One Quadrex foam grille
One L 100 Classic Owner’s Manual

PLACEMENT AND POSITIONING

CAUTION:
The L 100 Classic weighs 58.8 lb. (26. 7 kg) each. Before placing the speaker on a sheff or platform, be sure that it is sturdy enough to support the speaker’s weight.

Before deciding where to place your speakers, survey your room and think about placement, using the illustration below as a guide.

Avoid placing the speakers near power amplifiers, heat registers or other objects that generate large amounts of heat.
Do not place the speakers in very humid or dusty places.
Do not place the speakers in direct sunlight or where they will be exposed to other intense light.
For best results, place the speakers ~ feet (1.8-2.4m) apart. If you set the speakers farther apart than this, angle them toward the listening position.
The speakers will produce the most accurate stereo soundstage when the angle between the listener and the speakers is between 40 and 60 degrees.
Generally, bass output will increase as the speaker is moved closer to a wall or corner. For best performance, we recommend that you place the speakers at least 20 inches (50cm) away from the sidewalls.
The speaker will yield the best stereo imaging when oriented vertically.
The L 100 Classic may be stand mounted with optional JBL metal stands (model JBL JS-120, sold separately) that angle the speaker upward.
If not using the optional stands with built-in angle, then we recommend you to position each speaker so that its tweeter is approximately at ear level.

CONNECTIONS

CAUTION:
Make sure that all of the system’s electrical components are turned OFF (and preferably unplugged from their ac outlets) before making any connections.

Speakers and amplifiers have corresponding positive and negative(“+” and”-“) connection terminals. The L 100 Classic has color-coded connection terminals. The “+” terminal is red, while the”-” terminal is black. See the illustration on the right.
The L 100 Classic is designed so that a positive voltage at the “+” (red) terminal will cause the speaker drivers to move outward (toward the room).
We recommend using a high-quality speaker cable with polarity coding. The side of the wire with a ridge or other coding is usually considered positive polarity(“+”).
To ensure proper polarity, connect each “+” terminal on the back of the amplifier or receiver to the respective”+” (red’J terminal on each speaker. Connect the”-” (black) terminals in a similar way. See your receiver or amplifier’s owner’s manual to confirm its connection procedures.

BASIC SINGLE-WIRE CONNECTION
Connect the amplifier to each speaker as shown in the illustration on the right.

IMPORTANT:
Do not reverse polarities (i.e., “+n to u_n or”-” to “+”) when making connections. Doing so will cause poor stereo imaging and diminished bass performance. The L 100 Classic’s gold-plated speaker terminals can accept a variety of wire connector types: bare wire, spade connectors, pin connectors and banana connectors.

USING BARE WIRE OR PIN CONNECTORS:

IMPORTANT:
Make sure that the(+) and H wires or pins do not touch each other or the other terminal. Touching cables can cause a short circuit that can damage your receiver or amplifier.

USING SPADE CONNECTORS:

IMPORTANT:
Make sure the(+) and H spade connector blades do not touch each other or the other terminal. Touching blades can cause a short circuit that can damage your receiver or amplifier.

USING BANANA CONNECTORS:

CONTROLS/ADJUSTMENTS

The L 100 Classic has front-panel adjustments that let you balance the levels of the midrange driver (MF) and tweeter (HF) relative to the woofer.
You can use these controls to adjust the speaker’s sound according to your room’s acoustics, or your personal taste. The “0dB” default position is a good place to start. Whatever sounds best to you in your room is the right setting.
As with most speakers, after you start playing the L 100 Classic it will take the drivers’ suspensions several weeks to “break in” and achieve optimum performance. During this period, the balance between the woofer, midrange, and tweeter may change, so we recommend that you adjust the midrange and tweeter controls again after the break-in period.

NOTE:
There is a protective plastic film on the front control panel label that may be removed.

CARING FOR YOUR SPEAKERS

Wipe the cabinet with a clean, dry cloth to remove dust. Damp cloths or cleaning paper may dull the cabinet’s finish.
Do not use volatile liquids such as benzene, paint thinner, alcohol, etc., on the cabinet. Do not spray insecticide near the cabinet.
To remove dust from the foam grille, use a vacuum cleaner set to low suction.
Do not wash the grille in water.
If the surfaces of the woofer and midrange cones become dusty, you can carefully sweep them clean with a soft, dry calligraphy brush or paintbrush. Do not use a damp cloth.
NEVER touch anything to the tweeter dome.

SPECIFICATIONS

System Type 3-way bookshelf loudspeaker
Woofer 12-inch (300mm) Pure Pulp cone (JW300PW-8)
Midrange 5-1 /4 inch (130mm) Polymer-coated, Pure Pulp cone (105H-1)
Tweeter 1-inch (25 mm) Titanium dome with soft surround (JT025Tl1-4)
Impedance 4 ohms
Recommended Amplifier Power 25-200 Watts RMS
Sensitivity (2 .83V/1 m) 90dB
Frequency Response 40Hz-40kHz (-6dB)
Crossover Frequencies 450Hz, 3.5kHz
Controls Attenuators for MF and HF Drivers
Connector Type Five-way gold-plated Binding Posts
Finish Genuine walnut veneer enclosure with Quadrex foam grille in a choice of Black, Burnt Orange or Dark Blue
Dimensions (H x W x D) 25.06″ H X 15.34″ W X 14.625″ D (636.6mm x 389. 7mm x 371.5mm)
Weight 58.5 lb (26.7 kg) each