JBL Synthesis L100 Classic Bookshelf Loudspeaker - Each

Product highlights

• Recreation of original foam grille in choice of colors
• 12-inch pure pulp woofer with distinctive white cone
• 5 inch midrange of polymer-coated pulp
• Newly designed 1-inch titanium dome tweeter with waveguide for better dispersion
• Front-firing bass port
• Front-baffle attenuator controls for midrange and high frequencies
• Genuine walnut veneer cabinet with matte black front and rear panels
• Power capacity 20-200 watts continuous
• Dimensions: 25.06” high x 15.34” wide x 14.625” deep
• Weight: 58.5 lbs.
• Warranty: 5 years – World Wide Stereo is an authorized dealer for every brand we sell
• Included: World Wide Stereo 60-day guarantee and expert product support

Updated sound

Technology has advanced since the heyday of the originals in the ‘70s, so JBL has freshened the engineering in the three-way L100 Classics. The new 1-inch dome tweeter has a titanium diaphragm – unheard of back in the day – and throws the highs wide through a geometric waveguide. The 5-inch midrange is polymer-coated pulp, and the 12-inch woofer – sizable for a “bookshelf” speaker – is pure white. And, like the original, the enclosure design is bass-reflex, which means a port in front augments the low end for extra oomph.

Twist and shout

Retained from the original are the two front-panel controls so you can turn up, or down, the midrange and highs to suit your tastes – and, indeed, your hearing acuity might well be different these days, after all those decades of heavy metal head banging. Just saying.

Original style

The woofer, as in the original, is bright white, and the front baffle is matte black. So for extra drama, you could always remove the foam grille and show off your cones to friends. But the Quadrex foam grilles speak loudly, even when the speakers are silent. Available in your choice of burnt orange, blue or black, the sculpted shape seems to reach out to the listener and say, “Crank me up. Please.”

Finish it off

Even though the L100s are categorized as “bookshelf speakers,” you might rightly conclude that at nearly 120 pounds a pair, they seem a bit weighty for much modern shelving. That’s why JBL is also offering accessory floor stands, angling the speakers up to best sonic effect. But for the full retro feel, might we recommend you instead procure some cinder blocks and plywood planks for a sturdily stacked, and wholly appropriate, setup.