JBL 18Ti (1982–1985)

The JBL 18Ti was introduced in 1982 and quickly became one of the best-selling speakers in the JBL consumer line — and it holds a notable place in the company's history as the first JBL speaker to use a titanium dome tweeter. It's a two-way bookshelf/stand design, built around an 8-inch cone woofer and that 25mm titanium dome tweeter, crossing over at 3 kHz. It was a formula that worked: Audio (August 1985, p.106) noted the series' real strengths were a return to fundamentals and an emphasis on accuracy.

The specs that survive across sources are consistent: 8-ohm impedance, 150-watt power handling, and a sensitivity of 87 dB/1W/1m. Frequency response figures vary a bit depending on the source — some list 58 Hz–20 kHz, others 47 Hz–20 kHz — but all within the ±3 dB window. Dimensions were approximately 360 × 620 × 310 mm and it weighed about 10.5 kg. Recommended amplifier power was 20–150 watts. The cabinet was offered in wood veneer with a black lacquer finish, and the speaker featured bi-wirable inputs and magnetic shielding.

One point of ambiguity: the original price. Sources disagree, with one listing $650/pair and another $1,500/pair for the 1982 introduction. Given the conflict, I'll leave that figure out rather than guess.

The 18Ti appears to have been closely related to the JBL 18T, though the exact relationship isn't well documented. Production ran from 1982 to roughly 1985.

- **Type:** 2-way bookshelf/stand loudspeaker

- **Drivers:** 200mm (8") cone woofer, 25mm (1") titanium dome tweeter

- **Crossover:** 3 kHz

- **Impedance:** 8 ohms

- **Sensitivity:** 87 dB / 1W / 1m

- **Power handling:** 150 watts (recommended amp: 20–150W)

- **Dimensions:** 360 × 620 × 310 mm

- **Weight:** 10.5 kg