JBL A660 (1974)

The JBL A660 is a bookshelf loudspeaker that JBL produced briefly in 1974, positioned as the smaller sibling to the L100 Century. It was built around a 10-inch woofer and a 3/4-inch dome tweeter, with the tweeter direct-mounted rather than recessed. The stated frequency response is 49-25,000 Hz, with 90 watts power handling and 8-ohm impedance. A December 1968 JBL advertisement in HiFI-Stereo (December 1968, p.137) promoted a separate Alpha series with a 12-inch low-frequency unit and passive radiator. A December 1968 advertisement in HiFI-Stereo (p.137) promoted the separate Alpha series, which included a 12-inch low-frequency unit and a 12-inch passive radiator.

The A660 was designed to sound like the L100, but in a more compact form with the smaller woofer. The "little brother" relationship to the L100 is the one piece of context that shows up consistently in the record.

Documentation is thin. The production window of 1974 comes from a single source, and no original price, dimensions, weight, or sensitivity figures have surfaced. No period reviews of the A660 specifically have been located in the available archives. The December 1968 issues of HiFI-Stereo (p.137) and Audio (p.45) both carry JBL advertising for the separate Alpha series, but neither covers the A660. If you own one, the known specs are:

Type: 2-way bookshelf loudspeaker
Drivers: 10" woofer, 3/4" dome tweeter (direct mounted)
Frequency response: 49–25,000 Hz
Power handling: 90 watts
Impedance: 8 ohms

The A660 remains a somewhat obscure entry in JBL's 1970s catalog — a compact take on a classic formula, remembered mainly for its famous family resemblance.