JBL L26 (1972)

A 2-way bookshelf speaker system released in 1972. It has a 25.5 cm woofer and a 3.6 cm dome tweeter in a bass reflex enclosure.

Overview

The JBL L26, also called the L26 Decade, is a 2-way bookshelf speaker introduced in 1972. It was designed for high-fidelity reproduction. The bass reflex enclosure comes in natural oak, with a 4-color grille pattern in orange, brown, blue, and white. Inside are JBL's 125A woofer, an LE25 series dome tweeter, and a dedicated 2-way crossover network.

Specifications

Product type2-way bookshelf speaker system
Production yearsReleased in 1972
Low band unit25.5 cm cone type (125A)
High pass unit3.6 cm dome type (LE25-1 early; LE25-4 later)
NetworkDedicated 2-way network
Impedance8 Ω
Output sound pressure level89 dB (New JIS)
Allowable input35 W (continuous program)
Crossover frequency2 kHz
External dimensions324 mm (W) × 610 mm (H) × 337 mm (D)
Weight19 kg
Original price¥68,900 per unit (around 1973), ¥78,000 (1978)

Design

The woofer is a 25.5 cm cone type, the 125A. It has a 5 cm voice coil wound from edgewise copper ribbon wire and an Alnico V magnet weighing 1.1 kg. The 3.6 cm dome tweeter has a 1.6 cm voice coil and a 15,000 gauss magnetic circuit. Early models used the LE25-1 and later versions used the LE25-4. The enclosure is a bass reflex design in natural oak, and the grille is a four-color pattern of orange, brown, blue, and white.

Context

JBL released the L26 in 1972 as a bookshelf-format 2-way system. Its drivers were performance-oriented for the time.

eBay Listings

JBL L26 vintage audio equipment - eBay listing photo 1
Pair of Vintage JBL L26 Loudspeakers Speakers
$629
JBL L26 vintage audio equipment - eBay listing photo 2
Vintage Pair Of JBL Decade L26 Floor Speakers All Speakers W
$1,067
JBL L26 vintage audio equipment - eBay listing photo 3
Pair of Vintage JBL Decade L26 Floor Loudspeakers Speakers -
$429
JBL L26 vintage audio equipment - eBay listing photo 4
Original Vintage JBL Decade L26 Control Foil Cal Badge Pair,
$88.00
See all JBL L26 on eBay

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