JBL L80 Caprice (1976–1978)
The JBL L80 Caprice is a sealed (acoustic suspension) bookshelf loudspeaker from JBL's L-series consumer line, produced from roughly 1976 to 1978. It's a three-way design. The woofer is a 10" 125A with JBL's Symmetrical Field Geometry magnet structure. The midrange is a 4" 127H, and the tweeter is a 1" 066 soft-dome with a level control. The woofer and midrange both use cast frames. Crossover points are 1,500 Hz and 6,500 Hz. The crossover uses electrolytic capacitors and inductors, and by now those are well past their prime.
The cabinet measures 14" × 24" × 11.5" in walnut veneer and weighs 45 lbs. It was designed for low to moderate power amplifiers. The 066 tweeter extends to 35,000 Hz and is held in high regard. It's still available as an OEM replacement part, which is more than can be said for most drivers of this era. The L80 and the L80 Caprice share the same 125A woofer and 127H midrange, so parts sourcing between the two is interchangeable.
Original pricing is a point of disagreement in the record. One source lists $225 each from a 1977 spec sheet, while another cites $175 each for 1976. The production start year has a similar discrepancy - 1976 or 1977.
Owners consistently recommend recapping the crossovers on any surviving pair. The rebuild is described as straightforward, and replacement kits are available. One AVS Forum user said the L80s were the best JBL bookshelf speakers they'd owned, with superb imaging and an unbeatable balance. HiFI-Stereo (1971, p.118) carried JBL's period advertising for the broader L-series line, though detailed contemporary reviews of the L80 Caprice specifically are scarce.
Known Specs
- Type: 3-way, sealed (acoustic suspension) bookshelf
- Woofer: 125A 10" with Symmetrical Field Geometry, cast frame
- Midrange: 127H 4", cast frame
- Tweeter: 066 1" soft dome with level control
- Crossover: 1,500 & 6,500 Hz
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Dimensions: 14" × 24" × 11.5"
- Weight: 45 lbs each
- Finish: Walnut veneer
No full-system frequency response or sensitivity figures for the complete speaker have surfaced in the available documentation. Only the tweeter's extension is confirmed.
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