JBL L80 (1980–1982)

Name: JBL L80
Brand: JBL

The JBL L80 is a 3-way bass reflex floorstanding loudspeaker built from 1980 to 1982. It sits between the smaller L40 and the larger L100 in JBL's L-series line. It was priced at $275 each when new. The drivers are a 10″ woofer with a treated cloth surround and large magnet, a 5″ cone midrange, and a 1″ dome tweeter, crossed over at 800 Hz and 3.2 kHz. The cabinet is 3/4″ particle board with walnut veneer, measuring 14.5″ × 24.5″ × 10.5″ and weighing 37 lbs. Sensitivity is rated at 89 dB (1W/1m) with 8-ohm impedance, and frequency response is specified as 45 Hz - 21 kHz. The crossover is a 3-way design with 12 dB/octave slopes, and it is described as complex. Contemporary coverage in the audio press noted JBL's floor-standing loudspeaker designs with a 12-inch woofer, a 12-inch passive radiator, a 5-inch midrange, and a 1-inch tweeter at a price of $595 each HI-Fi-Stereo-Buyers (September 1979, p.51).

The L80 was designed as a bookshelf or stand-mounted speaker, and collectors have a dedicated following for it. Enthusiasts praise its fast, forward midrange for vocals, its extended and sweet tweeter, its tight and punchy bass, and its spot-on imaging. One owner who has had a pair since 1981 reports they still sound fantastic. It's often called a sleeper in the JBL lineup, particularly well suited to classic rock and jazz in moderately sized rooms. It's not for everyone, though. Some find it bright with certain amplifiers, and it needs decent power to sound its best. The cabinets are not the most solid and can resonate.

On the used market, watch for foam surround rot on the woofer and scratchy level-control potentiometers, which can be cleaned with DeoxIT. The crossover capacitors may need replacing after 30+ years, and the veneer can be refinished. Original drivers are getting harder to find, and demand among collectors remains strong.