JBL L86 (1980–1986)
The JBL L86 was a 3-way acoustic-suspension bookshelf loudspeaker, produced from roughly 1980 through 1986. It used a 12-inch woofer, a 5-inch midrange and a 1-inch dome tweeter, with crossover points at 1000 Hz and 4000 Hz. The cabinet had genuine walnut veneer. Recommended amplifier power ran from 10 to 125 watts into 8 ohms, and rated frequency response was 45 Hz to 25 kHz.
Period coverage of the L86 was modest. At the Winter CES in 1983, HiFI-Stereo (April 1983, p.60) noted the L86 as an upscale version of the J320. It kept the same 8-inch driver convictions as that model, with a step up in cabinet and finish. A March 1983 item in the same publication (p.16) noted system EQ of +6 dB at 100 Hz and +3 dB at 10 kHz, at a price of $379.95.
One long-term owner, writing on a review site in 2001, reported that the speakers were a Christmas gift in 1986 and were still in daily use. He praised the tight bass, pure midrange and crystalline highs. He also noted they are very placement-sensitive, and that a tube amplifier tamed an excess of treble. The same owner said the bass had softened somewhat after years of use. A 1994 Usenet post put sensitivity at about 89 dB SPL.
Documentation on the L86 is thin in places. No original MSRP beyond the $379.95 figure from the 1983 trade coverage has surfaced. The dimensional record is contradictory - one source lists the cabinet at 26-1/2″ high × 17-1/2″ wide × 12″ deep, while another gives 580 × 355 × 305 mm with the order of dimensions reversed. The two cannot both be correct, so treat either with caution. Weight is similarly disputed at 34 vs. 50 lbs. Driver model numbers, crossover component values and connector details are not documented in the available record.
Known specs (as documented)
- Type: 3-way, 3-driver acoustic-suspension bookshelf speaker
- Drivers: 12″ woofer, 5″ midrange, 1″ dome tweeter
- Crossover: 1000 Hz / 4000 Hz
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Power handling: 10–125 W
- Frequency response: 45 Hz – 25 kHz
- Finish: Walnut veneer
- Production: 1980–1986, made in Japan
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