JBL LE15H
The LE15H is a 38 cm (15-inch) cone woofer from JBL's LE series. JBL used this driver in the Paragon, the company's enormous flagship loudspeaker. Most woofers never get near that kind of pedigree.
What's documented about the LE15H comes mainly from a Japanese audio database entry, with an original price of ¥65,000 per unit dated around 1981. It's an 8-ohm driver with a continuous program rating of 200W, a sound pressure level of 95 dB/W/m, and a frequency characteristic rated from 35 Hz to 2 kHz. The free-air resonance (fo) is 20 Hz, the voice coil diameter is 10.2 cm, and the magnetic flux density is 9,500 gauss. The LE-H series uses a ferrite magnet for the magnetic circuit. The recommended enclosure volume is 113 to 225 liters, and the unit's depth is 149mm with a packed weight of 13.0 kg.
The LE15H was also used as a drop-in woofer for other JBL systems. Period listings note it as suitable for the L200 and 4320 monitors, among others. Beyond that, the record is thin. No production years have been confirmed, and no period reviews have surfaced. What exists today is a scattering of marketplace listings: a pair offered in pristine condition with fresh foam surrounds, a Russian listing selling the LE15H alongside LE85 drivers and H92 horns for 180,000 rubles, and a Japanese auction listing a single unit in rough cosmetic shape - replaced edge, damaged input terminal - for 6,100 yen. The foam surround comes up again and again in these listings. Original replacements were still being sourced from the US as late as 2023.
- Type: 38 cm cone woofer
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Continuous program power: 200W
- Sound pressure level: 95 dB/W/m
- Frequency response: 35 Hz – 2 kHz
- fo: 20 Hz
- Voice coil diameter: 10.2 cm
- Magnetic flux density: 9,500 gauss (ferrite magnet)
- Recommended enclosure: 113 – 225 liters
- Depth: 149 mm · Packed weight: 13.0 kg
- Original price (circa 1981): ¥65,000 per unit
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