JBL Radiance R103 (c. 1981)
The JBL Radiance R103 is a 3-way, 3-speaker bass-reflex bookshelf system from around 1981, originally priced at ¥57,000 per unit. The surviving Japanese source material says it was developed with the theme of "JBL sound from the first step of audio" - an entry point into the JBL sound for new listeners.
The woofer is a 25 cm cone, designated the 310G-1. It has a corn-paper cone chosen for its mass and stiffness, working with a traditional low-distortion magnetic circuit. The midrange is a 13 cm cone. The tweeter is a 3.6 cm cone, the same one used in JBL's higher-end models. The enclosure is bass-reflex, built from 19 mm high-density particle board.
Documentation on the R103 is thin beyond the basics. There's no frequency response or sensitivity data in the record, and no confirmed production run beyond the "around 1981" date attached to the pricing. The manual that circulates online has a single user rating of 8.2 out of 10, which at least suggests owners were satisfied. A Vietnamese YouTube review reportedly compares it favorably to the JBL L100, calling it nearly as good. That comparison comes from a video title, not from any period source.
Known specifications:
- Type: 3-way, 3-speaker, bass-reflex, bookshelf
- Drivers: 25 cm cone woofer (310G-1), 13 cm cone midrange, 3.6 cm cone tweeter
- Impedance: 6 Ω
- Recommended amplifier: 10–100W continuous
- Crossover frequencies: 600 Hz, 3 kHz
- Dimensions: 404 × 648 × 284 mm (W×H×D)
- Weight: 18.2 kg packed
Like many JBLs of this era, the R103's foam surrounds are prone to deterioration. Refoam kits for both the woofer and midrange are readily available from parts suppliers.
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