JBL S26 (introduced 1993, produced 1994–1996)

Name: JBL S26
Brand: JBL

The JBL S26 is a two-way bass-reflex bookshelf speaker from JBL's "S" series of the mid-1990s. The line also included the S38 floorstander. Greg Timbers and Wayne Eversman designed it as part of JBL's push into high-end affordable audio. It has a 6.8" woofer with rubber surround, a 1" titanium laminate dome tweeter, and a cabinet that was magnetically shielded for use as a video center channel. The titanium tweeter is the signature element. It gives the S26 a revealing, detailed top end, though it can sound a bit harsh on some recordings. The woofers are prone to dry rot in some examples, but the surrounds are easy to replace. Owners report that recapping the crossovers yields noticeable improvements.

The S26 was priced at around $450–500 per pair, putting it at the entry-level high-end price point. It's a bi-wireable design, and it needs a decent amplifier to sound its best — owners consistently note that these like power. A period review heard a solid soundstage with well-defined imaging. The bass is surprisingly good for the cabinet size, though the JBL-published 60Hz–25kHz response figure appears to be a free-space red-line spec rather than an anechoic measurement.

The documented record on the S26 is modest. No original manual or detailed crossover schematic has surfaced. Owners agree it's a great little speaker, especially for the price. They show up on the used market for well under $150/pair.

Type: 2-way bass reflex, bookshelf
Drivers: 6.8" woofer (rubber surround), 1" titanium dome tweeter
Frequency response: 50 Hz – 20 kHz (hifi-wiki) / 60 Hz – 25 kHz (JBL published spec)
Sensitivity: 89 dB (1W/1m)
Impedance: 8 ohms
Crossover: 2.5 kHz
Recommended power: 10–100 W
Dimensions (H×W×D): 397 × 236 × 274 mm
Weight: 9 kg
Features: Bi-wire/bi-amp capable, magnetically shielded