JBL XPL140
The XPL140 is a 2-way bookshelf speaker from JBL, built around a 6.5-inch woofer and a surface-mounted tweeter — the latter being the model's most distinctive visual feature, with the tweeter sitting proud of the baffle rather than being recessed into it. The record on this model is thin: no production years, original price, or series positioning have surfaced in the available documentation.
What is documented comes mostly from a spec database entry and a classified listing, which agree on the essentials. The cabinet measures 220 × 360 × 310 mm (8.75" W × 13.5" H × 11" D) and weighs about 8 kg (roughly 18 lbs). Rated sensitivity is 88 dB, nominal impedance 8 ohms, and frequency response is quoted at 55 Hz to 22 kHz, with power handling of 10–100W.
A period test report in HiFI-Stereo (November 1990, p.56) adds some real measurement data: the averaged room response showed a slightly elevated but uniform bass section, with mid and high frequencies within ±3 dB from 300 Hz to 20 kHz. The same review noted that the on-axis and 45-degree off-axis responses diverged by about 6 dB at 7 kHz and by at least 20 dB at 15 kHz — a reflection of that surface-mounted tweeter's directional behavior. The tweeter itself was still down only 6 dB at 22 kHz on the forward axis. The test samples came in a mirror-like black lacquer finish that the reviewer compared favorably to a fine piano. A 1991 directory listing in the same publication lists the XPL140 at $1,249 each.
The rear panel carries two pairs of gold-plated multiway binding posts, normally joined by gold-plated jumpers — set up for bi-wiring or bi-amping out of the box.
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