In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL HDI-3800 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the L100 Classic is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL HDI-3800 and JBL L100 Classic first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
JBL HDI-3800 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 3 x 8" Aluminum Woofer
- 37-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-300watts
- Weight:38.08kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1143.0" x 11-15/16" x 16-9/16"( 1143.0 x 304.0 x 421.0mm )
JBL L100 Classic Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 12" Pulp Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 40-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-200watts
- Weight:26.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 636.5" x 15.3" x 14.6"( 636.5 x 389.6 x 371.5mm )
What size room are the JBL HDI-3800 and JBL L100 Classic speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
JBL HDI-3800 |
JBL L100 Classic |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL HDI-3800 and JBL L100 Classic compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that HDI-3800 is a 2-way design whereas the L100 Classic is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
JBL HDI-3800 |
JBL L100 Classic |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 8-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
HDI-3800 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 8" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the L100 Classic features a 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 3500Hz.
Frequency Response
HDI-3800 has a frequency range of 37-30k Hz whereas L100 Classic has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the HDI-3800 can go slightly deeper then the L100 Classic's min frequency of 40Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
HDI-3800 and L100 Classic have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. HDI-3800 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the L100 Classic's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the JBL HDI-3800 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL L100 Classic, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the HDI-3800 and the HDI-3800 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
HDI-3800 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas L100 Classic has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the HDI-3800.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
HDI-3800 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. L100 Classic has a Five-way gold-plated binding posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL L100 Classic's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
HDI-3800 has a rear firing port whereas L100 Classic has a front firing ports. JBL L100 Classic's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to JBL HDI-3800 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare JBL HDI-3800's and JBL L100 Classic's external dimensions. JBL HDI-3800 has external dimensions of 1143.0 x 304.0 x 421.0mm ( 45 x 11-15/16 x 16-9/16inch) whereas JBL L100 Classic has external dimensions of 636.5 x 389.6 x 371.5mm ( 25.0 x 15.3 x 14.6inch) .
JBL L100 Classic is 506.5mm shorter and 49.5mm less deeper than JBL HDI-3800 but it is also 85.6mm wider.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the JBL HDI-3800 is approximately 1279.8cm2 / 198.4inch2 and base area of the JBL L100 Classic is approximately 1447.4cm2 / 224.3inch2. The HDI-3800 requires 12% less surface area than the L100 Classic which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of JBL HDI-3800?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HDI-3800:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)4 Spike feetOwners Manual
What's in the Box of JBL L100 Classic?
Here are the items that come with the L100 Classic:
Bookshelf loudspeaker
Grille
Owner's Manual