In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by JBL. JBL L100 Classic 80 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the L52 Classic is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL L100 Classic 80 and JBL L52 Classic first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL L100 Classic 80 | JBL L52 Classic |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 0.75" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 12" Pulp | 5.25" Pulp |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40Hz-40k Hz | 47-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | 10-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.59kg / 58.5lbs | 5.00kg / 11lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 25-5/16" x 15-3/8" x 14-7/16"
643.0 x 391.0 x 367.0mm | 13-1/16" x 7-13/16" x 8-11/16"
332.0 x 199.0 x 221.0mm |
|---|
L100 Classic 80 and L52 Classic are members of JBL's L Classic series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
JBL L Classic Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that L100 Classic 80 is a 3-way design whereas the L52 Classic is a 2-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.
JBL L100 Classic 80JBL L52 Classic
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL L100 Classic 80 |
JBL L52 Classic |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
L100 Classic 80 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Pulp Woofer. On the other hand, the L52 Classic features a 0.75" Titanium Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
L100 Classic 80 has a frequency range of 40Hz-40k Hz whereas L52 Classic has a frequency range of 47-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the L100 Classic 80 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the L52 Classic's min frequency of 47Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
L100 Classic 80 and L52 Classic have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. L100 Classic 80 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the L52 Classic's is at 85 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the JBL L100 Classic 80 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL L52 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 L100 Classic 80 and the L100 Classic 80 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
L100 Classic 80 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas L52 Classic has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 125 watts less than the L100 Classic 80.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
L100 Classic 80 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. L52 Classic has a Five-way gold-plated binding posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL L52 Classic's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 L100 Classic 80's and JBL L52 Classic's external dimensions. JBL L100 Classic 80 has external dimensions of 643.0 x 391.0 x 367.0mm (25-5/16inch x 15-3/8inch x 14-7/16inch) whereas JBL L52 Classic has external dimensions of 332.0 x 199.0 x 221.0mm (13-1/16 x 7-13/16 x 8-11/16inch).
JBL L100 Classic 80 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 192mm wider, 311mm taller and 146mm deeper than JBL L52 Classic.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL L100 Classic 80 and JBL L52 Classic in scale.
Comparison image of JBL L100 Classic 80 and JBL L52 Classic Size and External Dimensions
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 L100 Classic 80 is approximately 1435.0cm2 / 222.4inch2 and base area of the JBL L52 Classic is approximately 439.8cm2 / 68.2inch2. The L100 Classic 80 requires 226% more surface area than the L52 Classic which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of JBL L100 Classic 80?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L100 Classic 80:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Speaker stands
- Quick Start Guide
What's in the Box of JBL L52 Classic?
Here are the items that come with the L52 Classic:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual