In this review, we will be comparing JBL L100 Classic 80 and Silver 500 7G, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL L100 Classic 80 and Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
JBL L100 Classic 80 Key Specs
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 12" Pulp Woofer
- 40Hz-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-200watts
- Weight:26.59kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 643.0" x 15-3/8" x 14-7/16"( 643.0 x 391.0 x 367.0mm )
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" gold dome C-CAM with Uniform Dispersion (UD) Waveguide II Tweeter
- 3" Midrange
- 2 x 8" C-CAM RST II Woofer
- 3" Midrange
- 27-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 90.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:80-250watts
- Weight:22.53kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1085.0" x 12-11/16" x 15-7/16"( 1085.0 x 323.0 x 393.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL L100 Classic 80 and Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G 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 JBL L100 Classic 80 is a -way design whereas the Silver 500 7G 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 L100 Classic 80 |
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x 12-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
JBL L100 Classic 80 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and x 12" Pulp Woofer . On the other hand, the Silver 500 7G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM with Uniform Dispersion (UD) Waveguide II Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 8" C-CAM RST II Woofer .
Frequency Response
JBL L100 Classic 80 has a frequency range of 40Hz-40k Hz whereas Silver 500 7G has a frequency range of 27-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the Silver 500 7G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the JBL L100 Classic 80'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
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
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
JBL L100 Classic 80 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Silver 500 7G which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the JBL L100 Classic 80 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. JBL L100 Classic 80 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Silver 500 7G's is rated at 90.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL L100 Classic 80, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
JBL L100 Classic 80 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas JBL L100 Classic 80 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Silver 500 7G.
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
Both JBL L100 Classic 80 and Silver 500 7G features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
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 L100 Classic 80's and Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G'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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G has external dimensions of 1085.0 x 323.0 x 393.0mm ( 42-11/16 x 12-11/16 x 15-7/16inch) .
JBL L100 Classic 80 is 442mm shorter and 26mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G but it is also 68mm 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 L100 Classic 80 is approximately 1435.0cm2 / 222.4inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G is approximately 1269.4cm2 / 196.8inch2. The JBL L100 Classic 80 requires 13% more surface area than the Silver 500 7G which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The JBL L100 Classic 80 weighs 26.59kg / 58.5lbs and the Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G weighs 22.53kg / 49.6lbs. This makes the JBL L100 Classic 80 18% heavier than the Silver 500 7G.
Here is a comparison of how JBL L100 Classic 80 and Silver 500 7G's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
What's in the Box of JBL L100 Classic 80?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of JBL 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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G?
Here are the items that come with the Silver 500 7G:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outrigger feet4 Rubber feet (pre-installed on outrigger feet)4 Spikes4 Bolts4 Machine screws2 Foam port plugs2 Hex-keysOwners ManualImportant Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
643mm
vs
1085mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1269cm2
vs
1435cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3200USD
vs
6999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL L100 Classic 80 |
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G |
| Brand |
JBL |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
80-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40Hz-40k Hz |
27-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
2 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp |
C-CAM RST II |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
gold dome C-CAM with Uniform Dispersion (UD) Waveguide II |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
3" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
643.0mm (25.3") |
1085.0mm (42.7") |
| Width |
391.0mm (15.4") |
323.0mm (12.7") |
| Depth |
367.0mm (14.4") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
26.59kg (58.5lbs) |
22.53kg (49.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Oak |
Oak |
| Recommended Stand Height |
9.3125" |
n/a |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5Yrs(spkr) / 1yr(stand) |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5Yrs(spkr) / 1yr(stand) |
5 Years |