In this review, we will be comparing L100 Classic MKII and Dovedale, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from JBL and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL L100 Classic MKII and Wharfedale Dovedale first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL L100 Classic MKII and Wharfedale Dovedale 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL L100 Classic MKII and Wharfedale Dovedale 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both L100 Classic MKII and Dovedale are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL L100 Classic MKII |
Wharfedale Dovedale |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
1 x 10-inch
|
L100 Classic MKII features a 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 3500Hz. On the other hand, the Dovedale features a 1" soft dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 10" black woven Kevlar cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 560Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
L100 Classic MKII has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz whereas Dovedale has a frequency range of 36-20K HZ. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Dovedale can go slightly deeper then the L100 Classic MKII'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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
L100 Classic MKII is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Dovedale which has a nominal impedance of 6.5 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 L100 Classic MKII can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. L100 Classic MKII sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Dovedale's is rated at 89 DB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL L100 Classic MKII a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Dovedale, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
L100 Classic MKII can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas L100 Classic MKII has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Dovedale.
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
L100 Classic MKII features Five-way gold-plated binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Dovedale has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL L100 Classic MKII's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale Dovedale's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
L100 Classic MKII has a front firing port whereas Dovedale has a rear firing ports. JBL L100 Classic MKII's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale Dovedale 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 L100 Classic MKII's and Wharfedale Dovedale's external dimensions. JBL L100 Classic MKII has external dimensions of 636.5 x 389.6 x 371.5mm ( 25.0 x 15.3 x 14.6inch) whereas Wharfedale Dovedale has external dimensions of 660 x 370 x 417mm ( 23.6 x 14.6 x 16.4 inch) .
JBL L100 Classic MKII is 23.5mm shorter and 45.5mm less deeper than Wharfedale Dovedale but it is also 19.6mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL L100 Classic MKII and Wharfedale Dovedale in scale.
Comparison image of JBL L100 Classic MKII and Wharfedale Dovedale 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 MKII is approximately 1447.4cm2 / 224.3inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Dovedale is approximately 1542.9cm2 / 239.1inch2. The L100 Classic MKII requires 6% less surface area than the Dovedale which gives it a small advantage 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 MKII weighs 28.60kg / 62.9lbs and the Wharfedale Dovedale weighs 26.20kg / 57.6lbs. This makes the L100 Classic MKII 9% heavier than the Dovedale.
Here is a comparison of how L100 Classic MKII and Dovedale's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL L100 Classic MKII?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L100 Classic MKII:
Bookshelf loudspeaker
Grille
Owner's Manual
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
636mm
vs
660mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1447cm2 (389x371mm)
vs
1542cm2 (370x417mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4800USD
vs
5000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
6.5 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
JBL L100 Classic MKII |
Wharfedale Dovedale |
| Brand |
JBL |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
25-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 DB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6.5 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-40k Hz |
36-20K HZ |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp |
black woven Kevlar cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
soft dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 3500Hz |
560Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
636.5mm (25.1") |
660.0mm (26") |
| Width |
389.6mm (15.3") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Depth |
371.5mm (14.6") |
417.0mm (16.4") |
| Weight |
28.60kg (62.9lbs) |
26.20kg (57.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Genuine walnut veneer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
18" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |