In this review, we will be comparing L52 Classic and L100 Classic MKII, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL L52 Classic and JBL L100 Classic MKII first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL L52 Classic | JBL L100 Classic MKII |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Pulp | 12" Pulp |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-24k Hz | 40-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-75 watts | 25-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 28.60kg / 62.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-1/16" x 7-13/16" x 8-11/16"
332.0 x 199.0 x 221.0mm | 25.0" x 15.3" x 14.6"
636.5 x 389.6 x 371.5mm |
|---|
L52 Classic and L100 Classic MKII are members of JBL's L Classic series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
JBL L Classic Series
History
What size room are the JBL L52 Classic and JBL L100 Classic MKII 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 L52 Classic |
JBL L100 Classic MKII |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.)
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 L52 Classic is a 2-way design whereas the L100 Classic MKII 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.
JBL L52 ClassicJBL L100 Classic MKII
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 L52 Classic |
JBL L100 Classic MKII |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
L52 Classic features a 0.75" Titanium Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
L52 Classic has a frequency range of 47-24k Hz whereas L100 Classic MKII has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the L100 Classic MKII 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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
L52 Classic and L100 Classic MKII have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. L52 Classic sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the L100 Classic MKII's is at 90 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the JBL L100 Classic MKII 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 L52 Classic and the L52 Classic can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 MKII 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 MKII.
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 MKII features Five-way gold-plated binding posts 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
JBL L100 Classic MKII's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both L52 Classic and L100 Classic MKII have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 L52 Classic's and JBL L100 Classic MKII's external dimensions. 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) whereas JBL L100 Classic MKII has external dimensions of 636.5 x 389.6 x 371.5mm (25.0 x 15.3 x 14.6inch).
JBL L100 Classic MKII is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 190.6mm wider, 304.5mm taller and 150.5mm deeper than JBL L52 Classic.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL L52 Classic and JBL L100 Classic MKII in scale.
Comparison image of JBL L52 Classic and JBL L100 Classic MKII 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 L52 Classic is approximately 439.8cm2 / 68.2inch2 and base area of the JBL L100 Classic MKII is approximately 1447.4cm2 / 224.3inch2. The L52 Classic requires 70% less surface area than the L100 Classic MKII 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 L52 Classic weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the JBL L100 Classic MKII weighs 28.60kg / 62.9lbs. This makes the L100 Classic MKII 472% heavier than the L52 Classic.
Here is a comparison of how L52 Classic and L100 Classic MKII'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 L52 Classic?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L52 Classic:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of JBL L100 Classic MKII?
Here are the items that come with the L100 Classic MKII:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owner's Manual
 Height |
332mm
vs
636mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
439cm2
vs
1447cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
4800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
47 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
JBL L52 Classic |
JBL L100 Classic MKII |
| Brand |
JBL |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
10-75 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-24k Hz |
40-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp |
Pulp |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
450Hz and 3500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
332.0mm (13.1") |
636.5mm (25.1") |
| Width |
199.0mm (7.8") |
389.6mm (15.3") |
| Depth |
221.0mm (8.7") |
371.5mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
28.60kg (62.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Genuine walnut veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
18" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in JBL's L Classic series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | JBL L100 Classic MKII digs deeper - 40Hz against 47Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | JBL L100 Classic MKII is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | JBL L100 Classic MKII takes more power (200W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | JBL L52 Classic is easier to place; JBL L100 Classic MKII is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | JBL L100 Classic MKII: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | JBL L52 Classic is cheaper - $1,000 against $4,800, about 79% less; arguably a different class. |
A JBL L52 Classic B JBL L100 Classic MKII
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: JBL L100 Classic MKII measures better, JBL L52 Classic costs about about 4.8x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 47Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL L52 Classic much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate JBL L52 Classic the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and JBL L100 Classic MKII for a mid-size room and a large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.