In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by JBL. JBL L52 Classic is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the L150 Classic is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL L52 Classic and JBL L150 Classic first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL L52 Classic | JBL L150 Classic |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Pulp | 15" Pure Pulp |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-24k Hz | 32-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-75 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 58.50kg / 128.7lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 36.8" x 18.5" x 21.3"
935.0 x 470.0 x 540.0mm |
|---|
L52 Classic and L150 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
What size room are the JBL L52 Classic and JBL L150 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 L52 Classic |
JBL L150 Classic |
| Near-field |
Good |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Average |
(* 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 L150 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.
JBL L52 ClassicJBL L150 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 L52 Classic |
JBL L150 Classic |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 15-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 L150 Classic features a 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 1 x 15" Pure Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 300Hz and 1800Hz.
Frequency Response
L52 Classic has a frequency range of 47-24k Hz whereas L150 Classic has a frequency range of 32-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the L150 Classic 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 L150 Classic 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 L150 Classic's is at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the JBL L150 Classic 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.
L150 Classic can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas L52 Classic has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 175 watts less than the L150 Classic.
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
L150 Classic features Dual 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both L52 Classic and L150 Classic 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 L150 Classic'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 L150 Classic has external dimensions of 935.0 x 470.0 x 540.0mm (36.8 x 18.5 x 21.3inch).
JBL L150 Classic is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 271mm wider, 603mm taller and 319mm deeper than JBL L52 Classic.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL L52 Classic and JBL L150 Classic in scale.
Comparison image of JBL L52 Classic and JBL L150 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 L52 Classic is approximately 439.8cm2 / 68.2inch2 and base area of the JBL L150 Classic is approximately 2538.0cm2 / 393.4inch2. The L52 Classic requires 83% less surface area than the L150 Classic which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 L150 Classic?
Here are the items that come with the L150 Classic:
- 1 x L150 Classic loudspeaker
- 1 x magnetic Quadrex grille
- 4 x spike feet
- Quick Start Guide