What amplifier does the JBL L100 Classic MKII need?

Pick a speaker and tell us how loud you listen and how big the room is. We work out the power it actually needs, check which amplifiers can safely drive its impedance, and rank 293 amplifiers against it.

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Four questions. Nothing is hidden on price.

Passive speakers only - a powered speaker already has its amplifier inside.
Changes the order only. Nothing is hidden for costing too little or too much.
JBL L100 Classic MKII
JBL L100 Classic MKII
Bookshelf
90 dB · 4 ohm
$4,800 a pair
Full specs →
Power needed
15–200 W
per channel, into 4 ohms

To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of JBL L100 Classic MKII, you need at least 15 W a channel. More than 200 W is wasted here - that is all JBL rates the speaker to take.

Show the working
  • 95 dB target at the seat
  • +4.8 dB for 3.0 m of distance
  • -3 dB for a stereo pair
  • -85.0 dB effective sensitivity
  • 3.0 dB taken off to convert the 4 ohm 2.83V rating to dB per watt
  • 2 dB allowed for optimistic published sensitivity
  • Published sensitivity 90 dB, used as 85.0 dB per watt.

Marantz Model 30 with the JBL L100 Classic MKII

Excellent match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Full Marantz Model 30 specs · Clear this amp
 
$90 $25,000

189 integrated amplifiers suit the JBL L100 Classic MKII

Also show the 57 we do not recommend
1
Denon PMA-3000NE
Denon PMA-3000NE
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $3,799
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (80 W to 160 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
Denon AE PMA-A110
Denon AE PMA-A110
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $3,999
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (80 W to 160 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
Marantz Model 30
Marantz Model 30
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Excellent match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Technics SU-G700M2 Grand Class
Technics SU-G700M2 Grand Class
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,700
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (70 W to 140 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
5
Cambridge Audio Evo 75
Cambridge Audio Evo 75
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 75 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (75 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
6
Rotel S14
Rotel S14
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (80 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
7
Rega Elicit MK5
Rega Elicit MK5
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 105 W into 8 ohms · $3,345
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (105 W to 160 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
Yamaha A-S2200
Yamaha A-S2200
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 90 W into 8 ohms · $4,500
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (90 W to 150 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
9
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $3,495
Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Has a 4 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 4 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 ohm.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 85.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 100 W is comfortable.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
10
Advance Paris A10 APEX
Advance Paris A10 APEX
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB-T · 120 W into 8 ohms · $3,499
Good match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (120 W to 185 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
11
Yamaha A-S1200
Yamaha A-S1200
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 90 W into 8 ohms · $3,000
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (90 W to 150 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
12
Arcam SA35
Arcam SA35
Integrated Amplifier · Class G · 120 W into 8 ohms · $3,300
Good match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (120 W to 200 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
13
Arcam SA30
Arcam SA30
Integrated Amplifier · Class G · 130 W into 8 ohms · $3,300
Good match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (130 W to 200 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
14
Audiolab 9000A
Audiolab 9000A
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 160 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
15
Roksan Attessa Streaming Amplifier
Roksan Attessa Streaming Amplifier
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $3,199
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (80 W to 130 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
16
McIntosh MA252
McIntosh MA252
Integrated Amplifier · Class HD · 100 W into 8 ohms · $5,000
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 160 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
17
Cambridge Audio Edge A
Cambridge Audio Edge A
Integrated Amplifier · Class XA · 100 W into 8 ohms · $6,499
Excellent match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
18
Advance Paris A10 Classic
Advance Paris A10 Classic
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB-T · 130 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Good match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (130 W to 190 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
19
JBL SA750 75th Anniversary Edition
JBL SA750 75th Anniversary Edition
Integrated Amplifier · Class G · 130 W into 8 ohms · $3,000
Good match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (130 W to 200 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
20
Denon PMA-1700NE
Denon PMA-1700NE
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,099
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (70 W to 140 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.

Showing the best 20 of 189. Narrow it with the price range below, or a different budget split.

47 power amplifiers that would also drive them

Listed separately because they are not a complete system: a power amplifier has no volume control and no inputs to speak of, so you need a preamplifier or a streaming preamp as well. Worth it if you already own one, or if you want to buy the two halves separately.

1
MOON 330A
MOON 330A
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 125 W into 8 ohms · $4,400
Excellent match
12 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
Rogue Audio Stereo 100
Rogue Audio Stereo 100
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $4,195
Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Has a 4 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 4 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 ohm.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 85.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 100 W is comfortable.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
Parasound Halo A23+
Parasound Halo A23+
Power Amplifier · Class A/AB · 160 W into 8 ohms · $2,500
Good match
12 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (160 W to 240 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
4
Parasound JCM250
Parasound JCM250
Power Amplifier · Class A/AB · 250 W into 8 ohms · $4,250
Workable with care
15 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it. Well above the 200 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
Rated down to 1 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (250 W to 450 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
TEAC AP-701B
TEAC AP-701B
Power Amplifier · Class D · 170 W into 8 ohms · $4,000
Good match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Naim NAP 250
Naim NAP 250
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $8,999
Excellent match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 190 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
7
PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid Power
PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid Power
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $7,195
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 150 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
NAD C298
NAD C298
Power Amplifier · Class D · 185 W into 8 ohms · $3,099
Good match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
Were these amplifier recommendations useful?
It helps us tune the matching, and we read every comment.

Sensitivity and impedance figures are the manufacturer's own. We read sensitivity as dB at 2.83 V/1 m and take 2 dB off it, because published figures run high. Treat the result as a well-founded starting point, not a measurement. Full JBL L100 Classic MKII specs.

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