I became a music lover in the 70's. I had a kenwood quad reciever with a pair of JBL Decade 3 way speakers. GOD I miss the great sound and deep bass from the old system. I am not trying to disrespect the new stuff but since I got rid of my old equipment I have not found that same richness. Speaker technology is unbelievably mind boggling. I would like to try to build some old school speakers and was hoping if there was a place or program that I could purchase or use that would allow me to get plans and components to build. I just recently learned or was told that the amplifier is a big part of that old school bass that I crave and I am considering the Yamaha S701. I'm am so open to suggestions and help. Thank you
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Lucky for you, JBL has reissued their L100. Get a pair of those and a decent receiver/streamer/DAC and you’ll be set.
dedobot
Senior Member
Yes ,I know. Same feelings and memories. Just replace 70's with late 80's and the JBLs with Jamo D365. But it's nostalgy or whatever more correct term.
Sokel
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JBL L36 loudspeakers | Vintage Note | vintage Hi-Fi in Belgium
We present you a very nice pair of JBL L36 A (A for the Alnico magnet fitted to the woofer). Equipped with a LE25-4 tweeter, and black grille pegs, we have probably here a later production model, probably around 1977.If you are just discovering vintage hi-fi, you just need to know their...
DMill
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A Yamaha 701 is a good choice but doesn’t solve speakers. You now have to ask yourself if you want a colored speaker that sounds a certain way vs. one that benefits from modern measurements. No right answer here but just saying. This decision could even alter your thinking on an active vs. passive speaker. Do you want a sub? Just so many variables and no one correct solve. A pair of BMR bookshelves, a sub, the 701 and a good DAC and you’re damned near end game. Throw in room correction and you’d be dancing to Taylor Swift like she’s goddamn John Lennon. That said the JBL heritage line is a nice choice or maybe Wharfedale choices are nice too if you’re looking for a retro vibe.
Can't really correlate with great systems of 70's as all my parents got me was a fancy looking Polish turntable with 2x4W speakers that played mostly distortion from the terrible cartridge and insights of the amp and speakers. My friends had decent or even advanced Grundig systems at that time that I was enjoying very much - at the time.
If you press forward button - we are almost half century from there. As noted, speaker choice is immense and on top of that there is room EQ that will for the most part let you play however you want it. What you will not be able to do is reproduce the same level of distortion from the old systems, but then might look into tube amps that bring that "worm" feeling to the few that choose to use them. I am sure there would be some PC based digital filters that would be able to mimic that as well. With the right speakers I am sure you would be able to find the way to restore that bass richness you are referring to - whatever that is.
If you press forward button - we are almost half century from there. As noted, speaker choice is immense and on top of that there is room EQ that will for the most part let you play however you want it. What you will not be able to do is reproduce the same level of distortion from the old systems, but then might look into tube amps that bring that "worm" feeling to the few that choose to use them. I am sure there would be some PC based digital filters that would be able to mimic that as well. With the right speakers I am sure you would be able to find the way to restore that bass richness you are referring to - whatever that is.
Sokel
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At comparable real estate (cabinet+drivers) , you're absolutely right, one can have better speakers distortion-wise (not even close the price of the restored ones I posted and he better hurry or I will grab them as I'm close, just for fun (and they are fun) )
Aside from that though, there's some things made right at these, tightly spaced drivers, off-axis tweeter, etc.
And at their sens any amp will do and that lowers distortion.
Sometimes I think of the trade-off these 50 years and I'm not so sure that evolution is what it should be.
devinplombier
Member
@Stytch64
Your question is about building your own speakers? Parts Express and Madisound in the US, and Falcon Audio in the UK are noted purveyors of DIY speaker kits.
Unless you are specifically looking for that certain kind of massive, flabby, boomy, distorted 70s bass, I would recommend considering subwoofers. They do a far better job - more extension, more control, less distortion, more loud - and many DIY kits are out there.
Alternatively, craigslist always has old JBL and Cerwin-Vega for sale, and that's the real thing right there. Since you'll have to refoam the drivers and rebuild the crossovers anyway, they qualify as DIY projects
As far as amps - high current is your friend.
Your question is about building your own speakers? Parts Express and Madisound in the US, and Falcon Audio in the UK are noted purveyors of DIY speaker kits.
Unless you are specifically looking for that certain kind of massive, flabby, boomy, distorted 70s bass, I would recommend considering subwoofers. They do a far better job - more extension, more control, less distortion, more loud - and many DIY kits are out there.
Alternatively, craigslist always has old JBL and Cerwin-Vega for sale, and that's the real thing right there. Since you'll have to refoam the drivers and rebuild the crossovers anyway, they qualify as DIY projects
As far as amps - high current is your friend.
Checkout Troels, he as a lot of old school designs. http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/
Where are you located?
devinplombier
Member
Troels is the man, but his sound signature is opposite what OP is after
Multicore
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Memory is tricky stuff. Indulge in remembrance at your own risk.
À la recherche du temps perdu.
And reliving even more risky as William Burroughs warned in the Words of Advice for Young People, "Have you forgotten something, Gramps? In order to feel something, you have to be there. You have to be 18. You’re not 18, you are 78. Old fool sold his soul..."
Not only do you have to be 18 again and lack all the experiences you accumulated in the last half century, you have to be back in that 70s context in which the JBL Decade stood out as the one for you.
Nothing wrong with pursuing a nostalgia trip if that's your thing. I would just expect the experience to be different.
bargainguy
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You won't be able to audition most DIY speaker kits until you've finished assembling them. I wouldn't go this route unless I had the opportunity to listen to an assembled pair in person first so that I knew exactly what I was getting.
Speakers that look good on paper might have a quality that doesn't work for you for whatever reason, and once heard, you won't be able to unhear it.
I suggest listening to as many systems as you need to find components you like.
You can visit stores, in-person events like AXPONA, or home setups if friends are amenable.
Once you've listened to enough systems, you'll get a handle on what current components might work for you today.
Speakers that look good on paper might have a quality that doesn't work for you for whatever reason, and once heard, you won't be able to unhear it.
I suggest listening to as many systems as you need to find components you like.
You can visit stores, in-person events like AXPONA, or home setups if friends are amenable.
Once you've listened to enough systems, you'll get a handle on what current components might work for you today.
Random Canadian guy on the L36, 2013
Either way, do not underestimate a 10" woofer (of normal, not excessive sensitivity) in a big ol' BR box. The L36 was spec'd at 30-15000 Hz +/-3 dB, which sounds believable. If you need to go that low you're most often relying on subs these days, though properly integrating them is no trivial task. (Even in a nearfield setup at 3-5' I'd probably recommend some decent 8" monitors, e.g. ADAM T8V. Not quite 30 Hz but sub-40, close enough for most music.)
It would be super important for us to know your:
1. budget
2. projected listening distance and
3. room size and general house construction
in order to give any good recommendations.
Apparently being midrange / treble-forward was part of what constituted "the West Coast Sound". So, kinda like Grado headphones?
Either way, do not underestimate a 10" woofer (of normal, not excessive sensitivity) in a big ol' BR box. The L36 was spec'd at 30-15000 Hz +/-3 dB, which sounds believable. If you need to go that low you're most often relying on subs these days, though properly integrating them is no trivial task. (Even in a nearfield setup at 3-5' I'd probably recommend some decent 8" monitors, e.g. ADAM T8V. Not quite 30 Hz but sub-40, close enough for most music.)
It would be super important for us to know your:
1. budget
2. projected listening distance and
3. room size and general house construction
in order to give any good recommendations.
kemmler3D
Master Contributor
I've posted this in a few threads lately, but the JBL M2 is possible to DIY for a few grand and IMO epitomizes the idea of a refined old-school design. Big, loud, ballsy, but also dialed in enough for studio use.
devinplombier
Member
Not sure $8k pro speakers is what OP is after. We could ask him, but he seems to be MIA
