JBL L65 Jubal
1974 - 1977
The L65 Jubal was a premium floor-standing speaker featuring a distinctive glass top and wood frame design. It was engineered to blend seamlessly with interior décor while delivering the high-fidelity sound JBL was famous for. Many consider it one of JBL's best moderately sized home speakers.
Specifications
| Type | 3-way, 3-speaker, Bass Reflex, Floor Standing |
|---|---|
| Drivers | Woofer: 12" 126A, Midrange: 5" LE5-5, Tweeter: 077 Horn |
| Crossover Frequencies | 1 kHz, 6.5 kHz |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 Ω |
| Power Handling | 75W (continuous program) |
| Sensitivity | 91 dB/W/m |
| Frequency Response | 40 Hz - 20 kHz |
| Dimensions | 440 x 610 x 330 mm (W x H x D) |
| Weight | 30 kg (per speaker) |
Drivers Used
- Woofer: 126A - 12" (30cm) cone woofer with Alnico V magnet and die-cast mass control ring
- Midrange: LE5-5 - 5" (13cm) cone midrange with large diameter voice coil
- Tweeter: 077 - 3.6cm horn-type ring radiator tweeter
Design Features
The L65 Jubal was distinctive for its furniture-quality appearance. The smoked glass top and wood frame allowed it to integrate into living spaces as a piece of fine furniture rather than just audio equipment. The grille was available in three colors: blue, brown, and red.
The newly developed 126A woofer featured a powerful magnetic circuit with a 7.5cm edgewise wound voice coil and large Alnico V magnet. A die-cast concentric ring voice coil design reduced distortion during sudden signal changes.
Variants
- L65 Jubal (1974-1977): Original version with 077 horn tweeter
- L65A (1978): Updated version with 077 ring radiator and 122A woofer
Historical Context
The L65 Jubal represented JBL's understanding that high-end audio needed to fit into stylish homes. While maintaining the company's commitment to accurate sound reproduction, the Jubal's aesthetic design appealed to consumers who wanted excellent sound without industrial-looking equipment.
The 077 tweeter used in the Jubal was a ring radiator design that provided wide frequency response, high efficiency, and excellent directivity characteristics. This tweeter would later appear in the legendary L300 Summit.
Related Models
The L65 Jubal shared its 077 tweeter with the flagship L300 Summit. The later L166 Horizon can be seen as a spiritual successor, though it used a dome tweeter rather than the Jubal's horn design.