JBL L65A
1978 - 1981
The L65A was an evolution of the original L65 Jubal, refined for even more accurate reproduction from low to ultra-high frequencies. It featured an updated woofer and maintained the elegant furniture-grade styling that made the Jubal popular.
Specifications
| Type | 3-way, 3-speaker, Bass Reflex, Floor Standing |
|---|---|
| Drivers | Woofer: 12" 122A, Midrange: 5" LE5-5, Tweeter: 077 Ring Radiator |
| Crossover Frequencies | 1 kHz, 6.5 kHz |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 Ω |
| Power Handling | 75W (continuous program) |
| Sensitivity | 89 dB/W/m |
| Frequency Response | 40 Hz - 20 kHz |
| Dimensions | 445 x 622 x 333 mm (W x H x D) |
| Weight | 30 kg (per speaker) |
Drivers Used
- Woofer: 122A - 12" (30cm) cone woofer with ribbed corn paper, Alnico V magnet, and mass control ring
- Midrange: LE5-5 - 5" (13cm) cone midrange with powerful magnetic circuit
- Tweeter: 077 - Ring radiator tweeter with unique horn design (110° x 40° at 20 kHz)
Design Improvements
The L65A introduced several refinements over the original L65 Jubal:
- 122A Woofer: Featured ribbed corn paper with optimum mass and stiffness, plus a mass control ring for stable piston motion at large amplitudes
- 077 Ring Radiator: Combined a ring-shaped diaphragm with strong magnetic circuit and uniquely shaped horn with both exponential and dual directional characteristics
- Smoked Glass Top: Retained the elegant furniture styling with smoke De Grasse finish
Variants
- L65 Jubal (1974-1977): Original with 126A woofer
- L65A (1978-1981): Updated version with 122A woofer and refined crossover
Historical Context
The L65A represented JBL's continuous improvement philosophy. While maintaining the elegant appearance that made the Jubal successful, the engineering team refined the acoustic performance with an improved woofer design. The 122A woofer used in the L65A would also appear in the L166 Horizon, showing JBL's practice of sharing proven driver designs across models.
The L65A bridged the gap between the original L65 Jubal and the dome-tweeter designs like the L166, offering consumers the choice of the 077's distinctive horn-loaded high frequency reproduction.
Related Models
The L65A shared its 122A woofer with the L166 Horizon, while maintaining the 077 tweeter found in the original L65 Jubal and the flagship L300 Summit.
Documentation
- L65/L65A Owner's Manual (PDF) - Shared manual for both models