JBL L220 pt 3: Mid & Hi & Crossover

We go inside the "upper floor" of this two compartment floorstanding speaker. Removing the crossover, mid and tweeter, refurbish the enclosure, and a bit of soldering the new capacitors into the crossover.

[@fergusonhr]

you are the first channel I look at every day for a new vid...I just saw FOUR AT THE SAME TIME...JACKPOT...lol...love your vids bro

[@N324F]

A series a didn't expect here, but I really enjoyed it. I always about how drivers were re foamed. As a Speakerlab guy, my vintage drivers' surrounds are lovely butyl rubber, not air filled foam! Thanks for documenting your project!

[@MikeandTracker]

Those 076 horns have become so rare. When JBL stopped making them, Westlake Audio acquired all of the remaining inventory for their studio monitors. You've done a beautiful job!

[@todddembsky8321]

Wow -- that has ceramic resisters. You do not see those anymore. This thing is a beast!!! Pink Floyd in the back ground -- oh that will rock through these. Some Alman Brothers, Eagles, Van Halen -- running with the devil. I think I just pee'd my pants....

[@20bluebug]

You did right using the "fancy" capacitors....some speaker companies use the standard electrolytic ones...which are ok and do work..but not the best ones to use in speaker crossovers.I like the tweeter horn....JBL's modern version of that horn doesn't look as nice...I believe they now use a modern version of that compression driver in 3 different models of tweeters. You may already know this...but if you want to clean up the nick on the phase plug. with a bit of force, it will unscrew from the driver, there is a rear "stub" in back of it that you can use to mount it in a lathe and with a bit of sand paper you may be able to clean up that nick.

[@bozmr2]

"Another Dam List" is the most Canadian thing I've seen in a long time. I lol'd.

[@ssrobw]

Thank You so very much for this video Sir. I have several of the large vintage JBLs and I've always loved the L220. The passive woofer design is a personal favorite of mine. Because of this video I now have the confidence to replace the capacitors in my pair. Again, thanks for sharing.

[@SACThailand]

I follow your video for years, and very surprise that we also have another thing in common, the love of vintage JBL! I used to have 4343 and now using 4350.

[@AgentJayZ]

+PRCThailand Just looked at it. Very nice setup you have. Do you ever crank them up? I bet you could break the neighbor's windows with those.

[@SACThailand]

+AgentJayZ First year of owning it, I played very loud. Kinda blow your head-off (But I guess nothing compare to your jet blast).... But not anymore. This thing can give you full sound, deep well define bass even when you play at low listening level. I think L220 would have similar character too. Do you plan to re-cone the woofers? It upsets me to see someone do that kind of abuse to the cone.

[@DiveTunes]

Nice. I played bass in my brother's band, and he ran a speaker/cabinet company. For performance, we didn't use cross-overs in the cabinets, but tri-amped power--way back at the mix-board. Separate the frequencies at source level, give them their own specifically tuned amp, send power to appropriate speakers. Worked well, but expensive for home.

[@ChiefBridgeFuser]

If there could be a parody of Red Green's Handyman's corner this would be it, bopping out the crossover wit a broom handle except it was a great idea and it worked. You do some fine work, sir!

[@AgentJayZ]

+ChiefBridgeFuser First time scary, then always fun.

[@zaprodk]

I like that you put your initials & date inside :D

[@AgentJayZ]

+zaprodk The whole story is written down in a sealed plastic envelope, including a reference to these videos, for the future owner. Who knows what the world will be like in 35 years, but maybe it will add to the interest, eh? I only wish I could have included the original receipt, which I still have for the 4313s shown in pt 4.

[@sirdigalot1978]

That is one crazy crossover i love old audio stuff...

[@AgentJayZ]

+Simon Chappel I was surprised to find capacitors made of paper and wax.

[@sheep1ewe]

Your solder work looks perfect to me.

[@ipullstuffapart]

So much awesome, legendary music in this video. As for the replacement cones - it will mostly be cosmetic. As for the sound; other factors such as speaker placement, acoustic treatment, etc, will make more of an effect than new cones. The drivers of the L220 have a rather high strength motor (Bl) and a low mass cone (Mms), meaning that the extra mass will slightly lower the Fs of the driver, creating a slight low frequency peak - but it will be almost unnoticeable. Sure it will look nicer, but I couldn't justify the cost either. It's great watching a Jet Tech work on some audio gear, very refreshing.

[@AgentJayZ]

Yes, I can confirm that these speakers with the original, repaired cones... can literally shake the house. Thunderous bass is always fun. These units were THX ready before THX was even a thing.

[@almfreak]

Love hearing some Pink Floyd in the background! I recently acquired a digital copy of the original quadraphonic recording of Dark Side of the Moon and I have to say, the spacial effects and panning are amazing. I'd love to hear that album on some speakers from the same decade!

[@PacificAirwave144]

Love the background music :-) I look at the mass and the machining of that horn...and just think wow--It looks like early microwave stuff. Back from the days when the engineers ran the company and 'quality' sold product.

[@samrobinson9467]

CROWN amps in the shop, very nice!

[@SkyhawkSteve]

I did find the schematic online... audioheritage dot org has a thread with the schematic posted. Odd that the cap isn't labeled, but these things happen with consumer products, I suppose. As an electrical engineer, I find the schematic pretty interesting. :-) Kinda tempted to simulate it and see how critical the value of that cap is.

[@ralph7585]

Nice job well done, keep up the good work! Also great presentation!

[@DScottDuncan]

Nice solder job. You may have to re-cone the woofers & P.R.s but that system should last you into a retirement home! Hope they have a dedicated 20 amp circuit for your amps! ;-) Enjoying this series & thanks for sharing. DD

[@nonoaidnono]

Well I didn't think I'd see speakers on your channel agent jay z, but I love watching them anyway

[@michellepowell1956]

love the choice of music.

[@FrontSideBus]

Some quality tunes playing in the background there... :) Did you service the pots with some contact cleaner while you had it out?

[@nicolasflorent589]

Hey very Nice vidéo and démonstration it is very clear. I have thé same modem l222 disco and i will restaure and i will thinking about my jbl 4343... Do you have thé same vidéo for this modem ? Nicolas (France, Toulon)

[@AgentJayZ]

The L222 has a crossover network that can handle more power than the L220. The 4343 is a very high performance studio monitor, and I am jealous. The process of restoring the drivers is the same for any speaker system, so you will have no difficulties.

[@jakubpolomsky]

What does the acustic lens stand there for? I am really really surprised to see such a configuration in reality. I read about it like 15 years ago in a magazine which was already 20 years old. ( I mean the passive radiator ) Beautiful piece of technology!!!

[@AgentJayZ]

+Jakub Polomsky (LightlynX) The lens is supposed to widen the dispersion pattern for the midrange. Usually used with compression drivers, who knows how well it works with their ubiquitous 5" driver. But it sure does look cool, and that's important in the 1970s home speaker market, eh?

[@jakubpolomsky]

AgentJayZ It sure does! Thank you!

[@MrGuvEuroman]

Jees, buy some proper wire strippers! Them dollar store ones will stress the cable and may even snap them internally.

[@achimhanischdorfer3403]

13:23 ACDC TNT Hell YEAH!

[@rrangana11]

I could not understand why someone can try to damage this great speakers. I do see there are many perverts on youtube enjoy destroying speakers.

[@almfreak]

By the way, i followed along and found the mysterious unmarked capacitor sitting smack in the middle of that crossover schematic. I also noticed the nominal impedance of the HF driver was listed as 16Ω on the schematic but the sticker on yours said 8Ω. Oh well, as long as the model numbers match up. Have you ever come across any oversights like this in any of your turbine engine documentation?

[@AgentJayZ]

+AKLmfreak In the RR manuals, there are many, but I believe they are put there purposely to screw with any independant shops. I could very well be biased, but that is my experience.

[@buckaroobonsi555]

Why would you leave the old caps on the board? All it can do is leak and ruin the board! It does not add to the value of the speaker to leave old parts on the board!

[@AgentJayZ]

They are wax and paper, so no leaking. I wanted to preserve the history for the future. If these speakers don't end up in a landfill when I die, I want the next person who refurbishes them to know what they looked like when they were new, in 1978. Your opinion is valued. The value of these speakers is mainly to JBL fans and collectors, and i think they would be interested in the original configuration.

[@zorst99]

I love what you're doing here. I do wonder about these speakers though. I use to sell JBL speakers back when these were new. I did all I could to make these sound good. Placement and what ever adjustments I could make. Never could make them sound flat. We also had the L212 with sub. I loved the sub but never could get the L212 to sound flat either. Have you done any measurements with these. I can say that with certain rock music they would sound fine. But I've always tried to go for more accurate sound. I do wonder if you have had more success making these speakers sound somewhat accurate?

[@AgentJayZ]

What are speakers for? What is music for? To be enjoyed. Since I've started learning to play guitar, I have been laughing at all the "audiophiles"... I used to be one. Musicians perform, and the try to sound good. They like it when they sound good. Good is a subjective term. If you like it, you like it. So what if you perfectly reproduce a recorded performance... The next performance on the next day will be a bit different. These speakers rock the house, are loud like a live band, and allow me to hear things I have never heard before in my favourite songs. They are incredibly good sounding to me, and that's all that matters. Cheers!

[@ScottHillsmusclecargarage]

You really could not have said that any better. I agree with you 100%. It's just like art. One person will hate it, while another loves it. It's all subjective.

[@Pimplaren]

Hey! Nice work and great videos! Where does that secret 3uF capacitor go on the crossover? =) you should have pointed out it !

[@AgentJayZ]

Well I found it by the process of elimination. I identified all the ones by their markings, and there was one left...

[@TheChipMcDonald]

Somewhere online this is somebody who will swear the "vintage" caps have more "tone" and will pay $$$$ for them.

[@AgentJayZ]

+Chip Mcdonald I believe in preserving the information of history, but also i believe in using the best that progress has to offer. What does that make me?

[@TheChipMcDonald]

A Progressive Curator.

[@TheChipMcDonald]

Or a Temporally Pragmatic Curator. Or something Asimov described in the _Foundation_ series, maybe. Your videos are wonderful from the standpoint of properly capturing a period in aviation history that otherwise will evaporate. I presume you've been to the Udvar-Hazy museum, they have some great examples of jet engines on display, but ironically kids in the 21st century, without your videos, actually don't have a lot of immediate resources to see what I kind of think of as the "muscle car" era of aviation. Chip Foos philosophy, a big block with fuel injection on top.

[@AgentJayZ]

I've read the Foundation series,but have not been to that museum.

[@TheChipMcDonald]

Probably old hat to you I suppose, but I can't imagine a more comprehensive aviation museum. I suppose the Paris Airshow has to be more impressive.

[@GiovanniApreaCapri]

I just got my L220 a week ago, they come off single owner but not in use since long, Passive Radiators suspsions are gone, I already ordered the parts and took one off and cleaned it carefully. I am afraid I will need to work on the crossovers too but I don't want to spend "audiophile" money on caps, what would you advise looking at so that the whole job doesn't cost a fortune and what else would you do once cabinets are open and crossovers exposed? It's somehow fun to see the cables used to wire speakers and crossover and people discussing several hundred if not more dollar cables to wire amps to speakers... It could be an idea also to change the cables if it wasn't to preserve the original color scheme I'd do it... Any suggestion appreciated Thanks for your videos

[@AgentJayZ]

There are good quality caps out there for a couple bucks apiece. I would listen more to the electronics people and the engineers and not to the "audiophiles". I used to be one of them. Hah!

[@GiovanniApreaCapri]

@@AgentJayZ Ciao, dunno your name, was trying to contact you to ask about the caps, didn't expect you to reply nor to do it so quickly. I saw the sheet on your desk with the caps order, would you mind sharing some info with me so I can try and find out where to get them here in the EU? Since this is my first time diving into a restoration and given the L220 is not the easiest I would need in first instance the correct values for all the caps and then to find out how to install them correctly, would you mind sharing the data with me? Thank you so very much

[@AgentJayZ]

The L220 schematic is free online. Good quality metal film capacitors are not expensive from any electronic parts or hobby store. For example Lee's Electronics in Vancouver, BC. A quick search will find a similar store nearer you.

[@Tobias-dp7xh]

you know you show your adress in the video when showing of your capacitors?

[@AgentJayZ]

+Tobias1198 I got nothing to hide.

[@Tobias-dp7xh]

+AgentJayZ well some KZbinr don't want to show it but nice if it doesn't bother you

[@michaeleales7097]

would it be possible to get this list of components I need to do this to my JBL L220's I also need to replace the l-pads for the highs and mods both speakers of course and thank you

[@AgentJayZ]

You put The speaker model in your search engine, along with the words recone kit, or refoam kit. There are several excellent companies, so I won't single any one out. There are so many options for capacitors, that you can do what I did: read the values on each one you want to replace, and get replacements from an electronic parts supply house. Many audio and musical instrument supply places sell capacitors optimized for audio use... if that's really a thing, and prices range from very reasonable to ridiculous for "audiophile" grade.

[@michaeleales7097]

I need the crossover kit you did about 5 years ago the list of I think it was 14 capacitors and the better ones you put in yours

[@AgentJayZ]

I think I just covered that, and it's in the video. The only kit is what you put together yourself. It's pretty basic. I think you are up to it.

[@tamastoth1153]

Hello! I would like to inquire in video 06:55 minutes you use what kind of sandpaper? Thank you very much! I look forward to your response! Best Regards, Tamás

[@AgentJayZ]

It's an abrasive pad made by 3M. It comes in different grades of abrasiveness, each a different color. We call it the red stuff, but I just looked up the official name: Scotch-Brite™ Extra Duty Hand Pad 6444 Nice thumbnail. I only recognize the 4311, but they all look great.

[@tamastoth1153]

Thank you very much for your reply! The video is exactly the same that you use? "Scotch-Brite ™ Extra Duty Hand Pad 6444"? The 6444 is very expensive! I would like to use the JBL LE5-2 mid speaker abrade. I looked on eBay, Scotch-Brite™ Hand Pad 7447 much cheaper. The question is whether it will be appropriate? Thank you very much in advance!

[@AgentJayZ]

You asked me a question and I gave you a very detailed answer. If you are asking again if that is my answer, then I will answer that question by saying yes, that is my answer to your question. Any questions? All you need is something with a spongy texture, and containing an abrasive that will work on the aluminum. Some experimentation may be required, but there are many choices here.

[@tamastoth1153]

You're right! Thank you very much! :)

[@Mekhanic1]

mentor, Ohio!

[@bedeone]

Your home address is in this video. Not sure if you care or not, but just a head's up.

[@AgentJayZ]

+bedeone Ithink it's been out there for a while. If you look on a map... I'm a long ways away...

[@bedeone]

No problem in that case. Nice series btw!

[@TheRockerxx69]

Brace. Add mass and dampen the baffle. ! You are lucky that you can open from the back. Those were made in LA, not China

[@BenTheMagnifice]

What song is playing at 11:23?

[@AgentJayZ]

+BenTheMagnifice Why, my good man... that is none other than Time by Pink Floyd. In the future, it will be referred to as "modern classical music". I have always referred to it as Transition Metal. Kind of a sly reference for all you Chem majors out there...

[@BenTheMagnifice]

+AgentJayZ Haha wow, I actually am a Chem major. You must be good at darts. But seriously I really liked this series, it would be cool to see more personal projects like this.

[@Bottleworksnet]

Neat video! Maybe censor your home address? (It's on the paperwork you showed us).

[@AgentJayZ]

Nothing to hide.

[@philzambo]

+AgentJayZ Brilliant stuff, I love this shit, I've been an audiologist for thirty odd years

[@fergusonhr]

not to sound like ass but you really need to get yourself a new pair of wire strippers...the pair you have is good for cutting screw to size but that's it...