JBL speakers-What's the Difference?

Joe Savage · Post by **Joe Savage** » 21 Oct 2007 9:15 am

What's the difference between D, E and K models?
Thanks.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 21 Oct 2007 10:33 am

As I understand it, and not citing actual specs, D was the original broad spectrum speaker. E is a bass speaker, with less in the highs. K is a more recent model similar to the D.

Joe Savage · Post by **Joe Savage** » 21 Oct 2007 11:03 am

The reason I'm asking is, I have a Randall Steelman amp that I bought real cheap (spare amp) and was surprised when I noticed the speaker was a K series. Other amps I have, other than the Peaveys, of course, have E series. It made me think that could be the reason I never liked the Randall all that much. Webb and Evans seem to use the E model? I could never get much low end out of the Randall.
Thanks.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 21 Oct 2007 12:36 pm

D and K use the identical alnico magnet frame. Sweet sound and very efficient.

The D and K are nearly identical in tone, but the K handles higher power than the easily blown D. Most of the time that people have D reconed, they wind up with a K cone kit installed. I think my favorite JBL's are typically the K series. True D's may be a hair more toneful, but they don't handle power well. Also, I've heard that a true original D has a paper surround, where the K has a cloth surround. Not sure on that.

The 130 models are the 15" curvillinear cone that JBL's were famous for.

The 120 cone is a 12" with the same curve.

The 140 is a 15" straight (not curved) and ribbed (for stiffness) bass speaker cone.

The E series replaced the old Alnico frames of the D and K series and uses the extremely heavy ceramic magnet and handles much higher power. These are often seen in the Webb amps. The E's are not as sweet as the alnico magnet D and K's.

I hope this helps.

Brad

Joe Savage · Post by **Joe Savage** » 21 Oct 2007 1:38 pm

That does help, Brad. The K does have the alnico type. What about low end response between the E and K. Any difference? Since you're here, and changing the subject a bit, I saw on some old post that your were experimenting at one time with improvements with the treble on Evans amps. Could you elaborate on your findings? I have an Evans post from a few days ago.
Thanks.

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 21 Oct 2007 5:59 pm

You should do a search on the new and old forums...there have been very lengthy, detailed descriptions, specs, etc. regarding all three versions of the JBLs you are asking about.

David Higginbotham · Post by **David Higginbotham** » 21 Oct 2007 6:16 pm

You will find the low end response of both the E & K series to be very similar. The primary difference is in the high range. The K tends to be much smoother in this area whereas the E tends to be a bit harsh on the highs. The E will definitely cut through the mix and they sound best when they are pushed. They have a tone all of thier own!

K series will handle up to 150 watts with no problem but use caution going higher.

E series are rated 300 watts and will handle pretty much anything you can throw at them!
Dave

Joe Savage · Post by **Joe Savage** » 21 Oct 2007 9:17 pm

Sorry if this is 'old hat' for some of you.

I found the info I was looking for. Thanks.

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 23 Oct 2007 12:22 pm

Hey Joe:

If you're getting rid of that K130, just let me know!!! (:

They are my favorite steel speaker, period. Very musical sounding, great response across all frequecies. My Webb and Twin both sound great with the K130!

...and I'm always interested to find a spare!

ZBest,
LC

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 23 Oct 2007 7:18 pm

Maybe different people hear them differently... but my experience is exactly opposite of Davids... I have a K120 and an E120, and when I got the E a few years ago I put it in a "twin"-type cab with the K and then connected them one at a time to the amp to compare them.

As Brad said, the E is the later model replacing the D and K series. It is not a bass speaker. The K is noticeably much much brighter than the E. Sorry I can't find the website right now but when I searched before I found a page, I think at the JBL site that described them something like the K having brilliant highs while the E had smoother highs, which I take to mean less bright, and that's exactly how mine sound. If you search on it you'll find others saying that the E sounds somewhat "veiled" compared to the K, and some who say the K is "too bright". The E is mellower than the K, that's for sure, but it still sounds great if you don't want the almost over-the-top highs of a K.

Al least that's the case with mine, and what (almost) everyone I've found on the web says too.

Having them both in the same cab works pretty well, if I'm in a bright room I mic the E, if I need max highs I mic the K.

Joe Savage · Post by **Joe Savage** » 23 Oct 2007 9:45 pm

I haven't been much of a speaker 'tryer-outer' up to this point. Looks like I've been missing a lot of fun. It's as good a time as any to start testing!

I'll try the K in my Webb when I get time to switch them.

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 24 Oct 2007 5:07 am

After playing a 100w Cain (aka Sho-Bud) amp for 10 years through a combo of 12" and 15" D JBL's, I started playing places that needed more power and I bought the brand new Session 500 with the BW speaker. I played this speaker only one job and took it back to dealer to put in the JBL E-130. The BW is a great speker for the high power jobs, but I needed 'my sound' for the big and the small jobs. The JBL E has been my favorite for 20+ years now. To my ears and my style of playing I needed the fuller, smoother sound of the E JBL at the full range of volume.

As others said above, if you need the high output, then go with the E series (with a genuine JBL cone). If you do not blast away, then go with D or K. My advice is DO NOT put a lower power rated speaker in a higher power rated amp or hello blown speakers.

Thanx,
Jim

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 24 Oct 2007 5:29 am

DO NOT put a lower power rated speaker in a higher power rated amp or hello blown speakers.

Ditto.

As I've posted before, there is a common misconception that the D model power handling is 100 watts. That's incorrect - with original D130's it's 25 on a good day, and 50 with the D130F/D120F models (rated at 60 - but 50 is safer with any "F" speaker over 10 years old).

Joe Savage · Post by **Joe Savage** » 24 Oct 2007 5:38 am

So your saying don't put the K in a Webb? That's confusing to me since it's in a Randall Steelman, which, I might be wrong, look to be rated at 300w rms? That's what it says on the back panel, anyway.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 24 Oct 2007 6:44 am

Joe, never believe what you read on the back panel. That figure can have little, or nothing to do with the amps output power. That could be a "peak-to-peak rating or something else. I don't remember the facts, but Jim may sliff back in here and set it straight.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 24 Oct 2007 10:35 am

Make sure you're not reading by the AC cord... that's how many watts it draws at the AC outlet...if it says 300 watts by the speaker output, then that's their "amplification rating" but there are lots of different ways to rate that....some common practices nowdays make it look like there's a lot more power than there really is, especially with solid-state amps... and no way a K can handle 300 watts, but an E can.

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 24 Oct 2007 1:13 pm

Hey, Joe. My Webb came with a K-130 when I bought it new from Clem back in '78. It's been reconed a number of times and needs it again, though I don't use it much anymore. I hear Ernie Batson over at Metro sound is the JBL guru in town for recones.

Joe Savage · Post by **Joe Savage** » 24 Oct 2007 1:41 pm

Hey Mike. Cool. I know Ernie. That's good to know, just in case.

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 24 Oct 2007 1:53 pm

...or maybe it's Billy? I don't know, I know it's one of those Mighty Mofos. I'll be making a trip there myself with my Webb speaker, though I put a BW in it about a year ago.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 24 Oct 2007 3:06 pm

Which one does Lloyd Green use?

David Higginbotham · Post by **David Higginbotham** » 24 Oct 2007 4:49 pm

From what I have read, Lloyd uses two D-130F's out of a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe in the studio which is fine since the Hot Rod only puts out 40 watts.

Getting back to my experience with the E versus K series, this is only from my personal observations using both Webb and Evans amps. These were on 15 inch and not 12 inch speakers.

I have however compared the E-120 to the Black Widow 1203's in a Webb & extension that I bought from Tommy White. The results were the same though in that I preferred the BW to the E-120 for the smoothness on the high end.

Again, sound is extrememly subjective and varies drastically depending upon individual tastes.

As for the K series handling the output of a Webb, it would be dependant upon 8 ohms vs 4 ohms. The 4 ohm will likely blow over time if the volume is pushed past mid. An 8 ohm will likely handle whatever you throw at it since the actual output will be reduced to about 160 watts rather than 225 watts.

I used two Webb amps for quite some time with the 4 ohm K-130's and never had a speaker problem.
Dave

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 24 Oct 2007 5:41 pm

Joe Savage · Post by **Joe Savage** » 24 Oct 2007 5:43 pm

David, I never get the Webb past 2! So, the K (4 ohm)should be fine in a Webb. The Randall, on the other hand definately says 300w rms @ 4 ohms, and I searched the old forum and found concurring comments to that effect. There's no telling the history of the speaker or amp or what was in it to begin with. I never liked the sound of the amp really and so that brought up the questions about the speakers. Since so many people dig the D and K, I was thinking about experimenting some. Thanks.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 24 Oct 2007 8:12 pm

Received via email:

Bobby,
I use one(1) D-130F (4 ohms) speaker. My amp is a blackface Fender Twin.

Regards,
Lloyd Green

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 24 Oct 2007 9:29 pm

My 1977 Webb I bought from the Pedal Steel Guitar Emporium has got the E-130 (8 ohm) in it. Still sounds great today & never reconed