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JBL LX55 - any thoughts?

JimmyNeutron

JimmyNeutron

Super Member
What a great and lucky day!! :yes: I stopped by my local GW and found a pair of very good condition JBL LX55 speakers. The cabinets and cosmetics are nice - nothing to complain about. The woofer surrounds need re-foaming but that's not a biggie. They were tagged at $19.99 each. When I got to the counter the girl said it was 1/2 off memorial day sale. $19.99 for a PAIR of JBL LX55!!!! :banana: Hot dog!!
So I've never heard these JBL's before - I bought them blind, but for $19.99 I can't complain. Does anyone have an opinion on these speakers?

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JimmyNeutron said:
What a great and lucky day!! :yes: I stopped by my local GW and found a pair of very good condition JBL LX55 speakers. The cabinets and cosmetics are nice - nothing to complain about. The woofer surrounds need re-foaming but that's not a biggie. They were tagged at $19.99 each. When I got to the counter the girl said it was 1/2 off memorial day sale. $19.99 for a PAIR of JBL LX55!!!! :banana: Hot dog!!
So I've never heard these JBL's before - I bought them blind, but for $19.99 I can't complain. Does anyone have an opinion on these speakers?

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The LX-55s were made between 1989-1992. The are a 200W rated 3 way speaker and sold new for around $400.00

Like most newer JBL probably sound pretty good for a second,third, or bedroom system.

Fix em up, Fly em in your bedroom and impress the ladies your suave stereo prowess.

:yes:
 
I'm sure I've read comments on the LX55, and that they were given decent marks.
$20 for a pair of JBL of any model is a REAL score.
I really like my old JBL L100.
 
I am about to pass along a pair of LX 44 to a fellow AKer this week, I was very happy with them, great little speaker. Good solid bass and very clear through the rest of the bands. Not that I am trying to build them up for Mike or anything :D but speakers around here are easy to come by and these spent 2 years in my garage system which is saying something. Give them foam and give them power.
 
JBL/Carver speaker project

I just couldn't resist. I had a pair of 10" woofer left over from my Carver AL-III ribbon speaker project. I replaced the Carver OEM woofers with Infinity Reference woofers. So I dropped these Carver woofers into the JBL cabs. Actually, the Carver OEM's have a close enough *similar* box requirement as the OEM JBL's. The Carver's are certainly a more imposing woofer and my guess (I've never heard the OEM JBL's) is that the bass output would also be an upgrade. While I was inside the cab performing sugery I noticed a nice and big crossover. JBL designed anice one except for the 18 guage wire. Off went the thin wire and in went Monster Cable XP 14 guage manly wire. Hooked everything back up and connected them to my garage system ( an Onkyo reciever - big brutus at 100 watts per channel). Very nice, if a little too bright. I guess the brightness is a part of having titanium tweeters. No big deal as the treble control softened up the upper end. In the end I really like these speakers. I think I'll keep them in my shop hooked up to the Onkyo. THere are more pics on my website under the "PROJECTS" tab. Here are a few pics.

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Lx-55

Yup,
Just re-foamed a pair with just that possibility in mind, they are excellent
sounding 92db woofs....Have had several of them, good speakers...........
Cheers, T:music:
 
Small world!

Stopped by the Thrift Center yesterday and found a pair of the LX-55's marked $29.99 the pair. Big sign outside said "Entire Stock Half Off"...

I'm waiting for the glue to dry on the foam, second woofer due to get cleaned today...

I did run the one with intact-but-rotting-foam up on the garage system, sounds pretty good, better than the Sherwood's that are out there now at least.
 
The LX's were a strange combination of a very nice cabinet design (with anti-difraction coating on the front baffle) and rather pedestrian cost-cutting drivers. I've had LX44's since new and liked them a lot at one time.

For what they go for now, they are an absolute STEAL. I can't believe why they have fallen so far in value because they certainly sound a whole lot better than their sub-$100/pair asking prices today would lead you to believe.

Another great bargain in the 1980's JBL line was the redundantly named "JBL" series. If you can score a pair of 830's (dual 8" plus tweeter) or 940's (10", 8", 5", tweeter) for cheap you owe it to yourself to give them a listen. They are 4 ohm and very efficient for a JBL - great party speakers for short money.

jblnut
 
Bargain LX-55's!

Well, I am most pleased with my most recent fleabay find, an absolutely mint pair in that very dark brown finish. Totally unmarked including the grilles. Cost? £3.20! Downside? Needed the woofers refoaming. All done now, my first refoam attempt. Slightly too much glue on the first one but the second one is like a new woofer. Really really happy with these, and they sound so tight. I think the foam compliance is a little lower than standard as the woofer barely move it seems even at high levels, but the bass is huge. Was also a small hole in the back of one mid enclosure leading to woofer inteference,now plugged. I expect them to run in yet though. Total cost including collection? £26 all in! Happy days.
 
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