About the JBL L82 Classic
Classic retro design
Under the colorful grilles are well-made drivers, a front-facing port, and a high-frequency level control.
Classic retro design
JBL revisited the 1970s with the L100 Classic, an updated version of their best-selling speaker of all time. I love the larger speaker's retro look, so I was excited to see the L82 Classic, which offers the same styling in a form factor that suits my smaller living space.
This pair of speakers features the elegant walnut cabinet and colorful Quadrex foam grilles that make the Classic line so visually distinct.
You'll need JBL's matching JS80 speaker stands for proper placement and an optimal listening experience. But the resulting sound is so worth it.
My hands-on experience with JBL L82 Classic speakers
These speakers have a solid pedigree that goes back decades, so when we decided to demonstrate them for employees at Crutchfield HQ, we wanted to build a system that matched the old-school look of the L82s. To that end, we set up the vintage-styled LEAK CDT and LEAK Stereo 130, with the belt-driven Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB and a direct-drive Technics SL-1500C as our analog sources.
The speakers performed well with anything we threw at them: jazz, rock, classical, folk, you name it. But the most apt album we listened to was Herbie Hancock's 1973 jazz-funk masterpiece Headhunters. The L82 Classics feature an 8" woofer, and those of us who sat and listened to both sides of the album really felt the full dynamic range the speakers can reproduce. We thrilled to the dizzying array of futuristic sounds Hancock was wringing out of his electric piano, clavinet, and synthesizers — all rendered in a broad, enveloping soundstage by these speakers.
All told, I suppose I slightly prefer these speakers' larger siblings — the JBL L100 Classics — but this pair filled a good-sized room with immersive sound, and took up less space in the bargain. And the vintage look just can't be beat, in my opinion.
What's under the grilles
The L82's grilles give them a cool look, but it's what's underneath that makes them sound so good. A white, 8" pure pulp woofer provides plenty of bass, with the help of a front-firing port. And a front-mounted high-frequency level control lets you fine-tune the performance of the 1" titanium dome tweeter.
Product highlights:
- 2-way design
- 8" pure pulp cone woofer
- 1" titanium dome tweeter
- high-frequency level control on front baffle
- walnut veneer enclosure with famous Quadrex foam grille
- bass-reflex enclosure with front-firing port
- frequency response: 44-40,000 Hz (-6 dB)
- sensitivity: 88 dB
- power handling: 25-125 watts RMS
- impedance: 8 ohms
- matching JS80 speaker stands required for proper placement and optimal listening experience
Dimensions and warranty:
- 11-1/16"W x 18-5/8"H x 12-7/16"D
- weight: 27.9 lbs.
- warranty: 5 years
- Our 60-day money-back guarantee
- MFR # JBLL82CLASSICORG
What's in the box:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owner's Manual
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More details on the JBL L82 Classic
Features & specs
| Enclosure | Ported | |
| Finish | MDF/Wood veneer | |
| Color | Walnut | |
| Tweeter Type | Hard-Dome | |
| Tweeter Size (inches) | 1 | |
| Midrange Size (inches) | N/A | |
| Woofer Size (inches) | 8 | |
| Woofer Composition | Pulp | |
| Woofer Surround | Rubber | |
| Power Range | 25-125 | |
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | |
| Impedance (Ohms) | 8 | |
| Frequency Response | 44-40k Hz | |
| Connector Type | Binding post | |
| Bi-amp Inputs | No | |
| Height (inches) | 18-5/8 | |
| Width (inches) | 11-1/16 | |
| Depth (inches) | 12-7/16 | |
| Weight (pounds) | 27.9 | |
| Wall-mountable | No | |
| Bracket Included | No | |
| Recommended Stand Height (inches) | 15.5 | |
| Parts Warranty | 5 Years | |
| Labor Warranty | 5 Years | |
Product Research
Features
2-Way Driver Design: The JBL L82 Classic loudspeaker utilizes a 2-way driver configuration with a 1" titanium dome tweeter and an 8" pure-pulp cone bass woofer. The L82 Classic Loudspeaker delivers room-filling, full-range sound with exceptional dynamic range and detail, clean and effortless high output, and precise deep bass with low distortion.
High Frequency Level Control: The L82 Classic has a front-panel adjustment that lets you balance the levels of the tweeter (HF) relative to the woofer. You can use these controls to adjust the speaker's sound according to your room's acoustics, or your personal taste. The "0dB" default position is a good place to start. Whatever sounds best to you in your room is the right setting. As with most speakers, after you start playing the L82 Classic it will take the drivers' suspensions several weeks to "break in" and achieve optimum performance. During this period, the balance between the woofer and tweeter may change, so JBL recommends that you adjust the high frequency level control again after the break-in period.
Note: The front-panel control adjustment is located behind the Quadrex foam grille. There is also a protective plastic film on the front control panel label that needs to be removed.
Bass Reflex Enclosure: The JBL L82 Classic loudspeaker employs a bass reflex enclosure with a front-firing port for higher efficiency and bigger bass response. The enclosure is finished in walnut veneer and is available with a black, blue, or orange Quadrex foam grille.
Binding Post Terminals: The L82 Classic loudspeaker features gold-plated, binding-post speaker terminals that will accept a variety of connector types - including bare wire (up to 10AWG) spade-connectors, pin-connectors, and banana connectors (single only).
Mounting & Placement Options: The L82 Classic may be stand mounted with the optional JBL metal stand (JS-80; see Accessories Tab) that angle the speaker upward. If not using the optional stands with built-in angle, then JBL recommends you to position each speaker so that its tweeter is approximately at ear level. The L82 Classic weighs 27.9 lbs. Before placing the speaker on a shelf or platform, be sure that it is sturdy enough to support the speaker's weight.
- For best results, place the speakers 6' to 8' apart. If you set the speakers farther apart than this, angle them toward the listening position.
- The speakers will produce the most accurate stereo soundstage when the angle between the listener and the speakers is between 40 and 60 degrees.
- Generally, bass output will increase as the speaker is moved closer to a wall or corner. For best performance, JBL recommends that you place the speakers at least 20" away from the sidewalls.
Note: This speaker does not offer any bracket, keyhole, or threaded insert for wall-mounting.
The JBL L82 Classic replaces these items
- 8" pure pulp cone woofer
- 1" titanium dome tweeter
- walnut veneer enclosure with famous Quadrex foam grille
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Customer Q&A
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Great looking and sounding set of speakers. I am using them to listen to my turntable and they are just fantastic. Note that they are large and essentially require the stands.
Marin from Old Lyme, CT