JBL vs Generic recones

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 12 Dec 2003 9:41 am

Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between an official JBL E130 recone and a good generic recone for the same speaker? Some say the generic is pretty much the same sound. Others say you cant compare. Keeping in mind that it's hard to compare any fresh recone with a well aged/played speaker since a fresh cone will always sound harder and colder than an old warmed-up one. Anyone have a fair comparison in their experiences?

Brad Sarno

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 12 Dec 2003 9:52 am

I had a D130 reconed about 10 years ago with what turned out to be an off-brand kit and it sounded awful at best. If I remember right I ended up giving it away to someone not long afterwards as it was that bad. Unless I could hear for myself the results of the cone to be used I would avoid it at all costs greater than free. Just my opinion...

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 13 Dec 2003 8:55 am

^^^

brad

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 15 Dec 2003 4:23 am

Brad, you are right, 4 ohm kits are not JBL, but a company out of Arizona, just got a recone back, looks good, but have not heard it yet, had it reconed as a 4 ohm D 140 instead of 130, the tech felt it would handle wattage better than a 130, and still have clarity, but i've come to love the non metallic dust cover BW, and like you mentioned, they sound fuller in a larger baffle board, I purposely use a thin baffle board (7/16ths I think), and not pressboard, it adds resonance i think.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 15 Dec 2003 1:10 pm

I've heard that some aftermarket recones are not so great sounding. I've heard that there are others that nail it pretty good.

Brad Sarno

Murnel Babineaux · Post by **Murnel Babineaux** » 23 Dec 2003 8:05 pm

Have your JBL reconed by original JBL parts, ONLY. If you don't, you will hear the difference.

The best thing is to get a JBL Factory Authorized Service Center to do it. Request that Factory original parts be used. It does make a difference.

By the way, I just got in my BRAND NEW E-130 from a music store in New York...HEHEHHE

later taters,

MB

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 24 Dec 2003 11:40 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Have your JBL reconed by original JBL parts, ONLY. If you don't, you will hear the difference.
The best thing is to get a JBL Factory Authorized Service Center to do it. Request that Factory original parts be used. It does make a difference.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The problem with that is JBL doesn't make recone kits or parts for D series speakers. If you send a JBL D-xxx to JBL for reconing they put in E series parts and then your speaker doesn't sound the same.
I think you would be better off to send it to someone that makes D series reproduction parts and have it reconed to sound like a D-xxx speaker should sound.
With the E and K series JBL's I would say yes, have them reconed with JBL parts.

Duane Dunard · Post by **Duane Dunard** » 25 Dec 2003 6:26 am

Alvin is correct. My Sho-Bud's D-130 was recently reconed with JBL parts and does not sound half as good as it's origional condition. It simply lost it's signature tone, so I seldom use the amp anymore.

Murnel Babineaux · Post by **Murnel Babineaux** » 25 Dec 2003 6:51 am

Well guys, that's a no brainer. I was referring to E series JBL's.

The E Series basket is stiffer, but still curvilinear.

JBL had to end up sending me 2 brand new E-130-8's in 1998 because they didn't put enough E-130-4 baskets in escrow to cover warranty items.

FYI. The federal government requires all corporations of this magnitude to put enough parts in escrow (even though the company discontinues the product) to cover ALL Warranty claims from the date of the last sell of the discontinued product.

If they don't, they can get into big trouble, and they know it.

[This message was edited by Murnel Babineaux on 25 December 2003 at 06:55 AM.]

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 25 Dec 2003 8:46 am

The reconed speakers may not sound like the original but sometimes it is our best option at the time. Been there, done that.

Larry Behm

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 25 Dec 2003 7:30 pm

Call the attached and ask to speak to Gary Sunda. Gary was head engineer at Randall amplifiers and designed a few of Fenders early model amps.

He and his wife and sons operate the business
and they have original JBL parts in stock and you will be happy you contacted them.

Mention my name when you speak to Gary or Sharon or any of his sons..
www.speakerrepair.com [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 25 December 2003 at 07:32 PM.]

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 26 Dec 2003 12:11 pm

Speakers aren't what they used to be because the amps aren't! Cones, formers, voice coils, suspension rings, dust-caps, (even adhesives) have all changed due to technology, increases in amp power, and for increased reliability. For many years, the Twin~Reverb was the most powerful combo amp you could get (at 80 watts). Nowadays, it's considered a medium-power amp, and 100-200 watt S/S amps are the norm. Sooo...speaker manufacturers had to "adjust" accordingly to maintain a viable product.

Also, remember...the liability of manufacturers is to keep parts available to keep the product serviceable only for a period of time after it's discontinued. There are no laws that say they must guarantee to "maintain the exact sound" in any audio product.

That would be practically impossible.

Sorry.

Murnel Babineaux · Post by **Murnel Babineaux** » 26 Dec 2003 7:24 pm

JBL didn't put enough 4 Ohm E series baskets in escrow to cover THEIR warranty.

This law is mandated by the federal government. Sorry