You obviously have a thing for JBL speakers and looking for a three-way setup. After searching through the best speakers, you’ve ended up with 4312G and L100.
Now, you’re confused about which one to choose. JBL 4312G vs L100, which one to buy?
The JBL 4312G comes with a high power capacity of up to 200W compared to L100. On the other hand, L100 has better sensitivity. Both speakers equal out in crossover frequencies and price. They also have decent drivers. However, the lower impedance of 6 Ohms makes the JBL 4312 the first choice for many users.
This is only scratching the surface. Stay with us for five minutes to dig deep into the detailed comparison.
Let’s begin.
JBL 4312G vs L100: Quick Comparison
Before we jump into the head-on comparison, let’s have a look at this quick comparison.
| Aspect | JBL 4312G | JBL L100 |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 91dB |
| Power Capacity | 10-200 W | 50W |
| Driver | High Frequency: Single 1” Magnesium/Aluminum alloy dome tweeter with waveguide Medium Frequency: Single 5” polymer-coated pure pulp cone Low Frequency: Single 12” pure pulp cone woofer | High Frequency: LE25 36mm (1.4″) Paper Diaphragm Medium Frequency: LE5-2 130mm (5″) Paper Diaphragm Low Frequency: 123A-1 300m (12″) Pressed Paper Diaphragm |
| Crossover Frequencies | 640Hz and 5kHz | 1,500Hz and 6,000Hz |
| Impedance | 6 Ohms | 8 Ohms |
| Price | 2500$ per pair | 2560$ |
That was just a short comparison between the two speakers. Hang on a bit, we’ve got more.
Below we’ve discussed all the aspects of the speakers in detail.
JBL 4312g vs L100: Detailed Comparison
Unlike the rather obscure matchup of Vandersteen 2C and 2CE, JBL 4312G and L100 are very close to each other. Now, let’s jump into the head-to-head battle. We discussed all the key factors for your convenience.
Hopefully, this will help with your decision-making.
Sensitivity:
This is one of the major aspects of a speaker. It defines how loud your speaker will be.
Generally, any speaker with a sensitivity of 90 dB or more is considered excellent.
Here, both of the speakers have similar sensitivity. The JBL 4312G has a sensitivity of 90 dB.
On the other hand, JBL L100 has a sensitivity of 91dB which is similar.
So, there’s really not much of a difference in this particular segment.
Winner: Neither of the speakers is a clear winner here, rather it’s a draw. Both have similar sensitivity.
Power Capacity:
Perhaps, power capacity can singularly define how louder a speaker can be. The more the power is, the louder it gets.
Here, the JBL 4312 wins by a huge margin. It has a vast power operating range of 10 to 200 watts. And the whole setup will have a certain vintage vibe to it-
On the other hand, the L100 has a fixed power rating of 50W.
The JBL 4312G can be louder or quieter than the L100 and offers a vast range. And to achieve this, you can also connect 2 inputs with a subwoofer.
Winner: The winner of this segment will be JBL 4312G for its massive power range.
Driver:
Drivers are the transducer parts responsible for turning the electrical energy signal into sound.
Drivers determine the sound quality of a speaker as well as the clarity of the sound.
The JBL 4312G has a Single 1” Magnesium/Aluminum alloy dome tweeter waveguide on a high frequency.
It has a Single 5” polymer-coated pure pulp cone as a medium frequency driver. And on the low frequency, a Single 12” pure pulp cone woofer is used. And we all know, that polymer cones offer the best performance.
On the other hand, the JBL L100 uses a LE25 36mm Paper Diaphragm on a high frequency.
On mid-frequency, LE5-2 130mm (5″) Paper Diaphragm is used. And on the low frequency, LE5-2 130mm (5″) Paper Diaphragms are used.
There’s a long debate on the perfect driver as they don’t exist. Thus driver-build materials play a crucial role in sound quality.
Polymer pulp cones are usually better and more durable than paper diaphragms. These are expensive too. Therefore the JBL 4312G wins the race here.
Winner: JBL 4312 is the winner as it features better polymer pulp cones.
Crossover Frequencies:
It’s the frequency at which sound moves from one speaker to another. In a crossover, the unfiltered audio signal is split based on an upper or lower threshold. This creates harmony and increases the sound quality
The speaker crossover gives each driver the range of signals that it can best reproduce. Every speaker needs a crossover to send sound to the correct driver.
The crossover frequency of JBL 4312G is around 640Hz and 5KHz.
On the other hand, the L100 has a crossover frequency of 1500Hz and 6000Hz.
Both are 3-way speakers and for these 3.5kHz (mid/treble) & 500Hz (mid/woofer) are ideal.
JBL 4312G has close to ideal values in terms of crossover frequency. Thus it has the better crossover of the two.
Winner: The Winner is JBL 4312G with good crossover frequencies.
Impedance:
Every speaker has an impedance rating in ohms. This represents how difficult the speaker is to power. The lower the impedance, the better.
The music, which is basically an electric signal, can move through the speaker. This happens more quickly when the impedance is low.
JBL 4312G has an impedance of 6 Ohms. On the other hand, JBL L100 has an impedance of 8 Ohms.
Winner: The winner of this segment is clearly JBL 4312G. It has a 2 Ohm lower impedance than L100. Also, if you want sound diversity, you can mix 6 & 8-ohm impedance speakers.
Price:
And the final head-to-head will be in terms of price.
Both the speakers are priced around the $2500 range. And we have a tie-in price.
However, JBL 4312G has the better value for money. It’s the more modern speaker of the two and better in comparison. But that’s just our opinion. You’re obviously free to choose any of them according to your preference.
Winner: At a similar price point, JBL 4312G is better suited for a home monitor system.
Final Words
Both speakers are good and have similar sound quality. But the JBL 4312G stands out in impedance, driver, and power capacity.
Also, it gives you more value for money than L100.
However, if you’re looking for an old-school music speaker, you can always choose L100.
The rest is up to you to decide. So, think about it and then decide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Much Power is Adequate for a Speaker?
Between 15 and 30 watts is the best range for a home speaker. Most people find that 20 watts are enough. A 50-watt or 100-watt speaker can be used for large groups. This much power is too much for home use. Larger speakers are usually used for open concerts.
Do I Need to Clean My Speakers?
Yes, it’s good to clean the speakers regularly. Cleaning your speakers regularly will help keep them sounding clear and true. Dust and other particles can get stuck in your parts. This can change how they work and lead to mediocre sound. You can clean it every 2-3 months.
How Do I Prevent Speaker Damage?
You can prevent speaker damage by keeping your receiver’s volume at least 5–6dB below its highest setting. Most receivers have a volume knob that goes from -80dB (mute) to about +16dB. (max). Most of the time, you can keep the receiver from overdriving.
Conclusion
That’ll be all from our side on the JBL 4312G vs L100 debate. The winner is JBL 4312G for its exceptional impedance, driver, and power capacity.
Both speakers have the better of their worlds.
Till then, keep the volume up and enjoy.
