Description
Offered for your consideration is a pair of vintage JBL Model LE14A 14 inch Alnico magnet woofers removed from their walnut-clad C53 Libra speakers, USA-manufactured c.1969. These stalwart JBL woofers were also used in certain configurations of the C36 Viscount, C38 Baron, C51 Apollo, C56 Dorian, C61 Sovereign II, L101/S99 Lancer, and some other speakers as well. So, please have a look at the large photos and read the remaining description to decide if these superlative JBL woofers are correct for your needs. JBL’s exceptional LE14A mid/bass woofers feature 4” flat copper ribbon voice coils (edge-wound by hand), thick cast aluminum baskets that are enameled black on the reverse, with black, crinkle-finish paint on the sizeable magnetic pots housing massive 11½ pound Alnico V magnets. Plus, the ribbed paper cones are factory damped with Lansaplas (alternately called Aquaplas) which provided the needed stiffness, density, and mass for optimal performance in the critical midrange frequencies. These LE14A woofers are in clean, very good, close to excellent condition. The sturdy cones are structurally perfect and the huge voice coil dustcaps are dimple-free flawless. Plus, the baskets are in nice shape with no dings, minimal attrition to the black enamel, just a few spots of minor wear on the front mounting flanges and some oxidation at the rear of one, as pictured, which could be cleaned up a bit with some 0000 steel wool. Also, the sturdy binding post +/- terminals are also in great shape and actuate perfectly. Most importantly, the aged polyurethane foam suspension was just replaced with modern polyether foam surrounds that have the correct thin outer lip profile. A bit of background is needed at this point. I bought the C53 Libra speakers from the original owner who was moving to a retirement community. When new, these LE14A woofers were equipped with JBL’s infamous Lansaloy surrounds. As I’m sure you know, Lansaloy is a foam rubber that, while providing superior cone movement, would progressively harden. Over time, Lansaloy surrounds become so stiff that cone movement, and as such bass response, is dramatically reduced. This is exactly what happened to the original owner’s woofers, so, more than a decade later he brought the speakers back to the store where he had purchased them. JBL was well aware of the problem with Lansaloy by then, and was supporting affected woofers long after the warranty period. When the speakers came back, they had new cones with foam surrounds and played perfectly. However, over the years, unbeknownst to the now-retiree, the foam surrounds began to degrade and completely fell apart some 20-25 later as shown in my photo above. Some of you have replaced woofer surrounds before, so you know that it’s a time-consuming process that takes a great deal of patience and a steady hand. With heavy, large diameter drivers like these, it’s even more of a challenge. First, I removed the thin black rubber trim rings and then carefully cleaned the underside cone edge and basket flanges to remove the old gummy foam and stubborn factory adhesives, which takes a long time to do thoroughly. Then, I glued the inner surrounds to the cones. Unlike most woofers, these surrounds affix to the underside of the cone instead of on top. That necessitates stretching a large surround, with glue already spread throughout its lip, and positioning it accurately underneath the cone. This can make a real mess if not done with an abundance of care. Luckily, I’ve had years of practice with refoaming! And, one woofer cone underside has a handwritten notation with a 1983 date, adding credence to what the seller told me, but I digress. Next, I glued the outer surrounds to the very narrow basket flange recesses (about ?) after careful centering to ensure no voice coil rub during play. Lastly, the factory rubber trim rings were thoroughly cleaned—which was an ordeal since their back sides were heavily layered with hardened contact cement from the 1980’s woofer service—and they were neatly reapplied to the flanges resting upon the outer surround lips. Overnight drying of the glue was allowed for each step of the process to achieve the clean and perfect results you see here. Now these woofers are in great shape once again—perhaps even better than new with the improved polyether foam surrounds of today! Most importantly, after the surrounds were replaced, these LE14A woofers were tested. As you’d expect from this level of JBL driver, they sound outstanding—fast, detailed midrange, solid low-end, and the Alnico magnet warmth of tone coveted by audiophiles and others that know. Plus, I tested their DC resistance at 6.9 and 8.1?, consistent with a nominal 8 ohm driver rating. Lastly, the baskets measure 12¾” across the truncated flat edges, 13?” at the rounded corners, they stand just over 5” tall, and the mount holes are spaced 9 7/16” adjacent / 13 5/16” diagonal, c-t-c. As pictured and described, this pair of JBL LE14A Alnico magnet 14” woofers with painstakingly refurbished surrounds is offered at a competitive price. Terms of Sale: I encourage interested parties to ask questions they may have about this listing as there are no cancellations, returns, refunds, or claims considered. A note on shipping: Weighing nearly 16 lbs each, and sporting a sizeable footprint, it’ll take me several days to devise and implement a packaging plan to get these JBL woofers to the new owner safely. The woofers will be secured face-to-face, with a cardboard buffer between the mount flanges, and place in a sturdy box, perhaps two, lined with dense foam panels and/or other protective materials as I deem fit to used to ensure no disappointments upon arrival. The below shipping quote includes the cost of carrier charges, full insurance coverage, and packaging materials. Local pick-up is fine, actually preferred, for those in the Chicago-Milwaukee metro area (or farther if you’re willing to make the drive). We’re located about 35 miles north of downtown Chicago and some 20 miles south of the Wisconsin State line at Kenosha Co. For those interested in pickup, please contact me so that I can discuss that option with you. Otherwise, payment is due at checkout by PayPal or other accepted methods. U.S. mailing addresses will pay $59.95 for shipping via FedEx or UPS with tracking, delivery confirmation, and full insurance coverage. Members with shipping addresses in AK, HI, PR, U.S, Territories, and Military APO must write for a shipping quote before proceeding as your shipping charges will be necessarily higher. International purchases are accepted for this listing by members that can pay with PayPal or other accepted forms. International shipping will be by insured U.S Postal Service Global Priority Air Mail—fast but very costly—no exceptions. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyers responsibility. Please check with your countrys customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying. Thanks for looking, and I look forward to doing business with one of you! *the cabinet plaque image is presented only for donor model reference
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