Have More Fun Listening to Music: JBL L82 Classic MkII Bookshelf Loudspeakers Are Tailored for Smaller Spaces and Play with Energetic Dynamics and Presence

Don't need or have the space for a loudspeaker as large as the acclaimed JBL L100 Classic MkII but still want the cohesiveness, liveliness, and fun for which that model is renowned? Graced with a one-inch titanium dome tweeter with waveguide, eight-inch white-cone pure-pulp cast-frame woofer, and front-firing port, JBL L82 Classic MkII shares the same DNA as its larger sibling and supplies similarly elevated levels of presence, dynamics, control, and responsiveness from a more compact footprint. Ideal for listeners who love a wide range of styles, the 18.6 x 11.1 x 12.4-inch (HWD) L82 Classic MkII also touts attenuators for custom fine-tuning ability, letting you dial-in music to your exact preferences.

Sporting unmistakably vintage styling that extends to the hallmark Quadrex foam grille in a choice of three vibrant colors, each pair of mirror-image L82 Classic MkII comes with a satin wood walnut veneer enclosure with a black painted front and rear panels for aesthetics that stand out as much as this two-way model's ravishing sound. Its ability to be positioned horizontally or vertically adds to its versatility.

From a technical angle, the 28-pound L82 Classic MkII features numerous updates over its Gen I predecessor, including a revised crossover that boasts bi-amp/bi-wire capabilities via a premium terminal cup with dual sets of gold-plated binding posts. The acoustically enhanced eight-inch cast-frame Pure Pulp driver (JW200PW2-6) delivers accurate tonality and a smooth midrange — be it the distinctive timbre of a human voice, or tone of a guitar, a piano, a snare drum, or any other instrument. Mated to an acoustic lens and waveguide, the one-inch titanium dome tweeter (JT025Ti2-4) is the exact same as that found in L100 Classic MkII. It supplies incredible extension and delivers an ultra-natural portrayal of upper octaves that give music its valued breath of life.

Whether you place L82 Classic MkII on an existing surface or situate it on the optional JS-80 floor stands that angle it gently backwards for optimal listening height, this speaker — relatively easy to drive at 88dB sensitivity — is certain to recreate the sound of music in a manner that titillates the senses and, above everything else, gives you endless joy.

"Here we have a classic case of a great 'character speaker', one that doesn't try to be all things to all people – or indeed to be totally faithful to the original recording. Yet the L82 MkII's consummate prowess with rhythms and dynamics very much gives it a 'get out of jail free' card. It's quite system-dependent, so it is best matched with a sweet-sounding amplifier and source, and it also knows what it likes in terms of music, too – which is anything with a punchy beat and strong bass."
—David Price, StereoNet, Applause Award