JBL's L880 floor-standing loudspeakers are part of the Studio L series, which incorporates many technologies developed for the company's professional recording studio monitors. To call the four-way L880 speakers large would be appropriate considering both their size and their sound.

You'll want help setting these speakers up, as they are over 3 feet high and more than a foot deep, and each weighs in at 54 pounds. The cabinets are very solid, and JBL includes spikes that can be attached to the unfortunately cheap-looking silver feet for added stability on carpet. Although a sticker on the rear warns of a tip-over risk, we found the L880 speakers to be quite sturdy and stable. Our review samples were dressed in black ash vinyl veneer with black fabric grills, and they are also available with cherry and beech veneer finishes.

Remove the front grills, and you are treated to a massive array of components that uses every bit of space the cabinets have to offer. For the lower frequencies, each L880 has dual 6-inch PolyPlas cones with rubber surrounds and cast-aluminum chasses that include JBL-patented technologies such as HeatScape motor structures to better dissipate heat, Symmetrical Field Geometry to reduce distortion, oversize Kapton voice coils and magnetic shorting rings.

The midrange transducer is a 4-inch PolyPlas cone, also with a cast-aluminum chassis and HeatScape motor structure. A 1-inch titanium dome tweeter addresses the high end, and it incorporates JBL's EOS Waveguide technology for wide and consistent sound dispersal. Finally, each L880 sports a 3/4-inch mylar dome tweeter for ultrahigh-frequency reproduction. The speakers have two sets of gold-plated, five-way binding posts that allow for bi-wiring and bi-amplification.

This wide collection of drivers and tweeters creates an impressive wall of sound. We expected to be overwhelmed with bass, but it was the airy timbre of the upper-mid and high frequencies that was a pleasant surprise. Throughout our listening tests covering many genres of music, we found a pleasurable and open feel to the upper registers. The L880 speakers will indeed wake the neighbors if you crank the volume, but to JBL's credit, they also handled classical music with aplomb.

Rated up to 200 watts each, the L880 speakers can play loud. And with silver driver enclosures, tweeters, bass ports and speaker cones that contrast sharply with the black ash finish, they certainly look the part. If such a rock-and-roll aesthetic isn't your cup of tea, the black cloth grills tone down the appearance, with only the four silver feet giving any hint as to what lies beneath.

If you are seeking versatile speakers to anchor your home theater or stereo system, these JBL monsters are ready to stand in. The heavy, imposing L880 speakers can carry enormous amounts of power and extreme volume levels, but they are agile enough to handle classical and jazz at moderate levels as well. While not cheap at a suggested $700 each, if this is your price range, the JBL L880 tower speakers make a smart choice.


Pros:  Big and bright sound, huge power-handling capability, good performance for a wide range of musical styles and home theater
Cons:  Expensive, plastic silver "feet" on base of cabinet look and feel cheap

Warranty
5 years