JBL SP5 User manual

All features and specifications are subject to
change without notice.
† The maximum recommended amplifier power
rating will ensure proper system headroom to
allow for occasional peaks. We do not recom-
mend sustained operation at these maximum
power levels.
* Trademark of Dolby Laboratories.
DTS is a registered trademark of
Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
Declaration of Conformity
We, Harman Consumer International
2, route de Tours
72500 Chateau-du-Loir
France
declare in own responsibility, that the products described in this
owner’s manual are in compliance with technical standards:
EN 50081-1:1992
EN 50082-1:1997
Luc E. Godard
Harman Consumer International
Chateau-du-Loir, France 8/01
DESIGN GOAL: Combine the superior performance of traditional
JBL loudspeakers with the convenience of in-wall installation.
TWEETER TYPE:Titanium-laminate-dome with EOS
™
waveguide, and swivel mount
WOOFER TYPE: Titanium-laminate cone with rubber surround
CROSSOVER NETWORK:Straight-Line Signal Path™(SSP)
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCE:Studio Monitor
OWNER’S GUIDE
PRODUCT LINE:
MODELS:
SP5, SP6, SP6C, SP8
SoundPoint
™
Series
SPECIFICATIONS
©2001 JBL, Incorporated.
JBL is a registered trademark of JBL, Incorporated.
Part No.
170-0035
PRO SOUND
COMES HOME™
JBL Consumer Products
250 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, NY 11797
8500 Balboa Boulevard, Northridge, CA 91329
800-336-4JBL (4525) (USA only)
www.jbl.com
NOTE: For new-construction applications, be sure
to purchase the correct rough-in frame kit.
SP5 SP6 SP6C SP8
Frequency Response Frequency Response Frequency Response Frequency Response
45 –20kHz (–10dB) 38 –20kHz (–10dB) 40 –20kHz (–10dB) 30 –20kHz (–10dB)
Recommended Maximum Recommended Maximum Recommended Maximum Recommended Maximum
Amplifier Power †Amplifier Power †Amplifier Power †Amplifier Power †
60 watts 80 watts 80 watts 100 watts
Impedance Impedance Impedance Impedance
8 ohms nominal 8 ohms nominal 8 ohms nominal 8 ohms nominal
Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity
87dB (2.83V/1m) 88dB (2.83V/1m) 88dB (2.83V/1m) 89dB (2.83V/1m)
Crossover Frequency Crossover Frequency Crossover Frequency Crossover Frequency
3,000Hz 2,000Hz 3,000Hz 2,000Hz
Woofer Woofer Woofer Woofer
5-1/4" titanium-laminate cone 6-1/2" titanium-laminate cone 6-1/2" titanium-laminate cone 8" titanium-laminate cone
w/rubber surround w/rubber surround w/rubber surround w/rubber surround
Tweeter Tweeter Tweeter Tweeter
1"titanium-laminate dome, 1"titanium-laminate dome, 1"titanium-laminate dome, 1"titanium-laminate dome,
w/Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal™w/Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal™w/Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal™w/Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal™
waveguide and swivel mount waveguide and swivel mount waveguide and swivel mount waveguide and swivel mount
Plate Size (W x H) Plate Size (W x H) Plate Size Plate Size (W x H)
7-1/2" x 10" (191mm x 254mm) 8-1/2" x 11" (216mm x 279mm) 9-3/16" (233mm) 10-1/8" x 13-1/8" (257mm x 333mm)
Mounting Cutout Size (W x H) Mounting Cutout Size (W x H) Mounting Cutout Size Mounting Cutout Size (W x H)
6-1/8" x 8-11/16" (156mm x 221mm) 7-1/8" x 9-11/16" (181mm x 246mm) 7-7/8" (200mm) 8-7/8" x 11-13/16" (225mm x 300mm)
Mounting Depth Mounting Depth Mounting Depth Mounting Depth
3-3/4" (95mm) 3-7/8" (98mm) 4-1/4" (108mm) 4" (102mm)

X + 0 + Y
2
0M
HZ
X +
0 +
Y2
0
MHZ
4”
8”
X +
0 +
Y2
0
MHZ
DESIGN GOAL: Combine the superior performance of traditional
JBL loudspeakers with the convenience of in-wall installation.
TWEETER TYPE:Titanium-laminate dome with EOS
™
waveguide, and swivel mount
WOOFER TYPE: Titanium-laminate cone with rubber surround
CROSSOVER NETWORK:Straight-Line Signal Path™(SSP)
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCE:Studio Monitor
OWNER’S GUIDE
PRODUCT LINE:
MODELS:
SP5, SP6, SP6C, SP8
SoundPoint
™
Series

2
INCLUDED
Template/paint shield
(punch out at perforation).
One pair of speakers with grille.
Template/paint shield
(punch out at perforation).
One pair of speakers with grille.
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING JBL
SP5, SP6, SP8
SP6C
For more than 50 years, JBL
has been involved in every
aspect of music and film
recording and reproduction,
from live performances to
monitoring the recordings
you play in your home,
car or office.
We’re confident that the
JBL loudspeakers you have
chosen will provide every
note of enjoyment that you
expected –and that when
you think about purchasing
additional audio equipment for
your home, car or office, you
will once again choose JBL.
Please take a moment to
complete the enclosed profile
card. It enables us to keep you
posted on our latest advance-
ments, and helps us to better
understand our customers and
build products that meet their
needs and expectations.
JBL Consumer Products

3
400- 600
WALL
WALL WALL
5 – 6 ft.
WALL WALL
Front Speakers
Models SP5, SP6, SP8 as Rear Speakers
Model SP6C in Ceiling
SPEAKER PLACEMENT
Proper placement of the
speakers is an important
step in obtaining the most
realistic soundstage possible.
These recommendations are
for the optimum placement
of the loudspeakers. Use
these placement recommen-
dations as a guide. Slight
variations will not diminish
your listening pleasure.
The front speakers should be
placed the same distance
from each other as they are
from the listening position.
They should be placed at
about the same height from
the floor as the listener’s
ears will be.
In a home theater configura-
tion, the two surround speak-
ers should be placed slightly
behind the listening position
and, ideally, should face each
other and be at a level higher
than the listener’s ears. If that
is not possible, they may be
placed in a wall behind the
listening position, facing for-
ward. The surround speakers
should not call attention to
themselves. They should
provide a diffuse, ambient
sound accompanying the
main program material
heard in the front speakers.

4
Phillips #2 screwdriver
Measuring tape Utility knife
Pencil
Carpenter’s level Awl
Tools Needed
The SoundPoint™Series in-wall
speakers were designed to be
easily installed. However, if
you are unsure of your ability
to properly install these loud-
speakers, please contact your
dealer or a qualified installer.
INSTALLATION
Speakers and electronics
terminals have corresponding
(+) and (–) terminals. Most
manufacturers of speakers and
electronics, including JBL, use
red to denote the (+) terminal
and black for the (–) terminal.
It is important to connect both
speakers identically: (+) on the
speaker to (+) on the amplifier
and (–) on the speaker to (–)
on the amplifier. Wiring “out
of phase”results in thin sound,
weak bass and a poor stereo
image. With the advent of multi-
channel surround-sound
systems, connecting all of
the speakers in your system
with the correct polarity
remains equally important in
order to preserve the proper
ambience and directionality
of the program material.
Connection Tips
Wire Length Recommended Size
Up to 20 ft. 16 gauge
Up to 30 ft. 12 gauge
Greater than 30 ft. 10 gauge
Front or Rear Speaker Outputs
LEFT RIGHT
LEFT RIGHT
The wires for both speakers
should be the same length. If
one speaker is placed closer
to the amplifier than the other,
hide the excess wire behind
the wall.
SPEAKER CONNECTIONS

5
SP5, SP6, SP8
EXISTING CONSTRUCTION
Remove the grille from the
speaker frame. Determine the correct
speaker location.
Template
Level
Note: Always allow at least
one-half inch between a wall
stud and the speaker cutout or
the locking tabs will not be able
to swivel into place.
≥1/2"
≥1/2"
≥1/2"
Cut the dry wall. Connect the speaker wires
to the speaker.
Replace the metal grille.
Place the frame assembly
in the wall.
Screw down each of the four
Phillips head screws. The
locking tabs will swivel into
place and secure the unit to
the rear surface of the drywall.

6
SP6C
EXISTING CONSTRUCTION
Remove the grille from
the speaker frame.
≥1/2"
≥1/2" ≥1/2"
Cut the drywall.
Connect the speaker wires
to the speaker. Place the frame assembly
in the wall. Screw down each of the three
Phillips head screws. The locking
tabs will swivel into place and
secure the unit to the rear surface
of the drywall.
Replace the metal grille.
Determine the correct speaker
location. Note: Always allow at
least one-half inch between a
wall stud and the speaker cutout
or the locking tabs will not be
able to swivel into place.

7
NEW CONSTRUCTION
PAINTING THE SPEAKER
FRAME AND GRILLE
SoundPoint™Series loudspeak-
ers can be painted to match any
decor. If you wish to change
their color, the satin finish on the
grille and frame will function as
a primer coat. Before painting,
install the paint shield (in the
assembly kit) securely into the
recess in the baffle. This will
protect the speaker components
and baffle from paint residue.
Use a high-quality spray paint,
and apply a thin coat of color.
Be certain the grille perforations
remain free of paint. Filling them
with paint will diminish the
sound quality.
Note: Gently remove the acousti-
calfoam blanket from the grille
before painting. Reattach the
blanket after the paint has dried.
You will need to purchase the correct rough-in frame kit for your model:
Speaker Model Rough-in Frame Kit
SP5 RIF5
SP6 RIF6
SP6C RIF6C
SP8 RIF8
Detailed installation instructions are supplied with the rough-in kit.
TROUBLESHOOTING
If there is no sound from any
of the speakers:
•Check that receiver/amplifier
is on and a source is playing.
•Check all wires and connections
between receiver/amplifier and
speakers. Make sure all wires
are connected. Make sure none
of the speaker wires are frayed,
cut or punctured.
•Review proper operation of
your receiver/amplifier.
If there is no sound coming
from one speaker:
•Check the “Balance”control
on your receiver/amplifier.
•Check all wires and connec-
tions between receiver/amplifier
and speakers. Make sure all
wires are connected. Make sure
none of the speaker wires are
frayed, cut or punctured.
If there is low (or no) bass output:
•Make sure the connections
to the left and right “Speaker
Inputs”have the correct polarity
(+ and –).
•Consider adding a powered
subwoofer to your system.
•In Dolby* Digital or DTS®modes,
make sure your receiver/proces-
sor is correctly configured. When
using a subwoofer, make sure the
subwoofer output of the
receiver/processor has been
enabled. If no subwoofer is
being used, make sure the
left and right front and rear
speakers have been config-
ured as “LARGE.”See your
receiver/processor’s owner’s
manual for futher information on
correct speaker configuration in
Dolby Digital, DTS and other
surround-sound modes.
If the system plays at low
volumes but shuts off as
volume is increased:
•Check all wires and connec-
tions between receiver/amplifier
and speakers. Make sure all
wires are connected. Make sure
none of the speaker wires are
frayed, cut or punctured.
•If more than one pair of main
speakers is being used, check the
minimum-impedance require-
ments of your receiver/amplifier.