
DECADE
™
DS35, DS45, DS55, DS645, DS65, DS755, DS965
GENUINE JBL

2
Grille
Screen
Trim Ring
Car Door
Thank you for purchasing a JBL
Decade™ Series multielement speaker
system. We’ve organized this manual to
make your installation as simple and
trouble-free as possible. Please read it
thoroughly before proceeding.
Remember to keep your sales receipt
with this manual in a safe place so both
are available for future reference.
Important
Installation of automotive stereo components can require extensive experience
with a variety of mechanical and electrical procedures. Although these instructions explain how to install a JBL
Decade Series multielement speaker
system in a general sense, they do not
show the exact installation methods for
your particular vehicle. In many cases,
removing door or rear-deck panels
is necessary to gain access to the
mounting location. This procedure may
require specialized tools and a skilled
installer. If you do not feel you have the
tools or experience necessary, do not
attempt the installation yourself, but
instead ask your authorized JBL dealer
about professional installation options.
Warning
Playing loud music in an automobile
can permanently damage your hearing,
as well as hinder your ability to hear
traffic. The maximum volume levels
achievable with JBL speakers, combined
with high power amplification, may
exceed safe levels for extended listening. We recommend using low volume
levels when in your car. JBL accepts no
liability for hearing loss, bodily injury or
property damage as a result of use or
misuse of this product.
Installation
Figure 1
Typical installation of the DS45, DS55,
DS65, DS965.
Note: The DS35, DS645 and DS75 speakers are designed for direct replacement
of factory speakers. Therefore, they do
not contain the grilles and trim ring
shown in Fig 1. Installation of these models simply entails reversing the steps
taken to remove the original speakers.
Installation Warnings and Tips
• Always wear protective eyewear when
using any tools.
• Turn off all audio systems and other
electrical devices before you start.
Disconnect the negative (–) lead from
your vehicle’s battery.
• Keep speakers in their package until
final installation. When moving a
speaker, always rest it with the cone or
dome facing up. Never use force to
install any speaker.
• Check clearances on both sides of a
planned mounting surface before
drilling any holes or installing any
screws. Remember that the screws can
extend behind the surface.
• At the installation sites, locate and
make a note of all fuel lines, hydraulic
brake lines, vacuum lines and electrical
wiring. Use extreme caution when cutting or drilling in and around these
areas.
Caution: In some cars, fuel tanks may be
located directly beneath the rear deck.
Check for adequate speaker-basket clearance before considering this location!
• Before drilling or cutting holes, use a
utility knife to remove unwanted fabric
or vinyl in order to keep material from
snagging in a drill bit or saw.
• For door installations, check the clearance with the windows throughout the
range of the window’s travel, and verify
that a mounted speaker will not interfere with the window crank or powerwindow mechanism.
• If mounting speakers elsewhere, check
for clearance around rear-deck tor sion
bars, glove box or other structural
elements.
• Do not mount speakers where they will
get wet.

A Note on Power Handling
JBL Decade Series speakers are
designed to produce reasonable volume
levels with little amplifier power.
However, the addition of a subwoofer
and an amplifier will enhance the
dynamic range of your system and help
overcome the ambient noise in a moving vehicle. These speakers are designed
to handle the power of a dedicated
amplifier driven at or below its rated
power. If an amplifier is driven far above
its rated power, the output signal will
“clip,” and the additional power present
in a clipped signal can damage the
speakers. Distorted or “fuzzy” sound
from your speakers is an indication that
the amplifier has exceeded its rated
power and you should reduce the
volume level.
General Care
The loudspeaker grilles may be cleaned
with a slightly damp cloth. Do not use
any cleaners or solvents on the grilles or
the speaker cones.
Specifications
JBL Decade Series
DS35 DS45 DS55 DS645
Type: 3-1/2" 2-way 4" 2-way 5-1/4" 2-way 4" x 6" 2-way
Speaker Impedance: 4 ohms 4 ohms 4 ohms 4 ohms
Recommended
Amplifier Power Range: 5 – 40 watts 5 – 50 watts 5 – 60 watts 5 – 75 watts
Frequency Response: 110Hz – 20kHz 100Hz ~ 20kHz 75Hz ~ 20kHz 100Hz – 20kHz
Sensitivity
(@ 2.83V, 1 meter): 90dB 91dB 92dB 91dB
Mounting Depth, Drop-in: 1-7/16" (37mm) 1-11/16" (43mm) 1-3/4" (45mm) 1-3/4" (45mm)
Cut-Out Diameter: 3-1/4" (83mm) 3-13/16" (97mm) 4-5/8" (118mm) 3-3/8" x 5-11/16"
(86mm x 145mm)
DS65 DS755 DS965
Type: 6-1/2" 2-way 5" x 7"/6" x 8" 2-way 6" x 9" 3-way
Speaker Impedance: 4 ohms 4 ohms 4 ohms
Recommended
Amplifier Power Range: 5 – 75 watts 5 – 100 watts 5 – 100 watts
Frequency Response: 65Hz ~ 20kHz 50Hz ~ 20kHz 45Hz ~ 20kHz
Sensitivity
(@ 2.83V, 1 meter): 92dB 93dB 93dB
Mounting Depth, Drop-in: 1-13/16" (47mm) 2-3/16" (56mm) 2-15/16" (75mm)
Cut-Out Diameter: 5-1/16" (129mm) 5" x 7-3/16" 6-1/16" x 8-3/4"
(127mm x 183mm) (154mm x 223mm)
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Declaration of Conformity
We, JBL Europe A/S
Kongevejen 194B
DK-3460 Birkerød
DENMARK
declare in own responsibility, that the products described
in this owner’s manual are in compliance with technical
standards:
EN 50081-1:1992
EN 50082-1:1992
Steen Michaelsen
JBL Europe A/S
Birkerød. DENMARK. 3/99
JBL Consumer Products
250 Crossways Park Drive
Woodbury, NY 11797
www.jbl.com
Part No. DSSPKRS2OM
Made in China