JBL ESC550 User Manual
TM
TM
ESC550
simple
setup guide
thank you for choosing JBL. For over 50
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musical and film recording and reproduction,
from live performances to monitoring the
recordings you play in your home, car, or office.
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Table of Contents
Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1. Speaker Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Mounting Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2. Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Connect TV or VCR to The Source™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Connect Antennas to The Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Connect Optional Cassette Deck to The Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Connect The Source to a Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Speaker Connection Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Remote Control Battery Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Mute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Treble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
CD Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
To Skip to a Different Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
To Scan Within the Same Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
To Pause the CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
To Stop the CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
To Play the Tracks of a CD in Random Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
To Repeat the Disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Tuner Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
To Switch Between AM and FM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
To Tune to a Particular Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
If a Selected FM Station is a Little Noisy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
To Have the Tuner Search for the Next Strong Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Preset Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Surround Mode Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Test Tone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Center Channel Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Rear Channel Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Delay Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
read first! Important Safety Precautions!
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: To prevent electric shock,
do not remove the grounding plug
on the power cord, or use any plug
or extension cord that does not have
a grounding plug provided.
Make certain that the
AC outlet is properly grounded.
Do not use an adapter plug
with this product.
The lightning flash with arrowhead
symbol, within an equilateral triangle,
is intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated “dangerous
voltage” within the product’s enclosure
that may be of sufficient magnitude to
constitute a risk of electric shock to
persons.
The exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle is intended to alert
the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature
accompanying the appliance.
Antenna Lead-In Wire
Ground Clamp
Antenna Discharge Unit (NEC Section 810-20)
Grounding Conductors (NEC Section 810-21)
Electric Service Equipment
Ground Clamps
Power Service Grounding Electrode System
(NEC Art 250, Part H)
1. Read Instructions. All the
safety and operating instructions should be read before
the product is operated.
2. Retain Instructions. The
safety and operating instructions should be retained for
future reference.
3. Heed Warnings. All warn-
ings on the product and in the
operating instructions should
be adhered to.
4. Follow Instructions. All
operating and use instructions
should be followed.
5. Cleaning. Unplug this prod-
uct from the wall outlet before
cleaning. Do not use liquid
cleaners or aerosol cleaners.
Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
6. Attachments. Do not use
attachments not recommended
by the product manufacturer,
as they may cause hazards.
7. Water and Moisture. Do
not use this product near
water – for example, near a
bathtub, wash bowl, kitchen
sink or laundry tub; in a wet
basement; or near a swimming
pool; and the like.
8. Accessories. Do not place
this product on an unstable
cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or
table. The product may fall,
causing serious injury to a
child or adult, and serious
damage to the product. Use
only with a cart, stand, tripod,
bracket, or table recommended
by the manufacturer, or sold
with the product. Any mounting of the product should follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and should use a
mounting accessory recommended by the manufacturer.
9. A Product and Cart
Combination Should Be
Moved with Care. Quick stops,
excessive force, and uneven
surfaces may cause the product and cart combination to
overturn.
10. Ventilation. Slots and
openings in the cabinet are
provided for ventilation and to
ensure reliable operation of
the product and to protect it
from overheating, and these
openings must not be blocked
or covered. The openings
should never be blocked by
placing the product on a bed,
sofa, rug, or other similar surface. This product should not
be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or
rack unless proper ventilation
is provided or the manufacturer’s instructions have been
adhered to.
11. Power Sources. This prod-
uct should be operated only
from the type of power source
indicated on the marking
label. If you are not sure
of the type of power supply
to your home, consult your
product dealer or local power
company.
For products intended
to operate from battery power,
or other sources, refer to the
operating instructions.
12. Grounding or
Polarization. This product may
be equipped with a polarized
alternating-current line plug
(a plug having one blade
wider than the other). This
plug will fit into the power
outlet only one way. This is a
safety feature. If you are
unable to insert the plug fully
into the outlet, try reversing
the plug. If the plug should
still fail to fit, contact your
electrician to replace your
obsolete outlet. Do not defeat
the safety purpose of the
polarized plug.
13. Power-Cord Protection.
Power-supply cords should be
routed so that they are not
likely to be walked on or
pinched by items placed upon
or against them, paying particular attention to cords at
plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they
exit from the product.
14. Nonuse Periods. The
power cord of the product
should be unplugged from the
outlet when left unused for
long periods of time.
15. Outdoor Antenna
Grounding. If an outside
antenna or cable system is
connected to the product, be
sure the antenna or cable system is grounded so as to provide some protection against
voltage surges and built-up
static charges. Article 810 of
the National Electrical Code,
ANSI/NFPA 70, provides information with regard to proper
grounding of the mast and
supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an
antenna discharge unit, size of
grounding conductors, location
of antenna-discharge unit,
connection to grounding electrodes, and requirements for
the grounding electrode. See
Figure 1.
16. Lightning. For added pro-
tection for this product during
a lightning storm, or when
it is left unattended and
unused for long periods of
time, unplug it from the wall
outlet and disconnect the
antenna or cable system. This
will prevent damage to the
product due to lightning and
power-line surges.
17. Power Lines. An outside
antenna system should not be
located in the vicinity of
overhead power lines or other
electric light or power circuits,
or where it can fall into such
power lines or circuits. When
installing an outside antenna
system, extreme care should
be taken to keep from touching
such power lines or circuits, as
contact with them might be
fatal.
18. Overloading. Do not over-
load wall outlets, extension
cords, or integral convenience
receptacles, as this can result
in a risk of fire or electric
shock.
19. Object and Liquid Entry.
Never push objects of any kind
into this product through
openings, as they may touch
dangerous voltage points or
short-out parts that could
result in a fire or electric
shock. Never spill liquid of
any kind on the product.
– 3 –
20. Servicing. Do not attempt
to service this product yourself, as opening or removing
covers may expose you to
dangerous voltage or other
hazards. Refer all servicing to
qualified service personnel.
21. Damage Requiring
Service. Unplug this product
from the wall outlet and refer
servicing to qualified service
personnel under the following
conditions:
a. The power-supply cord or
the plug has been damaged; or
b. Objects have fallen onto, or
liquid has been spilled into,
the product; or
c. The product has been
exposed to rain or water; or
d. The product does not oper-
ate normally when following
the operating instructions.
Adjust only those controls that
are covered by the operating
instructions, as an improper
adjustment of other controls
may result in damage and will
often require extensive work
by a qualified technician to
restore the product to its
normal operation; or
e. The product has been
dropped or damaged in any
way; or
Figure 1.
Example of Antenna Grounding as
per National Electrical Code,
ANSI/NFPA 70
f. The product exhibits a dis-
tinct change in performance –
this indicates a need for
service.
22. Replacement Parts. When
replacement parts are required,
be sure the service technician
has used replacement parts
specified by the manufacturer
or that have the same characteristics as the original part.
Unauthorized substitutions
may result in fire, electric
shock or other hazards.
23. Safety Check. Upon
completion of any service or
repairs to this product, ask the
service technician to perform
safety checks to determine
that the product is in proper
operating condition.
24. Wall or Ceiling Mounting.
The product should be
mounted to a wall or ceiling
only as recommended by the
manufacturer.
25. Heat. The product should
be situated away from heat
sources such as radiators, heat
registers, stoves, or other
products (including amplifiers)
that produce heat.
Part No. JBLULB 6/96
included
CD
Open
Random
Power
Volume
Skip
Search
Tune
Stereo/Mono
– Bass +
Surround Mode
– Treeble + Tuner Presets
Auto Add
Tape/Aux
TV Auto Tune
AM/FM Repeat
Delete
Rear
Speakers
TM
Mute
Volume
CD
AM/FM
TV
Aux
Surround
Tone
Calibrate
Power Sleep
+–
+–
+
CR
2025
Source cable
Speaker cable
harness
FM antenna
AM antenna
The Source.
Cables.
features
• Built-in CD player with
– Random play
– Repeat play
– 8x oversampling
• AM/FM tuner with
– 32 presets
– Auto-preset function
Two sat10/550 front
satellite speakers
(with removable shelf stands
and wall-mounting brackets).
Remote with battery.
• 250 watts total
amplification
– 100 watts – subwoofer
– 35 watts each front
channel
– 23 watts each surround
channel
Powered subwoofer containing
all amplification.
FM and AM antennas.
• 2-way front satellite
speakers with 3/4" titanium
composite dome highfrequency drivers
• Powered bass reflex
subwoofer with 2 x 6-1/2"
woofers
One sat10/550 center speaker.
Wall bracket for Source.
• Adjustable, removable wallmounting brackets for all
speakers
• Video-shielded front satellite
speakers
• Recessed wire channels on
satellites and surrounds
One pair of sat10 surround
speakers with removable wallmounting brackets.
– 4 –
5
– 6 ft.
one. Speaker Placement
0-2 ft.
Satellites
Mounting Options
Front
On shelves. Shelf stands
included.
On the wall. Brackets and
hardware included.
Subwoofer
On optional stands.
Part No. FS10/20.
FS10/20WHT (white).
Surround Speakers
Surrounds
hardware included.
On shelves. Wall-mounted. Brackets and
On optional stands.
– 5 –
two. Connections
JBL ESC550
Powered Subwoofer
Out
In
A or B
TV
Tape/Aux
AM
Loop
US Europe
Tuner
Frequency
Standard
Rear Panel of The Source
TV or Hi-Fi VCR
Antenna
FM
75Ω
L
R
L
R
AUDIO OUT
JBL ESC550
Powered Subwoofer
Out
In
A or B
TV
Tape/Aux
AM
Loop
US Europe
Tuner
Frequency
Standard
Antenna
FM
75Ω
L
R
FRONT
SPEAKERS
+–
+–
SURROUND
SPEAKERS
LEFT
RIGHT
AC
120V
˜
60Hz
575W
MAIN
POWER
POWER
INPUT
SUBWOOFER
LEVEL
FUSE
ON
OFF
LEFT
CENTER
RIGHT
CAUTION:
FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION
AGAINST RISK OF FIRE
REPLACE WITH SAME
TYPE T 8A/250V FUSE.
ATTENTION:
UTILISER UN FUSIBLE DE
RECHANGE DE MEME
TYPE T 8A/250V.
CAUTION:
DISCONNECT SUPPLY CORD
BEFORE CHANGING FUSE.
ATTENTION:
DEBRANCHER AVANT DE
REMPLACER LE FUSIBLE.
Rear Panel of The Source
Rear Panel of Subwoofer
JBL ESC550
Powered Subwoofer
Out
In
A or B
TV
Tape/Aux
AM
Loop
AM
Antenna
FM Antenna
US Europe
Tuner
Frequency
Standard
Antenna
FM
75Ω
L
R
Rear Panel of The Source
JBL ESC550
Powered Subwoofer
Out
In
A or B
TV
Tape/Aux
AM
Loop
US Europe
Tuner
Frequency
Standard
Rear Panel of The SourceCassette Deck
Antenna
FM
75Ω
L
R
L
R
OUT
L
R
IN
The ESC550 System’s Main
Power Switch, located on the
Subwoofer, must be “Off”
when making any connections.
After all connections are com-
pleted the Main Power Switch
should be set to “On” and
remain “On” at all times
unless the user is going on an
extended vacation or changing
Connect TV or VCR to The Source
Note: The Source also provides
a stereo mini-jack (B) to provide an easy connnection to
devices that have a stereo
mini-jack audio output.
Connect Antennas to The Source
the connections.
The Source’s “Power” button
will be used to turn the system on and off during normal
operation.
Connect Optional Cassette Deck to The Source
Connect The Source to a Subwoofer
– 6 –
Speaker Connection Tips
Front
Speakers
+–
+–
Surround
Speakers
AC
120V
˜
60Hz
575W
MAIN
POWER
POWER
INPUT
SUBWOOFER
LEVEL
FUSE
ON
OFF
CAUTION:
FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION
AGAINST RISK OF FIRE
REPLACE WITH SAME
TYPE T 8A/250V FUSE.
ATTENTION:
UTILISER UN FUSIBLE DE
RECHANGE DE MEME
TYPE T 8A/250V.
CAUTION:
DISCONNECT SUPPLY CORD
BEFORE CHANGING FUSE.
ATTENTION:
DEBRANCHER AVANT DE
REMPLACER LE FUSIBLE.
+
+
+
For satellites, thread speaker
wire through the hole in the
bottom of the speaker, then
feed it through the recessed
wire channel.
Separate and strip the ends of
the speaker wire as shown.
Speakers and electronics terminals have corresponding “+”
and “–” terminals. It is important to connect both speakers
identically: “+” on the speaker
Remote Control Battery Installation
Push small tab towards
battery slot and pull battery
drawer out.
Remove old battery.
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.
Insert new battery with “+”
side up, and slide battery
drawer back into remote.
The speaker cables are clearly
labeled for proper hook up to
the corresponding speaker.
Connect the “+” portion of the
cable to the red terminal on
the speaker and the “–”
portion of the cable to the
black terminal on the speaker.
– 7 –
three. Operation
Mute
Volume
+–
– Bass +
Surround Mode
– Treble
+
– Treble +
Volume
– Bass +
Surround Mode
– Treble
+
– Treble +
Mute
Volume
+–
Volume
Mute
+–
Volume
Surround
Calibrate
+–
Surround
Calibrate
+–
Surround
Calibrate
+–
Surround
Calibrate
+–
Volume
Mute
To raise volume: Turn control
on The Source clockwise or
Bass
To raise the bass level: Push
“+” on The Source or
Treble
push “+” on the remote
control.
push “Calibrate” on the
remote control until “Bass”
illuminates in The Source display. Push “+” until you reach
the desired level.
To lower volume: Turn volume
control on The Source
counterclockwise or
To lower the bass level: Push
“–” on The Source or
push “–” on the remote
control.
push “Calibrate” on the
remote control until “Bass”
illuminates in The Source
display.
Push “–” until you reach the
desired level.
To lower volume completely:
Push “Mute” on the remote
control. When “Mute” is
pushed again, the volume will
return to its original level.
To raise the treble level: Push
“+” on The Source or
push “Calibrate” on the
remote control until “Treble”
illuminates in The Source display. Push “+” until you reach
the desired level.
To lower the treble level: Push
“–” on The Source or
push “Calibrate” on the
remote control until “Treble”
illuminates in The Source display. Push “–” until you reach
the desired level.
– 8 –
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