JBL LS120P/230 User Manual

English

LS120P (230V)

JBL LS SERIES

OWNER’S GUIDE

®

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2

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with a dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with

the manufacturer’s instructions.

8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat
registers, stoves or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.

9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding­type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the
other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding
prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided for your safety.
If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an
electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched,
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles and the point where
they exit from the apparatus.

11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the
manufacturer.

12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table
specified by the manufacturer or sold with the
apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when
moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury
from tip-over.

13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for
long periods of time.

14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is
required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as
power supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or
objects have fallen into the apparatus, or the apparatus has been
exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally or has been
dropped.

15. Do not expose this apparatus to dripping or splashing and ensure
that no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, are placed on the
apparatus.

16. To completely disconnect this apparatus from the AC Mains,
disconnect the power supply cord plug from the AC receptacle.

17. The mains plug of the power supply cord shall remain readily
operable.

18. Do not expose batteries to excessive heat such as sunshine, fire
or the like.

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 product.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose
this apparatus to rain or moisture.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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English

For more than 60 years, JBL has been providing audio equipment to
concert halls, recording studios and movie theaters around the
world, and has become the hands-down choice of leading recording
artists and sound engineers.

With the JBL LS Series, innovative technologies such as pure-titani­um compression tweeters, Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal

™

(EOS) wave-

guides and PolyPlas

™

transducer reinforcement are available to you.

Enjoy!

UNPACKING THE SUBWOOFER

If you suspect damage from transit, report it immediately to your
dealer. Keep the shipping carton and packing materials for future
use.

PLACEMENT

Since the installation of a subwoofer can be somewhat more
complicated than installation of full-range speakers, it is essential
that you read this section very carefully prior to connecting the
subwoofer to your system. Should you have questions relating to
your installation, it is advisable to call your dealer or distributor for
advice.

The performance of the subwoofer is directly related to its
placement in the listening room and how you align the subwoofer
with its satellite speakers. Setting the volume of the subwoofer in
relationship to the left and right speakers is also of critical
importance because it is essential that the subwoofer integrate
smoothly with the entire system. Setting the subwoofer’s volume
level too high will result in overpowering, boomy bass. Setting the
volume level too low will negate the benefits of the subwoofer.

Here are several additional facts on installation that may prove
useful. It is generally believed by most audio authorities that low
frequencies (below 125Hz) are nondirectional and, therefore,
placement of a subwoofer within any listening room is not critical.
While in theory it is true that the larger wavelengths of extremely
low frequencies are basically nondirectional, the fact is that, when
installing a subwoofer within the limited confines of a room,
reflections, standing waves and absorptions generated within the
room will strongly influence the performance of any subwoofer
system. As a result, specific location of the subwoofer becomes
important, and we strongly recommend that you experiment with
placement before choosing a final location.

Placement will depend upon your room and the amount and quality
of bass required (for example, whether or not your room permits
placement of the subwoofer near either satellite).

Figure 1. This example shows the subwoofer positioned behind the
right-channel satellite speaker to re-create the actual location of
bass instruments in an orchestra and/or add impact to movie sound­tracks.

INSTALLING SPIKED FEET

Four metal spikes are supplied for use when the speaker is to be
placed on a carpeted surface; using them decouples the speaker
from the floor to prevent unwanted damping. To insert the spikes,
gently lay the speaker on its side (not its front or back) on a soft,
nonabrasive surface, and unscrew the rubber-tipped feet (store in a
safe place). Each spike then screws into the threaded insert in each
corner. Make sure all four spikes are screwed in completely for sta­bility. To protect the surface of uncarpeted floors, set each spike into
an included metal coaster.

NEVER drag the speaker to move it, as this will damage the spikes,
the feet, the wood cabinet itself, and/or the floor. Always lift the
speaker and carry it to its new location.

JBL® LS120P POWERED SUBWOOFER

3

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REAR PANEL

CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS

0

Phase Switch

1

LFE/Normal Selector

2

Subwoofer-Level Control

3

Crossover Adjustment

4

Power Indicator

5

Line-Level/LFE Input

6

Power Switch

0

1

2

5

4

6

3

LS120P/230

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English

SYSTEM CONNECTIONS

If you have a Dolby®Digital or DTS®receiver/processor
with a low-frequency-effects (LFE) or subwoofer output:

5

If your receiver/processor does not contain a Dolby Digital
or DTS processor, but has subwoofer outputs:

Set line-level/LFE switch to
“Normal.”

NOTE: If your receiver/processor
has only one sub out, you may
use either the L or R input.

Set LFE/Normal switch to “LFE.”

LS120P/230

LS120P/230

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POWER ON

Plug your subwoofer’s AC cord into a wall outlet. Do not use the
outlets on the back of the receiver.

Initially set the Subwoofer-Level Control 2to the “min” position.
Turn on your sub by pressing the Power Switch 6on the rear panel.
Turn on your entire audio system and start a CD or movie soundtrack

at a moderate level.

AUTO ON/STANDBY

With the Power Switch 6in the ON position, the Status LED 4on
back will remain lit in red or green to indicate the On/Standby mode
of the subwoofer.

RED = STANDBY (no signal detected, Amp Off)
GREEN = ON (signal detected, Amp On)
The subwoofer will automatically enter the Standby mode after

approximately 10 minutes when no signal is detected from your
system. The subwoofer will then power ON instantly when a signal is
detected. During periods of normal use, the Power Switch 6can be
left on. You may turn off the Power Switch 6for extended periods
of nonoperation, e.g., when you are away on vacation.

GETTING STARTED

Turn your Subwoofer-Level Control 2up to the halfway position. If
no sound emanates from the subwoofer, check the AC-line cord and
input cables. Are the connectors on the cables making proper
contact? Is the AC plug connected to a “live” receptacle? Has the
Power Switch 6been pressed to the “On” position? Once you have
confirmed that the subwoofer is active, proceed by playing a CD,
record or cassette. Use a selection that has ample bass information.

ADJUST LEVEL

Set the overall volume control of the preamplifier or stereo to a
comfortable level. Adjust the Subwoofer-Level Control 2until you
obtain a pleasing blend of bass. Bass response should not over ­power the room but rather be adjusted so there is a harmonious
blend across the entire musical range. Many users have a tendency
to set the subwoofer volume too loud, adhering to the belief that a
subwoofer is there to produce lots of bass. This is not entirely true.
A subwoofer is there to enhance bass, extending the response of the
entire system so the bass can be felt as well as heard. However,
overall balance must be maintained or the music will not sound
natural. An experienced listener will set the volume of the subwoofer
so its impact on bass response is always there but never obtrusive.

PHASE CONTROL

The Phase Switch 0determines whether the subwoofer speaker’s
pistonlike action moves in and out with the main speakers, 0˚, or
opposite the main speakers, 180˚. Proper phase adjustment depends
on several variables such as room size, subwoofer placement and
listener position. Adjust the phase switch to maximize bass output at
the listening position.

CROSSOVER ADJUSTMENT

The Crossover Adjustment Control 3determines the highest
frequency at which the subwoofer reproduces sounds. If your main
speakers can comfortably reproduce some low-frequency sounds,
set this control to a lower frequency setting, between 50Hz and
100Hz. This will concentrate the subwoofer’s efforts on the ultradeep
bass sounds required by today’s films and music.
If you are using smaller bookshelf speakers that do not extend to the
lower bass frequencies, set the Crossover Adjustment control to a
higher setting, between 120Hz and 150Hz.

NOTE: This control will have no effect if the LFE/Normal Selector

1

is set to LFE. If you have a Dolby Digital or DTS processor/receiver,
the Low-Pass Frequency is set by the processor/receiver. Consult
your owner’s manual to learn how to view or change this setting.

The enclosure may be cleaned using a soft cloth to remove finger­prints or to wipe off dust.

The grille may be gently vacuumed. Stains may be removed with an
aerosol cleaner, following its instructions. Do not use any solvents
on the grille.

All wiring connections should be inspected and cleaned or remade
periodically. The frequency of maintenance depends on the metals
involved in the connections, atmospheric conditions and other
factors, but once per year is the minimum.

In the event that your subwoofer ever needs service, contact your
local JBL dealer or distributor, or visit www.jbl.com for a service
center near you.

OPERATION

6

MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE

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English

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SPECIFICATIONS

LS 120P

Frequency Response 25Hz – 150Hz
Amplifier RMS Power 400 Watts
Amplifier Peak Dynamic Power

†

700 Watts

Crossover Frequency 50Hz – 150Hz;

24dB/octave, continuously adjustable

Driver 300mm (12") PolyPlas

™

Dimensions (H x W x D) 487mm x 375mm x 425mm
(enclosed only) (19-3/16" x 14-3/4" x 16-3/4")

Dimensions (H x W x D) 500mm x 375mm x 438mm
(with feet, controls, grille, etc.) (19-11/16" x 14-3/4" x 17-1/4")

Weight 25.8kg (57 lb)

†

The Peak Dynamic Power is measured by recording the highest center-to-peak voltage
measured across the output of a resistive load equal to minimum impedance of the transducer,
using a 50Hz sine wave burst, 3 cycles on, 17 cycles off.

Declaration of Conformity

We, Harman Consumer Group, Inc.

2, route de Tours
72500 Château du Loir
France

declare in own responsibility that the product

described in this ownerʼs manual is in compliance

with technical standards:

EN 55013:2001+A1:2003

EN 55020:2002+A1:2003

EN 61000-3-2:2000

EN 61000-3-3:1995+A1:2001

EN 60065:2002

Laurent Rault

Harman Consumer Group, Inc.

Château du Loir, France 5/07

Declaration of Conformity

We, Harman Consumer Group, Inc.

2, route de Tours
72500 Château du Loir
France

declare in own responsibility that the product

described in this ownerʼs manual is in compliance

with technical standards:

EN 61000-6-3:2001

EN 61000-6-1:2001

Laurent Rault

Harman Consumer Group, Inc.

Château du Loir, France 5/07

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Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.
JBL is a trademark of Harman International Industries, Incorporated, registered

in the United States and/or other countries. Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal, PolyPlas and
Pro Sound Comes Home are trademarks of Harman International Industries, Incorporated.

Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories.
DTS is a registered trademark of DTS, Inc.

®

PRO SOUND COMES HOME

™

Harman Consumer Group, Inc., 250 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, NY 11797 USA
8500 Balboa Boulevard, Northridge, CA 91329 USA
2, route de Tours, 72500 Château du Loir, France
www.jbl.com
© 2008 Harman International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Part No.

406-000-05610-E

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