JBL LXE550 BLK, LXE550, LXE770, LXE330, LXE990 User Manual

LXE SERIES

OWNER’S

MANUAL

LXE330
LXE550
LXE770
LXE990

LXE

SERIES

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on choosing
JBL loudspeakers. Their highly
accurate, uncolored and balanced
sound character will greatly
increase your enjoyment of
recorded music. JBL speakers are
built with careful attention to detail,
using only the highest quality
materials. They will provide many
years of excellent performance.

The LXE Series rivals the
performance of loudspeakers
available at considerably higher
price points; and achieves
remarkable imaging, sound stage,
and musicality.

Acoustic Reflection
Cancellation (ARC): Provides

smooth, well-defined high
frequency response. Because the
LXE tweeter faceplate has no
concentric or parallel lines, it
produces high frequency signals
without diffraction.

Pure Titanium, Smooth Dome
Tweeter with Diamond
Surround: Provides low

resonance frequency, low
distortion, flat and smooth high
frequency response, and no
break-up in the audio range.
The result is a well-defined high
frequency output.

High Polymer Laminate
Midrange Drivers and Woofers:

Combine to provide tight bass and
well-defined, smooth midrange,
without harshness, stridency, or
listener fatigue.

High Quality Crossover
Network: The computer-optimized

dividing network employs up to
third-order (18 dB per octave)
crossover sections. JBL’s use of
high quality capacitors and low­loss/low-distortion inductors
assures freedom from phase or
amplitude distortions.

Neoprene-covered Baffle-board:

Specially designed, acoustically
damping, and absorbent
Neoprene foam surface surrounds
the speaker’s drivers and absorbs
diffraction waves.

Acoustically Optimized Cabinet
and Grille Design: Provide

smooth uncolored sound and
eliminate diffraction and unwanted
resonances.

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PLACEMENT

40°-60°

For the best stereo reproduction,
the two loudspeaker systems
should be an equal distance from
your listening position and
separated so that the angle
between them, at the listening
position, is between 40 and 60
degrees (see Fig. 1). For example,
if your listening position is 8 to 12
feet (2.5 to 4 m) from each
speaker, the two systems should
be about 8 feet (2.5 m) apart.
Placing the loudspeakers in
corners or against a wall will result
in the strongest (not necessarily
the most accurate) bass. Since all
LXE models have ports on their
front baffles, the speakers may be
pushed up against a wall or
bookshelf surface.

Fig. 1

Compact systems will also benefit
from placement on stands or
shelves. For the best stereo
imaging, we recommend that the
systems be placed so that the high
frequency transducers are as
close as possible to the ear level
of a seated listener. Every room is
different and there are different
tastes. So don’t hesitate to
experiment on your own.

POWER HANDLING

Thanks to their high efficiency,
the LXE Series loudspeakers will
produce reasonable volume levels
in a room of moderate size with
very little amplifier power.
However, using a small amplifier
to obtain the desired volume
listening levels may lead to
overdriving the amplifier. This will
generate high distortion levels and
may cause damage to your
loudspeaker. For the best
performance, an amplifier should
be selected with an output rating
that is greater than the maximum
power that will be used. This
margin of reserve power will
ensure that the amplifier will not
attempt to deliver more power
than its design allows. However,
the power amplifier’s power rating
per channel must not exceed
the maximum recommended
amplifier power for that specific
loudspeaker model. Please see
the specifications section for
details. Following these guidelines
will provide virtually distortion-free
sound reproduction and long
loudspeaker life.

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CONNECTIONS

Left
Speaker

Amplifier/Receiver

Right
Speaker

Red Blk.

(+)

++

(–)

RedRLBlk.

(+) (–)

To connect the loudspeaker
systems to the receiver or
amplifier, use two-conductor
insulated wire. Your JBL dealer
can recommend suitable cables,
or you can buy wire at most
hardware or electronic stores.
High quality connectors and cable
offer consistent performance that
does not deteriorate over time. We
recommend #16 AWG wire as a
minimum size. If your speaker
is more than 30 feet (10 m) from
your receiver or amplifier, use
larger diameter lower gauge wire.
Connections are made at the
terminals located on the back of
the loudspeaker system. The
terminals accept bare wire or dual
banana plugs, either of which will
provide easy, secure connections.

Preparing The Hookup Wire

Carefully plan your wire lengths
before cutting any speaker wire.
Be sure to allow plenty of extra
wire to help hide paths in corners,
along baseboards, etc.

1. First determine the distance
between the most distant speaker
and the receiver or amplifier.

2. Now make the hookup wires for

both

speakers

this length

, even if
one LXE Series loudspeaker is
much closer to your amplifier than
the other. This will help maintain
proper signal balance.

3. Strip off 3/8" of insulation from
both ends of each conductor.

4. Twist each set of thin wires into
a tightly-bunched spiral.

5. At this point you need to identify

a visual difference between
the two conductors of each
molded pair of speaker wire.
Differentiating marks can be a
different color wire (copper or
“silver”); a strand of yarn in one
conductor; thin, raised ribs on one
part of the outer insulation; or a
printed “+” marking on one of the
insulators. It does not make any
difference which of the two strands
of wire go to (+) and (–) on the
speakers and amplifier, as long as
all speakers used in your system
are connected identically. Push
down on the button below the
terminal and insert the wire, or the
banana plug, through the hole.

For each channel, the red terminal
on all loudspeakers should be
connected to the red or (+)
speaker connection terminal on
the receiver or amplifier, and the
black to the black or (–) (see Fig. 2).
Connecting the loudspeakers in
this manner ensures that they will
be in phase; that is, work together
rather than in opposition.
Connecting the loudspeakers out
of phase will not damage them,
but will result in less bass and
poor imaging.

Fig. 2

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Hooking Up Multiple Sets of
Speakers

If your receiver has two complete
sets of speaker terminals (“A” and
“B”), it's possible to hook up an
additional pair of speakers for

simultaneous

room. However, some speakers
may not be usable as a second
pair if you want to play two
sets at once. Before hooking up
another set of speakers besides
your LXE Series, check the
following:

1. Your amplifier or receiver
minimum load impedance.

Impedance is always expressed
in ohms and can be found in the
owner’s manual that came with
your unit. For example, the
following are typical entries in
amplifier/receiver owner’s
manuals:
A) 100 watts RMS into 8 ohms,
both channels driven, 20-20kHz
with less than 0.02% THD.
B) 160 watts RMS into 4 ohms,
both channels driven, 20-20kHz
with less than 0.02% THD.

2. The nominal impedance of
the second set of speakers.
A pair of LXE speakers when
conbined with another pair of
8 ohm speakers will present an
impedance to the amplifier/receiver
that is approximately 4 ohms. This
speaker combination can be used
with the amplifier/receiver cited in
B above. If the amplifier/receiver
has a specification similar to that
shown in A above, or if your
second set of speakers has an
impedance other than 8 ohms, you

sound in another

must consult the amplifier/receiver
manufacturer for clarification.

TROUBLESHOOTING

The vast majority of new speaker
“malfunctions” end up being traced
to connections or switch settings.
To avoid packing up correctly
functioning speakers and sending
them off, only to find that they’re
not really at fault, check the
following tips first, before
requesting service.

No sound at all or very faint sound
from either speaker

1. Amp/receiver tape monitor
button pushed in while using CD,
FM or phono inputs.

2. Wrong speaker switch, “A” or
“B” speaker output.

3. Sound source (CD, cassette
deck, turntable) not turned on, not
activated, not hooked up or not
selected on amp/receiver front
panel.

No sound from one speaker

1. Balance control turned all the
way left or right.

2. Speaker wire has become
disconnected.

3. One of the connections
between sound source and
amp/receiver is faulty or has
become disconnected.

Both speakers play at low volumes
but shut off as volume is increased
OR sound turns on and off
intermittently

A few strands of speaker wire may
be shorting out. Recheck the
connections. Recheck the

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minimum speaker impedance
required by the amp.

Bass is very weak AND/OR sound
seems to come from each speaker
separately, without creating a
stable stereo image between the
speakers.

1. The polarity (+ & –) of one
speaker has been reversed
relative to the other. Double
check connections.

2. Speakers are too far away from
back and side walls or too far
apart. Experiment again with the
speaker placement. If you are still
encountering problems, consult
your JBL dealer.

GENERAL CARE

The grille is held in place by pins
near the edges. To remove the
grille, grasp it by both top and
bottom edges and pull gently.
To replace grille, re-position it
carefully and press gently at the
corners. Do not push on the center
area of the grille.

SERVICE

Should your loudspeaker ever
need service, return it to the
JBL dealer from whom it was
purchased. If for some reason this
is impractical, in the United States,
call 800-336-4JBL for your nearest
warranty station. Military
personnel who purchased from
authorized military outlets should
return them to a similar outlet or
contact:

Mohawk Marketing Corp.
149 Business Park Drive
P.O. Box 62229
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

If purchased outside the United
States, contact your local
distributor to make arrangements
for repair service. Do not return

products to the JBL factory.

The loudspeaker cabinet may be
cleaned with a slightly damp cloth.
To remove dust from the grille
cloth, use a vacuum with a brush
attachment. Spots may be
removed with a commercial spot
remover. Do not use any cleaners
or solvents on the speaker drivers
themselves.

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Specifications LXE330 LXE550 LXE770 LXE990

High Frequency 1" Pure 1" Pure 1" Pure 1" Pure
Dome Transducer Titanium Titanium Titanium Titanium

Midrange Transducer n/a n/a 5" 5"
(High Polymer Laminate Cone)

Low Frequency Transducer 6
(High Polymer Laminate Cone)

Crossover Frequency 3.7 kHz 2.3 kHz 760/3.7 kHz 800/3.2 kHz
Frequency 55 Hz to 41 Hz to 41 Hz to 40 Hz to

Response (– 6 dB) 23 kHz 23 kHz 23 kHz 23 kHz
Sensitivity (1 Watt/1 meter) 90 dB 91 dB 91 dB 92 dB
Nominal Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms 8 ohms 8 ohms
Recommended 10 to 125 10 to 140 10 to 150 10 to 200

Amplifier Power* Watts Watts Watts Watts

1

/2" 8" 8" 10"

External Dimensions
Height 17
Width 9
Depth 6

3

/8"23

5

/8"12

3

/4"8

1

/8" 26" 281/2"

1

/8"12

15

/16"8

1

/8"13

15

/16"8

1

/2"

15

/16"

External Dimensions
Height 441 mm 587 mm 660 mm 724 mm
Width 245 mm 308 mm 308 mm 343 mm
Depth 172 mm 227 mm 227 mm 227 mm

Weight (each) 15 lbs 24 lbs 29 lbs 33 lbs

6.8 kg 10.9 kg 13.2 kg 15.0 kg

Shipping Weight 34 lbs 52 lbs 33 lbs 37 lbs

15.4 kg 23.6 kg 15.0 kg 16.8 kg

*The maximum recommended amplifier power rating will ensure proper system headroom to allow for

occasional program peaks. We do not recommend sustained operation at these maximum power Levels.

JBL continually strives to improve its products. New materials, production methods and design refinements
are introduced into existing models without notice as a routine expression of our design philosophy. For this
reason, JBL LXE Series Loudspeakers may differ in some respect from their published specifications
and descriptions, but will always equal or exceed the original specifications unless otherwise stated.

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80 Crossways Park West, Woodbury, NY 11797
8500 Balboa Blvd., Northridge, CA 91329

Part No. 308338-001