
X + 
0 + 
Y
2
0 
M
HZ
X + 0 + Y2 0MHZ”
TWEETER TYPE: Pure-titanium dome with EOS™ waveguide
DESIGN GOAL: Bring the thrill of live performance and movie sound to
thehomeenvironment bycalling on JBL’s professionalengineering leadership.
CROSSOVER NETWORK: Straight-Line Signal Path™ (SSP) 
PORT DESIGN: FreeFlow™ flared 
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCE: Studio Monitor
OWNER’S GUIDE
WOOFER TYPE:
Cast-aluminum basket with HeatScape™ motor structure
PRODUCT LINE: 
STUDIO SERIES
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 
©1999 JBL, Incorporated. JBL is a registered trademark 
of JBL, Incorporated.
Part No.
S-CTR O/G
TWEETER TYPE: Pure-titanium dome with EOS™ waveguide
DESIGN GOAL: Bring the thrill of live performance and movie sound to
the homeenvironment bycalling on JBL’s professional engineering leadership.
CROSSOVER NETWORK: Straight-Line Signal Path™ (SSP)
WOOFER TYPE:
Cast-aluminum basket with HeatScape™ motor structure
PORT DESIGN: FreeFlow™ flared 
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCE: Studio Monitor
OWNER’S GUIDE
PRO SOUND 
COMES HOME
™
PRODUCT LINE: 
STUDIO SERIES
MODEL 
S-CENTER
NUMBER:
MODEL 
S-CENTER
NUMBER:
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING JBL
For more than 50 years, JBL 
has been involved in every 
aspect of music and film 
recording and reproduction, 
from live performances to the 
recordings you play in your 
home, car or office.
We’re confident that the JBL 
loudspeaker 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 advancements, and 
helps us to better understand 
our customers and build 
products that meet their 
needs and expectations.
JBL Consumer Products

S-CENTER
Description: 3-Way dual 5" center 
Maximum Recommended 
Amplifier Power*: 150W
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms 
Sensitivity (2.83V/1m):
91dB
Frequency Response (–3dB):
75Hz – 20kHz
Crossover Frequencies: 800, 3200Hz
High-Frequency Transducer: 1" Pure-titanium dome, with rubber surround, 
shielded; Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal™ (EOS) 
waveguide
Midrange Transducer: 4" PolyPlas™ (polymer-coated cellulose fiber) 
cone, rubber surround, shielded; Linear Field 
Proximity™ (LFP) bezel
Low-Frequency Transducer
: 5-1/4" PolyPlas™ (polymer-coated cellulose fiber) 
cone, rubber surround, SFG™,  magnetic shorting 
rings, high-temp oversized Kapton®voice coil, 
HeatScape™ motor structure, cast-aluminum 
baskets, shielded
Baffles: Low Diffraction, IsoPower™
Port: FreeFlow™ flared
Network: Straight-Line Signal Path™ (SSP)
Terminals: All-metal, gold-plated 5-way binding posts
Dimensions (H x W x D): 7-7/8" x 20-1/2" x 9"
200mm x 521mm x 229mm
Weight: 15lbs, 6.8kgs
SPECIFICATIONS
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 recommendations 
as a guide. Slight variations 
will not diminish your 
listening pleasure.
The Studio Series S-CENTER 
loudspeaker is videoshielded and can safely be 
placed near a television.
The S-CENTER is designed 
to complement all of the 
Studio Series loudspeakers. 
It is the ideal way to 
re-create the cinematic 
experience in your home.
If there is no sound from 
any of the speakers:
• Check that receiver/ 
amplifier is on and that 
a source is playing.
• Review proper operation 
of your receiver/amplifier.
If the system plays at low 
volumes but shuts off as 
volume is increased:
• 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.
• If more than one pair of 
main speakers is being 
used, check the minimum 
impedance requirements of 
your receiver/amplifier.
If there is no sound from 
the center speaker:
• Make sure that your 
receiver’s “Center-Channel” 
mode is in the ”Normal“ or 
”Wide“ position. If it is in the 
”Phantom“ position, the 
center speaker will not play.
• Check all connections 
between processor/amplifier 
and the center speaker.
CONNECTION TIPS
SPEAKER CONNECTIONS
–  +
Speaker Outputs
CENTER
–        +
Speakers and electronics 
terminals have corresponding (+) and (–) 
terminals. 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.
TROUBLESHOOTING
*The maximum recommended amplifier power rating will
ensure proper system headroom to allow for occasional 
peaks. We do not recommend sustained operation at these 
maximum power levels.
Occasional refinements may be made to existing products 
without notice but will always meet or exceed original 
specifications unless otherwise stated.
Declaration of Conformity
We, JBL Europe A/S
Kongevejen 194B 
DK-3460 Birkerød 
DENMARK
declare in own responsibility, that the loudspeaker 
described in this owner’s manual is in compliance with 
technical standards: 
EN 50081-1:1992 
EN 50082-1:1992
Steen Michaelsen
JBL Europe A/S
Birkerød. DENMARK. 8/99