JBL Professional Speaker User Manual

JBL Professional

Ceiling Speaker Configuration Software

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Rev 1.1.0

DESCRIPTION

The JBL Pro CSC Ceiling Speaker Configurator provides first-pass information about which JBL Pro

ceiling speaker models can be used for various in-ceiling distributed applications to achieve target sound
levels in the most economical manner.

For music systems, the goal is to achieve the proper level of background or foreground music, as
determined by the application type. For paging systems, the goal is to achieve proper intelligibility by
allowing the level of the paging to exceed the ambient sound level by at least 10 decibels, which is the
generally accepted requirement for achieving proper speech intelligibility.

Based on the target sound level requirement as defined by the user-input information above, CSC compares
multiple possibilities of loudspeaker models that could be used, the required spacing for each depending on
its coverage, the total number of loudspeakers, and the cost of each system.

CSC reports which loudspeaker model will achieve the sound level goal at the lowest possible cost. If it’s a
70V/100V T-version speaker, it reports which tap to use for achieving the goal. It also approximates the
number of speakers required for a given floor space and lists the spacing between speakers.

For systems where subwoofers are desired, CSC can advise how many subwoofers are needed to add a
comparable amount of low frequency sound to match well with the main speakers.

Limitations of CSC Software vs. JBL’s DSD Software

With the information CSC provides, it is possible to select a JBL Professional in-ceiling loudspeaker model
and know the approximate the number of loudspeakers to use for a project. This can be very useful in a
sales situation where estimates need to be completed quickly, or as a first-step in a larger engineering
project to select some starting-point models to consider. However, CSC is an estimation tool. It is limited
to an edge-to-edge layout density and is based on very general floor area information. Listener height is
set at 4 feet (1.2 m) and is non-adjustable. Ceiling Height is selectable in whole feet or meters and
maximum ceiling height range of CSC is 20 feet (and 6 meters for metric setting). It is designed to suggest
the most cost-effective model to use for achieving the minimum requirements of the goal. Sound level
results are correct to within about ±2 dB.

By contrast, JBL Pro’s
DSD allows for more exacting computations utilizing additional specific information about the venue. It
looks at more factors, such as the aspect ratio of the room, and provides more exact engineering results,
such as exact placement locations. Listener height can be adjusted to match the application. However,
DSD requires the user to already know which model of JBL loudspeaker they want to use. Therefore, DSD

can be used after CSC, allowing the user to input the model of JBL loudspeaker that was selected by CSC

as being the most cost-effective way of achieving the goal, and then allowing the user to go through various
“what if?” design scenarios by choosing different loudspeaker models, taps settings, spacings, etc.

free download DSD Distributed System Design software is an engineering tool.

Bandwidth -- Note that neither the CSC or DSD programs take bandwidth (how much bass the speaker

produces) into consideration. Some loudspeaker models produce more bass than others. If the application
requires wide-bandwidth sound, then choose the speaker model that has a good bass response, or plan on
adding subwoofers (use the Subwoofer Calculator).

INSTRUCTIONS

Before Starting -- Click Speaker Configurator and then Preferences to set whether you will be using

English or Metric units.

Step 1 -- Click Speaker Configurator and then New Configuration to bring up the

screen.

o Enter the project name.
o Check the bubble for whether the system will be used solely for music, solely for paging, or

for both.

o Read the box about 70V/100V distributed speakers vs. low-impedance (8Ω or 16Ω)

speakers. If you want the results to include low-impedance speakers (in addition to
70V/100V speakers), then click the top checkbox in that section. If you want to only
include low-impedance speakers, click the bottom checkbox in that section. Read the note
at the bottom left about complex rooms. Click NEXT.

Step 2 -- If you selected Music or Both, the music system screen will appear. Click the bubble

representing the sound level you want, based on the description in the bottom left. If in doubt between two
levels, check the higher level bubble to allow the proper headroom for either level. Click NEXT.

Step 3 -- If you selected Paging or Both, the paging system screen will appear. Click the bubble most

closely representing the type of application. The purpose is to determine what the typical ambient sound is
that the sound system will need to overcome. If your application is not specifically mentioned, choose an
application where the ambient sound level is similar to your application. Click NEXT.

Step 4 – On the Room Dimension screen, enter the dimensions of the room, or of the section of the room
that you are modeling. (Note that CSC does not compute based on the specific room dimensions, but rather

bases its computations on the total square footage of the floorspace. For more complete computations
taking into consideration the specific room dimensions, use DSD.)

New Configuration

Input the Ceiling Height. If the speakers will be installed below the actual ceiling height, input the height

above the floor at which the speakers will be installed. Click NEXT.

Step 5 – The Results screen appears.

o

Recommended Sound Level – Based on the information you entered on the Music page,
Paging page or both, CSC sets a recommended sound level. (The target paging sound level
for the listed application-types comes from industry standard BS5839, Annex B.)

o

Speakers Options #1,#2, & #3 – For most systems, CSC presents three possible speaker

choices. Option #1 is the least expensive choice, followed by #2 and then #3.

Matching Required Sound Level – Note that the sound level capability of some of the
speaker selection Options might be lower or higher than the target sound level
recommendation listed at the top of the page. Selections are made in a window that
allows a few dB variation from the recommended level, to provide some trade-off
choices.

In certain situations, such as very low target sound level with only low-impedance
speakers selected, actual sound level capability of the speakers could be considerably
higher than the target level simply because that is the sound level capability of the
designated speakers.