JBL ES250P High-Performance Subwoofer Owner’s Manual

: June 13, 2024
: JBL

Table of Contents

JBL ES250P High-Performance Subwoofer
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
INTRODUCTION
PLACEMENT
CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS
OPERATION
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
SPECIFICATIONS
FAQs
Video- Product Overview
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JBL ES250P High-Performance Subwoofer

JBL-ES250P-High-Performance-Subwoofer-product

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Read these instructions.
Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.
Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.
Clean only with a dry cloth.
Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades 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 the replacement of the obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
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.
Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as a 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.
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.
To completely disconnect this apparatus from the AC Mains, disconnect the power supply cord plug from the AC receptacle.
The mains plug of the power supply cord shall remain readily operable.
Do not expose batteries to excessive heat such as sunshine, fire, or the like.

Symbols

The lightning flash with the 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.

Additional Warning:

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

INTRODUCTION

JBL® ES150P/ES250P Powered Subwoofers

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 ES Series, innovative technologies such as titanium-laminate-dome tweeters, Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal™ (EOS) waveguides, 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 the 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 integrates 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 non-directional, 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, the 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.

CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS

Rear Panel

$JBL-ES250P-High-Performance-Subwoofer $5$$

Phase Switch
LFE/Normal Selector
Subwoofer-Level Control
Crossover Adjustment
Line-Level/LFE Input
Power Switch

SYSTEM CONNECTIONS

If you have a Dolby® Digital or DTS® receiver/processor with a low-frequency- effects (LFE) or subwoofer output: $JBL-ES250P-High-Performance-Subwoofer $6$$

If your receiver/processor does not contain a Dolby Digital or DTS processor but has subwoofer outputs: $JBL-ES250P-High-Performance-Subwoofer $7$$

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.

OPERATION

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 3 to the “min” position.
Turn on your sub by pressing the Power Switch 6 on 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 on the top 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 6 can be left on. You may turn off the Power Switch 6 for extended periods of non-operation, e.g., when you are away on vacation.

Adjust Gain

Turn your Subwoofer-Level Control 3 up 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 6 been 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.
Set the overall volume control of the preamplifier or stereo to a comfortable level. Adjust the Subwoofer-Level Control 3 until you obtain a pleasing blend of bass. The bass response should not overpower 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 ¡ determines whether the subwoofer speaker’s piston-like 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 4 determines 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 ultra-deep 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 2 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.

MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE

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.
If a problem occurs, make sure that all connections are properly made and clean. If a problem exists in one loudspeaker, reverse the connection wires to the left and right system. If the problem remains in the same speaker, then the fault is with the loudspeaker. If the problem appears in the opposite speaker, the cause is in another component or cable. In the event that your subwoofer ever needs service, contact your local JBL dealer, or visit www.jbl.com for a service center near you.

SPECIFICATIONS

$JBL-ES250P-High-Performance-Subwoofer $8$$

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

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.
- Address: 250 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, NY 11797 USA
- Address: 8500 Balboa Boulevard, Northridge, CA 91329 USA
Website: www.jbl.com
Copyright © 2007 Harman International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Part No. 406-000-05611-E