JBL Professional Debuts Cinema Expansion Series
Three-way screen speakers, surrounds, subwoofers and companion Crown amplifier provide premium sound for small- to midsize theaters
HARMAN Professional Solutions has introduced JBL Professional Cinema Expansion Series sound systems for small to medium-size commercial theaters.
The line, which includes JBL 3153 and 4253 3-way screen-channel loudspeakers, 3181F and 4281F subwoofers and 8102 surrounds, delivers the highest SPLs in its class and covers rooms up to 85 feet (26 m) deep and up to 40 feet (12 m) wide. HARMAN also debuted the 2-channel, 1,300-watt Crown XLC 21300 amplifier, which supports Cinema Series speakers in a range of system configurations.
“When we created the Cinema Expansion Series, we wanted to offer flexible solutions for cost-conscious theater owners looking to provide a premium audio experience in every seat while maximizing their investment,” said Sunil Karanjikar, Cinema Product Manager, HARMAN Professional Solutions. “Now, whether a theater offers traditional 5.1 or more complex multichannel sound, it can offer the fidelity and performance synonymous with the JBL name at a competitive price. By combining Cinema Expansion Series speakers and subs with the JBL CPi2000 cinema processor and our new Crown XLC21300 amplifier, theater owners and integrators can build fully integrated HARMAN cinema sound solutions. But above all, it’s that legendary JBL sound that will thrill theatergoers and keep them coming back.”
JBL 3153 and 4253 screen speakers provide full-range, symmetrical 90 x 50-degree coverage. Speakers operate in passive or biamp mode and incorporate built-in crossover networks and transducer protection circuitry. Two sizes are available: The single 15-inch, 460W-rated JBL 3153 delivers 134 dB peak SPL and covers rooms up to 45 feet deep; while the dual 15-inch, 800W-rated 4253 delivers 138 dB peak SPL and covers rooms up to 85 feet deep. Both models operate at 4Ω impedance, allowing them to be powered by Crown XLC amplifiers, and feature enclosure-top binding-post connectors to simplify wiring and save space behind the screen.
The 10-inch, 2-way, 260W-rated 8102 surround speaker provides full-range, 110 x 90-degree coverage, with a peak SPL of 125 dB and a throw capability of 40 feet (12 m). It operates at 8Ω impedance, allowing multiple surround speakers to be wired to a single amplifier channel. The 8102’s wide coverage and high SPL output means fewer surrounds are needed in an array.
3181F and 4281F subwoofers work seamlessly with JBL Cinema Expansion Series screen speakers and surrounds to provide powerful, punchy low-end coverage in the 30–500 Hz range.
The Crown XLC 21300, the newest, most powerful model in Crown’s XLC Series of high-output, competitively-priced professional cinema amplifiers, delivers clean, reliable power in a versatile package; combine the XLC 21300 with JBL Cinema Expansion Series speakers to build a complete, fully integrated JBL cinema sound solution.