JBL Cinema 300 and 500 Home Theater Systems Preview

Harman is debuting a couple new home theater systems from JBL - the Cinema 300 and Cinema 500 speaker systems. The new systems are really small, but have a really nice style to them. When we got a look at them we first thought they were fancy multimedia speakers... then we realized that we were basically spot on. Both the Cinema 300 and 500 5.1 home theater speaker systems include JBL's "Weave" aesthetics, and the 4 satellites are identical and also voice-matched to the center channel. Both the Cinema 300 and Cinema 500 utilize two PolyPlas cones in the center channel, but the 500 employs a lower crossover point in the other four satellite speakers, using dual 3" cones.

How about the low end? Well, both of the Cinema series systems feature an 8-inch 150W powered subwoofer. It's also down-firing, so placement should be easy in any type of room.

Cinema 300 System Technical Specifications

Frequency Response: 32Hz – 20kHz (–6dB)

Cinema 300 Satellite Speakers:

• Low-Frequency Transducer: 3" (75mm) PolyPlas cone, video-shielded
• High-Frequency Transducer: 1" (25mm) titanium-laminate dome, video-shielded
• Recommended Amplifier
• Power: 100 watts
• Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
• Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 86dB
• Crossover Frequency: 3.7kHz
• Enclosure Type: Sealed
• Connector Type: Push-spring terminal
• Dimensions – including stands:
• (H x W x D): 9-1/4" x 4-3/4" x 3-3/8" (235mm x 121mm x 86mm)

Cinema 300 Center Speaker:

• Low-Frequency Transducers: Dual 3" (75mm) PolyPlas cones, video-shielded
• High-Frequency Transducer: 1" (25mm) titanium-laminate dome, video-shielded
• Recommended Power Handling: 100 watts
• Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
• Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 89dB
• Crossover Frequency: 3.7kHz
• Enclosure Type: Sealed
• Connector Type: Push-spring terminal
• Dimensions – including stands:
• (H x W x D): 4-7/8" x 12" x 3-3/8" (124mm x 305mm x 86mm)

Sub 140P Subwoofer:

• Low-Frequency Transducer: 8" down-firing cone
• Enclosure Type: Ported (down-firing)
• Amplifier Power: 150 watts
• Frequency Response: 32Hz – 150Hz
• Crossover Frequency: 50Hz – 200Hz (variable)
• Controls: Volume, crossover frequency, phase
• Connections: Left and right RCA line-level inputs, LFE inputs
• Power Requirement: 120V/60Hz, 150W (US); 220V/50Hz, 150W (EU)
• Power Consumption: <1W (8mA@120V) standby; 300W (2.5A@120V) peak
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 49" x 14" x 14" (475mm x 355mm x 355mm)

Cinema 500 System Technical Specifications

Frequency Response: 32Hz – 20kHz (–6dB)

Cinema 500 Satellite Speakers:

• Low-Frequency Transducers: Dual 3" (75mm) PolyPlas cones, video-shielded
• High-Frequency Transducer: 1" (25mm) titanium-laminate dome, video-shielded
• Recommended Amplifier
• Power Handling: 100 watts
• Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
• Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 89dB
• Crossover Frequency: 3.7kHz
• Enclosure Type: Sealed
• Connector Type: Push-spring terminal
• Dimensions – including stands:
• (H x W x D): 11-3/8" x 4-3/4" x 3-3/8" (289mm x 121mm x 86mm)

Cinema 500 Center Speaker:

• Low-Frequency Transducers: Dual 3" (75mm) PolyPlas cones, video-shielded
• High-Frequency Transducer: 1" (25mm) titanium-laminate dome, video-shielded
• Recommended Power Handling: 100 watts
• Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
• Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 89dB
• Crossover Frequency: 3.7kHz
• Enclosure Type: Sealed
• Connector Type: Push-spring terminal
• Dimensions – including stand:
• (H x W x D): 4-7/8" x 12" x 3-3/8" (124mm x 305mm x 86mm)

Sub 140P Subwoofer (see above)

Pricing and Availability

The JBL Cinema 300 system is available for $499 and the JBL Cinema 500 system is available for $699. For additional information or to purchase, visit www.jbl.com/cinema300 and www.jbl.com/cinema500.