JBL Speaker P81 User Manual

JBL PERFORMANCESERIES  
OWNER’S GUIDE  
P81  
P941  
HIGH-PERFORMANCE  
IN-WALL LOUDSPEAKERS  
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INTRODUCTION  
Thank you for purchasing the JBL  
Performance Series P81/P941 In-Wall  
Loudspeakers. Designed for discerning  
audiophiles, the P81 and P941 offer ver-  
satile, easily integrated in-wall loud-  
speakers that provide the superior,  
uncolored sound that is the hallmark of  
JBL loudspeakers. The P81 and P941  
reproduce realistic, accurate signals  
with minimal coloration and distortion,  
making them perfect complements to  
JBL Performance front speakers in  
multichannel setups. Proprietary trans-  
ducers, sophisticated filter networks,  
and user-adjustable compensation con-  
trols allow the P81/P941 to achieve  
remarkable sound quality and perform-  
ance befitting the most demanding  
home entertainment systems.  
handles critical mid-band frequencies  
with natural tonal balance over a wide  
operating range.  
P81/P941 HIGHLIGHTS  
I Exceptional accuracy  
I Proprietary 7-1/2-inch (191mm)/9-inch  
(229mm) Organic Ceramic Composite  
woofer  
An advanced midrange (P941 only)  
motor structure includes two high-  
grade neodymium magnets placed  
at the center of the motor structure,  
inside the voice coil, for improved  
magnetic shielding. Inside the motor, a  
black-plated steel-shield cup facilitates  
heat dissipation for higher power han-  
dling. An integrated aluminum flux-  
stabilization ring minimizes modulation  
inside the motor’s static gap flux field,  
greatly reducing distortion. A copper ring  
inside the motor’s gap reduces distortion  
even further. Both rings are optimally  
sized and placed to maintain constant  
linear voice coil inductance with  
I Proprietary 3-1/2-inch (89mm)  
Organic Ceramic Composite  
midrange (P941 only)  
I Proprietary 1-inch (25mm) titanium-  
dome tweeter  
I High output with low distortion  
I Gold-plated binding posts  
I High-Frequency Level control  
I High-Frequency Tilt control  
I Low-Frequency Boundary  
Compensation control  
I Listener Axis control  
The P81 and P941 are also perfectly  
suited as front and surround speakers  
in complete in-wall setups, or as stereo  
pairs in secondary listening spaces, or  
for integration with flat-screen televi-  
sion home theater installations. Unlike  
freestanding loudspeakers, the P81 and  
P941 speakers occupy no space in liv-  
ing areas and will not detract from the  
décor of the listening room. They are  
easily mounted in either pre-existing or  
new construction projects.  
forward and backward motions.  
I Advanced woofer and midrange  
(P941 only) motor structure  
The P81 has a high-order filter at  
2.8kHz. In the P941, high-order filters at  
300Hz and 2kHz optimize loudspeaker  
on- and off-axis response, helping  
to ensure smooth octave-to-octave  
balance and timbral accuracy. The P81  
and P941 feature gold-plated binding  
posts that accommodate two connec-  
tion methods, while separate High-  
Frequency Tilt, Low-Frequency Boundary  
Compensation, High-Frequency Level  
and Listener Axis controls compensate  
for less-than-ideal listening room  
I Large voice coils for wide dynamic  
range without compression  
I Wall-mounting frame which features  
spring-loaded clamps to securely  
anchor loudspeaker into wall opening  
I Optional rough-in bracket for stud-  
mounting prior to drywall installation  
(not included)  
A critical aspect of loudspeaker design,  
transducers convert electrical signals  
into audible sounds, profoundly affecting  
speaker performance. Combining supe-  
rior form and function, the P81 and P941  
transducers feature a distinctive design  
that allows for smoother frequency  
response. The cones are constructed  
with Organic Ceramic Composite cone  
material to reduce distortion, while the  
spiders are constructed of a high-strength  
PRODUCT REGISTRATION  
acoustics and loudspeaker placement.  
Please register the P81/P941 as soon  
as possible after purchase. To do so,  
product registration serves no warranty  
purposes. Retain the original, dated  
sales receipt as proof of warranty  
coverage.  
For more than 50 years, JBL has stood  
at the forefront of loudspeaker design.  
With extensive research and design  
facilities, the JBL Performance Series  
P81 and P941 loudspeakers benefit  
from cutting-edge tools such as a multi-  
channel listening lab for double-blind  
listening tests; a laser interferometer  
for detailed driver analysis; real ane-  
choic chambers for precise tests and  
measurements; finite element analysis  
for advanced loudspeaker modeling;  
and a stereo lithography apparatus for  
design verification.  
®
Nomex blend with optimized geometry  
for increased linearity.  
A two-way design, the P81 transducers  
effectively cover a broad range of fre-  
quencies. A 7-1/2-inch (191mm) woofer  
delivers highly refined and dynamically  
authoritative low frequencies down to  
the very lowest octaves. Also, a 1-inch  
(25mm) titanium-dome tweeter repro-  
duces high frequencies well above  
audible levels, with wide dispersion for  
open, airy treble.  
Adding to the proud lineage of JBL’s  
Performance Series loudspeakers, the  
P81 and P941 further advance JBL’s  
reputation as the leading designer  
and manufacturer of high-quality,  
high-performance loudspeakers.  
A three-way design, the P941, in addi-  
tion to its 9-inch (229mm) woofer and  
1-inch (25mm) tweeter, also features  
a 3-1/2-inch (89mm) midrange, which  
4
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UNPACKING  
The P81 and P941 require special care  
and handling during unpacking. Pay  
particular attention to the precautions  
that appear in this section and to other  
precautions that appear throughout this  
owner’s manual.  
Allen Keys/Spacer Shim  
Top Pad  
When unpacking, save all packing  
materials for possible future shipping  
needs. Refer to the Obtaining Service  
section on page 14 for additional  
information.  
Protective  
Cloth  
Paint Mask  
Wall Template  
Fiberglass  
Insulation  
Grille  
¡
Frame  
Alignment Tool  
Replacement  
Scrim Cloth  
Bottom Pad  
£
Figure 2: Packing Materials  
Figure 1: Unpacking the P81/P941  
To Unpack the P81 and P941:  
1. Place the packing carton in the  
upright position and fully open the top  
flaps, as shown in Step 1 of Figure 1.  
2. Without allowing the top flaps to  
close, move the outer packing carton  
into an inverted position, as shown in  
Step 2 of Figure 1.  
3. Lift the packing carton off of the  
loudspeaker, as shown in Step 3  
of Figure 1. Use caution to avoid  
damaging the loudspeaker or frame  
clamps. At this point, the loudspeaker  
will be upside-down.  
4. Remove the bottom pad, and then  
remove the frame alignment tool  
and grille from the grille filler. These  
items are identified in Figure 2.  
5. Set aside the wall template, paint  
mask, fiberglass insulation, spacer  
shim, replacement scrim cloth and  
Allen keys.  
6. Invert speaker so it is in the upright  
position.  
7. When the P81/P941 is in the upright  
position, remove the top pad.  
8. Leave the loudspeaker upright in the  
bottom pad until ready to install.  
5
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LOUDSPEAKER OVERVIEW  
P81/P941 DRIVER COMPLEMENT  
3. High-Frequency Level (dB) Control  
inverted speaker installations. Refer to  
the Notes on page 9 and the Optimizing  
Performance (page 12) section for addi-  
tional information.  
The numbers in Figure 3 correspond to  
the numbered items in this section.  
Provides a shift in the output level of  
the tweeter or overall high-frequency  
response (active above approximately  
2.5kHz). The options are –1dB, 0dB  
and +1dB.  
1. Tweeter  
6. Low-Frequency Boundary  
Compensation Control  
1-inch (25mm) titanium dome  
Underhung with copper-clad alu-  
minum wire for low distortion  
4. High-Frequency Tilt Control  
Compensates for less-than-ideal  
speaker placement near adjacent walls  
or boundaries.  
Adds a ”tilt“ to the high-frequency  
response. The tilt will become active  
above approximately 8kHz (depart  
from nominally flat response) and will  
increase to 3dB – 4dB at 20kHz. This  
will offer an improved high-frequency  
response for installations where the  
primary listening position is located  
significantly off the tweeter axis (for an  
effect almost like adding ”toe in“ towards  
the listening position). The added high-  
frequency contour helps to offset per-  
ceived reduction of high-frequency  
response for off-axis listeners due to  
the increase in directivity of the system  
(tweeter beaming) above 8kHz.  
Ferrofluid for high-power handling  
with reduced compression  
Select the “off” setting if the speaker  
is mounted at least 4 feet away from  
adjacent walls or boundaries.  
2. Woofer  
7-1/2-inch (191mm)/9-inch (229mm)  
cones constructed with Organic  
Ceramic Composite cone material for  
low distortion  
Select the “on” position if the  
speaker is less than 4 feet from one  
(or possibly two) or more adjacent  
walls or boundaries. In the ”on“  
position, system output is reduced  
below approximately 400Hz to offset  
the increased low-frequency support,  
due to the boundary.  
True pistonic operation for increased  
freedom from coloration  
Symmetrical Field Geometry (SFG )  
design for low overall distortion  
Aluminum ring for flux stabilization  
greatly reduces distortion at low fre-  
quencies  
NOTE: Refer to the Optimizing  
Performance section on page 12 for  
more information about the front-panel  
controls.  
5. Listener Axis Control  
Butyl rubber surround for large, linear  
excursion capabilities  
All loudspeakers sound best when the  
listener is positioned at optimal angles  
relative to the speaker placement. This  
is a fixed angle for most loudspeakers,  
but the P81 and P941 provide compen-  
sation for much greater placement  
flexibility. The listener axis control,  
used in conjunction with the placement  
of the speaker, can obtain excellent  
results in a very wide range of circum-  
stances. This control optimizes system  
response for installations in which the  
listening positions are lower than,  
higher than, or directly level with the  
tweeter. This switch will be active  
in the network transition regions  
between the woofer and tweeter  
(in the P81) and the midrange and  
tweeter (in the P941).  
Carbon composite aluminum (CCA)  
flatwire voice coil wound on a 1-1/2-  
inch (38mm) fiberglass bobbin for low  
mass and higher power handling  
+1  
0
–1  
High Frequency Level (dB)  
Vented center pole for improved heat  
dissipation and low compression  
0
High Frequency Tilt  
Low Frequency  
Boundary  
Compensation  
on  
off  
on axis  
Listener Axis  
+1  
0
High Frequency Level (dB)  
–1  
£
¢
0
¡
§
High Frequency Tilt  
Low Frequency  
on  
Boundary  
on axis  
Listener Axis  
off  
Compensation  
Select the “high” (up arrow) setting  
if the speaker is mounted so that the  
listener is at tweeter level or above.  
The numbers in Figure 4 correspond to the  
numbered items in the Driver Complement  
section.  
Select the “on axis” setting if the  
listener position is located directly  
on axis with the tweeter level.  
Figure 4: P941 Speaker (Front View)  
The numbers in Figure 3 correspond to the  
numbered items in the Driver Complement  
section.  
Select the “low” (down arrow) set-  
ting if the speaker is mounted so that  
the listener is below tweeter level.  
7. Midrange (P941 Only)  
3-1/2-inch (89mm) cone constructed  
with Organic Ceramic Composite  
material  
Figure 3: P81 Speaker (Front View)  
NOTE: In some circumstances, such  
as when the speaker is to be mounted  
high on the wall towards the ceiling, it  
may be desired to invert the speaker in  
order to place the tweeter axis closer  
to the listener’s ear level. The Listener  
Axis Control will also optimize these  
Die-cast basket to eliminate col-  
oration from resonances  
True pistonic operation for increased  
freedom from coloration  
6
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Two high-grade neodymium magnets  
placed inside the voice coils for opti-  
mal magnetic shielding  
INPUT PANEL  
Number 1 in Figure 5 corresponds to  
the numbered item below.  
Symmetrical Field Geometry (SFG )  
1. Input Connectors  
design for low overall distortion  
Provide input connections from the  
associated power amplifier/receiver(s).  
One positive (+) gold-plated binding  
post and one negative (–) gold-plated  
binding post are available. Refer to  
the Making Connections section on  
page 11 for additional information.  
1-1/2-inch (38mm) voice coil wound  
on a fiberglass bobbin for high-power  
handling and low distortion  
Copper cap stabilizes inductance and  
controls flux modulation, dramatically  
reducing distortion  
Optimized and shielded magnetic cir-  
cuits to minimize harmonic distortion  
and prevent video monitor interfer-  
ence  
P81  
FILTER NETWORK  
Optimizes loudspeaker on- and off-axis  
response with a high-order filter at  
2.8kHz for the P81, and high-order  
filters at 300Hz and 2kHz for the P941,  
helping to ensure smooth octave-to-  
octave balance and timbral accuracy.  
Gold-plated binding posts accommo-  
date heavy speaker cables, while  
separate Low-Frequency Boundary  
Compensation, High-Frequency Level,  
High-Frequency Tilt and Listener Axis  
controls provide precise balance to  
compensate for less-than-ideal listen-  
ing room acoustics and loudspeaker  
placement.  
P941  
Figure 5: Rear of P81 and P941  
7
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INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS  
Loudspeaker fidelity depends on the  
following three factors:  
Front  
Right  
Front  
Left  
Left  
Channel  
Right  
Channel  
Loudspeaker accuracy  
TV  
Loudspeaker placement  
Listening room acoustics  
Advanced JBL design features allow the  
P81 and P941 to achieve exceptional  
acoustical precision. However, proper  
placement and listening room acoustics  
have a significant impact on the per-  
formance of the P81 and P941.  
Left  
Side  
Surround  
Right  
Side  
Surround  
Primary Listening Position  
(Couch)  
Couch  
CAUTION:  
Left  
Back Surround  
Right  
Back Surround  
The P81 and P941 should be installed  
by a professional.  
Figure 6: 2-Channel Placement  
Figure 8: Surround Channels  
6.1/7.1-Channel System  
Installers must adhere to local build-  
ing codes to ensure a proper installa-  
tion. JBL is not responsible for any  
possible damages caused by improper  
installation.  
Surround Channels in a Home Theater  
System  
The back surround speakers should  
The bulleted items that begin below  
indicate important loudspeaker place-  
ment considerations for surround chan-  
nel installations for home theaters.  
be placed along the rear wall facing  
the front of the room. Each side  
surround speaker should be about  
one-third of the way forward of the  
rear wall, as shown in Figure 8.  
LOUDSPEAKER PLACEMENT  
When used as part of a 5.1-channel  
The P81 and P941 are designed to offer  
excellent performance in any listening  
room or home theater system. Abide by  
the following placement suggestions  
for optimal results.  
music or home theater system, the  
surround speakers should be placed  
slightly behind the primary listening  
position. Refer to Figure 7.  
If there are several rows of seating,  
2-Channel or Front Left and Front Right  
in a Home Theater System  
place the speakers perpendicular  
to, or slightly behind, the last row of  
seating.  
The bulleted items that begin below  
indicate important loudspeaker place-  
ment considerations for 2-channel or  
front left and right installations.  
When used as part of a 6.1/7.1-  
channel music or home theater sys-  
tem, place the side speakers at the  
sides of the main listening position.  
The speakers should be equidistant  
from the primary listening position  
and placed at least 4 feet away from  
the side walls.  
If there are several rows of seating,  
place the speakers perpendicular to  
the middle row of seating.  
It is recommended that the angle  
Front  
Right  
Front  
Left  
formed between the speakers and the  
listening area be between 45° and 60.°  
For example, if the speakers are 8  
feet apart, the listening position  
should be 8 to 12 feet from each  
speaker. Refer to Figure 6.  
TV  
Subwoofer  
(optional)  
When used as part of a home theater  
system, excellent results can also be  
obtained when the speakers must be  
placed further apart due to a screen.  
Left  
Surround  
Right  
Surround  
Primary Listening Position  
Couch  
Figure 7: Surround Channels  
(5.1-Channel System)  
8
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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS  
For installations in new construction  
projects, use the JBL P81/P941 In-Wall  
Rough-In Bracket, which should be  
installed by a professional. Refer to the  
JBL P81/P941 In-Wall Rough-In Bracket  
Installation Instructions for more infor-  
mation.  
NOTES:  
3. With a utility knife, cut the wall  
opening, as shown in Figure 11.  
The height of the woofer within the  
stud bay relative to the entire height  
of the bay is critical because of  
standing waves within the cavity.  
Use caution not to cut into any  
electrical wiring or plumbing. Run  
the wiring from your system to the  
hole. (Be sure to comply with local  
wiring codes.)  
Before installation, determine the  
height of the cavity. (There might be a  
fire block that makes it shorter than  
the entire height from the floor to the  
ceiling.) Avoid placing the woofer at  
the very top or bottom of the stud bay,  
as this would cause a serious cancel-  
lation of low frequency output.  
The JBL P81 and P941 in-wall speakers  
were designed to be easily installed  
into existing walls. It is recommended  
that they be professionally installed.  
The following tools are required for  
installation:  
The measurements of the open-  
ing(s) required to mount the JBL  
in-wall frames are listed below:  
JBL P81  
Width: 10-1/2 inches (267mm)  
Height: 14-7/8 inches (378mm)  
(4) Allen-head screws (included)  
The ideal location for the woofer  
JBL P941  
Width: 12-1/2 inches (318mm)  
Height: 19-1/8 inches (486mm)  
5/32-inch Allen key (included)  
(whether the speaker is mounted  
upright or inverted) is at the one-third  
distance point, as shown in example  
A of Figure 10. If that is not feasible,  
then two-fifths, or one-fifth of the  
height are the next best alternatives.  
The least desirable position to place  
the woofer is at one-half or one-  
fourth of the height. If a fire block  
is completely dividing the bay, the  
measurement would be from the fire  
block – not the floor or ceiling – as  
shown in example B of Figure 10.  
Example C shows an inverted speaker  
placement.  
1/16-inch Allen key (included)  
cardboard installation template  
(included)  
4. The speakers are shipped with the  
baffle assembly attached to the  
mounting frame at its four corners.  
Unscrew the four screws and care-  
fully lift the baffle assembly out of  
the mounting frame, as shown in  
Figure 12.  
pencil  
Phillips-head screwdriver  
measuring tape  
utility knife  
carpenter’s level  
flat-blade screwdriver  
stud finder  
Baffle  
To Install the P81/P941:  
1. Locate the wall studs.  
A
B
C
2. Use the supplied template to trace an  
outline to mark the desired location  
to mount the speaker system. Use  
caution to cut the hole approximately  
centered between wall studs, allow-  
ing at least 1 inch between the  
1/3 of  
Height  
1/3 of  
Height  
1/3 of  
Height  
1/3 the height  
of Stud Bay  
(measured  
from the  
1/3 the height  
of Stud Bay  
(measured  
from the  
Place Woofer  
at 1/3 the  
height of  
Fire Block)  
Stud Bay  
Fire Block)  
cutout and wall studs, as shown in  
Figure 9. Use a carpenter’s level to  
ensure a level measurement.  
Fire Block  
Figure 10: Ideal Height of Woofer  
Mounting Frame  
Figure 12: Remove Baffle From  
Mounting Frame  
Carpenter's Level  
5. (Optional) It is recommended that the  
frame be painted before it is mounted.  
For instructions on painting the frame  
and grille, refer to page 12.  
Utility Knife  
At least  
1-inch  
At least  
1-inch  
6. The mounting frame has spring-  
loaded clamps around its perimeter,  
which are designed to fold shut as  
the mounting frame is placed into the  
wall opening and spring open once  
inside, anchoring the mounting frame  
in the wall opening. See Figures 13  
and 14. Loosen all clamp screws until  
the clamps are fully extended.  
Figure 11: Cut Wall Opening  
Figure 9: Use Wall Template  
9
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7. Be sure to run the speaker wire in  
through the rear opening before  
reinstalling the baffle assembly.  
14. Make speaker wire connections.  
Refer to the Making Connections  
section on page 11 for instructions.  
Mounting Frame  
8. Insert the mounting frame into the  
cutout until the clamps snap into  
place.  
15. Slide the baffle into place in the  
mounting frame.  
Clamp  
CLAMP  
Frame  
Alignment  
Tool  
Figure 15: Frame Alignment Tool  
Figure 17: Tighten Allen Screws With  
Allen Key Wrench  
Note how the clamp  
springs open  
9. Insert the frame alignment tool  
horizontally into the center of the  
frame. This tool functions as a  
frame spreader, while the clamps  
are being tightened, as shown in  
Figure 15.  
Figure 13: Clamp Close-Up  
NOTE: Be sure that the speaker wires  
are clear of the woofer basket and not  
too close to the woofer cone. Make  
sure the wires are not pinched  
between the baffle and the mounting  
frame. Refer to Figure 16.  
Insert frame into  
wall opening  
A
10. Starting from the lower right corner  
and working in a diagonal torque  
sequence, use a power screwdriver  
to tighten each of the clamp screws  
(only until almost snug). If needed,  
adjust the mounting frame so it is  
level and centered in the cutout.  
Screw  
16. Use the spacer shim to center the  
baffle inside of the frame while  
securing with four 10-32 x 2-1/4-inch  
screws. Loosely tighten the screws  
while using the spacer on the bottom  
side. Remove spacer and gauge the  
other three sides before starting  
final torque sequence. Proper cen-  
tering of the baffle is critical to the  
grille fitting properly.  
Clamp  
11. Perform a final torque sequence.  
Hand-tighten frame screws and  
check each screw at least twice to  
make sure they are fully tightened  
to prevent rattles.  
Wall  
B
17. Use the included 5/32-inch Allen key  
to tighten until snug, as shown in  
Figure 17.  
12. Remove the frame alignment tool.  
13. Place the included fiberglass insula-  
tion in the back of the mounting  
frame, as shown in Figure 16. Cut an  
“x” into the insulation and thread  
the wire(s) through.  
Fiberglass Insulation  
C
Allen Head  
Screws  
Baffle  
Assembly  
Figure 14: Clamp Mechanism  
Thread Speaker Wires  
Figure 16: Install the Insulation and Baffle  
10  
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MAKING CONNECTIONS  
The P81 and P941 feature gold-plated  
binding posts that allow for two meth-  
ods of connecting the speaker wires.  
5. Repeat Steps 1 to 4 to connect the  
second P81 or P941 to a separate  
amplifier/receiver output channel.  
Binding  
Post  
Terminal Connectors  
An alternative connection method,  
instead of those described in Steps 1 to  
3, is to attach standard banana plugs to  
the speaker wires and plug them into  
the ends of the speaker connectors.  
CAUTION: Never make or break con-  
nections unless all system components  
are powered off.  
Before making connections, note the  
following:  
Insert  
Banana Plug  
here if desired  
The hole in the center of each collar is  
intended for use with banana-type con-  
nectors. To comply with European CE  
certification, these holes are blocked  
with plastic inserts at the point of  
manufacture. The use of banana-type  
connectors requires the removal of  
the inserts. Do not remove these  
inserts if you are using the product  
in an area covered by the European  
CE certification.  
Make all connections observing the  
Exposed Binding Post (connector removed)  
Insert Speaker Wire  
proper polarity, positive-to-positive (+)  
and negative-to-negative (–). Connec-  
tions that do not observe the proper  
polarity will cause poor stereo imag-  
ing and diminished bass response.  
With the advent of multichannel sur-  
round systems, maintaining proper  
polarity remains equally important to  
preserve the correct ambience and  
directionality of the program material.  
Figure 18: Making Connections  
Contact an authorized JBL dealer for  
information about the suitability of  
power amplifier/receiver components  
before connecting the P81 or P941  
to the associated power amplifier/  
receiver.  
If using a back box or if limited by  
installation depth, the banana plugs  
can also be inserted through the sides  
of the binding posts. See Figure 18.  
Use high-quality loudspeaker cable  
with a maximum total loop resistance  
of 0.07 ohms or less (for each wire  
run). Refer to the table below to  
determine the appropriate maximum  
wire gauge.  
Review the owner’s manuals for asso-  
ciated audio components to deter-  
mine their connection procedures.  
Connections are made between one  
pair of P81 or P941 input connectors  
and one amplifier/receiver output  
channel, as described below.  
All in-wall speaker wires must be UL  
listed for use in in-wall applications.  
CAUTION: Be sure to comply with local  
wiring codes. JBL is not responsible for  
any damage or injuries that may result  
from faulty wiring.  
To Make Connections:  
1. Loosen the terminal connectors by  
hand (counterclockwise) on the  
speakers’ positive (+) and negative  
(–) binding posts until the holes in  
their threaded posts are visible.  
Maximum Wire Gauge  
Gauge  
(AWG)  
6
7
8
9
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
Length  
(Feet)  
87  
69  
58  
43  
34  
27  
22  
17  
14  
11  
9
7
5
Length  
(Meters)  
27  
21  
18  
13  
10  
8
7
5
4
3
2. Insert the stripped ends of the  
wires through the holes, as shown  
in Figure 18.  
3. Retighten the connectors by hand  
(clockwise) to secure the wire. Be  
sure no stray strands of wire from  
one binding post touch the other  
binding post, as this will short-out the  
signal and may damage the amplifier.  
4. In the manner described above, con-  
nect one pair of loudspeaker wires  
to the P81 or P941 input connectors.  
Then connect the same pair of loud-  
speaker wires to the desired amplifier/  
receiver output channel.  
3
2
2
NOTE: High loop resistances that  
exceed 0.07 ohms (for each wire run)  
will cause the filter network to mis-  
terminate, resulting in considerable  
degradation of sound quality.  
11  
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OPTIMIZING PERFORMANCE  
It is highly recommended that you  
make front-panel control adjustments  
before installing the grille. Experiment  
with settings and carefully listen to  
ensure that the proper adjustments  
have been made.  
5. Listen from the primary listening  
position, increasing volume to a  
comfortable level.  
8. Set the High-Frequency Tilt switch to  
“+” if your listening position is far off  
the tweeter axis; otherwise, leave it  
at “0.”  
6. Adjust the High-Frequency Level con-  
trol on each P81 or P941 to change  
high-frequency balance and timbre.  
9. Repeat these steps to optimize per-  
formance of the second P81 or P941.  
To optimize the P81 and P941 for best  
performance:  
7. Adjust the Listener Axis control  
depending on the position of the  
primary listening location. Refer to  
Figure 19.  
NOTE: For best results, set the High-  
Frequency Level, High-Frequency Tilt,  
and the Listener Axis controls to the  
same positions on both loudspeakers.  
1. Refer to the Loudspeaker Placement  
section on page 8 for information  
about loudspeaker installation.  
Select the “high” (up arrow) setting  
2. Set the High-Frequency Level control  
to 0 (different listening rooms may  
require other High-Frequency Level  
control settings).  
if the speaker is mounted so that  
the listener is above the tweeter  
level.  
Painting the Frame  
Proper surface preparation is critical  
for best results. Use spray, roller  
(smooth), or a pad to apply the paint.  
Clean and prime the frame surface  
prior to painting.  
Select the “on axis” setting if the  
listener location is directly on axis.  
3. Set the Low-Frequency Boundary  
Compensation control to the appro-  
priate position.  
Select the “low” (down arrow) set-  
ting if the speaker is mounted so  
that the listener is significantly  
below the tweeter.  
1. Place frame on a protected work  
surface.  
Select the “off” setting if the speak-  
er is mounted at least 4 feet away  
from adjacent walls or boundaries.  
2. Install plastic paint mask (included)  
into the frame.  
When the loudspeaker has been  
mounted upside-down, (with the  
woofer higher than the tweeter), refer  
to Figure 19. The listener axis control  
settings function in the opposite manner  
as normal operation:  
Select the “on” setting if the speak-  
3. Clean front edges of frame face by  
gently rubbing with a soft rag damp-  
ened with rubbing alcohol.  
er is mounted close to one (or pos-  
sibly two) or more adjacent walls  
or boundaries. In the “on” position,  
system output is reduced below  
approximately 400Hz to offset the  
increased low-frequency support  
due to the boundary.  
4. Apply one coat of white or neutral  
color water-based primer and let dry.  
Select the “low” setting if the  
speaker is mounted so that the lis-  
tener is at tweeter level or above.  
5. Apply one to two coats of paint for  
desired finish.  
4. Begin playback of a familiar music or  
film source.  
Select the “high” setting if the  
speaker is mounted so that the  
listener is below the tweeter.  
Set Listener Axis Switch to “High” if  
listening position is at tweeter level  
or above.  
Set Listener Axis Switch to “on axis”  
if listening position is directly at  
tweeter level.  
Set Listener Axis Switch to “Low”  
if listening position is below  
tweeter level.  
Wall  
Tweeter  
Woofer  
Tweeter  
Woofer  
Tweeter  
Woofer  
Inverted Speaker Placement (woofer is above tweeter)  
Woofer  
Tweeter  
Woofer  
Tweeter  
Woofer  
Tweeter  
Set Listener Axis Switch to “on axis”  
if listening position is directly at  
tweeter level.  
Set Listener Axis Switch to “Low”  
if listening position is at tweeter  
level or above.  
Set Listener Axis Switch to “High”  
if listening position is below tweeter.  
Figure 19: Listener Axis Control Upright Speaker Placement  
12  
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To Attach the Replacement Scrim Cloth:  
Painting the Grille  
1. Place the grille face down on a soft  
surface.  
For best results, it is recommended  
that the grille be painted with a spray  
applicator to enable the paint to be  
evenly applied to the inside edges of  
the grille’s perforations.  
Frame  
2. If paint thinner was used to remove  
scrim remnants, apply a light coating  
of a spray adhesive to the inside  
grille surface. Avoid spraying adhe-  
sive onto the felt strips. If too much  
adhesive is used, it could wick into  
the cloth and degrade the sound.  
Grille  
The following items are required to  
paint the grille:  
the grille (included)  
1/16-inch Allen key  
replacement scrim cloth (included)  
3. Place the replacement scrim cloth  
in the grille with the cardboard side  
facing upward (so that the cardboard  
is not visible through the front of the  
grille).  
spray paint  
Figure 20: Removing the Grille  
paint thinner (and cloth)  
rubbing alcohol (and cloth)  
CAUTION: Do not attempt to pry the  
grille out using the Allen key (or any  
other object) as a pry bar against the  
plastic frame.This will cause damage  
to the frame and mar the paint.  
white or neutral color water-based  
primer  
4. Tuck the outer edges of the scrim  
cloth cardboard frame under the  
black felt strips and gently smooth  
the scrim cloth over the grille surface  
to remove any wrinkles.  
masking tape  
spray adhesive  
CAUTION: The grille must be painted  
before it is attached to the frame.  
Speaker Frame Removal  
To remove the speaker frame from wall  
opening:  
Attaching the Grille to the  
Frame  
To Paint the Grille:  
1. Fully unscrew all of the clamps  
around the speaker housing. The  
clamp screws have an acorn nut  
attached on their end to prevent  
accidental disassembly.  
To Attach the Grille:  
1. Remove the grille from the grille filler.  
1. Line the grille up to the frame and  
press the grille in only partially at  
first.  
2. Remove the scrim cloth on the inside  
surface of the grille. If necesssary,  
slightly peel up the lower inside  
edges of the black felt strips to  
remove the scrim.  
2. Push gently at multiple points around  
the outer edges to slowly ease it into  
position.  
2. Move the speaker housing away  
from the wall enough to wedge your  
hand behind and pinch a clamp shut.  
3. Inspect the inside surface of the  
grille to ensure that there are no  
remnants of the scrim cloth. If neces-  
sary, remove any remnants by rub-  
bing with a cloth dampened with  
paint thinner.  
NOTE: Configure the four front-panel  
controls and experiment until optimal  
results are achieved, before installing  
the grille.  
3. While the clamp is shut, work the  
speaker housing forward enough to  
catch the shut clamp in the wall  
opening.  
4. Work around the perimeter, carefully  
closing each clamp and then slowly  
pull the speaker housing from the  
wall.  
4. Clean the front grille surface with a  
cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol.  
Grille Removal  
To Remove the Grille:  
5. Apply masking tape over the black  
felt strips around the grille perimeter  
to shield them from paint. Be sure to  
mask only the felt and not the outer  
metal edges of the grille, so that they  
will be painted.  
1. Insert the small end of the included  
1/16-inch Allen key into one of the  
metal mesh holes in the top corner  
of the grille, as shown in Figure 20.  
LOUDSPEAKER VOLUME LEVELS  
High-order filters include steep cut-offs  
to reduce potential damage from “out-  
of-band” frequencies. Combined with  
carefully selected transducers and fil-  
ter network components, this approach  
helps the P81/P941 to maintain its per-  
formance under extreme operating  
conditions.  
2. With the end of the Allen key in the  
grille hole approximately 1/8 inch,  
with thumb and forefinger close to  
the grille, pull up on the Allen key to  
wedge it into the grille hole.  
6. Apply one coat of the primer and let  
it dry.  
7. Thin the paint before application.  
8. Apply one to two coats of spray  
paint. Use a varied spraying angle  
when spraying, to ensure paint is  
applied to the inside edges of the  
grille perforations.  
3. Gently pull the Allen key to partially  
pop out the corner of the grille.  
However, all loudspeakers have limits  
when it comes to continuous playback.  
To extend these limits, avoid playback  
at volume levels that distort or strain  
sound.  
4. Repeat Steps 1 to 3 for the other top  
corner.  
5. Apply Steps 1 to 4 for the bottom  
corners.  
After the paint is dried, install the  
replacement scrim cloth, if desired.  
6. When all corners are partially  
popped out, the grille can easily  
be removed.  
13  
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P81/P941 SPECIFICATIONS  
P81  
P941  
Woofer:  
7-1/2 inches (190.5mm)  
9 inches (228.6mm)  
3-1/2 inches (89mm)  
1 inch (25.4mm)  
32Hz – 20kHz  
Midrange:  
Tweeter:  
N/A  
1 inch (25.4mm)  
40Hz – 20kHz  
System Frequency  
Response ( 3dB):  
Sensitivity:  
87dB  
89dB  
Recommended  
15 to 150 Watts  
15 to 200 Watts  
Amplifier Power Range:  
Nominal Impedance:  
Crossover Frequency(ies):  
Width:  
8 Ohms  
8 Ohms  
2.8kHz, 24dB/octave  
13 inches (330mm)  
17-7/8 inches (454mm)  
3-1/2 inches (89mm)  
10-1/2 inches (266.7mm)  
14-7/8 inches (377.8mm)  
300Hz, 2kHz, 24dB/octave  
14-7/8 inches (377.8mm)  
22-1/8 inches (562mm)  
3-1/2 inches (89mm)  
12-1/2 inches (317.5mm)  
19-1/8 inches (485.8mm)  
Height:  
Depth:  
Wall Cutout Width:  
Wall Cutout Height:  
All features and specifications are subject to change without notice.  
OBTAINING SERVICE  
Before returning a product for warranty  
or non-warranty service, contact JBL  
Customer Support to determine the  
extent of the problem and to obtain a  
Return Authorization (RA) number. No  
products will be accepted without an  
RA number issued by JBL.  
If a product must be returned for repair,  
JBL will assume no responsibility for  
the product during shipment from the  
customer to JBL or its authorized serv-  
ice station, whether the product is or is  
not covered under warranty.  
All Returns Must Be:  
• well-packaged using the original  
packing materials (if possible)  
• properly insured and consigned  
• pre-paid to a reliable shipping agent  
To Contact Customer Support:  
JBL is a registered trademark of Harman International Industries, Incorporated.  
Nomex is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.  
14  
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INDEX  
2-Channel Installations 8  
5.1-Channel Installations 8  
6.1-/7.1-Channel Installations 8  
About the P81/P941 4  
Highlights 4  
Ideal Height of Woofer 9  
In-Wall Placement 9  
Input Panel 7  
Sensitivity 14  
Shipping 5, 14  
Spacer Shim 5, 10  
Speaker Frame Removal 13  
Speaker Wire 10, 11  
Specifications 14  
Spider 4  
Steel-Shield Cup 4  
Stereo Imaging 11  
Stud Bay 9  
Installation Considerations 8  
Installation Instructions 9–10  
Inverted Speaker 9, 12  
Listener Axis 4, 6, 7, 12  
Listening Room 8, 12  
Loudspeaker Cable 11  
Loudspeaker Overview 6  
Loudspeaker Placement 8, 9, 12  
Loudspeaker Volume Levels 13  
Low-Frequency Boundary  
Compensation 4, 6, 12  
Magnetic Shielding 4  
Making Connections 11  
Maximum Wire Gauge 11  
Midrange 4, 6–7, 14  
Product Registration 4  
Unpacking 5  
Allen Key 5, 9, 10, 13  
Aluminum Ring 4, 6  
Amplifier Power Range  
Recommended 14  
Baffle Assembly 9, 10  
Baffle, Centering of 10  
Banana Plugs 11  
Binding Post 4, 7, 11  
Butyl Rubber Surround 6  
Carbon Composite Aluminum (CCA) 6  
Caution 3, 8, 11, 13  
Clamps 10, 13  
Surround Channels 8  
Symmetrical Field Geometry (SFG ) 6, 7  
Terminal Connectors 7, 11  
Timbre 4, 12  
Titanium Domes 4, 6  
Transducers 4, 6  
Tweeter 4, 6, 12, 14  
UL Listed 11  
Unpacking 5  
Mounting Frame 9–10  
Neodymium Magnets 4, 6–7  
Nomex Spiders 4  
Compression 4, 6  
Cones 4, 6  
Vented Center Pole 6  
Voice Coil 4, 6–7  
Connections 4  
Nominal Impedance 14  
Obtaining Service 14  
On-Axis Response 4, 6, 12  
Optimizing Performance 12  
Organic Ceramic Composite  
Cone Material 4, 6  
Packing Carton 5, 14  
Packing Materials 5, 14  
Paint Mask 5, 13  
Painting the Frame 12  
Painting the Grille 13  
Polarity 11  
Primary Listening Position 8, 12  
Product Registration 4  
Rear Speakers 8  
Volume Levels 12, 13  
Wall Cutout Height 9, 14  
Wall Cutout Width 9, 14  
Wall Openings 9  
Wall Studs 9  
Wall Template 5, 9  
Web Site 14  
Width 13, 14  
Wire Connections 11  
Wire Gauge 11  
Wire Resistance 11  
Wiring Codes 11  
Woofer 4, 6, 14  
Input 7  
Making 11  
Connectors 11  
Depth 14  
Distortion, Reducing 4, 6  
Documentation Conventions 3  
Dome (see Cones)  
Driver Complement 6–7  
Dynamic Range 4  
Ferrofluid 6  
Fiberglass Bobbin 6, 7  
Fiberglass Insulation 5, 10  
Filter Network 7, 11  
Filters 4, 7  
Woofer Height 9  
Fire Block 4  
Room Placement 8  
Flux-Stabilization Ring 4, 6  
Frame Alignment Tool 5, 10  
Grille 13  
Rough-In Bracket 4, 9  
Scrim Cloth 5, 13  
Grille Installation 13  
Grille Removal 13  
Heat Dissipation 4, 6  
Height 9, 14  
High-Frequency Level 4, 6, 12  
High-Frequency Tilt 4, 6, 12  
Highlights 4  
Home Theater 4, 8  
15  
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®
JBL Consumer Products  
250 Crossways Park Drive  
Woodbury, New York 11797 USA  
2005 Harman International Industries,  
©
Incorporated  
Part No. 355087-001  
2/05  
A Harman International Company  
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