SUB150P

300-Watt, 10" (250mm) Powered Subwoofer

Thank You For Choosing This JBL® Product

Your new JBL® SUB150P 300-watt powered subwoofer incorpo- We’re confident that this JBL subwoofer will provide every note of
rates a 10" (250mm) PolyPlas™ cone transducer and a built-in enjoyment that you expect – and that when you think about pur-
high-performance 300-watt (RMS) amplifier that deliver the power- chasing additional audio equipment for your home, car or office,
ful, dynamic and accurate low-frequency performance that makes you will once again choose JBL products.
your film soundtracks and music come alive. And with line-level
and LFE inputs, adjustable crossover and phase controls and This quick-start guide contains all the information you need to set
automatic turn on/off, the SUB150P is also simple to connect and up, connect and adjust your new subwoofer. For more in-depth
set up. information, go to our Web site: www.jbl.com.

Included Items

1X

1X
1X

quick-start guide
 Subwoofer Rear-Panel Controls and Connections

Phase Switch
Input Mode Switch

Volume Control
SUB150P
Crossover Control
Northridge, CA USA
Designed and engineered in USA
Made in P.R.C

On/Standby LED

Line-Level/LFE
Input Connectors

Power Switch

Power Cord
205323 Connector

Phase Switch: This switch determines whether the subwoofer transduc- Line In/LFE Input Connectors:
er's piston-like action moves in and out in phase with the main speakers.
• When you’re connecting the subwoofer to the dedicated subwoofer
If the subwoofer were to play out of phase with the main speakers, the
output of a receiver/processor that has its own low-pass crossover
sound waves from the main speakers could partially cancel out the sound
network, use the LFE Input connector and set the Input Mode switch
waves from the subwoofer, reducing bass performance and sonic impact.
in the “LFE” position.
This phenomenon depends in part on the placement of all the speakers
relative to the listening position and to each other in the room. • When you're connecting the subwoofer to the preamp or subwoofer
outputs of a receiver/processor that does not have its own low-pass
Input Mode Switch: When this switch is in the “Normal” setting, the input crossover network, use both Line In connectors and set the Input
signal from both Line In connectors is routed through the subwoofer's Mode switch in the “Normal” position. If your receiver/processor only
built-in low-pass crossover network. When the switch is in the “LFE” set- has one subwoofer output you can use either Line In connector.
ting, the input signal from the LFE Input connector bypasses the subwoof-
Power Switch: Set this switch in the “On” position to turn the subwoofer
er's built-in crossover network.
on. The subwoofer will then be in the Standby mode. It will automatically
turn On when an audio signal is detected at its inputs, and will return to the
Volume Control: Use this control to adjust the subwoofer’s volume. Turn
Standby mode when no audio signal is detected its inputs after approxi-
the knob clockwise to increase the volume; turn the knob counterclock-
mately 10 minutes.
wise to decrease the volume.
If you will be away from home, or will not be using the subwoofer for an
Crossover Control: This control determines the highest frequency at
extended period, set this switch in the “Off” position to conserve energy.
which the subwoofer reproduces sounds. The higher you set the Cross-
over control, the higher in frequency the subwoofer will operate and the
Power Cord Connector: After you have made and verified the subwoof-
more its bass will “overlap” that of the satellite speakers. This adjust-
er’s input connections, plug the female end of the supplied IEC power cord
ment helps achieve a smooth transition of bass frequencies between the
into the subwoofer’s Power Cord connector, and plug the other end of the
subwoofer and the satellites for a variety of different rooms and subwoofer
power cord into an active, unswitched electrical outlet for proper opera-
locations.
tion of the subwoofer. DO NOT plug the power cord into the accessory
outlets found on some audio components.
NOTE: The Crossover Control functions only when the Input Mode switch
is in the “Normal” setting.

On/Standby LED: When the Power switch is in the “On” position, this
LED indicates whether the subwoofer is in the On or Standby state:
• When the LED glows green, the subwoofer is turned on.
• When the LED glows red, the subwoofer is in the Standby mode.

2
 English
Placing the subwoofer

The performance of a subwoofer is directly related to its placement in the listening room
and its physical position relative to the other speakers in the system. 1.
While it is true that in general our ears do not hear directional sounds at the low
TV 2.
frequencies where subwoofers operate, when installing a subwoofer within the limited Front Left Center Front Right
confines of a room, the reflections, standing waves and absorptions generated within Speaker Speaker Speaker
the room will strongly influence the performance of any subwoofer system. As a result,
the specific location of the subwoofer in the room does become important to the
amount and quality of bass that is produced.

For example, placing the subwoofer next to a wall generally will increase the amount of
bass in the room; placing it in a corner (1) generally will maximize amount of bass in the
room. However, corner placement can also increase the destructive effect of standing
waves on bass performance. This effect can vary depending on the listening position
– some listening positions may yield very good results while others may have far too
much (or too little) bass at certain frequencies.

In many rooms, placing the subwoofer along the same plane as the left and right speak- Surround Left Surround Right
ers (2) can produce the best integration between the sound of the subwoofer and that Speaker Speaker
of the left and right speakers. In some rooms, the best performance could even result
from placing the subwoofer behind the listening position (3). 3.
We strongly recommend that you experiment with placement before choosing a final
location for your subwoofer. One way you can determine the best location for the sub-
woofer is by temporarily placing it in the listening position and playing music with strong
bass content. Move around to various locations in the room while the system is playing
(putting your ears where the subwoofer would be placed), and listen until you find the
location where the bass performance is best. Place the subwoofer in that location.

connecting the subwoofer

to a Receiver or Preamp/Processor with a low-pass filtered dedicated subwoofer output

Receiver/Processor

Set Input Mode

Switch to “LFE”
SUBWOOFER SUB150P

LFE OUT
Northridge, CA USA
Designed and engineered in USA
Made in P.R.C

205323

to a Receiver or Preamp/Processor with preamp outputs

Receiver/Processor

Set Input Mode

PREAMP Switch to “Normal”
OUTPUT
SUB150P
Northridge, CA USA
Designed and engineered in USA
Made in P.R.C

205323

www.jbl.com 3
Operating the subwoofer

Turning the Subwoofer On and Off Subwoofer Adjustments: Phase

Set the subwoofer’s Power Switch to the “On” position. The subwoofer will The Phase switch determines whether the subwoofer
automatically turn itself on when it receives an audio signal, and it will go driver’s piston-like action moves in and out in phase
into Standby mode after it has received no audio signal for approximately with the satellite speakers. If the subwoofer were to
10 minutes. The subwoofer’s LED will glow green when the subwoofer is play out of phase with the satellite speakers, the sound
on and will glow red when the subwoofer is in Standby. waves from the satellites could partially cancel out the
waves from the subwoofer, reducing bass performance
If you will not be using the subwoofer for an extended period – for and sonic impact. This phenomenon depends in part on the placement of
instance, if you’re going on vacation – set the Power Switch to the “Off” all the speakers relative to each other in the room.
position.
Although in most cases you should leave the Phase switch in the “Normal”
SUBWOOFER ADJUSTMENTS: CROSSOVER CONTROL position, there is no absolutely correct setting for the Phase switch. When
NOTE: The Crossover control functions only the subwoofer is properly in phase with the satellite speakers, the sound
when the Input Mode switch is in the “Normal” will be clearer and have maximum impact, and percussive sounds like
position. drums, piano and plucked strings will sound more lifelike. The best way
to set the Phase switch is to listen to music that you know well and to set
The Crossover control adjusts the subwoofer’s the switch in the position that gives drums and other percussive sounds
built-in low-pass filter crossover between 50Hz maximum impact.
and 200Hz. The higher you set the Crossover
control, the higher in frequency the subwoofer
will operate and the more its bass will “overlap” that of the satellite speak- Specifications
ers. This adjustment helps achieve a smooth transition of bass frequencies
between the subwoofer and the satellites for a variety of different rooms Low-frequency 10" (250mm) PolyPlas cone (down-firing)
and subwoofer locations. transducer:

To set the Crossover control, listen for the smoothness of the bass. If the Enclosure type: Ported (down-firing)
bass seems too strong at certain frequencies, try a lower Crossover con-
trol setting. If the bass seems too weak at certain frequencies, try a higher Amplifier power: 300 watts (RMS); 500 watts (peak)
Crossover control setting.

Subwoofer Adjustments: Volume Frequency response: 27Hz – 150Hz (–3dB)

Use the Level control to set the subwoofer’s
volume. Turn the knob clockwise to increase the Audio controls: Volume level, crossover frequency, phase
subwoofer’s volume; turn the knob counterclock-
wise to decrease the volume. Once you have Connections: RCA line-level and LFE inputs
balanced the subwoofer’s volume with that of
the other speakers in your system, you shouldn’t
have to change the Level control setting. Power requirement: 120V, 60Hz (US); 220V – 230V,
50Hz/60Hz (EU)
Notes on Setting Subwoofer Volume: Power consumption: <1W (0.040A @ 230V) standby;
• Sometimes the ideal subwoofer volume setting for music is too loud 320W (1.8A @ 230V) peak
for films, while the ideal setting for films is too quiet for music. When <6W (0.06A @ 120V) standby;
setting the subwoofer volume, listen to both music and films with 320W (3.2A @ 120V) peak
strong bass content and find a “middle ground” volume level that Dimensions (W x H x D): 17-3/8" x 18-1/2" x 17-3/8"
works for both. (441mm x 470mm x 441mm)
• If your subwoofer always seems too loud or too quiet, you may want Weight: 39.7 lb (18.0kg)
to place it in a different location. Placing the subwoofer in a corner will
tend to increase its bass output, while placing it away from any walls
or corners will tend to lessen its bass output.

HARMAN Consumer, Inc.

8500 Balboa Boulevard, Northridge, CA 91329 USA www.jbl.com

© 2010 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

JBL is a trademark of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other countries.
PolyPlas is a trademark of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated.
Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.
Part No. 950-0328-001