Welcome to another review by your friends at Gear4Wheels! In this article we will be taking a look at JL Audio’s front stage offerings.
JL Audio, founded in 1975, is a very well-known and renowned brand in the mobile, marine and home audio industry.
Based in Miramar, Florida, they are one of the few companies that still make its products in the US and they have continued to be an industry leader in quality and innovation.
Their R&D team has made many advances in speaker technology over the years and they have incorporated that technology into their drivers to create some truly amazing speakers, amplifiers and subwoofers.
I would venture to guess they have more combined patents on driver and amplification technology than anyone else in the industry.
Their Co-founder and CEO Lucio Proni is also their Chief Engineer and his dedication to making high quality audio products can be seen in the end results.
They’ve become one of the top 5 mobile audio brands and with good reason.
Table Of Contents
- Jl Audio Speaker Series Reviewed
- C2 EVOLUTION SERIES
- C3 EVOLUTION CONVERTIBLE COMPONENT SERIES
- C5
- ZR
Jl Audio Speaker Series Reviewed
Here is the list of JL Audio speakers we will be reviewing:
- C2
- C3
- C5
- ZR
(Note: For this review we will be listing the specifications for the 6.5” speakers since they are the most common and best sounding size. Please refer to the JL Audio website for specs on all other models.)
C2 EVOLUTION SERIES
The C2 Evolution speakers are quite versatile and come in a wide variety of sizes and with multiple install configurations available.
They are a step up from JL’s budget line which are the C1’s (formerly the TR line) which we will not review here.
While the C2’s are still in the budget category, they offer a great bang for your buck and incorporate tweeter technology used in the higher end C5 components.
They feature silk dome tweeters and mineral filled polypropylene woofer cones.
The C2’s are available in both coaxial and component configurations.
The coaxial models are available in
- 3.5” (C2-350x),
- 4” (C2-200x),
- 5.25” (C2-525x),
- 5×7/6×8” (C2-570x)
- 6” (C2-600x)
- 6.5” (C2-650x)
- 6×9” (C2-690tx) sizes.
- The component models are available in the following sizes: 5.25” (C2-525), 6” (C2-600) and 6.5” (C2-650).
C2-650 / C2-650x Evolution specs:
- 2-way component or coaxial system
- External passive crossover network
- Continuous power handing (RMS): 60 Watts
- Peak power handling (MAX): 225 Watts
- Recommended power handling (RMS): 15-100 Watts per channel
- System efficiency: 91 dB @ 1 W/1 m
- Frequency response: 59Hz – 22KHz (+3 dB)
- Nominal Impedance: 4 Ohms
C3 EVOLUTION CONVERTIBLE COMPONENT SERIES
The C3 Evolution series features their Convertible Component System which offers the flexibility to be installed either as a coaxial or component set and include an external passive crossover.
This mid-tier line of speakers features exclusive JL Audio engineering such as an advanced woofer frame design and uses glass reinforced polymer to allow better engineering of attachment points, leading to superior suspension geometry and lead wire management.
It also features the patented DMA optimized motor, elevated frame cooling and silk dome tweeters.
As mentioned above, the C3’s can be used in both coaxial and component installs and are available in the following sizes:
- 5.25” (C3-525)
- 5×7/6×8” (C3-570)
- 6” (C3-600)
- 6.5” (C3-650).
C3-650 Evolution CCS Specs:
- 2-way component/coaxial
- External passive crossover network
- Continuous power handling (RMS): 75Watts
- Peak power handling (MAX): 225Watts
- WattsRecommended power handling (RMS): 25-150 Watts perchannel
- System efficiency: 90 dB @ 1 W/1 m
- Frequency response: 48Hz – 25KHz (+3 dB)
- Nominal impedance: 4 Ohms
C5
The JL Audio C5 series is a high end component speaker system that includes even more proprietary JL technology.
The C5 woofers and tweeters are precision built in Germany by Dr. Kurt Müller & Co.
They feature DMA optimized motors, elevated frame cooling and high end silk dome tweeters.
The passive crossover networks are built with premium component parts including Mylar capacitors and segmented air-core inductors.
They offer four levels of tweeter attenuation as well as three levels of mid-range presence adjustment. The C5’s are available in both coaxial and component configurations with the coaxial models featuring RSR (Ratcheting Swivel Rotation) for precise tweeter aiming that gives the ability for a more ‘on-axis’ tweeter.
The coaxial models are available in
- 5.25” (C5-525x)
- 5×7/6×8” (C5-570x)
- 6.5” (C5-650x)
while the component models are available in 2-way 5.25” (C5-525), 5×7/6×8” (C5-570) and 6.5” (C5-650) sizes as well as the 3-way 6.5” (C5-653) components.
- 2-way component or coaxial system/3-way component system
- High quality external passive crossover network
- Continuous power handling (RMS): 75 Watts
- Peak power handling (MAX): 225 Watts
- Recommended power handling (RMS): 25-150 Watts per channel
- System efficiency: 89.5 dB @ 1 W/1 m
- Frequency response: 48Hz – 25KHz (+3 dB)
- Nominal Impedance: 4 Ohms
ZR
The ZR line of speakers represents some of the finest audio engineering in the world.
The ZR’s are true reference/audiophile grade equipment and the result is a speaker system designed to reproduce dynamic frequencies with extreme precision.
The EQ response is very flat which means there is little color or distortion to the music.
Having used the ZR series in SQ installs I can personally say they sound phenomenal.
Even with the passive crossover and minimal EQ adjustment and tuning, these speakers deliver amazing results at just about any volume.
With proper amplification, they will be able to keep up with any subwoofer on the market.
Even though they use an aluminum dome tweeter, they are not overly bright or harsh on the ears.
As with other JL Audio speakers, they feature DMA optimized motor technology, elevated frame cooling, Kurt Müller cones and suspensions, precision machined field plates and die-cast alloy baskets.
The passive crossover networks are bi-amp capable and are built with super premium parts including US made Mills resistors, polypropylene capacitors and segmented air-core inductors.
They offer five levels of tweeter attenuation and four levels of mid-range presence adjustment for up to twenty possible voicing combinations.
The ZR series is available only as a component set although like all other JL Audio C2 series speakers and up, they can be purchased as individual components or as a set.
The ZR’s are only available in the
- 6.5” (ZR-650) size, however the
- 8” (ZR-800CW) woofer can also be purchased separately for dedicated mid bass in active 3-way systems.
ZR650-CSi Specs:
- 2-Way component system
- Ultra high quality external passive crossover network
- Continuous power handling (RMS): 85 Watts
- Peak power handling (MAX): 225 Watts
- Recommended power handling (RMS): 25-175 Watts per channel
- System efficiency: 89.5 dB @ 1 W/1 m
- Frequency response: 48Hz – 25KHz (+3 dB)
- Nominal impedance: 4 Ohms
