JBL’s Control Now Speakers - The New York Times


AI Summary Hide AI Generated Summary

JBL Control Now Speakers: A Unique Design

JBL's Control Now speakers stand out with their quarter-round design, allowing four units to form a complete circle. This innovative approach addresses space constraints in home theater setups.

Pricing and Availability

The indoor model is priced at $250 (black), while the all-weather outdoor version costs $270 (white).

Versatile Mounting Options

These speakers offer flexible mounting options:

  • Wall mounting
  • Corner placement
  • Bookshelf placement
  • Ceiling suspension (creating a circular sound cone)

The ceiling suspension option provides a futuristic aesthetic.

Technical Specifications

Each speaker features:

  • Three-quarter-inch tweeters
  • Four-inch woofers
  • Weight: 6.6 pounds

Target Audience

JBL suggests these speakers are ideal for interior designers seeking discreet audio solutions for unconventional spaces.

Geometric Novelty

The speakers' quarter-toroid shape is highlighted as a unique geometric feature rarely seen in consumer audio products.

Sign in to unlock more AI features Sign in with Google

Most speakers are built into large square boxes. This poses a problem for home theater buffs without much space to spare. JBL’s Control Now speakers are quarter-round, which means that four of them can fit together to make one round speaker.

The $250 indoor speakers come in black, and the $270 all-weather outdoor model comes in white.

But how do you mount these? They can fit on a wall or in a corner, or sit on a bookshelf. You can also suspend the speakers from the ceiling on a rod, creating a circular cone of sound with a look reminiscent of a high-quality train station announcement speaker. Very futuristic.

The speakers have three-quarter-inch tweeters and four-inch woofers and weigh 6.6 pounds apiece.

Clearly these odd-looking speakers are not for everyone. JBL recommends them for interior designers who might want to hide speakers in places where average speakers cannot go.

Geometry buffs might like to know that the Control Now is a quarter-toroid, a shape we rarely get to enjoy. JOHN BIGGS

Was this article displayed correctly? Not happy with what you see?

Tabs Reminder: Tabs piling up in your browser? Set a reminder for them, close them and get notified at the right time.

Try our Chrome extension today!


Share this article with your
friends and colleagues.
Earn points from views and
referrals who sign up.
Learn more

Facebook

Save articles to reading lists
and access them on any device


Share this article with your
friends and colleagues.
Earn points from views and
referrals who sign up.
Learn more

Facebook

Save articles to reading lists
and access them on any device