Customer Reviews

JBL Control Now Bookshelf/Wall Mount Speaker (Black)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought these to replace some Control 1s as my surround speakers. The sound seems, not surprisingly, the same, which is to say very good. The ability to mount these in the corners of the wall is what I bought these for, however, and that worked perfectly. They were easy to put up in the corner and the sound is much more enveloping than with the small-bookshelf Control 1s, which had to sit behind us, instead of to the sides. These might be worth a higher sound rating, but as I'm using them as surrounds only, and they replaced very similar speakers, there isn't a lot of room for a wow factor here. Also, I did quite a bit of listening to higher-end speakers, and these aren't up there with the best. They're solid and once you have them in your system they sound great, but side-by-side you can find better speakers if you're willing to spend the money. The shape is great, however, because it allows corner placement high up, but still points speakers right at the listening area and away.

I first purchased one pair of the JBL Control Now to try them out- then went back to buy 3 more to complete my 5.1 surround. They look a bit strange at first, but once you look at the mounting options, you realize how versatile this speaker is. They really look nice when you get them installed.

The sound quality is phenomenal for a speaker in this price range. I have listened to and installed a wide variety of sound systems including home theater, professional stage sound and classy car audio systems. This speaker easily rivals others costing hundreds more. The clarity and definition for the mids and highs are superb. The bass is also pretty good for such a small package. But, to really make your system sound the best, you're going to need a good subwoofer. With a pair of these and a sub, you'll be enjoying high-end sound for very little.

One important thing to note is that the mounting brackets are INCLUDED. Unlike most speakers, these come with both wall and stand brackets in the box. No need to plunk down more money on mounts. You can either mount on the wall, in the corners of the wall or on a free standing pole mount. There are even additional options (not included) for mounting 4 of them on a down rod hanging from the ceiling (ala ceiling fan style).

Buy them, you won't regret it.

I have been using these speakers for about 4 months now and they are fully broken in. Picked up at a large warehouse for about $65 apiece. Used it as fronts sides & center. The sound quality is amazing for the price. These speakers are efficient at 90dB & 8 ohms load, so they can get plenty loud even when using a lower power amp. I use Marantz nr1501 and they make a good match. My only comment is that midrange seems to be little on the lower side, but that could be because I am used to listening on audiophile grade speakers with well defined midrange. Most users will hardly notice this. When powered with a good sub like Velodyne Impact Mini (small form factor) and tuned properly, these blend in seamlessly. Other good thing I like is the hard metallic grill that is an insurance from my 2 year old. Also the tweeter can be amazing clear (or even bright) but nothing that cannot be adjusted in the receiver. Very crisp even at very low volumes, so useful for night time music or movies.

2 thumbs up and for those looking to invest in good speakers these are very versatile, excellent JBL quality you can trust. Recommend this.

JBL Control Now are the most amazing speakers I have ever purchased! The sound quality is stunning. I mounted these speakers in the top wall corners to surround sound speakers and I'm just amazed of the sound and quality of these speakers. A must buy for your theater system.

The reason I bought these was to finally create a full 5.1 surround sound system at home. I used to only have 2 JBL 8-inch floor-standers with a JBL Sub12 making a stereo system for my movies and games. I must say, adding three of these speakers (Center, Back L/R) really makes movies and games great. These things are solid performers. I expected the back and center channels to be swamped by my much larger Floor-Standing beasts, but no, they fit in very well and hold their own completely.

Until now, I never listened to them on their own, I only used them as my surround sound channels. Just recently I pulled the two back ones out and set them up as a stereo system in another room... wow, I never realized just how good these guys sound. Of course they are missed in my 5.1 system... but I think they found a new home as my general use stereo system. Obviously they don't carry the might of JBL's larger floor-standing speakers, but even so, they make for a smooth and accurate sounding stereo system.

If I keep them as a stereo set up, I'll miss them in my 5.1 system, but if I keep them in my 5.1 system I'll miss them as a stereo system. The only solution? Buy two more. At this price, they're a steal... so get them when you can.

Pros:

Well Built

Very smooth sounding

Smooth Bass

Trebles that shine

Cool modern design that is very practical

GREAT PRICE here on Amazon

Cons:

They only go to 80hz... but in the end, their sound quality makes up for it.

Non-Traditional shape belies their true quality

Mounting them will likely require extra parts/tools to buy

Overall: Great buy for almost any use. If you need outdoor speakers, get the outdoor version! If you need Home theater speakers or Stereo speakers, get these! They're a jack of all trades in my opinion, and their size makes them easy to relocate for whatever you need. (IE: Stereo to 5.1, and back again)

I first heard about these speakers from a family friend. He works with the production and mastering of music and was looking for something to use as a center channel/surround speaker to complete his 2.1 setup. I gladly offered my help and began searching for something at a reasonable price point. These JBL's fit the bill perfectly. I didn't purchase them from Amazon, but better yet for $35 apiece from Costco (What a steal!). I tried them out, and they really did sound fantastic. Other than some weakness in bass response, these speakers played very well throughout the entire frequency scale. When compared with my reference setup, there was some flatness in the mid-range tones, but most users won't notice this. The lack of bass is attributed to the two, 4'' woofers per speaker. Never fear, when paired with a dedicated subwoofer (For example, the JBL ES250PB), this problem is quickly resolved. With the right cable (I used Monster Cable) and the proper setup, these speakers will give a new name to what most people take "budget speakers" for.