JBL ESC333 Dolby Digital Home Theater Speaker System

by JBL

Product Details

Product Manual [143kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 24 x 17.5 x 17.5 inches ; 52 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 52 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000296YT
• Item model number: ESC333
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #446,375 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The JBL ESC333 is a six-piece, self-powered home theater speaker system. It has a built-in Dolby Pro Logic processor, and the system amplifier is housed in the subwoofer. The system includes five satellite speakers (35 watts each) and an 8-inch subwoofer (65 watts).

Two digital inputs offer automatic source switching, and two analog inputs facilitate hookup of VCRs, CD players, etc. The system's total frequency range is 35 to 20,000 Hz.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, July 26, 2000

By 

Emil Crumhorn (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JBL ESC333 Dolby Digital Home Theater Speaker System (Electronics)

Since there's not much info on this system out there, I'll try to give some longer review as well as telling you what I think. As for exact technical data here are some specs:

Amplifier: 200 watt total
(YES! The AMP is built in, don't go buying a seperate one unless you want DTS or so)
System output front channels 35 Watts x 3 @ .1% THD
Surround channels 15 Watts x 2 @ .1% THD
Sub-Woofer 65 Watts x 1 @ .1% THD
System Frequency Response: 35 Hz-20 kHz (-6dB)

Signal To Noise Ration: 90 dB
Input Impendance: 20k Ohms
Input Sensitivity: 400mV
Auto turn-on Sensitivity: 2mV/Channel
Subwoofer Dimensions/mm: (HxWxD): 384x330x368
Weight: 15.7 kg
Satellites Dimensions/mm: (same): 111x81x95
Weight: 0.45 kg/each

It's got all the 5.1, Dolby Digital etc except DTS..

The system in incredible. And it is built for the person who wants a very good system, that looks good and don't really want 400 buttons on the remote (but still wants to be able to adjust where sound comes from etc). I hooked this up to my Toshiba SD1200 DVD and my Toshiba Supertube 36" tv. Wow. I put in a 5.1 surround digital movie, Top Gun, and damn! I heard the plane from left to right etc, the base was so heavy from the engines of the planes that I had to run outside to see if it was too loud (was fine). I could feel it push the hairs around on my arms. I tried some other movies for sound variation. Matrix, shells dropping in my right ear and explosions from the front left and the subwoofer roaring out that deep base from the music. I was just all smiles. Shakespeare in love, great deep music from everywhere, Radiohead - The Bends (music cd in stereo) - awesome, I can see why they're releasing 5.1 cd's now. So as for sound, it's absolutely amazing, and I live in an apartment so it's more than enough for that.. The balance between base, treble and everything is good. I didn't need to do much except lower the base so I don't get evicted.

Installation was easy, long good cables, and extremely simple manual (didn't really need it). The system automatically senses the signal and sets the modes automatically, and it will power up without pressing the power button when it senses a signal. Auto powers down after 5 minutes when there's no signal (so once it's set up, throw away the remote :) ). You can adjust where sound should come from in a multiple of pre-set modes, or be exact, and adjust each speaker + subwoofer manually. Installing my DVD was one cable (optical) and tv was the other that I got with the package (analog). I had the sound running on my first try after 15 minutes. (I'm used to the 300 buttons and 30 inputs and outputs normally).

Looks: it looks good! the subwoofer is pitch black and pretty to look at with nice green/red diodes at it's top that display sound volume etc etc.. the satellites are black as well with a tiny jbl logo on them, and they're also very nice and small. The function "Late Night" is neat, as it's one click to make the system "cut out" the very loud and very base sounds.. good for 2 am movies.

Cons: Where's the headphone jack? And I'd love to be able to turn off the lights or fade them since I placed it next to my tv and the green lights are a bit too bright in darkness. However, since the remote control receiver is on a _long_ cable, I could've just hidden it completely and just have the sensor show up.. but I like to see things.

I'm giving this 5 stars, cause I love it's simplicity and power and excellent sound. You want more buttons and features just for the fun of it? buy seperate system and not an all-in one.

189 of 204 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars jbl home theater, January 21, 2000

By 

G. Taylor (Phoenix, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JBL ESC333 Dolby Digital Home Theater Speaker System (Electronics)

This system is excellent! there are a few points of interest not detailed in the ad. #1 you do not need a receiver to use this. this is a self contained amp, speaker system, with multiple surround sound processing options. it accepts digital,coaxial and analog inputs so you can plug all your equipment right into this with no need for an amp. The base response is awesome.I live in an apartment and my neighbors are displeased when i watch the matrix ! i love this thing.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Tiny Little Package That ROCKS!!!, March 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: JBL ESC333 Dolby Digital Home Theater Speaker System (Electronics)

Don't be deceived by the small speakers of this home theater system... once you set it up in your living room corners, you'll be amazed by its power and discrete sound. The actual amp that resides in the subwoofer casing will allow you to connect almost all of your a/v components: tv, dvd, vcr, tape deck... I was a little skeptical the first time I tested the sound, but when I got all the speakers set up around the room and played dvds, man I was glad I didn't return it...

One thing though... at outpost dot com you can get this baby at three hundred bucks less... so shop around before typing in some numbers.

Bottom line: for sound enthusiasts who's looking for a compact power punch - this is IT!!!