JBL Northridge E50 3-Way 8-Inch Horizontal/Vertical Bookshelf Speakers, Pair (Black Ash)

by JBL

Product Details

Product Manual [281kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 17.4 x 12.9 inches ; 22.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 55 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: B0000E6S0Z
• Item model number: E 50
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,474 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Wish you could afford that great pro JBL sound? The Northridge series may just satisfy your yen for audio excellence at a price you'll call "survivable"! JBL's leading edge research into sound, hearing and speaker design have allowed them to create these moderate price loudspeakers -- with anything BUT moderate performance! Low diffraction IsoPower baffle FreeFlow flared port Straight-Line Signal Path Network Maximum recommended power - up to 175W Nominal impedance - 8 ohms Sensitivity - (2.83V/1m) - 90dB Frequency response - (-3dB) - 45Hz - 20kHz Crossover frequencies - 800Hz, 3200Hz Gold-plated, 5-way binding posts, bi-wirable Dimensions - 11.49H x 17.5W x 12.2D Weight per speaker - 25 pounds Finish - Black Ash Price is for two speakers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars JBL E50 Shoot Out, September 12, 2005

By 

Hammerhead "HHH" (Music City, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JBL Northridge E50 3-Way 8-Inch Horizontal/Vertical Bookshelf Speakers, Pair (Black Ash) (Electronics)

I have been a JBL fan for years. I am a professional Audio Engineer, and I am familliar with the tonality and durability of JBL products.

I purchased a pair of JBL Northridge E50 bookshelf speakers to do a shootout with a pair of Polk Monitor 40 speakers for a client I am desigining a home stereo install for. The client paid approximately $250 delivered for each pair of speakers.

After several days of testing within tolerances, I could still differentiate between the two, but it became nearly impossible for the client to tell which speaker was which in a blindfold test. Both television and CDs were tested through the speakers, and the music ranged from Josh Grobin to Stevie Ray Vaughn. It should be noted that the Polk Monitor 40s and the JBL E50s both required the use of a subwoofer in order to sound complete. By sheer weight, the JBL wins hands-down. At 25-lbs. each, it is a much heavier box than the 17-lb. Polk.

Through much of our testing, the 3-way JBL seemed more transparent in it's tonality, but when switched back and forth between the 2-way Polk within the same piece of music, it sometimes sounded a bit mid-rangey through the 800-1600 Hz range. I'm not sure whether the Polk was missing through that range, or whether the JBL was adding, but the Polks sounded more like what I was hearing in the AKG headphones. Also, the JBLs seemed to be lacking a bit in the lower range, through the 60-160 Hz range. This was the most surprising result, because the 8" woofer in the JBL looks as though it should be kicking the tail of the Polk 6" dual woofers, but the Polks had a deeper, richer bottom end.

The JBL E50s are rated for greater power than the Polk Monitor 40s, so if you plan to rock the house, the JBLs are probably a better choice. When pressed to their Continuous Power Handling rating, the Polks began to sound as though they were suffering from distress. They didn't distort, but they were obviously uncomfortable, while the JBLs never winced. However, for the purpose of this comparison, my client stated that the listening area (15 ft. X 20 ft.) would never tolerate that much volume, and confessed he would never be listening to the JBLs as loud as they were tested, so keep in mind the space where you will be using them.

In the end, it was decided that the Polk Monitor 40s were smoother and did not inject their own tonality onto the music. The JBL E50s would have required a physical change to the shelf on which they were to reside, so the client made the choice for the Polk Monitor 40s, but if you have a good sturdy shelf with room for the E50, and a listening space large enough to turn them up, you may make a different choice.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good performance, excellent value, December 17, 2004

By 

Alvin Lau "Home Theater Nut" (New Hyde Park, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JBL Northridge E50 3-Way 8-Inch Horizontal/Vertical Bookshelf Speakers, Pair (Black Ash) (Electronics)

The build quality is excellent and the E50s image well. The sound is warm and smooth, very easy to listen to. Bass response is adequate but not strong. The treble could use a bit more air as well.

Since the E50s are bookshelf speakers, they seem best suited for a small to medium sized room or for use as surround speakers. If used as main speakers for a large room, I suggest adding a separate subwoofer. Overall, an excellent speaker at this price point.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good choice, July 12, 2006

By 

Traveler (Del Mar, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JBL Northridge E50 3-Way 8-Inch Horizontal/Vertical Bookshelf Speakers, Pair (Black Ash) (Electronics)

I was replacing floor speakers and wanted a pair of speakers which had a smaller footprint (my wife didn't want a room filled and dominated with speakers)...yet still provided performance. I got what I wanted by purchasing the JBL E50.

I am using the speakers primarily as the front main channels (5.1 configuration) in a room that is 15'x15' with a 10'ceiling plate. The room is filled well with sound. The audio is clean and provides good spatial depth to the movie sound tracks. This in tandem with the other (center, subwoofer) JBL Northridge speakers.

Playing music from my CD player....sounds good and inviting. Good definition. Good reproduction.

I believe I made the right choice and very pleased with my purchase. I would recommend JBLs.