JBL S36 II 6" Wall-Mountable 3-Way Speakers (Dark Gray)

Other products by JBL

Product Details

Product Manual [117kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 5 x 14.6 x 10.2 inches ; 11 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 24 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000632GF
• Item model number: S36II
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #155,399 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 26, 2002

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The S36II is a unique horizontal mirror-image nearfield/midfield monitor that brings the studio experience into your living room. This 3-way 6" loudspeaker in a molded enclosure with Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal (EOS) waveguide reproduces sound with unparalleled spaciousness and definition. It may be wall-mounted or placed on a shelf either horizontally or vertically.

The pure-titanium tweeter and the midrange transducer are mounted on a Linear Field Proximity (LFP) bezel that ensures a seamless transition between the middle and high frequencies. The PolyPlas (polymer-coated cellulose fiber) cone woofer features traditional JBL engineering, the same technologies used in JBL's Professional equipment that can be found in stadiums, music halls and movie theaters around the world.

Shielded components allow placement near video monitors. High-temperature, oversized Kapton voice coil and HeatScape motor structure allow these speakers to effortlessly play all types of movies and music. The woofers are built on cast-aluminum frames, which reduce distortion and increase power-handling capability. A low-diffraction IsoPower baffle directs the sound power into the room, reducing distortion caused by cabinet vibration. The sealed enclosure ensures tight, undistorted bass with no boominess. JBL's custom-designed drivers allow the use of simple, Straight-Line Signal Path (SSP) crossover networks with high-quality electrical components that minimize processing that could degrade the signal. All Studio Series loudspeakers are equipped with all-metal, 5-way, gold-plated binding post speaker terminals.

Product Description

The S36II is a unique horizontal mirror-image nearfield/midfield monitor that brings the studio experience into your living room. This 3-way 6" loudspeaker in a molded enclosure with Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal (EOS) waveguide reproduces sound with unparalleled spaciousness and definition. It may be wall-mounted or placed on a shelf either horizontally or vertically. The pure-titanium tweeter and the midrange transducer are mounted on a Linear Field Proximity (LFP) bezel that ensures a seamless transition between the middle and high frequencies. The PolyPlas (polymer-coated cellulose fiber) cone woofer features traditional JBL engineering, the same technologies used in JBL's Professional equipment that can be found in stadiums, music halls and movie theaters around the world.Shielded components allow placement near video monitors. High-temperature, oversized Kapton voice coil and HeatScape motor structure allow these speakers to effortlessly play all types of movies and music. The woofers are built on cast-aluminum frames, which reduce distortion and increase power-handling capability. A low-diffraction IsoPower baffle directs the sound power into the room, reducing distortion caused by cabinet vibration. The sealed enclosure ensures tight, undistorted bass with no boominess. JBL's custom-designed drivers allow the use of simple, Straight-Line Signal Path (SSP) crossover networks with high-quality electrical components that minimize processing that could degrade the signal. All Studio Series loudspeakers are equipped with all-metal, 5-way, gold-plated binding post speaker terminals.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great as part of surround system, fair if used only as pair, July 18, 2003

By A Customer

As part of JBL's "S" series, these speakers are designed to go with their "S" series center channel speaker, etc..

My experience in playing DVD movies with these S36's as front speakers, and an S series center channel speaker (and a couple generic rear speakers), has been entirely positive; a very natural soundstage is presented when a DVD is pumping out information to all the different channels. I am less impressed by how they perform solo (as a pair that is, without any center channel or surrounds) so will limit my reccomendation to only those who are buying them as part of a multi speaker set up.

Does this mean you should not get these? Depends on how you tend to play back stereo music (from CDs): If you are a purist who chooses to play stereo music through only 2 speakers, these are not the speakers for you (indeed, avoid shelf speakers altogether and get some good floor speakers!). If you're a modern person who tends to engage your receiver's surround processing to force a stereo signal into all the center speaker and surrounds too, then you've got no worries - this seems to be what they are made for. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway: these shelf speakers are better than shelf speakers that use a remote woofer. However, this still doesn't mean they have great bass. They have moderate bass - better than those, but still not competing with floor speakers. Indeed, despite these being great for shelf speakers, after several years of trying different kinds of shelf speakers I've come to the conclusion that there's simply no replacement for good old fashioned floor speakers with huge woofers - if you can afford it, and if you have a large enough room.

But if you are in a smaller apartment and don't have space to waste on floor speakers, and are looking for speakers to be part of a surround system, then these S36 are definately worth considering - particularly at the $... to $... price range they are most often available for. They are remarkably flush - only 5 inches deep, meaning they can even fit on shallow DVD shelves - you don't need actual bookshelves for these, which is why I chose them over JBL's other similarly-prices speakers. I wanted speakers that would not be competing for space. They can also be mounted to the wall - either hung, or on a mount (useful for people intending to use these as rears).

In short these are probably perfect for students-through-thirties who want to build an excellent surround system that doesn't waste space, and want a moderate amount of bass (more than many shelf units, but not as much as floor units).

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JBLS36II 3-way 6" wall speaker, October 3, 2002

By	Gene Ulmer "hometheater lover" (Ft.Bragg,Ca.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought the S36II to replace CSW'sdipole surround speakers,because,Ineeded more bass in the rear soundstage and these JBL's, with there 6"woofers,fills in that missing back low frequency,along with thereexellent mid and high's.I am intoDVD-AUDIO and needed speakers thatcan handle full range music.I haveJBL's S38II's up front with the S-Center and on the rear wall,N-26's.The sound is now complete, all around.I can highly recommend the S36II'salong with the rest of the Studioseries I mentioned.