JBL ESC200 Simply Cinema System Setup Guide

Important Safety Precautions!

CAUTION: RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN

To prevent electric shock, do not remove the grounding plug on the power cord, or use any plug or extension cord that does not have a grounding plug provided. Make certain that the AC outlet is properly grounded. Do not use an adapter plug with this product.

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. ⚡️

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance. ?

Safety Instructions:

• 1. Read Instructions: All safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is operated.
• 2. Retain Instructions: Safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
• 3. Heed Warnings: All warnings on the product and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.
• 4. Follow Instructions: All operating and use instructions should be followed.
• 5. Cleaning: Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners; use a damp cloth.
• 6. Attachments: Do not use attachments not recommended by the manufacturer, as they may cause hazards.
• 7. Water and Moisture: Do not use this product near water (e.g., near a bathtub, sink, wet basement, or swimming pool).
• 8. Accessories: Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. Use only with manufacturer-recommended accessories. Any mounting should follow manufacturer's instructions.
• 9. Product and Cart Combination: Move with care to prevent overturning.
• 10. Ventilation: Do not block openings in the cabinet, which are provided for ventilation and to protect from overheating.
• 11. Power Sources: Operate only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label. Consult your dealer or local power company if unsure.
• 12. Grounding or Polarization: This product may have a polarized plug. If it does not fit the outlet, contact an electrician to replace the outlet. Do not defeat the plug's safety purpose.
• 13. Power-Cord Protection: Route cords to prevent them from being walked on or pinched.
• 14. Nonuse Periods: Unplug the power cord when left unused for long periods.
• 15. Outdoor Antenna Grounding: If an outside antenna or cable system is connected, ensure it is grounded according to Article 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, for protection against voltage surges and static charges. (See Figure 1 for grounding example).
• 16. Lightning: For added protection during lightning storms, unplug the unit and disconnect the antenna/cable system.
• 17. Power Lines: Do not locate an outside antenna system near overhead power lines or where it can fall into such lines. Extreme care must be taken to avoid contact, which could be fatal.
• 18. Overloading: Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords, as this can result in fire or electric shock.
• 19. Object and Liquid Entry: Never push objects into openings or spill liquid on the product, as this may cause fire or electric shock.
• 20. Servicing: Do not attempt to service this product yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
• 21. Damage Requiring Service: Unplug the product and refer servicing to qualified personnel if the power cord/plug is damaged, objects have fallen into the product, liquid has been spilled, the product does not operate normally, it has been dropped or damaged, or exhibits a distinct change in performance.
• 22. Replacement Parts: Ensure service technicians use manufacturer-specified replacement parts to avoid fire, electric shock, or other hazards.
• 23. Safety Check: After service or repairs, ask the technician to perform safety checks to ensure proper operating condition.
• 24. Wall or Ceiling Mounting: Mount only as recommended by the manufacturer.
• 25. Heat: Site the product away from heat sources like radiators or stoves.

Figure 1: Example of Antenna Grounding as per National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70. [Diagram description: Shows an antenna lead-in wire connected to a ground clamp, antenna discharge unit, grounding conductors, electric service equipment, and power service grounding electrode system.]

Included Components

The JBL ESC200 Simply Cinema system includes:

• Dolby* Pro Logic* processor with 6 amplifiers.
• Front, rear, and center satellite speakers with rotating logo. [Diagram: Five satellite speakers.]
• Batteries. [Diagram: Two AA batteries.]
• Subwoofer. [Diagram: A subwoofer unit.]
• Cables: Includes speaker wires of different lengths (RED TAG 5', BLACK TAG 9', WHITE TAG 28') for connecting to CENTER, FRONT, and REAR speakers, and RCA-type audio cables. [Diagram: Speaker cables and RCA cables.]
• Remote Control. [Diagram: A remote control unit.]

Wall-Mounting Your ESC200 Satellites: The ESC200 Satellites may be wall-mounted. The customer is responsible for proper selection and use of mounting hardware available through hardware stores to properly and safely wall-mount the ESC200 Satellites. This product is not intended for ceiling mounting.

Speaker Placement

Front Speakers

Place all three front speakers (left, center, right) at approximately the same height. The height of your ears is preferable.

Center Speaker

Place the center speaker even with the left and right speakers, or slightly behind.

Rear Speakers

Place rear speakers to the sides and slightly behind the main listening position.

Subwoofer

Optimum subwoofer placement is typically in a corner or along a wall, positioned vertically or horizontally. A distance of 6 inches from walls is suggested for optimal bass output. [Diagram: Shows optimal subwoofer placement, 6" from walls.]

Optional Stands: The system can be used with optional stands (Part No. FS10/20). [Diagram: Speaker on an optional stand.]

Speaker and Source Connections

Speaker Connections

To connect your speakers, press down on the quick release tab to open the terminal for the speaker wire, insert the wire straight, then release the tab. Ensure the wire is secure by giving it a gentle tug.

Use the shortest wire for the CENTER speaker, the two medium length wires for the FRONT speakers, and the long wires for the REAR speakers. Always insert the RED coated wire into the RED terminal and the BLACK coated wire into the BLACK terminal on each of your speakers and the corresponding terminal on the back of the PROCESSOR. Match RED to RED and BLACK to BLACK on both ends. [Diagram: Shows back of a speaker with red and black terminals, and a diagram of the processor amplifier's rear panel with connections for Front Right, Front Left, Center, Subwoofer, Rear Right, and Rear Left speakers, including impedance and fuse information.]

Source Connection (TV or VCR)

Connect the audio output from your TV or VCR to the corresponding inputs on the processor amplifier using RCA audio cables. [Diagram: Shows connections from a Stereo TV and Stereo VCR to the processor amplifier's inputs.]

Source Connection (Headphone)

If using a stereo TV with only a headphone output, connect the headphone output to the processor amplifier's input using a suitable adapter cable. [Diagram: Shows connection from a Stereo TV headphone output to the processor amplifier's input.]

Setup and Testing

Plug-In

Connect the power cord to the processor amplifier and plug it into a standard AC 120V 60Hz outlet. [Diagram: Shows the power cord plugged into the processor amplifier and then into a wall outlet.]

Test

Press the 'TEST' button on the remote control. This will cycle through each speaker (Front Left, Front Right, Center, Rear Left, Rear Right) producing a test tone, allowing you to verify connections and placement. [Diagram: Shows the remote control with the 'TEST' button being pressed, followed by sequential diagrams of speakers emitting test tones.]

Surround Modes

The ESC200 processor offers several surround sound modes to enhance your listening experience:

• Pro Logic Mode: Utilizes Dolby Pro Logic decoding for surround sound from compatible sources. [Diagram: Illustrates speaker setup for Pro Logic mode.]
• Hall Mode: Simulates the acoustics of a concert hall. [Diagram: Illustrates speaker setup for Hall mode.]
• Concert Mode: Designed for a concert-like audio experience. [Diagram: Illustrates speaker setup for Concert mode.]
• Stereo Mode: Standard stereo playback. [Diagram: Illustrates speaker setup for Stereo mode.]

Select the desired mode using the corresponding buttons on the remote control.

Remote Control Operations

Volume Adjustment

Use the 'VOLUME +' and 'VOLUME -' buttons on the remote control to adjust the overall system volume. [Diagram: Shows the remote control with volume adjustment buttons.]

Balance Adjustment

Use the 'LEFT BALANCE RIGHT' controls to adjust the sound balance between left and right speakers, and the 'FRONT REAR' controls to adjust the balance between front and rear speakers. [Diagram: Shows the remote control with balance adjustment controls.]

Bass & Treble Adjustment

Use the 'BASS +'/'BASS -' and 'TREBLE +'/'TREBLE -' buttons to adjust the bass and treble frequencies. [Diagram: Shows the remote control with bass and treble adjustment buttons.]

Bass Boost

Press the 'BASS BOOST' button to enhance low-frequency response. [Diagram: Shows the remote control with the Bass Boost button.]

Troubleshooting

If you hear no sound at all, check the following:

• Ensure the processor/amplifier is plugged into a live electrical outlet and the power switch is on.
• Verify connections from the TV or VCR to the processor/amplifier.
• If using a television, ensure the TV is on and a signal is present.
• If using a VCR, ensure the VCR is playing a tape.
• Check all connections between the processor/amplifier and each speaker.

If one or more of the speakers does not play, check the following:

• Verify all connections between the processor/amplifier and each speaker.
• Adjust the balance controls (left-to-right and front-to-rear).

If you have very little bass output, check the following:

• Ensure the subwoofer is connected properly to the processor/amplifier.
• Experiment with subwoofer placement; placing it in a corner can maximize bass output.
• Ensure "Bass Boost" is engaged.
• Adjust the "Bass" level.

If there is no sound coming from the rear speakers or the volume is very low, check the following:

• Verify all connections between the processor/amplifier and each speaker.
• Adjust the front-rear balance controls on the processor/amplifier.
• Ensure the TV show or movie you are watching is recorded in Dolby* Surround. If not, try the "Concert Hall" or "Stereo" settings on the processor/amplifier.

Specifications

Satellite Speakers

Subwoofer

Processor Amplifier

Occasional refinements may be made to existing products without notice, but will always meet or exceed original specifications unless otherwise stated.