JBL CINEMA SB160 Owner's Manual

1. Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the JBL CINEMA SB160. The JBL CINEMA SB160 is designed to bring an extraordinary sound experience to your home entertainment system. This manual provides product details and step-by-step instructions for setup and operation.

Contact Us: For questions regarding the JBL CINEMA SB160, its installation, or operation, please contact your retailer, custom installer, or visit www.JBL.com.

2. What's in the Box

The following items are included in the package:

• Soundbar (1 unit)
• Wireless Subwoofer (1 unit)
• Remote Control and Batteries (1 set)
• Power Cables* (2 units, 4.9ft / 1500mm each)
• HDMI Cable (1 unit, 4ft / 1200mm)
• Wall Mount Brackets (1 set)
• Product Information & Wall-mounted guide (1 unit)

*Power cable types and numbers vary by region.

3. Connect Your Soundbar

This section guides you through connecting your soundbar to a TV and other devices.

Connect to HDMI (ARC) Socket

HDMI connection supports digital audio and is the preferred method. If your TV supports HDMI ARC, you can hear TV audio through the soundbar using a single HDMI cable.

Diagram: A diagram illustrates the connection between the soundbar's 'HDMI OUT (ARC)' port and a television's 'HDMI ARC' port using a single HDMI cable.

1. Using a High Speed HDMI cable, connect the HDMI OUT (ARC) connector on your soundbar to the HDMI ARC connector on the TV.
2. Note: The HDMI ARC connector on the TV may be labeled differently. Refer to your TV's user manual for details.
3. On your TV, enable HDMI-CEC operations. Refer to your TV's user manual for details.

Note:

• Confirm that your TV's HDMI-CEC function is enabled.
• Your TV must support HDMI-CEC and ARC functions. Ensure HDMI-CEC and ARC are set to 'On'.
• The method for setting HDMI-CEC and ARC may vary by TV model. Consult your TV's owner's manual for ARC function details.
• Only HDMI 1.4 cables support the ARC function.

Connect to Optical Socket

Remove the protective cap from the OPTICAL socket. Use an optical cable to connect the soundbar's OPTICAL connector to the TV's or other device's OPTICAL OUT connector.

Note: The digital optical connector might be labeled SPDIF or SPDIF OUT.

Tip: If there is no sound output in OPTICAL/HDMI ARC mode and the status indicator flashes, you may need to activate PCM or Dolby Digital Signal output on your source device (e.g., TV, DVD, or Blu-ray player).

Connect to Power

Ensure all other connections are completed before connecting the AC power cord.

Risk of product damage! Verify that the power supply voltage matches the voltage printed on the unit.

Connect the mains cable to the AC~ Socket of the soundbar and then to a mains socket.

Connect the mains cable to the AC~ Socket of the subwoofer and then to a mains socket.

Pair with the Subwoofer

Automatic Pairing

Plug in the soundbar and subwoofer, then press the power button (⏻) on the unit or remote to turn them on. The soundbar and subwoofer will pair automatically.

Indicator Status:

• During pairing: The Pair indicator on the subwoofer flashes rapidly.
• After successful pairing: The Pair indicator on the subwoofer lights up steadily.

Note: Do not press the [pair-button] button on the rear of the subwoofer unless performing manual pairing.

Manual Pairing

If no audio is heard from the wireless subwoofer, perform manual pairing:

1. Unplug both units from the mains sockets. Wait 3 minutes, then plug them back in.
2. Press and hold the [pair-button] button on the subwoofer for a few seconds until the Pair indicator blinks rapidly.
3. Press the power button (⏻) on the unit or remote control to turn the unit ON. The Pair indicator will become solid when successful.
4. If the Pair indicator continues to blink, repeat steps 1-3.

Note:

• The subwoofer should be within 6 meters (20 feet) of the soundbar in an open area for best results.
• Remove any objects placed between the subwoofer and the soundbar.
• If wireless connection fails, check for conflicts or strong interference from nearby electronic devices (e.g., microwaves, wireless LAN). Remove these and try again.
• If the main unit is on but not connected to the subwoofer, the unit's POWER indicator will flash.

4. Place Your Soundbar

4a. Place the Soundbar on the table

Position the soundbar on a stable, level surface. Ensure at least 10cm (4 inches) of clearance above and 1m (3 feet) of clearance in front for optimal sound dispersion.

4b. Wall mount the Soundbar

Use the provided wall-mounting paper guide. Stick it to the wall, use a pen tip to mark the center of each mounting hole, and then remove the paper.

Screw the wall mount brackets onto the marked positions. Screw the threaded mounting posts into the back of the soundbar. Then, hook the soundbar onto the wall brackets.

5. Preparations

Prepare the Remote Control

The remote control allows operation from a distance. Ensure there are no obstacles between the remote and the unit within its effective range (up to 6 meters / 19.7 feet). Avoid operating near other infrared-emitting devices to prevent interference.

First-time use:

The unit comes with a pre-installed CR2025 lithium battery. Remove the protective tab to activate the battery.

Replace the Remote Control Battery

The remote control requires one CR2025, 3V Lithium battery.

Diagram: Step-by-step illustrations guide the user through replacing the remote control's battery: locating the battery tray tab, sliding out the tray, removing the old CR2025 battery, inserting a new one with correct polarity, and sliding the tray back in.

Precautions Concerning Batteries:

• If not using the remote for over a month, remove the battery to prevent leakage.
• If batteries leak, clean the compartment and replace with new batteries.
• Use only specified battery types.
• Do not heat or disassemble batteries.
• Never dispose of batteries in fire or water.
• Avoid storing batteries with metallic objects to prevent short circuits, leaks, or explosions.
• Never recharge non-rechargeable batteries.

6. Use Your Soundbar System

1. To Control

a. Top panel

The soundbar has physical controls on its top panel for Power (⏻), Source selection (BT, OPTICAL, HDMI ARC), and Volume +/-, and EQ modes (Music, Movie, News).

Source LED Indicators:

• ? Red: Standby
• ? Blue: Bluetooth mode
• ? Orange: Optical mode
• ⚪ White: HDMI ARC mode

b. Remote Control

The remote control provides access to all functions:

• 1) Power (⏻): Turns the unit on/off.
• 2) Volume +/-: Adjusts the volume level.
• 3) Bluetooth mode: Selects Bluetooth input.
• 4) Optical mode: Selects Optical input.
• 5) HDMI ARC mode: Selects HDMI ARC input.
• 6) Mute: Mutes/unmutes the sound.
• 7) Previous Track (◀◀) / Next Track (▶▶): Navigates tracks in Bluetooth mode.
• 8) Play / Pause (▶⏸): Controls playback in Bluetooth mode.
• 9) Movie EQ: Selects Movie sound mode.
• 10) Music EQ: Selects Music sound mode.
• 11) News EQ: Selects News sound mode.

c. Wireless Subwoofer

The subwoofer has an AC~ Socket for power, a [pair-button] for manual pairing, and a Subwoofer indicator light.

2. To use Bluetooth

2a. Start Bluetooth Pairing

Press the [bluetooth-icon] button on the unit or the BT button on the remote control to initiate Bluetooth pairing.

2b. Select "JBL CINEMA SB160" to connect

On your Bluetooth device, select "JBL CINEMA SB160" from the list of available devices. The connection range is up to 8 meters (27 feet).

Remark: Press and hold the BT button on the remote for 3 seconds to pair another mobile device.

Notes:

• If prompted for a PIN code, enter '0000'.
• Bluetooth connection may be lost if the distance exceeds 8 meters (27 feet).
• The soundbar automatically enters standby after 10 minutes of inactivity.
• Keep the soundbar away from devices that generate radio interference, such as microwaves or wireless LAN devices.

2c. Listen to Music from Bluetooth Device

If your Bluetooth device supports Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), you can play music through the soundbar. If it also supports Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP), you can use the soundbar's remote control for playback.

1. Pair your device with the soundbar.
2. Play music from your device.
3. Use the remote control for playback (Play/Pause: ▶⏸, Skip track: ▶▶/◀◀).

7. Respond to Your TV Remote Control

Control your soundbar using your TV's remote control.

7a. For other TVs, do IR remote learning

Program the soundbar to recognize your TV remote commands:

1. In Standby mode, press and hold VOL+ and [source-button] buttons on the soundbar for 5 seconds to enter learning mode. The orange indicator (?) will flash quickly.
2. Press and hold the [power-icon] button on the soundbar for 5 seconds.
3. Press the POWER button twice on your TV remote control.
4. Press and hold VOL+ and [source-button] buttons on the soundbar again for 5 seconds. The orange indicator (?) will flash slowly, indicating successful learning.

Note: The same procedure (steps 2-3) can be used to learn VOL- and VOL+ commands. For mute, press both VOL+ and VOL- on the soundbar, then press the [mute-button] button on your TV remote.

8. Sound Setting

Choose the ideal sound profile for your video or music.

Before you start

• Ensure all necessary connections are made as described in this manual.
• Switch the soundbar to the corresponding source for your connected devices.

Adjust the volume

• Press VOL+/- buttons to adjust the volume.
• Press [mute-button] to silence the sound. Press [mute-button] again or VOL+/- to restore sound.

Note: The status LED indicator flashes quickly during volume adjustment. It flashes once when the maximum or minimum volume level is reached.

Select Equalizer (EQ) Effect

Select predefined sound modes to match your content:

Press the [eq-button] button on the unit or the MOVIE, MUSIC, or NEWS buttons on the remote control.

• MOVIE: Recommended for movies.
• MUSIC: Recommended for listening to music.
• NEWS: Recommended for listening to news.

9. System

1. Auto standby

The soundbar automatically enters standby mode after 10 minutes of inactivity (no button presses or audio/video playback from a connected device).

2. Auto wake up

The soundbar powers on automatically when it detects an audio signal. This is particularly useful when connected to a TV via optical cable. Most HDMI ARC connections enable this feature by default.

3. Select Modes

Press the mode button on the unit or the BT, OPTICAL, HDMI buttons on the remote control to select the desired input mode. The front indicator light shows the current mode:

• Blue: Bluetooth mode
• Orange: Optical mode
• White: HDMI ARC mode

4. Software Update

JBL may release firmware updates for the soundbar. You can update the firmware by connecting a USB device containing the update file to the soundbar's USB port.

For information on downloading update files, visit www.JBL.com or contact the JBL call center.

10. Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues, check the following points before requesting service.

System

The unit will not turn on.

Check if the power cord is securely plugged into the outlet and the soundbar.

Sound

No sound from Soundbar.

• Ensure the soundbar is not muted.
• On the remote control, select the correct audio input source.
• Connect the audio cable from your soundbar to your TV or other devices.
• Note: A separate audio connection is not required when the soundbar and TV are connected via HDMI ARC.

No sound from the wireless subwoofer.

• Check if the Subwoofer LED is solid orange. If it's blinking white, the connection is lost. Manually pair the subwoofer (refer to 'Pair with the subwoofer' section).

Distorted sound or echo.

If playing TV audio through the soundbar, ensure the TV's internal speakers are muted.

Bluetooth

A device cannot connect with the Soundbar.

• Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your device (refer to device's manual).
• If the soundbar is connected to another Bluetooth device, press and hold the BT button on the remote to disconnect the current device, then try again.
• Turn your Bluetooth device off and on again, then attempt to connect.
• Ensure the device is connected correctly.

Quality of audio play from a connected Bluetooth device is poor.

Bluetooth reception may be poor. Move your Bluetooth device closer to the soundbar and remove any obstacles between them.

The connected Bluetooth device connects and disconnects constantly.

• Bluetooth reception may be poor. Move your Bluetooth device closer to the soundbar and remove any obstacles.
• Some Bluetooth devices may automatically disconnect to save power. This is not a malfunction of the soundbar.

Remote Control

The remote control does not work.

• Check battery level and replace if necessary.
• Ensure the remote is within sufficient range of the main unit.

11. Product Specifications

General

• Power supply: 100-240V~, 50/60Hz
• Total maximum power: 220 W
• Soundbar maximum output power: 2 x 52 W
• Subwoofer maximum power: 116 W
• Standby consumption: 0.5 W
• Soundbar transducer: 2 x (48x90)mm racetrack driver + 2 x 1.25" tweeter
• Subwoofer transducer: 5.25", wireless sub
• Max SPL: 82dB
• Frequency response: 40Hz - 20KHz
• Operating temperature: 0°C - 45°C
• Bluetooth version: 4.2
• Bluetooth frequency range: 2402-2480MHz
• Bluetooth maximum power: 0dBm
• Bluetooth modulation: GFSK, π/4 DQPSK
• 2.4G wireless frequency range: 2400-2483MHz
• 2.4G wireless maximum power: 3dBm
• 2.4G wireless modulation: FSK
• Soundbar dimensions (W x H x D): 900 x 67 x 63 mm (35.4" x 2.6" x 2.5")
• Soundbar weight: 1.65 kg
• Subwoofer dimensions (W x H x D): 170 x 345 x 313 mm (6.7" x 13.6" x 12.3")
• Subwoofer weight: 5 kg