At CEDIA Expo 2008, JBL, Inc., announced the introduction of its LS Series. The LS Series includes four models: a compact bookshelf loudspeaker (LS40); two floorstanding tower speakers (LS60, LS80); and a dedicated center channel loudspeaker (LS CENTER). Suggested retail prices for LS Series loudspeakers range from $999 to $1,999 each.
The 176ND driver operates in conjunction with a Bi-Radial® horn that is made from high-density, acoustically inert composite material. The horn is shaped to provide optimum dispersion in the horizontal and vertical planes. The JBL LS Series 015M ultrahigh-frequency driver is a 3/4-inch ring-radiator design that incorporates a low-mass polyimide diaphragm, and delivers frequency extension to beyond 40kHz. The 015M is mounted in an Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal• (EOS) waveguide that is matched to the dispersion characteristics of the 176ND driver at the crossover point, which ensures constant directivity across the drivers' entire frequency spectrum. All LS Series woofers utilize proprietary PolyPlas• polymer-coated-cellulose-fiber cone material, and employ an oversized voice coil with a Kapton® former. In addition, the crossovers in the LS80 and LS60 employ a 3-1/2-way crossover network that allows the woofers to operate in different frequency ranges. LS Series loudspeakers feature curved contours and side panels that are tapered from the front to the back. JBL LS Series loudspeakers will be available in a high-gloss stained-wood finish. The LS40 is compact, and the LS60 and LS80 have a slim profile that enables them to easily fit into any décor. The LS CENTER may be placed near a TV set in an entertainment cabinet or on a shelf. JBL LS Series loudspeakers will be available in fall 2008. www.jbl.com
Exclusive JBL Technologies
LS Series loudspeakers combine compression drivers with dynamic drivers. They feature a 176ND high-frequency compression driver that employs a 2-inch pure-titanium diaphragm with a specially shaped diamond-patterned surround, along with a high-efficiency neodymium-iron-boron magnet and aluminum edge-wound voice coil.