T
®
ESC333
Simple
setup guide
thank you
for choosing JBL. For more than 50 years, JBL
has been involved in every aspect of music and film recording
and reproduction, from live performances to the recordings you play
in your home, car or office.
We’re confident that the JBL system you have chosen will
provide every note of enjoyment that you expected – and that
when you think about purchasing additional audio equipment for
your home, car or office, you will once again choose JBL.
JBL Consumer Products
Important Note
Automatic On/Off and Automatic Digital-Input Selection
The ESC333 offers two unique
user-convenience features:
Automatic Turn-On/Shut-Down
and Automatic Digital-Input
Selection.
The Automatic Turn-Off shuts
the unit down five minutes after manually, it will not turn back
all sources connected to its on automatically until five
digital inputs are powered down minutes after the source
1. If the ESC333 is turned off
and the device connected to its
selected analog input stops
playing.
connected to the ESC333 is shut
down. During these five
minutes, it can be turned on
either from the front panel or
via the remote control.
The Automatic Turn-On feature
will turn the ESC333 on as soon
as a source connected to its
digital inputs (such as DVD, CD
player with digital output, or
any other device featuring a
coaxial or optical digital output) is powered on. Upon power
is switched on, or as soon as the down of this digital unit, if no
unit connected to its last-used
analog input starts outputting
sound.
The Automatic Digital-Input
Selector automatically selects
the source connected to its
digital inputs when that source
2. Once an input source is
selected manually, the
Automatic Source-Selection
feature will remain disabled
until the ESC333 shuts down.
3. Once any one of the two
devices connected to the ESC333
digital inputs is powered on and
its input is selected by the
ESC333, the device connected to
the other digital input of the
ESC333 cannot be automatically
other source is on, the ESC333
will switch itself off after five
minutes.
If the analog source that was
selected prior to the digital
source turning on is still
playing, the ESC333 will switch
When using digital inputs, the
Automatic Turn-On can be
activated by turning on either
one of the connected digital
sources such as a DVD player or
a CD player with digital output.
back to that other source. Once selected until the already-
a digital source is powered on
and selected as an input,
selected digital device is
powered down.
When using analog inputs (TV or turning on a device connected
AUX), Automatic Turn-On is
available only for the device
that was last listened to before
the ESC333 shut down. In order
to the other digital input will
not switch the input until the
selected digital device is first
powered off.
to listen to the other device, the These two features can only be
ESC333 input needs to be
manually selected by using the
used if the customer does not
manually turn the ESC333 on or
Input button on the product and off, and does not manually
on the remote, which, in turn,
disables the Automatic Digital-
Input Selector until the ESC333
is shut down.
select an input source. Once
either of these selections is
made manually, the automatic
features are disabled as follows:
-3-
included
“Smart” powered
subwoofer/controller.
Five satellites for left, right,
center and surrounds.
Foot for horizontal placement of
center speaker. Versatile remote
sensor and double-sided tape
provided.
Power
Volume
Mute
0
dB
Test
Late Night
Delay
Level
Adjustment
Input
–
–
–
+
+
+
Bass
Treble
Surround
Mode
JBL
”
error free“ speaker cables.
Remote control.
Digital coax input cable and
analog RCA input cable.
Extension cable XC300 available
in 10-foot lengths in either
white or black.
featres
• Complete, self-powered
Dolby* Digital home-cinema
sound system with five
satellite speakers, subwoofer,
remote control, and all
amplification built in. (Just
Add TV!)
• Dolby Digital (AC-3* 5.1
channel), Dolby Pro Logic*,
including Phantom and
3-Stereo, and Stereo listening
modes.
• Automatic Turn-On and Turn-
Off.
• Late Night compression for
nighttime listening without
unexpected and objectionably
loud passages.
• All amplification and controls
are mounted in the
subwoofer, eliminating the
need for a separate control
unit.
• Remote controllable via
outboard remote eye that can
be mounted with the center
channel or separately, so that
the subwoofer can be hidden
away.
• Automatic Source Switching
for the digital inputs.
• Two digital (one optical and
one coaxial) inputs and two
analog inputs.
• 2-Way video-shielded micro-
satellites with titanium-
laminate tweeters and
common voicing for all five
channels, and an 8-inch,
long-throw, floor-firing
subwoofer.
-4-
• Wall-mount brackets and floor • JBL “error free” speaker
• Rotatable JBL logos to allow
for vertical or horizontal
placement of the satellites.
stands available separately
for the satellites.
• Credit-card-type, full-
function remote control.
cables simplify connection
and eliminate possibility of
out-of-phase wiring.
• Center foot for horizontal
placement of the center
channel.
About Dolby Digital
The ESC333 features Dolby
Digital (also unofficially known
as AC-3) multichannel signal
processing, a system developed
by Dolby Laboratories.
such as a DVD player. The result
is clear and accurate digital
sound to each speaker, along
with availability of stereo-
surround effects (Dolby Pro
that illuminates when a Dolby
Digital 5.1-channel encoded
signal is present. Dolby Digital
can also provide other AC-3
digital multichannel signals, as
Logic features mono surrounds). well as 2-channel signals, which
can be decoded via Dolby Pro
Dolby Digital, unlike “matrixed”
systems (such as Dolby Pro
Logic) that derive and decode
multichannel sound from two
Dolby Digital is capable of
delivering several different
formats of surround sound, the
Logic processing into
multichannel surround sound.
In the latter case, both the
Dolby Pro Logic and Dolby
Digital indicators will illuminate
in the ESC333 display.
channels of sound, is capable of most robust one being the 5.1-
delivering information for one
subwoofer and five full-range
channels as discrete and
individual channels in digital
AC-3 data format from sources
channel mode, which provides
separate signals for five
satellite speakers as well as for
a subwoofer. The ESC333
features a “5.1-Ch” indicator
-5-
one.
Speaker Placement
Satellites
Subwoofer
0-2 ft.
Mounting Remote Sensor to Center Speaker.
Center speaker.
Place remote sensor at bottom
of center speaker.
Insert support leg through
remote sensor and into
speaker.
The remote sensor may be placed anywhere using the supplied double-sided tape.
Surround Speakers
5
– 6 ft.
Mounting Options
Satellites and Surrounds
On shelves.
On the wall. Optional bracket,
WB300 or WB300WHT (white).
On optional stands, FS300
or FS300WHT (white).
-6-
two.
Speaker, Source, and Remote-Sensor Connectors
(rear panel of subwoofer)
Center
Digital Source A
DVD or CD
Digital Output
COAXIAL
Left Front
Right Front
Digital Source B
COAXIAL
OPTICAL
DIGITAL
INPUTS
DVD or CD
Digital Output
TV
OPTICAL
ANALOG
INPUTS
AUX
TV
RIGHT
LEFT
Audio Output
RIGHT
CENTER
LEFT
Remote Sensor
FRONT
SPEAKERS
Right
Left
RIGHT
LEFT
SURROUND
SPEAKERS
AUX
(Additional Audio Source)
Audio Output
REMOTE SENSOR
INPUT
Right
Left
ON / STANDBY
OFF
AC POWER
Left Surround
Right Surround
Speaker and Amplifier Connection
Dashed lines indicate that
wire is not included
Extension cables, XC300, available in
10-foot lengths from your JBL dealer.
-7-
three.
Operation
Remote-Control-Battery Installation.
Push small tab towards
battery slot and pull battery
drawer out.
Remove old battery.
Insert new battery with “+”
side up, and slide battery
drawer back into remote.
Rear-Panel Control
Master On/Off Switch
To operate unit, place this switch
in the On/Standby position. The
system will go into standby when
no signal has been received and
when no unit connected to any of
its two digital inputs has been on
for approximately five minutes.
-8-
Remote and Front-Panel Controls and Indicators
20
23
22
24
25
30
29
28
19
26 17
21
5.1 Ch
Digital
ProLogic
PCM
18
ON
31
32
33
SUB
Surround
Phantom
3 - St
TV
Late Night
AUX
LS LF
C
RF
RS
LVL
DLY
STANDBY
16
15
14
DIG. COAX
DIG. OPT
Input
Surround Mode
Volume
Mute
Front Panel
4
2
5
27
Remote Control
6
Automatic Turn-On/Off on page
3 of this manual, and keep in
mind that if the ESC333 is shut
down using this power button,
its automatic turn on feature will The mute symbol indicator (33)
remain disabled for five minutes will illuminate. When you press
after the source connecred to
the ESC333 is shut down also.
This is to prevent the ESC333
from repeatedly turning itself
back on despite the user’s
2. Mute
From either the front panel or
the remote control, press (Mute)
to lower the volume completely.
Power
Volume
1
Mute
6
8
2
3
7
9
0
dB
Test
Late Night
Delay
Level
10
either of the mute buttons
again, the volume will return to
its previous setting.
Note: The mute function can also
be turned off by pressing either
of the volume buttons on the
front panel or the remote
Adjustment
Input
—
+
4
11
12
13
Bass
—
—
+
+
Treble
wishes. The ESC333 can also be
powered on by using the Input
Surround
Mode
button (4) on the front panel of control.
the subwoofer or on the remote
5
control. Please note that if input 3. Late Night
selection is done by pressing the This feature is available for
1. Power
Input button, the Automatic
This button, located only on the Digital Input Selection of the
Dolby Digital only. It compresses
the inherently dynamic digital
remote control, allows the user
to manually turn on or off the
ESC333. Please note that the
ESC333 will be disabled until the sound so that the quiet and loud
ESC333 shuts down.
passages are not quite as
different in sound levels as they
ESC333 features Automatic Turn- When the ESC333 is plugged into ordinarily are. This feature
On/Off, and the power switch is a working electrical outlet and
allows the user to watch movies
and listen to dialogue at toned-
down levels so as not to disturb
others by the loud sound effects
not normally used unless it is
necessary to override this
its master switch on the back
panel is set to On/Standby, the
automatic feature, or in case the Standby (32) indicator will
analog input to be used is not
the last one that was used and
so Automatic Turn-On is not
available for that input. Please
read the details regarding
illuminate. The ON (31) indicator that may be present. The Late
will light as soon as the ESC333 Night indicator (26) illuminates
is turned on either automatically when this feature is active.
or via the pressing of the Power
or Input buttons.
-9-
4. Input
all speakers except for the two
center and surround delay
This control is available on both surround speakers will be active. adjustments can be done from
the front panel and the remote
control. It allows manual selec-
tion when the user repeatedly
presses and releases the button
for any of the ESC333’s four
inputs. The ESC333 features an
Automatic Digital Input Selec-
tion feature that automatically
switches the ESC333 to the
source connected to one of its
two digital inputs as soon as
that device is powered on.
Please read the section on page
3 to thoroughly familiarize
yourself with the conveniences
and conditions of using the
Automatic Digital Input
Selection feature. The Input
switch is also used when the
source connected to the
ESC333’s analog input is not the section).
analog source that was listened
to the last time the ESC333 was
on (and hence the Automatic
Turn-On feature is not
either Dolby Digital or Dolby Pro
Logic “matrixed” modes. There
are no separate delay
6. Volume
Press (∧) on the remote control
or the front panel to raise the
system’s volume. Press (∨) on
the remote control or the front
panel to lower the system’s
volume. The volume setting is
indicated on the status-bar
indicator (27).
adjustments for the individual
modes of operation. During
adjustments, the audio mutes
momentarily every time the
Adjustment +/– button (11) is
pressed. Please note that the
status-bar indicator (27) will
not display unless Adjustment
+/– buttons are pressed. Also,
while the status-bar indicator
(27) is on, channel indicators
7. 0 dB
Press this button to reset the
Center, Surround, Balance,
Treble and Bass controls to their (28) and DLY (30) will not be
default positions.
displayed. And, if adjust-
ments are done in a mode where
a certain channel is not
8. Test
Press this button to activate the available, the adjustment step
Test Tone mode (see Test Tone
for that channel is skipped. For
example, in Phantom mode, the
center- channel delay cannot be
adjusted since Phantom does
not have a center channel. In
Stereo, neither the center nor
the surround delay can be
9. Delay
The relative timing of sounds
coming from the center and/or
available). The Input switch also surround speakers compared to
turns on the ESC333 when
pressed (see item 1 earlier in
this section). Whenever a
specific input is selected either
manually or automatically, its
indicator (14, 15, 16 or 17) on
the ESC333’s front panel will be
illuminated.
the front-left and front-right
speakers can be adjusted. The
first press of this button allows
adjustment of the center
channel, all the way from the
default setting of 0 ms (milli-
seconds), which means no delay
(all status bars off), to a
adjusted since Stereo does not
feature surround speakers or a
center speaker. A third press of
the Delay button will exit the
ESC333 from its delay-
adjustment mode.
10. Level
maximum of 5 ms (5 status bars
on). The indicators C (28) and
DLY (30) will be on. The second
press of the Delay button allows justed while listening to
adjustments of the surround program material on the
The relative level of sounds
coming from each of the
ESC333’s speakers can be ad-
5. Surround Mode
Pressing and releasing this
button allows the selection of
different listening modes.
Surround (18), Phantom (19)
and 3-Stereo (20) are available
listening options for Dolby
Digital and Dolby Pro Logic.
Stereo (21) bypasses the
surround processing and out-
puts sound through the right-
and left-front speakers only. In
Surround mode, all five
speakers; indicators LS (28) and ESC333. Repeated pressing and
RS (28) and DLY (30) will be on. releasing of the Level button
The delay can be adjusted from
zero (all status bars off) to
15 ms (all status bars on) in
5.1 Channel Dolby Digital and
from 15 ms (all status bars off)
to 30 ms (all status bars on) in
Dolby Pro Logic (there is an
allows access to each channel.
The display will indicate LVL
(29), and the channel indicators
(28) LF (Left Front), C (Center),
RF (Right Front), LS (Left
Surround), RS (Right Surround)
and SUB (subwoofer) will
satellites and the subwoofer will inherent and fixed 15 ms of
illuminate to indicate the active
speaker. The level for the
selected channel can then be
changed using the Adjustment
play. In Phantom mode, all
speakers except the center
channel will play. In 3-Stereo,
delay added in the “matrixed”
Dolby Pro Logic to re-create the
proper surround effect). The
-10-
+/– buttons (11). Levels set in
one mode will stay valid for all
other modes and are not inde-
pendent. Please note that the
status-bar indicator (27) will
not display unless Adjustment
+/– buttons are pressed. And,
while the status-bar indicator
(27) is on, channel indicators
(28) and LVL (29) will not be
displayed. Also, if adjustments
are done in a mode where a
18–21. Surround
28. Speaker Indicator
One of these will illuminate,
depending on which surround
mode is chosen.
Identifies the speaker that’s
being adjusted. LS is Left
Surround, LF is Left Front, C is
Center, RF is Right Front, RS is
Right Surround, and SUB is
Subwoofer.
22. Dolby Digital
Indicates the presence of a
Dolby Digital-encoded AC-3
digital signal.
29. Level
Illuminates when the ESC333 is
in speaker-level adjustment
mode.
23. 5.1-Ch
Works in conjunction with the
certain channel is not available, Dolby Digital indicator (22).
the adjustment step for that
channel is skipped. For examp-
This indicator illuminates when
the Dolby Digital signal
30. Delay
Illuminates when the ESC333 is
le, in Phantom mode the center- contains 6 discrete channels of
in speaker-delay adjustment
channel level cannot be ad-
justed since Phantom does not
have a center channel. In
stereo, neither the center nor
the surround levels can be
adjusted since Stereo does not
feature surround speakers or a
center speaker. A seventh press
of the Level button will exit the
ESC333 from its level-
information (one subwoofer and mode.
five satellite channels).
31. On
24. Dolby Pro Logic
Indicates that the ESC333 is
Illuminates when Dolby Pro
Logic decoding of a 2-channel
signal is taking place. This
indicator may be on by itself
(when analog inputs are used),
in conjunction with Dolby
Digital (when using a digital
input where the AC-3 format
signal contains two channels
and needs to be decoded into
multichannel) or together with
PCM (when using a digital input
where 2-channel PCM-format
data is being decoded into
multichannel).
fully powered up.
32. Standby
Indicates that the ESC333 is
plugged into an active wall
outlet and the master switch on
the back panel is in On/Standby
position, but the unit is not
powered on.
adjustment mode.
11. Adjustment
These buttons are used in
conjunction with Test (8), Delay
(9), and Level (10) to increase
or decrease a setting.
33. Mute
Illuminates when the mute
function is activated (the
ESC333 will be on but will not
produce any sound).
12. Bass
Press (+) to increase the level of
low-frequency information.
Press (–) to decrease the level
of low-frequency information.
25. PCM
Illuminates when the signal
supplied through the selected
digital input is in PCM format.
13. Treble
Press (+) to increase the level of 26. Late Night
high-frequency information.
Press (–) to decrease the level
of high-frequency information.
Illuminates when the Late Night
compression is selected.
27. Status-Bar Indicator
14–17. Input
These LEDS show the relative
One of these four indicators will setting of volume, bass, treble,
illuminate, depending on which
input is selected.
speaker level and speaker delay.
-11-
Status-Bar Indicators
LED Bar Indicators illuminate in
response to adjustments in
volume, delay, level, bass and
treble controls.
Volume, Level, Delay
Increase
Decrease
Bass, Treble
Increase
Decrease
0dB
0dB
-12-
Surround Modes
Surround
3-Stereo Mode
Use this mode for films recorded Use this mode to play back Pro
using Dolby Digital or Dolby Pro
Logic Surround.
Logic-encoded films when you
do not want the surround
channels to play.
Phantom
This mode creates surround
sound from stereo recordings.
The center channel is not used
and the surround channels have
a 20-ms delay.
Stereo
This mode plays a recording in
traditional two-channel stereo.
Test Tone
The Test Tone is used to
indication of the adjustment as
the adjustment is being made.
The default adjustment level of
0 dB is indicated by five status-
test twice, once in Dolby Digital
(Dolby Digital is automatically
selected when the ESC333 is
connected to a DVD player’s
digital output, that specific
digital input is selected, and
the DVD player is playing Dolby
calibrate the volume settings of
each of the speakers in the
ESC333. It is dependent on the
room where the system is set up bar indicators illuminated.
and the relative distances and
positions of each speaker to the If adjustments are done in a
listening position. In Dolby
mode where a certain channel is Digital-encoded material) and
Digital mode, a static-like noise not available, the adjustment
once again in Dolby Pro Logic.
will be heard cycling, in order:
left front, center, right front,
right surround, left surround,
step for that channel is skipped.
For example, in Phantom mode,
the center-channel level cannot
Note: The Test Tone is used to
calibrate the system to
subwoofer. In modes other than be adjusted since Phantom does reproduce all program materials
Dolby Digital, the sound from
the two surrounds will be
not have a center channel. In
stereo, neither the center nor
the surround levels can be
adjusted since Stereo does not
feature surround speakers or a
center speaker.
at the correct relative levels, as
was determined by the
coming at the same time, since
the surrounds in all available
modes, except in Dolby Digital,
are in mono. When the Test
Tone is heard coming from a
specific channel, pressing the
Adjustment +/– (11) buttons
will increase or decrease the
recording engineers. When
listening to actual surround-
encoded program material, the
volume level of the surround
channels is generally lower than
that of the front channels. In
fact, virtually all of the dialogue
and a substantial number of the
effects in a movie are
Using the remote control,
adjust each channel’s levels
until the volume of all the
level of sound coming from that speakers is the same during the
channel. The display status-bar
indicator (27) provides visual
test. To make sure all channels
are properly adjusted, do the
reproduced through the center
channel.
-13-
Troubleshooting
If there is no sound from any
of the speakers:
If there is no sound from the
surround speakers or
sound is very low:
If there is no sound from the
center speaker:
• Make sure the subwoofer is
plugged into an active AC
wall outlet.
• Make sure the Master Power
Switch, located on the rear of
the subwoofer, is in the
On/Standby position.
• Make sure there is a source –
for example, a DVD Player, CD
Player, VCR or television –
hooked up to one of the four
input jacks.
• Make sure that the processor
is in the Surround or
• Check all connections
between processor/amplifier
and each of the speakers.
• Raise the surround volume
from the remote control (see
Operation section).
• Make sure the TV show or
movie you are watching is
recorded in Dolby Digital or
Pro Logic Surround. If it is
not, try the Phantom or
3-Stereo mode. If it is in
Phantom or Stereo mode, the
center speaker will not play.
• Increase the level of the
center channel, using the
level-adjustment instructions
earlier in this manual.
• Check the connections
between the subwoofer and
the center speaker.
• Make sure that the program
material is playing.
• Recheck the hookup
connections, referring to the
Speaker Connections section.
Simulated Surround mode.
• Increase the surround-
speakers’ level, using the
level-adjustment instructions
found earlier in this manual.
If you have low bass output:
• Experiment with placement
of the subwoofer. Remember,
place the subwoofer in a
corner to get maximum bass
output from the system.
• Increase the subwoofer level,
using the level-adjustment
instructions found earlier in
this manual.
• Increase the level of bass,
using the remote control.
-14-
Specifications
Occasional refinements may
be made to existing products
without notice, but will always
meet or exceed original
specifications unless otherwise
stated.
ESC333 System
Power Output
Satellites:
35 Watts x 5 @ 0.1% THD
Subwoofer:
65 Watts x 1 @ 0.1% THD
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
90 dBA
Input Impedance
(analog inputs)
20k ohms
Input Sensitivity
(analog inputs)
400mV
Auto Turn-On Sensitivity
(analog inputs)
2mV
Frequency Response (–6 dB)
35Hz – 20kHz
Dimensions (H x W x D)
Satellites (each):
4-3/8 x 3-3/16 x 3-3/4 inches
111 x 81 x 95mm
Subwoofer:
15-1/8 x 13 x 14-1/2 inches
384 x 330 x 368mm
-15-
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER
SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
The lightning flash with arrowhead
symbol, within an equalateral triangle,
is intended to alert the user to the
The exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle is intended to
alert the user to the presence of
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.
important operating and maintenance
(servicing) instructions in the literature
accompanying the appliance.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
Handle the Power Cord Gently
• To disconnect the plug from the AC outlet, pull on the plug itself,
not on the cord. Pulling the cord may break the wire.
• Disconnect the plug from the AC outlet whenever the unit is to be
left unused for an extended period of time.
• Do not place furniture or other heavy objects on the cord, and
avoid dropping heavy objects on it. Also, do not make a knot
in the cord; this can damage it and cause a fire hazard.
JBL Consumer Products
250 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, NY 11797
8500 Balboa Boulevard, Northridge, CA 91329
1-800-336-4JBL (4525) (USA only)
International: 2, route de Tours, 72500 Château-du-Loir, France
1999 JBL, Incorporated. JBL and Simply Cinema are
©
registered trademarks of JBL, Incorporated.
*Trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
Part No. ESC333OM
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