JBL ES25CBK 3-Way, Dual 5 1/4" Center Channel Speaker - Black

I have a full JBL surround as far as speakers, and I've always just used the TV as center. I bought a Harman Kardon receiver last October and the processing delay no longer allowed for that set-up. I borrowed my roommates JVC center speaker to do the job and it sounded decent. It's a nice speaker, but it just didn't blend or match. I did some research and went to the local Fry's and listened to a few and settled on this JBL, came home and ordered it for 1/3 the price off Amazon. I didn't realize what I was in for till it arrived and I opened it up. Like everything else, it's bigger once you get it home and where it's going to go. I hooked it up and WOW!! The voices got so much more full and rich with their range and filled the room much much better. Add to this, I can no longer sit and close my eyes and pick out where each front speaker is and which one the sound is coming from. It all blends into a seamless wall of sound like it should! I guess I didn't realize how important the center channel was and am very very happy with this one. If you're looking for a full range and powerful center speaker with excellent sound/detail reproduction, this one will definitely do the job. However, I must express the importance of matching up with your existing speakers for a seamless sound. Not necessarily by brand, but by ability and size. This would be way too much speaker if you just have a couple little satellites or tiny bookshelf speakers for your front. If you have full range speakers for your front channel's, this will compliment extremely well. I also just want to add how well the directional reproduction in the room is with center and with the JBL Balcony Series that I'm running for the side channels. They were definitely a great addition as well and pair up with the crisp highs this center puts out to really give the room a true 3D sound quality. I've put in and cranked up a couple concert DVD's and watched a few live concerts on the Palladia Channel HD (digital sound feed) at close to full volume, and I must say that it sounds so good that I really feel like I'm at the concert!! (Even waking up with the foggy-head and ear-ringing till noon the next day). I consider myself an audiophile. I've owned Carver and Bang & Olufsen through the years. (I justified a set of B&O ear buds for $200 without blinking an eye.) I personally will say that this is an awesome center, and for it's price point and sound quality it earns high marks for it's performance within my set-up. I'd say it's totally worth the $400 that Fry's wanted for it, and that the $160 I got it for on Amazon was a steal!!

I own both the ES25 and the LC2 by JBL and both are excellent center channel speakers. However, there are subtle differences. The ES25 is better for surround sound home theater watching because the 5.25 inch speakers produce higher frequencies thus creating crisper and sharper dialog. The LC2 is better for listening to music because the 6 inch speakers produce better mid-range and thus a full and richer sound. However, there are times when the ES25 is better for music such as when the music includes trumpet and horn instrumentals. If you like The Tower of Power or the Miami Sound Machine then go with the ES25 and enjoy a crisp and sharp horn section. If you want to hear all the frequencies of the percussion section then the LC2 is your speaker. I have 3 of the ES25 and 2 of LC2. What's more, I've rounded out and completed the sound spectrum with 3 ES floor standing towers containing 6 and 8 inch complimentary speakers along with my 12 inch subwoofer. I didn't mess with the bookshelf speakers because they only had half the compliment of speakers and thus half the sound as do the center channels. All the speakers in these two series are 8 ohm speakers and therefore, if you can afford ALL CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKERS, I promise that you won't look back later asking yourself, why didn't I get ALL CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKERS. I added the LC2 to my ES series system because I wanted two wall mountable speakers which is positive in itself. I only wish that it were in my budget to get all L series high performance speakers but at twice the price, it was out of my price range. If it is in your budget then go with the LC1 rather then the ES25 because they both have dual 5.25 inch speakers. It's my theory that JBL's intention was for the well funded listener to combine the LC1 (5.25 inch) and the LC2 (6 inch) center channel speakers and complete the sound spectrum with a L series subwoofer and towers containing both 6 and 8 inch speakers. Sadly, the moderately priced ES series doesn't have a 6 inch center channel speaker that is similar to the LC2; it would have been nice if all of my speaker boxes matched. Then again, my two LC2 speakers look fairly similar to the ES speakers and it's not that big of a deal to me. Quick summary: at twice the price, high performance L series is better then ES but both are great when you combine all the various speakers to complete the sound spectrum. The LC2 is a nice addition to the ES series because it is a wall mountable center channel unit that contains dual 6 inch speakers not found in the ES series. Go with ALL CENTER CHANNEL speakers and avoid the bookshelf speakers because both are 8 ohm speakers and your receiver won't notice the difference and you will obtain better sound from the dual 5.25 or 6 inch speakers.

Unbelievable. I ordered this to pair up with a set of JBL ES20's and a Dayton 12" powered sub-woofer to complete my home theater running in a 3.1 mode. I had previously ordered a Yamaha NS-C210BL to use as my center, and while it was a very nice speaker it just did not match in sound tone and certainly appearance. The Yamaha had a different sound than the JBL ES-20's and the difference was audibly evident. I decided to go ahead with the JBL ES-25C even though it was almost twice the price as the Yamaha. All, I can say is it is worth it. The sound (tone) now is a total match to the other speakers and the appearance is now that of a balanced and matched system. The voices from the center are crystal clear and of sufficient loudness that the entire system does not have to be overdriven to hear the dialogue. I am more than satisfied with my system now and the appearance is incredible. It looks as good as it sounds. I will see if I can figure how to upload photos and will post them. Not only will they show what they look like, but will also give a point of reference for the size of these speakers. They are large for what they are but are incredibly solid and robust. I highly recommend JBL speakers if you have not made a decision on what to use. You will not be disappointed.