J 820M (serv.man2) - JBL Audio User Guide / Operation Manual. Page 3

them, at the listening position, is
between 40 and 60 degrees. For
example, if your listening position is 
8 to 12 feet (2.5m to 4m) from each
speaker, the two systems should be
about 8 feet (2.5m) apart. 

As the 

center channel contains the dialog
and other central action sounds, the
speaker should be located very close
to the Monitor/TV and centered with
the Monitor/TV’s center line.  Place
the J Center directly on top of or
directly below the Monitor/TV with the
front edge of the speaker grille flush
with the edge of the Monitor/TV.  You
should have your Left and Right
speakers within a 2 ft or less height
range of your Center Channel for
proper sonic performance (see Fig. 2).

The speaker is shielded to work with
video applications, however some
color interference may be observed
on the TV screen depending on the
type of your TV set.  If color interfer-
ence is observed, turn your TV off for
15 minutes and move the speaker
back about 1" from the front edge of
the TV.  Turn on TV and recheck.  If
this is not far enough, move back fur-
ther and experiment until the interfer-
ence disappears.  You may have to
turn the TV off for a few minutes and
turn it on again to clear the screen.

To connect the loudspeaker systems
to the receiver or amplifier, use two-
conductor insulated wire. Your JBL
dealer can recommend suitable
cables, or you can buy wire at most
hardware or electronic stores. We
recommend #16 AWG wire as a mini-
mum size. If your speaker is more
than 30 feet (10m) from your receiver
or amplifier, use larger diameter
lower gauge wire. Connections are
made at the terminals located on the
back of the J Series speakers.

1. For Left and Right Speakers, first
determine the wire length needed
between the most distant speaker
and the receiver or amplifier. 

2.  Now make the hookup wires for
both speakers this length, even if one
loudspeaker is much closer to your
amplifier than the other.  This will
help maintain proper signal balance.

(For the J Center, determine the
length needed from AV receiver’s
center channel output to speaker).

3. Strip off 

3

⁄

8

" of insulation from both

ends of each conductor.

4.  Twist each set of thin wires into a
tightly-bunched spiral.

5.  At this point you need to identify a
visual difference between the two
conductors of each molded pair of
speaker wire. Differentiating marks
can be a different color wire (copper
or “silver”); a strand of yarn in one
conductor; thin, raised ribs on one

(2 ft. or less)

(2 ft. or less)

Fig. 2

J Series OM  7/28/98 10:20 AM  Page 3