JBL C52 Opus
Little is documented about the JBL C52 Opus. The record shows a loudspeaker that turns up in period equipment directories and, decades later, in resale channels - and almost nothing in between. The model name and its status as a JBL speaker are confirmed across multiple sources, and it is consistently described as vintage and rare. That is about all that survives.
One period directory entry, in HiFI-Stereo (1964, p.133), lists the C52 "Opus" enclosure at $117.00, with a note that it "must be placed in either" configuration. The OCR cuts off there, so the mounting or placement guidance is lost. The same entry appears alongside JBL's LX2 crossover network, which suggests the enclosure was sold as part of a system. The specifics of that pairing aren't recorded.
Beyond that listing, the documentation is thin. No specifications have surfaced - no frequency response, power handling, impedance, driver complement or dimensions. No original production years, no design details, no historical context. What survives is almost entirely eBay listings describing the C52 Opus as a rare, vintage JBL speaker in excellent condition, sometimes "opened but never used," typically offered as a pair. Collectors and dealers know the name, and asking prices across listings vary considerably, but no manufacturing-era documentation has turned up in the research.
Known facts, in full:
- Manufacturer: JBL
- Product type: Loudspeaker (enclosure)
- Period directory listing: HiFI-Stereo, 1964, p.133 — $117.00
- Described in resale listings as vintage, rare, and in excellent condition
If you own a pair or have original paperwork, the archive would be glad to hear from you.
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