JBL Control 8SR
The JBL Control 8SR is a pendant-mounted subwoofer from JBL Professional's Control Contractor series. It was designed as a companion to the Control 8 speakers for commercial background and foreground music installations. It's utilitarian commercial sound gear, not a home hi-fi statement. Think restaurant ceiling or retail space, not living room.
The driver is a 200 mm (8 in) low-frequency transducer. The enclosure measures 404 mm × 404 mm × 338 mm (15.9 in × 15.9 in × 13.3 in) and weighs 12 kg (26.5 lb) net. It's rated for 200 W continuous and 400 W peak, with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Frequency response is spec'd at 55 Hz - 180 Hz (±3 dB) and 45 Hz - 250 Hz (-10 dB), so this is a dedicated low-frequency unit, not a full-range speaker. Sensitivity is listed at 89 dB half-space and 84 dB full-space (2.83V, 1m).
For distributed systems, the 8SR includes a 70V/100V multi-tap transformer. Taps are 100W, 50W, 25W, and 12.5W at 70V, plus 100W, 50W, and 25W at 100V. Wiring goes through a 6-pin locking connector designed for loop-through. The unit ships with a metal ceiling cover that has knockout holes for conduit entry.
Sound & Communication (1993, p.127) noted the 8SR's addition to the Control Series. It highlighted solid bass output down to 70 Hz and the clarity of the high-frequency reproduction. That review seems to be describing the Control 8 satellite speaker's horn alongside the subwoofer's low-end extension, as the two were marketed together.
Documentation is otherwise thin. No production years, original pricing, or user reviews have surfaced in the available record. What's known comes almost entirely from JBL's own datasheet, which is typical for commercial-installation gear of this type. Contractors specified it, and audiophile magazines didn't review it. The 8SR shows up occasionally in UK dealer listings from the mid-1990s. Sound on Sound (1997, p.211) listed one at £299 in a second-hand equipment roundup, which at least confirms the model was in circulation by then.
- Type: 8" 2-way pendant subwoofer, Control Contractor series
- Driver: 200 mm (8 in) low-frequency
- Frequency response: 55 Hz – 180 Hz (±3 dB); 45 Hz – 250 Hz (-10 dB)
- Power: 200 W continuous / 400 W peak
- Impedance: 8 ohms nominal
- Transformer taps: 70V: 100W/50W/25W/12.5W; 100V: 100W/50W/25W
- Connectors: 6-pin locking, loop-through
- Dimensions: 404 × 404 × 338 mm (15.9 × 15.9 × 13.3 in)
- Weight: 12 kg (26.5 lb) net
- Includes: Metal ceiling cover with conduit knockouts
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.
Related Models
- JBL 075
- JBL 077
- JBL 120Ti
- JBL 124A
- JBL 124H
- Braun AUDIO-1 (1965)
- Braun AUDIO-250 (1965)
- Magnavox Component Systems (1972)
- Acoustic Research AR (1967-1976)
- Acoustic Research 11