JBL HC5000

Name: JBL HC5000
Brand: JBL

The JBL HC5000 is a large center channel speaker. It is a 3-way, 4-driver bass-reflex design, and JBL positioned it for home theaters built around their biggest horn-loaded systems. It was developed as the center channel to match the Project K2 S5800 and S4800, as well as the 4348 and 4338 studio monitors. The original Japanese retail price was ¥525,000 for a single unit, tax included, in September 2004.

This is a lot of speaker: 1,067 mm wide, 386 mm high, and 346 mm deep (398 mm high with spikes fitted), weighing 45.8 kg. The drivers are laid out symmetrically, with a combination biradial horn sandwiched between two 25 cm cone woofers (model 1000 FE). The woofers use pure pulp cone paper, oversized ferrite magnets, dual-layer copper voice coils, and butyl rubber edges. The midrange is a 7.5 cm compression driver (435 AL) with an aluminum diaphragm. The high frequencies come from a 2.5 cm compression driver (045 Ti) with a pure titanium diaphragm and neodymium magnet. Both compression drivers mount on a high-precision SonoGlass combination biradial horn formed by integral mold molding.

Electrical specs are solid for a home theater center: 8 ohms impedance, 300W RMS allowable input, 91 dB/2.83V/m output sensitivity, frequency response of 75 Hz to 40 kHz (-6 dB), and crossover points at 800 Hz and 9 kHz. The crossover uses polypropylene film capacitors and large-diameter, low-loss air-core coils. The low-frequency and mid/high-frequency networks are physically separated to prevent electrical and magnetic interference. An HF trim switch adjusts the level of the high-pass driver to suit the main system and room layout. Bi-wiring and passive bi-amplification are both supported.

The cabinet is MDF, designed after analysis of cabinet noise and distortion, and it sits on large spike feet to minimize floor contact area. JBL aligned the center axes of the woofer and midrange driver, aiming for clear center imaging for dialogue and vocals in a home theater setup.

Some things are missing from the record: production years beyond the 2004 sale date, any period reviews, and most market history. Documentation is thin outside of the Japanese audio database entry. One user report mentions using the HC5000 as the center channel with a Marantz AV8805 processor, driven by a Mark Levinson No. 20.5 amplifier.

On the used market, a unit sold on Yahoo! Japan Auctions in October 2023 for ¥234,422 (starting bid ¥1,100). It was described as having slight scratches and dirt, with basic operation confirmed. A Japanese used-audio dealer has listed units at ¥180,000, with shipping quoted separately because of the size and weight. Another listing, in Taiwan, called it a "flagship center speaker" in good condition.

Known specifications:

- **Type:** 3-way, 4-speaker, bass-reflex center channel

- **Drivers:** 25 cm cone woofer (1000 FE) ×2; 7.5 cm compression driver (435 AL); 2.5 cm compression driver (045 Ti); combination biradial horn

- **Impedance:** 8 Ω

- **Allowable input:** 300W (RMS)

- **Output sound pressure level:** 91 dB / 2.83V / m

- **Frequency response:** 75 Hz - 40 kHz (-6 dB)

- **Crossover frequencies:** 800 Hz, 9 kHz

- **Dimensions:** 1,067 × 386 × 346 mm (H × W × D); 398 mm H with spikes

- **Weight:** 45.8 kg

- **Original price:** ¥525,000 (September 2004, tax included)