JBL NSP1 5-Piece Home Theater Speaker System

• 5-piece home-cinema speaker package
• Includes 2-way, 5-inch center-channel and 2 pairs of 2-way, 4-inch bookshelf speakers
• PolyPlas-cone woofers and titanium-laminate-dome tweeters
• FreeFlow ports extend low-frequency response
• Video shielded

The N24 bookshelf (the system employs four of these speakers to furnish the left and right front and surround channels) is the smallest of the eight Northridge models. Each speaker in the series uses identical 0.75-inch titanium-laminate dome tweeters and woofers made of JBL's PolyPlas, a polymer-coated cellulose fiber. (Three-way models also contain PolyPlas midrange drivers.)

Each N24 contains one 4-inch woofer; the N-Center has two 5-inch woofers. These custom-designed drivers benefit from technology that's been borrowed from JBL's professional models, such as Kapton voice coils and HeatScape motor structures, which endow the drivers with tolerance for high temperatures. (In speaker parlance, that means "high volume levels.") Robust power handling is a good thing for any speaker and especially with the wide dynamics required of home-theater models.

JBL's Straight-line Signal Path (SSP) crossover networks route the audio frequencies to their respective drivers and smooth the speakers' frequency and power response, while minimizing processing that could otherwise degrade your audio signal.

These speakers are housed in rich-looking, dark-gray cabinets with bow-shaped backs and matching grille cloths. A welcome visual change from the usual rectangular box, these curved enclosures are also designed to combat the buildup of standing waves (uneven acoustical pressure that can unfavorably color the sound).

Remove the grille cloth and you'll see the gleaming titanium-laminate dome tweeter and silver-dyed PolyPlas woofer. You'll also see JBL's flared FreeFlow port, which extends bass response and increases sensitivity without adding port noise, sometimes heard as "chuffing."

For speaker terminals, all components of the NSP1 use five-way, nickel-plated binding posts, and JBL thoughtfully includes a plastic socket-style key to tighten them. (Binding posts offer the tightest and most flexible speaker connections, accepting spade lugs, banana plugs, and bare or tinned wires).

You can mount the N24s on walls, shelves, or stands. If you elect to mount them on a wall, which yields the deepest bass response, you can place them either vertically or horizontally. They also swivel side to side and, once tweaked to your satisfaction, lock into place (brackets and hardware are included). If you opt for shelf or stand placement, however, you should place the supplied rubber pads under each speaker to prevent slipping. Either way, make sure the front speakers are equidistant from the sides of your television and are poised at ear level with your seated viewing position. If you mount them above ear level, aim the speakers toward the listening zone.

You can place the rear channels above, below, or even at the same level as your listening position. Remember that for home theater, the goal is to achieve a nonlocalized sound field--that is, one where the sound is diffuse and spacious rather than rendered with pinpoint accuracy, as you usually want for the front speakers. Surround speakers usually work best when placed well above the listening zone, with the sound reflected off the side walls or ceiling.

Multichannel music, however (such as that found on DTS-encoded 5.1-channel CDs), is generally mixed with precise localization in mind, so do take your listening preferences into account when setting these up. Fortunately, the N24s' swiveling brackets let you experiment with placement and angle for the best results.

Center-channel speakers do not afford the same flexibility, and the N-Center is not unusual in this regard. In order to fix dialogue with the picture from your television, the N-Center must be placed at approximately the same level as your screen, either sitting on top of the TV or below it on a shelf.

As for the NSP1 system's sound, starting with music only, the first thing you'll notice is that it produces surprisingly full audio. Jazz CDs sound rich and clear, but don't expect bass and drums to plumb the bottom depths of the frequency range. Trumpets and saxophones come through with terrific, brassy texture and bite, but (predictably) not as much detail or sense of air as they might if heard through costlier speakers. Vocals are uniformly good--articulate, focused, and well balanced. With orchestral music, the N24s throw a relatively wide soundstage, with more than a hint of depth (that is, of the sonic space extending beyond the speakers). But rock fans will almost surely want to add a subwoofer to feel the full impact of their favorite bands.

With DVD-videos, vocal clarity is enhanced by the N-Center, which does a great job of routing the dialogue to the screen. Considering its small size, the complete NSP1 system exhibits very good dynamics, and JBL's close attention to driver matching yields a seamless transition from speaker to speaker, creating a wonderfully complete sonic environment.

Adding a subwoofer to the NSP1 brings out the full glory of 5.1-channel sound (having, as it does, a dedicated low-frequency effects channel--the ".1" in 5.1), and it's worth noting that subwoofers not only make a big difference with action films but bring fullness to all program material, whether cinematic or musical. (With a sub in the system, the main speakers no longer have to reproduce bass frequencies, and everything becomes much clearer and cleaner. Additionally, your amplifier can focus on frequencies that are easier to reproduce, leaving the tough stuff to the amp in your subwoofer.)

To say that JBL has a good reputation in the pro-audio world is an understatement. A staggering 70 percent of the world's theaters, concert halls, and recording studios are equipped with JBL speakers. With the NSP1, JBL brings that experience home at a very attractive price. Minor complaints aside, the NSP1 is a sweet little home-theater speaker package. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

• Very fine sound
• Excellent component parts
• Flexible mounting options
• Broad warranty

Cons:

• High frequencies lack refined detail
• Limited bass response