CE Pro June 2021 - 100

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FIELD TEST | EDITOR'S PICK | NEW PRODUCTS

'Invisible' JBL Conceal
Is the Real Deal
By Robert Archer
OVER THE PAST DECADE,
architectural loudspeakers
have taken a major leap
in sound quality, and that
includes the so-called
" invisible " category. Among
the latest options for integrators looking to install
quality audio with minimal
footprint, the Conceal Series
from Harman's JBL brand
comprises in-wall/in-ceiling
speakers that " mud " into
walls and ceilings to provide
invisible sound.
Throwing its highly regarded R&D muscle at the
concept, Harman and JBL
have developed a line of
products that have moved
the architectural speaker

JBL sent a demo kit for
the C83, which ordinarily
muds into drywall.

category forward by providing professional integrators
with a choice of products
that truly disappear within
a room.
JBL sent me a " demo kit "
of the Conceal C83, which
I placed in " faux " wall stud
housings to allow me to
listen without opening up my
home's walls, while maintaining the spirit of the product's
architectural integration
capabilities.
Features & Setup
The Conceal Series includes
four models: the C62, C83
and C86 loudspeakers plus
the C82W subwoofer. JBL describes the C83 as a " three-element invisible " model.
The C83 incorporates a
1-inch high-frequency transducer, along with a 1.2-inch
midrange transducer, and an
8-inch woofer that includes a
1.5-inch voice coil. JBL notes
the speaker also employs its
acoustic crossover networks,
as well as gold-plated, spring
loaded binding post terminals and integrated wooden
back-box enclosures.
Elaborating on the design,
JBL states the speaker uses
a three-way design that features a compression molded
baffle and paintable Fidelity

Harman's JBL brand offers the Conceal Series in three
loudspeaker models along with a subwoofer.

Glass " outer skin " aesthetic.
JBL emphasizes the speakers' acoustic lever woofer
design is a patented technology that differentiates the
Conceal Series from other
" mud-in " types of speakers.
The two drive elements
work with the Fidelity
Glass acoustical panel to
deliver midrange and high
frequencies, the company explains. The Fidelity
Glass panel mounts to the
speaker's frame to serve as
the diaphragm for the C83's
transducers.
JBL adds that, like the
rest of the line, the C83 is
engineered to produce a
180-x-180-degree dispersion
pattern.
As I previously noted,
JBL sent me its demo kit
for the Conceal C83; I did
not mud the speakers into
my walls, so I cannot speak
to how labor intensive that

process might be. I ran a
set of speaker cables to my
integrated amplifier.
According to the company, the Conceal line installs
very much like a standard
drywall patch in a new construction environment. The
company recommends using
its wooden placeholder accessory during the installation process to mark speaker location. JBL says that
installation of the speakers
is similar to other " mud-in "
and architectural speakers,
so integrators should feel
plenty comfortable.
Performance &
Final Thoughts
There's no question Harman and JBL achieved their
design goal of creating a
mud-in speaker that does
not compromise sound
quality for aesthetic value; it
really is a pretty revolution-

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CE Pro June 2021

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