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Product details
JBL Stage2 245C 2.5-Way Quad 4.5-inch (114mm) Center Channel Loudspeaker – Espresso
Elevate your home audio experience with the JBL Stage2 245C Center Channel Loudspeaker. Designed with precision and craftsmanship, this speaker delivers rich, crystal-clear sound that brings your favorite movies, music, and gaming experiences to life.
Key Features:
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2.5-Way Design: The innovative 2.5-way configuration ensures optimal sound dispersion, allowing you to enjoy a wider soundstage and clearer dialogue.
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Quad 4.5-inch Drivers: Equipped with four 4.5-inch (114mm) drivers, the Stage2 245C produces powerful mid-range frequencies and deep bass, making it the perfect companion for your home theater setup.
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Elegant Espresso Finish: The sleek espresso finish adds a touch of sophistication to any room, seamlessly blending with your home décor while enhancing your audio experience.
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Easy Integration: Designed to complement any audio system, the JBL Stage2 245C can be easily integrated into your existing setup, making it a versatile addition to your entertainment space.
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High Sensitivity: With high sensitivity ratings, this loudspeaker efficiently converts power into sound, ensuring you can enjoy high-quality audio even at lower volumes.
Why Choose JBL?
JBL has a long-standing reputation for delivering superior sound quality and innovative audio solutions. The Stage2 245C is no exception, featuring advanced engineering that ensures every note is reproduced with precision and clarity.
Specifications:
- Type: 2.5-Way Center Channel Loudspeaker
- Driver Size: Quad 4.5-inch (114mm)
- Finish: Espresso
- Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Power Handling: Up to 100 Watts
Enhance Your Audio Experience
Whether you’re watching the latest blockbuster or enjoying your favorite tunes, the JBL Stage2 245C Center Channel Loudspeaker provides an immersive audio experience that you won’t want to miss. Upgrade your sound system today and immerse yourself in the world of high-fidelity audio!
Note: Price and availability may vary. Please check with your retailer for the latest information.
Wishkid –
The JBL 245 center channel, just like the other JBL Stage2 series speakers, was so well packed that it had to be mentioned. The speaker was double boxed and then wrapped with a white soft cloth. In addition to the white soft cloth, the speaker was packaged with a thick Styrofoam for extra protection during shipment. I was impressed.
JBL did a fantastic job with the design of the speaker. It comes in a brown espresso color for the cabinet and black color on the front. The built quality is high end as the speaker does have some weight to it. It comes with a magnetic mesh grill that can easily come on or off. I personally prefer the speaker without the grill to appreciate the beautiful looks. This 245C speaker is big in size. It measures 6.1 inches in height and 29.1 inches width. To be honest, with this speaker it is best to have your tv mounted on the wall because if not it will probably block the view of your television if it is set on an entertainment center.
The speaker is easy to connect, and with the 5 way binding post you can choose your preferred connection style. I have this 245C paired with the JBL MA710 receiver, Stage 2 series 280F floorstanding, 250B bookshelves, 200P sub, and the 240H Atmos. The speaker is powerful. You can hear all the dialogue in movies clearly. It’s as if the people are talking directly in front of you. When listening to Dolby Atmos or Spatial Audio content, this speaker really compliments the JBL sound stage loudspeakers. The sound really blends in with all the other sounds coming from the surrounding speakers. Not to mention these speakers can also handle frequency all the way down to 55hz.
Overall, this JBL 245C is a great center channel speaker. It has a great build quality and it sounds great. Probably one of the best center channels speakers I’ve ever owned. It is easy to connect thanks to the 5 way binding post. This center channel speakers will blend perfectly when paired with the other JBL speakers in the same series. In the box you get the speaker, anti-slip pad, speaker grill, and quick start guide.
ITJim –
The JBL Stage 2 245C center is a high value, budget friendly center channel that will provide a satisfying experience when well placed, configured correctly, and paired with the right equipment. The 245C comes with a single, centrally located 1-inch anodized aluminum dome tweeter set back in a wave guide. The wave guide helps ensure the tweeter has a wide dispersion when playing higher frequency content such as female vocals, stressed metal in action movies, and instruments such as trumpets. The 245C also does not sound small or boxed in.
Flanking each side of the center channel are two 4.5” polycellulos cone mid-range woofers that will carry the bulk of the dialogue, special effects, and music. In total, there are five speakers running the 29-inch length of the soundbar. This should ensure even disbursement and quality of sound across multiple listening positions. In addition, the 245C has two vented ports running out the back to enhance the lower frequency response of the mid-bass drivers. Essentially, male vocals will sound deeper than the mid-bass drivers themselves can produce. However, if you want S-Tier performance from the 245C then you will pair this center channel with the second most important speaker in any home theater, a subwoofer. In my case, I have the 245C paired with the JBL Stage 220P subwoofer.
== Setup ==
The 245C is situated on top of my entertainment center directly under the TV. Next, I aligned the center lines of the TV, entertainment center, and center channel’s tweeter, with the center line of my primary listening position. I then pulled the center channel forward so that the front baffle was hanging over the front edge of the entertainment center. This is to reduce the impact of the entertainment center with the front baffle of the speaker. This should provide a better sound.
Straight out of the box, the 245C tweeters can be bright and harsh. This is especially true if you are not accustomed to horn loaded tweeters; what JBL is calling a wave guide. You must run your ARV’s room calibration software. Then test the center channel with content you are familiar with. Then adjust the treble tone control on the AVR to clean up any high end that the room calibration missed. Also check if the AVR recorded the correct distance from the center channel to the center of your primary listening position. This helps with time alignment for the rest of the speakers in your system. And finally, if you have a subwoofer, set the 245C’s crossover with the subwoofer to 80hz in your AVR’s configuration screen.
For me, I ran my ARV’s room correction software, set the 245C speaker size to “small” (meaning it is not a full range speaker), set the crossover to 80hz (THX standard), and turned the treble down to -6 to reign in the tweeter. This worked perfectly for my room. It takes a little more work than a comparable soundbar. And the results are far superior.
=== Performance ===
For reference, my 245C center channel integrated into a 5.1.2 theater consisting of the JBL Stage 2 250B bookshelf speakers, 280F tower speakers, 240H height speakers, 245C center channel, Stage 220P 12-inch subwoofer, and the JBL MA710HP AVR.
My test 4K movie for any new speakers or gear is Pacific Rim, Scene 2. This is the first fight between Gypsy Danger and a Kaiju. The scene has everything from rain, splashing ocean waves, stressed actuators, ship horns, distressed metal effects, angry animal roars, and screaming male voices. Sometimes all at once! The 245C did a good job handling the cacophony. Dialogue had a wide dispersion, special effects were clear, and male voices and the roaring kaiju sounded fierce. The movie’s quieter, dialog driven scenes were equally clear and natural sounding for movie mixed dialogue. Meaning there is always a cinematic quality applied to movie voices that you do not get with animation, TV, sports, or even TV commercials.
I switched to an Anime series on Netflix called “Overlord”. The whole first season is almost exclusively dialogue. This Anime series contains the stereotypical high pitched female voices, manly male voices, deep monster voices, and many child-like and anime teenager voices. At no time did I feel the voices were boxed in or congested. The high-pitched female characters did not stress the tweeter. And the deep male voices sounded full and convincing. What I liked about this demo is that a subwoofer was not required to extract the best performance. I unplugged the subwoofer just to prove the point. The 245C did a really good job of standing on its own for this, and other tv series I watched. For movies, however, subwoofer all the way! Why should I limit myself.
I did play some music through the system using Dolby processing. However, the other speakers of the system simply drowned out the 245C. I did notice that my center imaging was a bit fuller than it would be with just my two JBL 280F tower speakers alone. But I did not feel it added enough cause me to choose Dolby Surround over Multi-Channel stereo when enjoying my music.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the performance the 245C was able to provide.
=== Construction and aesthetics ===
The 245C is a well-constructed speaker even by budget speaker standards. The vinyl espresso wood wrap is very well executed and matches that of my entertainment center. In my case, the center channel appears to be a natural extension of the entertainment center’s surface simply because the two vinyl wraps match each other so exactly.
The front baffle of 245C is matt black. The baffle’s edges extend beyond the sides and top edges of the speaker cabinet by a few millimeters. This may be to accommodate the huge plastic molded wave guide dead center in the center channel. The oversized baffle helps create the illusion that the speaker is slightly larger than it is. The baffle also gives the speaker grills some depth by framing the grey grill fabric with a recessed black border. This gives the center channel an extra sharp look when the grill is on.
The speaker grills are smartly constructed, attractive, and help the center channel pop. The grill frame is constructed of a single piece of JBL Orange molded plastic. Gray toned textured colored acoustic fabric is stretched across the plastic frame. JBL brand is silk screened onto the front bottom of each grill. The fabric appears machine cut and glued to the back of the frame. The design and construction are very clean and give the speaker a professional look.
The speaker grills stick to the baffle with strong magnets. Simply brushing the speaker during a walk-by will not be enough to knock the grill off. The back side of the speaker grills have soft felt to protect the speaker baffle from scratching due to removing and replacing the speaker grills. Finally, as with all speakers, the JBL Stage 2 245C speakers sound better with the grills off. In my opinion, the 245Cs look fantastic with grills on or off.
The binding posts are as no-frills and budget as they get. They will accept bar wire, spades, and banana plugs. I use banana plugs for all my equipment because I am constantly swapping out equipment and components. For the Stage 2 speakers, in general, a small plug needs to be removed from the top center of each binding post before the binding post will accept a banana plug. Please note, bare wire will make the best possible connection between your AVR/receiver and your speakers.
I performed the knock test on the front, back, side, and top of each speaker. Essentially, knock on the sides of the speaker like you would a door. The top and sides sounded hollow as one would expect from a budget speaker. The front baffle sounds dull compared to the sides and top. This tells me that the front baffle is thicker and more inert than the sides and top. Which is what I would expect from a budget speaker.
Overall, the fit, finish, and construction of these speakers are fantastic.
=== Conclusion ===
Normally, high value, budget friendly speakers look slapped together and cheap. The JBL Stage 2 245C center channel speaker looks anything but cheap. This speaker is very well thought out, purposely stylized, professionally executed, and looks fantastic in my room. The binding posts are the only thing I would call out as cheap looking. The overall result is a handsome speaker that looks great on my home entertainment center.
Sonically, the 245C’s performance is directly related to what the AVR brings to the table. The 245C is a great sounding, budget friendly center channel that will sound great anchoring any high value, budget friendly home theater system. It just needs a solid AVR with plenty of power, proper room calibration, and tone controls for the speaker to realize its full potential.
Curmudgeon1 –
JBL and Harman have been iconic names in professional and consumer audio for decades. Both names date to the audio products of the 1940’s and 1950’s. By the late 1960’s and early 1970’s JBL speakers were the premier speakers in Fender guitar amplifiers and speaker cabinets as well as many stage monitors. In the mid 1970’s the Grateful Dead toured with their famous “Wall of Sound” which contained a reported 586 JBL speakers. James B. Lansing was associated with a lot of great music.
By the 1970’s Harman Kardon stereo receivers were a favorite among audiophiles. JBL and Harman Kardon were responsible for some of the most respected and popular professional audio equipment as well as consumer products.
Through the decades the companies experienced ownership and management changes wherein fast-forward to the present day, Harman International is a subsidiary of Samsung, and includes JBL and a collective of some of the most renowned and respected audio products companies.
JBL Harman just released the new product line comprised of MA (Modern Audio) series AV receivers and JBL Stage 2 series speakers. Among the factors that attracted me to these new components is that the MA AV receivers and Stage 2 speakers are matched components.
From my perspective, there are several compelling advantages to using matched components, particularly as compared to cobbling together a home theater system from components from various manufacturers or even various products from a single manufacturer.
First, all of the speakers share the same physical appearance characteristics, including their modern, minimalist design style, and their availability in either an Espresso (dark) or Latte (light) woodgrain speaker enclosure finish, with complimentary colored black or gray, magnetically attached removable grilles. The MA receivers are available with either a black or white face on a black cabinet.
More importantly, they are matched technically. All of the speaker enclosures share the same construction and sound shaping characteristics with similar tuned rear ports, transducer design, construction and electrical characteristics, similar crossover networks and matched impedance. These speakers are also technically matched to the new MA model AV receivers, including matched power handling, with the intention of producing outstanding sound reproduction. In fact, towards those end-goals, the new MA AV receivers and the Stage 2 speakers were all designed and engineered at the JBL Harman Acoustic Engineering Center of Excellence in Northridge, California. The speakers and receivers will perform optimally together, because they are purposefully designed for perfect integration and compatibility.
Another important attribute of the MA series receivers and Stage 2 series speakers is that JBL designed and engineered them for simplicity of setup/installation and simplicity of operation. People who are neither devoted audiophiles, engineers or industry professionals are able to rely on these components being the perfect accompaniments for each other. There are enough selections available to get just what you want and need, but there is no overwhelming complexity to create a difficult or intimidating experience when selecting, setting up or using these terrific components.
I am extremely impressed with the performance of my JBL Harman components, all of which sound terrific.
My outstanding JBL Harman home theater system is comprised of:
MA7100HP – 7.2 Channel AV Receiver
Stage 280F – Floorstanding (Tower) Speakers – Front Channels
Stage 240H – Atmos Height Modules (Atmos Caps) – Mounted on 280F Speakers
Stage 245C – Center Channel Speaker
Stage 250B – Bookshelf Speakers – Rear Channels
Stage 220P – 12” 250 Watt RMS Powered Subwoofer
This assemblage of perfectly matched JBL Harman components is a stellar home theater system which sounds absolutely amazing!
I am incredibly impressed and completely satisfied with the Stage 245C Center Channel Speaker.
SPECIFICATIONS – STAGE 245C (From JBL Documentation):
Type: Center Channel Loudspeaker System
Low Frequency Driver: Quad 4.5-inch (114 mm) Polycellulose Ribbed Cone
High Frequency Driver: 1-inch (25 mm) Anodized Aluminum
Waveguide: Next Generation HDI™
Recommended Amplifier Power: 20-150 W
RMS power: 75 W
Frequency Response -6 dB: 55 Hz-25 kHz
Frequency Response -3 dB: 82 Hz-25 kHz
Sensitivity @ 1 M, 2.83 V: 91 dB
Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohms
Crossover Frequencies: 1.3 Khz/2.0 kHz
Enclosure Tuning: Bass Reflex via Dual Rear-Firing Tuned Ports
Finish: Espresso or Latte
Dimensions (H x W x D): 6.1 in x 29.1 in x 8.5 in (156 mm x 740 mm x 217 mm)
Product Weight: 26.4 lbs. (12.0 kg)
Shipping Weight: 32.2 lbs. (14.7 kg)
Regarding the 1-inch tweeter and horn shaped waveguide in the 245C, JBL explains that “through intense research of previous waveguide designs, JBL has developed a new complex geometry that improves directivity, reduced diffraction, and an overall neutral frequency response both on and off axis. The Stage 2 HDI Horn is coupled to an anodized aluminum dome tweeter to enhance efficiency and dynamics”.
This claim is validated when listening to the 245C. The reproduction of high frequencies is excellent. The highs are bright and crisp, clear and undistorted. The distinct timbre of all high-frequency instrumental notes is well defined and accurate. Voices are extremely clear and distinct and do not become “lost” in the mix. There is no sibilance either.
JBL also furnishes some additional details regarding the crossover network of the 245C, explaining that the two and one-half way (2.5) crossover network is designed to cross over the top (inboard) 4.5” woofers just below the 1” tweeter’s output, while the bottom (outboard) 4.5” woofers crosses over at a different, lower frequency. JBL states that, “this creates a dynamic mid-range but both woofers still extend as deep as they can go for powerful bass. This produces cohesive balanced output with a robust low end that can be both heard and felt.”
Obviously, I cannot technically validate the JBL description of the crossover network, however listening to the 245C speaker is a genuine pleasure. When listening to a variety of source materials, including different genres of music sources, I find that the full range of audio frequencies sound pure and realistic. The highs are beautifully represented, and the mid-range frequencies sound clear and accurate. The low, bass frequencies are deep and resonant. JBL also claims that “the flared design of the dual rear ports reduces the velocity of the air when exiting the speaker cabinet, eliminating any chuffing or coloration of output.”
The Stage 245C center channel speaker is not a small center channel speaker with just one or two transducers. The 245C is a large center channel speaker with four premium 4.5” woofers in addition to the horn augmented 1” tweeter. In fact, the size and weight of the 245C is a consideration for placement of the speaker which should, of course, be directly below the screen. There are no wall mount brackets supplied for the substantial 26.4 lb. 245C, and the 6” height and 29” width may be an issue if the paired television rests on a TV credenza, as mine does. JBL does not offer a matching center channel speaker stand. The Stage 245C speaker is provided with six anti-slip pads which can be used beneath the speaker to reduce vibration. The speaker cable binding posts are recessed and configured at a 45° angle making connecting bare wire challenging, especially if 12 gauge wire is used.
The Stage 245C speaker looks great, but more importantly it sounds fantastic with every type of source material that I have used and each music genre that I have played. It has excellent power handling capabilities, and remains clear and undistorted even at extremely high volume levels. The four large, 4.5” transducers and waveguide equipped aluminum tweeter project sound beautifully even in the large room where I am using this system. Since most dialog is typically directed to the center channel speaker, voice clarity is frequently an issue with center channel speakers. Many users resultantly need to set the center channel level a few db higher to improve voice clarity. The Stage 245C does not need a db boost to produce incredibly clear dialog. It is a very powerful and competent speaker. The Stage 245C speaker is mated to the JBL MA7100HP AVR which is a reasonably powerful receiver rated at 125 W RMS Rated Power @ 8Ω (20Hz – 20kHz, 2 channels driven, 0.5% THD max) and 175W RMS Rated Power @ 4Ω (20Hz – 20kHz, 2 channels driven, 0.5% THD max).
The matched design and engineering of the Stage 2 series speakers and the MA series AV receivers makes it extremely simple and easy to specify and select a complete home theater system comprised of excellent, premium level components from an outstanding audio component manufacturer, with a very long and rich company heritage.
Our listening and viewing experience has improved significantly with the Harman JBL home theater components. Whether playing streamed movies or music, or using my Blu-Ray player, CD changer, or turntable, we are now enjoying the experience more than we did previously.
The Stage 2 speakers and MA7100HP AVR provide extraordinary, room filling, high resolution audio with incredible fidelity across the full sound spectrum. As soon as I had connected and configured the system, running Top Gun Maverick, with its powerful soundtrack and height effects, was really incredible and satisfying! A few movies and concert videos later I was beyond impressed with how outstanding the Harman JBL components are! This is really how high-performance component audio should sound. The home theater experience with these components is truly a theater experience!
I am confident that the Stage 245C speaker is the perfect center channel speaker in this great home theater system. I am extremely impressed with it, and I am enjoying its performance a great deal.
Akire –
The center channel loudspeaker is the main star of my setup. It is what carries the most prominent sounds in movies and balances the surround sound. This one does all of this fantastically.
It took over the spot under the tv where I used to keep a soundbar, and while I was upset at the soundbar’s displacement, I have absolutely no regrets after listening to this speaker in action.
I am hearing voice and dialogue like I have never heard it before. I am discovering new sounds in movies I have watched so many times. But what is more amazing in this center channel speaker working in tandem with my setup, is that even when it is loud for my living room, it is not resonating throughout the house. We watched a fight at a decent volume that made it difficult to hear one another, yet the kids were asleep in their bedroom and the sound hardly made it there. Moreover, there is a balance between dialogue and theatrical sounds in which they work together rather than in competition as can be the case with the tv speaker, standalone speakers, and soundbars.
When it comes to packaging, JBL really had the consumer experience in mind. The speakers come in boxes with instructions on how to properly and easily remove them from the boxes to make the process smooth and frustration free.
Like the other JBL Stage2 loudspeakers, this speaker has a 6 Ohm impedance, thus requires either 12/2 or 12/4 speaker wire, which is not included. I went with the 12/2 option and used bare wire connections for the time being. The connection terminals allow bare wire, spade, or banana connections.
The speaker comes with a magnetically attachable fabric grill that protects the audio components of each speaker and provides an aesthetic quality. I like that I can take it off as desired and replace it when the speaker is not in use. Since I have small children and dust settles quickly in my home, I prefer to leave it on more often than not though. It is quite delicate though and care should be taken when handling it.
My surround system includes the MA710 7.2 AV Receiver, and the JBL Stage2 series of the following: 245C center channel speaker, two 250B bookshelf speakers, two 280F floorstanding speakers, two 240H height modules, and the 200P subwoofer.
The center channel comes with four 4.5” woofers and one 1” tweeter that are housed in a conspicuous frame that blends perfectly into the furniture. It does not call attention to itself while providing a vital role in the sound dynamic of the space.
I have tested the speakers with my system using all sorts of music genres, loud and night volumes, and a variety of movies, and this speaker brought out the sounds with such clarity and dynamism that it left me watching and listening to things I only meant to use for a short test. It is difficult not to become immersed when the sound is this good.
Overall, this is a vital component of a good surround system, and I do not think I will be going back to my old soundbar after being spoiled by the luxury of sharp, crisp, audible dialogue.
Bryan –
JBL has been around for a long time. The American company first began to develop speaker products in 1946! More recently they have been among the greats with medium-tier and value-centric earbuds and headphones. There Bluetooth portable speakers have been a hit as well. With how popular soundbars and minimalism is in 2024, I’m surprised they’ve decided to dive into the wired home theater speaker market – but here they are, and they’ve came out swinging!
I’ve always been a huge proponent of wired speakers, along with a AVR receiver. To my ears, no soundbar can duplicate truly, literal separated speakers. Among a 5.1-11.1 speaker set-up, the center speaker is the one you don’t want to skimp out on. It has to be one of the most capable speakers among your set-up or the sound will leave a lot to be desired. That’s where JBL’s Stage 245C 2-way quad 4.5 inch center channel speaker comes into play. This is large, this thing is awesome.
I’m coming from the Klipsch family of speakers, which has been solid for me over the last several years, but I wanted to change some things up and get tower speakers, so I decided to dive right in to JBL’s new set-up. This center speaker packs a punch that isn’t overwhelming. It gives the other speakers their own room to breathe and has separation that is welcomed to my ears. Remember, sound is subjective, but you’d have a hard time finding someone who doesn’t think this speaker sounds good. The build quality is evident as soon as you unpack it from the box. JBL’s style is modern and welcomed from the plain jane dark speakers we’re used to. I can’t say enough about the aesthetic of these speakers – everything from this center speaker to the left and rights, the sub, the rears and most evident, the receiver (which I’m still waiting for, so I’m using my current Onkyo RZ-50, which unfortunately has had some technical issues throughout my ownership).
For $400, JBL offers a higher than priced mid-tier center speaker. This will work with almost any space. I don’t have a super large entertainment area, but even if I did, I’d feel confident these pack a punch to fill most spaces. I imagine JBL could have sold these at a higher price, but being this series is their first foray into the home theater space, they want to make sure they separate themselves with pricing and not quality – the quality matches more expensive speakers (for example, my Klipsch center speaker retails for $600!).
I’m excited for this series to grow. I believe they are influencing style in this market that has been needing a modern change for a long time. I’m super happy with my 7.1 set-up and this center speaker is the heart of it.
Lynn –
Great center channel speaker. Voice intelligibility is always good. Nevers sounds boomy or brash. Speaker is a bit large but so is the sound it presents in a surround system. Glad I opted to replace my previous center channel speaker with this one!!
Orion –
I’ve had the pleasure of using the new JBL Stage2 245C for a week now and I’m extremely impressed! This speaker is perfect for anyone who is looking to elevate their home theater experience. This center channel speaker is designed to bring dialogue and sound effects to life, making it a must have speaker for any surround sound setup that you want to achieve. As soon as I added this speaker to my system, and sat down to listen to a few songs and watch a movie, the clarity and precision of the audio produced were immediately obvious to me.
The speaker arrived very well packaged with foam wrapping around the edges and center and a dust bag to cover the speaker. It was also double boxed in heavy cardboard to protect it during the shipment. Unpacking it by myself was pretty simple, but I will admit that it slipped out of my hand at one point, because of the dust bag which is slick, and one side of it hit the floor from about 5 inches up. I was really worried that this would damage the speaker and affect the sound, but I don’t think it hurt it at all, and that’s probably because it’s constructed with quality materials and is built to last!
The Stage2 245C features a 2.5-way design with four 4.5-inch polycellulose ribbed cone woofers and a 1-inch aluminum tweeter, which work together to deliver a balanced, dynamic sound. The HDI (High-Definition Imaging) waveguide technology is a notable feature that ensures the dialogue of your content is crisp and focused, no matter where you’re seated in the room. I have a midsize living room and the sound hits perfectly, to all corners of the room with no problem. I think this speaker is ideal for any size room, from small to large.
I’m truly impressed with the speaker’s ability to produce deep, resonant bass while also providing clear, high-frequency sounds, and that’s all thanks to its advanced crossover design. The midrange is smooth and sounds natural, making voices sound lifelike and ensuring nothing gets lost in the mix, which is extremely important if you want a truly immersive sound experience. It’s critical for intense movie scenes, and some gaming, where both dialogue and action are pumping out at the same time and need to be heard clearly and distinctly from one another.
The 245C blends seamlessly with other speakers in the Stage2 series to create a cohesive and immersive sound experience that you have to hear to believe. I ordered the espresso finish, which looks fantastic in my living room and works really well with my home decor. The wood grain sides and top with the black front and speaker cover are both classic in appearance and modern at the same time, in my opinion. A look that will be in style for decades to come.
I’m really happy with the JBL Stage2 245C speaker. It’s an excellent choice for anybody who is serious about home audio, or just wants to know they are getting one of the best speakers on the market for their money. It offers a perfect blend of performance, design, and value, making it a must have if you are searching for a truly cinematic sound experience.
TonyMSP –
Most home theater enthusiasts would say that the center channel is the most important speaker in your entire home theater. Some estimates more than 80% of dialog and sounds comes from the center channel in movies.
This JBL Stage 2 245C center channel checks all the boxes for my home theater build. The box houses quad 4.5 inch woofers, one 1 inch tweeter and rear ported. The quad 4.5 inch woofers has a unique 2.5-way crossover. What a 2.5-way crossover does is crosses over the woofers nearest the tweeter to make a seamless blend of midrange and leaves the outside woofer crossed over at the lower frequencies. This allows for a more natural roll off in frequencies. This 2.5-way crossover is also found in this lineup’s tower loudspeakers.
With the center channel doing the heavy lifting in dialog during movies, the 1 inch tweeter and midrange crossover woofers nearest to the tweeter makes for natural male and female voices. I have my AVR set to crossover at 80Hz to my subwoofers and all voices, even deeper voices still sound like they are coming from the channel speaker instead of my subwoofer. The horn design allows for a wider off axis listening as sometimes it’s hard to properly angle the speaker towards the listener if it’s within a TV stand/cabinet.
I wasn’t impressed with the performance straight out of the box. It sounded muddy and without clarity. After running my AVR’s room calibration, this center channel went from just OK to absolutely amazing. Make sure to properly angle your center channel up towards your listening position, if possible, to get the most out of it.
In summary, JBL’s 245C center channel punches above its weight class. Dialog comes out super crisp and clear and always amazed at the clarity. Make sure to also get matching front left and right tower speakers to timbre match your setup for the ultimate home theater experience.