JL Audio C5-650x
MSRP: $549.95
I must admit, I took a liking to the JL Audio C5-650x even before I opened the packing box. The graphics sheathing the cube-like container are correspondingly sporty and elegant, something I would imagine BMW would do if they packaged cars. Extracting the products from the foam casing, I noticed another similarity between the companies-build quality. Like most of the Bavarian automaker's products, the C5 lineup is built by German hands. And, as one would expect, each of the components making up the set exudes great craftsmanship, and assembly of the parts is impeccable.
A silver powdercoated cast-aluminum basket featuring JL Audio's patented elevated frame cooling sets off each of the drivers. The woofers use a curvilinear, mineral-filled polypropylene cone with a seemingly large surface area and butyl-rubber surround. Motivation happens via a 1-inch (25mm) voice coil submerged in a superbly finished motor using a ferrite magnet. While finely detailed, be aware that the drivers are 165mm (6.5 inches) even though the packing box says 160mm. That means you might be in for some enhancements to make them fit if your automobile hails from Asia.
The neo-driven 0.75-inch (19mm) silk-dome tweeter stands high over the woofer cone. Damped and cooled using Ferrofluid, its location is fixed to a forward position. But don't worry about this affecting the highs in an off-axis local; JL has built in a cure to keep them lively. The accompanying external crossovers allow users to select from four tweeter level positions, with a healthy +2dB setting if the boost is needed. The crossover's filters are asymmetrical, highlighted by a 12dB highpass and 6dB lowpass derived of good quality components. Another sound-enhancing aid is the three-position "midrange presence" pin set which enables tonal adjustments of the upper midrange. To do so, JL Audio tapped into the lowpass inductor in three places, thereby changing the crossover frequency depending on the selected position.
Grilles, mounting hardware, JL Audio badges, and connectors are included with the set. The 12-page manual has detailed illustrations and descriptions, including those of the 90-day warranty that increases to a year when installed by an authorized dealer.
Listening
Interestingly, I found the C5-650x to sound better off-axis than on-that's a good thing. With most coax speakers lurking around shin level when mounted in the factory speaker locations, it's most appropriate. I was satisfied with the drivers about 20 degrees inward from on-axis to my sitting position, and the tweeter level set to -1.5dB and midrange at "REF."
With "Clocks" by Coldplay, the piano sounded natural with no signs of harshness detectable at and above normal listening levels. Chris Martin's vocals were generally smooth with surprisingly real characteristics. When I switched to "Everybody," however, I noticed a slight disconnection as artist Raul Midon would belt his highest notes. In fact, his vocals would lose focus and move around depending on the pitch. Tonally, though, the system seemed proper with some minor deficiencies here and there.
Pulling from the archives, in went Pat Coil and "Big Spring." The drum work throughout the song was wonderful for a pair of 6.5-inch woofers, as the JL Audio's picked up the lowest octaves of this track with relative ease. The toms were taut and even the big drum came through with gusto. The midrange throughout this track was nice, yet a little harsh at times near the crossover point. I also noted a lively spike well into the range of the tweeter that had the cymbals and bells calling out "here I am."
The C5-650x's seemed tolerable at large power doses and good at maintaining a broad soundstage. Overall, I was pleased with what I heard, but found the $550 price a bit lofty for my palate.