JBL PERFORMANCE™ SERIES
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
P81BB
P941BB
BACK BOXES FOR P81
AND P941 LOUDSPEAKERS
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS
Read before starting installation:
• Product contains fiberglass wool.
WARNING
ings should support the weight of
the product plus at least four times
the weight of the product being
installed. That means, for a P941
installed in an In-Wall Back Box,
the mounting system should be
able to support at least 163 lb
(74kg).
It is strongly recommended that the
installer consult a construction pro-
fessional or a professional engi-
neer to determine the appropriate
mounting methods to be used for
each specific installation location.
This enclosure is not listed for use
in air-handling plenums. Installation
of this enclosure in walls or ceil-
ings of fire-barrier-rated construc-
tion requires that construction
methods shall be employed in order
to comply with local building or life
safety codes. Consult your local
authority having jurisdiction (build-
ing, electrical or fire safety inspec-
tor) to determine what acceptable
construction methods will be
required.
• Disturbing the insulation in this
product during installation, main-
tenance, or repair will expose you
to fiberglass wool. Breathing this
may cause lung cancer. Fiber-
glass wool is known to the state
of California to cause cancer.
• Fiberglass wool may also cause
respiratory, skin and eye irritation.
• To reduce exposure to this sub-
stance or for further information,
consult material safety data
sheets available from the address
shown below, or contact your
supervisor.
WARNING
The P81BB In-Wall Back Box
weighs 19 lb (8.6kg) empty, and
32 lb (14.52kg) with a P81 speaker
system installed in it. The P941BB
In-Wall Back Box weighs 19 lb
(8.6kg) empty, and 36 lb (16.3kg)
with a P941 speaker system
installed in it.
JBL Consumer Products
250 Crossways Park Drive
Woodbury, New York 11797 USA
ANSI/EIA 636 Recommended
Loudspeaker Safety Practices,
Section 16.3, recommends that the
mounting system used to install the
In-Wall Back Box in walls or ceil-
3
ABOUT THE
BACK BOX
INSTALLATION
INSTRUCTIONS
Thank you for purchasing the JBL
Performance P81BB/P941BB Back
Boxes, which are optional rear enclo-
sures for the JBL P81 and P941 In-Wall
Loudspeakers. The P81BB/P941BB
Back Boxes which provide optimal vol-
ume for woofer alignment and reduce
acoustic bleed-through to rooms
adjacent to your listening area. The
P81BB/P941BB Back Boxes also func-
tion as mounting brackets designed
to facilitate the installation of the
P81/P941 in-wall loudspeakers in new
construction or major retro-fit installa-
tions. The back boxes improve sonic
performance while providing solid sup-
port for the speaker mounting frame
and baffle assembly. Since the back
box is installed before the drywall is
mounted, it allows the speakers to be
mounted in a clean, efficient manner.
The following items are required for
installation:
• tape measure
• carpenter’s level
• pencil
• hammer
• nails
• drywall section
• drywall screws
• staples/U nails
• utility knife
• service wire (included)
• work gloves
• face mask
CAUTION
The back box should be installed by a
professional. Installers must adhere to
local building codes to ensure proper
installation. JBL is not responsible for
any injury or damage caused by
improper installation.
The JBL P81BB/P941BB Back Box
measures 17-1/2 inches x 28-5/8 inches
(445mm x 727mm) (including the
flanges). The back box is designed
to mount between two 2x4-inch (or
2x6-inch) wall studs on 16-inch centers.
See Figures 1 and 2 for inner dimen-
sions of the P81BB and P941BB.
13.57 inches
(344.7mm)
13.57 in
ches
(344.7m
m)
Place side flange
This flange fits in between wall studs
on top of stud
s
inche
10.65
hes
0 inc
12.5
mm)
(270.5
)
.5mm
(317
28.62 inches
s
inche
16.78
s
inche
21.16
28.62 inches
(727mm)
(727mm)
mm)
(426.2
)
5mm
(537.
14.84 inches
(376.9mm)
s
inche
19.22
mm)
(488.2
In-wall fits here
17.50 inches
(444.5mm)
17.50 inches
(444.5mm)
Figure 1: P81BB Back Box Height and Width
Figure 2: P941BB Back Box Height and Width
4
TO INSTALL THE
BACK BOX
1. Use a tape measure to determine the
location where the speaker is to be
mounted. Refer to the JBL P81/P941
In-Wall Loudspeaker owner’s manual
for speaker placement considera-
tions. Record exact measurements
from the floor, ceiling and an adja-
cent drywall section.
3.375 inches
(85.7mm)
TOP
NOTE
The P81BB/P941BB Back Box elimi-
nates sensitivity to placement consid-
erations due to standing waves within
the wall cavity, as described in the JBL
P81/P941 In-Wall Loudspeaker owner’s
manual.
Rear
Front
2. Position the back box between two
wall studs and into the wall cavity, as
shown in Figure 4. The back box must
be placed between standard 16-inch
on-center stud spacing. If desired,
the back box can be mounted upside
down (large flange toward the floor)
if you will be mounting the speaker
close to the ceiling.
Figure 3: P81BB/P941BB
Back Box Depth
Figure 4: Place the Back Box
Between Wall Studs
NOTE
TOP
Figure 3 shows the depth of the back
box. It can be installed in walls con-
structed with standard 2x4s. It is impor-
tant to note that the speaker mounting
frame requires a minimum depth (from
the wall face to the inside back of the
P81BB/P941BB Back Box) of 3-1/2 inches
(88.9mm) for proper installation. This
can only be achieved by using 5/8-inch
(15.9mm) drywall on the wall face. It is
recommended that the installer consult
with the drywall installer before begin-
ning the installation.
CAUTION
Installers are advised to wear work
gloves and face masks when installing
the back box and making wire con-
nections, as the back box contains
fiberglass.
Figure 5: Fasten Back Box to
Wall Studs
.
3. Firmly secure the back box into place
using nails, as shown in Figure 5.
5
CAUTION
8. Cut a small hole in the center of the
template area to make sure the
template is in the right location.
10. Fasten the drywall to the wall studs
using drywall screws.
Installers must adhere to local building
codes to ensure proper installation.
JBL is not responsible for any possible
damage caused by improper installation.
11. Install the speaker mounting frame
into the wall opening. Refer to the
JBL P81/P941 In-Wall Loudspeaker
owner’s manual for complete
instructions.
12. Route wires to the top of the
speaker frame to prepare for
hookup.
9. After confirming the correct loca-
tion, cut the template hole opening,
as shown in Figure 7. Use a carpen-
ter’s level to ensure the opening is
level.
4. Feed the power amplifier wires from
the wall cavity down through the
cable clamp located on top of the
enclosure. Pull approximately two
feet of wire through the clamp to
create a generous service loop
inside the enclosure for ease of
hookup, as shown in Figure 6.
In-Wall Speaker Frame
Back Box
Cable Clamp
Figure 7: Cut Opening in Drywall
Route Wires to the Top
of the Speaker System
Avoid Contact Between
the Wires and Speaker Cone
Figure 8: Route Wires to Top of the
Loudspeaker
–
+
Power Amplifier
Figure 6: Amplifier Connections
5. Tighten the clamp screws, cinching
the wires in place
.
CAUTION
Be sure to comply with local wiring
codes. JBL is not responsible for any
damage or injuries that may result from
faulty wiring.
6. Place the section of drywall over
the back box. With tape measure
and pencil, carefully measure and
mark where to position the wall
template (included with the loud-
speaker) by using the measure-
ments recorded in Step 1.
7. Use the wall template to trace
where to cut the drywall.
6
B
C
A
In-Wall Speaker Rear
Make Connections
Observing Proper Polarity
Binding Posts
Insert Stripped Wires
Into Exposed Holes
Exposed Binding Post
Terminal Connectors
Figure 9: Speaker Connections
13. Locate the loudspeaker’s binding
posts, as shown in illustration A
of Figure 9. From the top of the
speaker, run the wires down to
the loudspeaker’s binding posts,
as shown in illustrations B and C.
P81BB/P941BB
BACK BOX OUTER
DIMENSIONS
The following information must be
included when a product is returned for
service:
• Name
Width
Height 28-5/8 inches (727mm)
Depth 3-3/8 inches (86mm)
17-1/2 inches (445mm)
• Company name
14. Loosen the terminal connectors by
hand (counterclockwise) on the
binding posts until the holes in their
threaded posts are visible. Insert
the wires from the top, as shown in
illustration B in Figure 9.
• Street address, city, state and zip
code
• Telephone number, including area
code and country code (if applicable)
OBTAINING SERVICE
• Product serial number
NOTE
Before returning a product for warranty
or nonwarranty service, contact JBL
Customer Support to determine the
extent of the problem and to obtain a
Return Authorization (RA) number. No
products will be accepted without an
RA number issued from JBL.
Make all connections observing the
proper polarity, positive to positive (+)
and negative to negative (–).
• A detailed description of the problem
• The preferred method of return
shipment
15. Retighten the terminal connectors
by hand to ensure a secure con-
nection.
• RA number clearly marked on both
the inside and outside of the package
16. Refer to the JBL P81/P941 In-Wall
Loudspeaker owner’s manual for
complete instructions on installing
the speaker baffle to complete the
installation.
If a JBL product must be returned for
repair, JBL will assume no responsibility
for the product during shipping from
the customer to JBL, whether the prod-
uct is or is not covered under warranty.
To Contact JBL Customer Support:
All Returns Must Be:
• well-packaged using the original
packing materials (if possible)
• properly insured and consigned
• prepaid to a reliable shipping agent
7
®
JBL Consumer Products
250 Crossways Park Drive
Woodbury, New York 11797 USA
2005 Harman International Industries,
Incorporated. All rights reserved.
©
All features and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Part No. 360863-001 11/05
JBL and Harman International are trademarks of Harman International
Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other
countries. Performance is a trademark of Harman International Industries,
Incorporated.
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