The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is in full force in Las Vegas and we’ll be bringing you the best new car audio and electronic products. We’ll kick things off with the newest offerings from JL Audio.

With 38 new products, JL Audio has started 2009 in a big way. JL has expanded their lineup of HD amplifiers with two exciting new models, the HD1200/1 monoblock and the HD800/5 multi-channel system amplifier.



HD800/5
This system amplifier is an amazing feat of engineering and packaging efficiency. Inside the HD800/5’s diminutive chassis is a 500 watt subwoofer amplifier PLUS a 300 watt four-channel amplifier.

HD800/5 - 800 Watt Four Channel
Type: Class D, Five-Channel System Amplifier
Continuous Power in Five-Channel Mode:
75W x 4 @ 1.5 - 4 ohms per channel (Main Channels)
500W x 1 @ 1.5 - 4 ohms (Subwoofer Channel)
(11.0V-14.5V supply with <0.08% THD+N)
Continuous Power in Three-Channel Mode:
150W x 2 @ 3 - 8 ohms per channel (Main Channels)
500W x 1 @ 1.5 - 4 ohms (Subwoofer Channel)
(11.0V-14.5V supply with <0.08% THD+N)
Dimensions:
10.75 x 7.87 x 1.93 in. (273 x 200 x 49 mm)
Available: April, 2009



HD1200/1
Last year, JL Audio launched the powerful HD750/1 monoblock amp. This year, JL “ups the ante” with the introduction of its 1200W “evil twin”, which happens to share exactly the same chassis as its 750W sibling. With frequency response that extends smoothly into treble range, adventurous users will use the HD1200/1 in many creative ways, but its primary mission in life is to drive subwoofers, so its feature set has been optimized for that purpose. It features a variable slope crossover, infrasonic filter, polarity reversal switch, remote level control port and preamp outputs.

HD1200/1 - 1200 Watt Monoblock
Type: Class D, Monoblock Subwoofer Amplifier
Continuous Power:
1200W x 1 @ 1.5 - 4 ohms
(11.0V-14.5V supply with <0.08% THD+N)
Dimensions:
10.74 x 8.29 x 1.93 in. (273 x 211 x 49 mm)
Available: 3rd Quarter, 2009

W0v2 Subwoofers
JL Audio has redesigned their entry level subwoofer and launched the W0v2 series. Available in 10”, 12” and 15” models, the W0v2 is equipped with a beefy 2.0 or 2.5-inch voice coils and JL’s patented Elevated Frame Cooling for outstanding thermal power handling and stability. Plus, their motors have been designed and refined using JL Audio’s proprietary DMA modeling to reduce distortion, increase output and enhance overall fidelity.



Evolution Speakers
JL Audio has also released several new products for the Evolution line of component and coaxial speakers.

C5-653 Three-Way Component System



Precision-built in Germany, the JL Audio C5-653 system incorporates 6.5-inch (165 mm) woofers with JL Audio’s exclusive DMA-optimized motors and patented Elevated Frame Cooling technologies. Midbass capability is outstanding thanks to DMA and critically engineered suspension designs.

The 4-inch (100 mm) mid-range drivers are compact, efficient and offer extremely flat, uncolored response. Light polypropylene cones and suspension components from Dr. Kurt Müller & Co. make sure of that. They also feature a unique basket design with detachable ears so that they can be installed in many factory locations or with the custom installation ring shown in the photos here.

The 3/4-inch (19mm) C5 silk dome tweeter really shines in this 3-way application. Its tiny neodymium magnet and small chassis give it excellent placement flexibility, too.

Highly flexible crossover networks with premium components bring it all together for an intensely musical listening experience.

C3 Convertible Component Systems



There are times when an installation calls for a separate woofer and tweeter and other times when a coaxial is the better approach. With the new JL Audio Evolution C3 Convertible Component Systems, the same product can be deployed in either configuration, delivering outstanding audio quality in both.

Creating this product required an entirely new woofer chassis design with carefully engineered architectural features. JL engineers specified an extremely strong, glass-filled polymer to form the new baskets via an injection molding process. This allows for even tighter mechanical tolerances than a cast alloy basket and also results in a low resonance, non-magnetic mounting structure. JL Audio’s patented Elevated Frame Cooling technology is also built in to improve the woofers’ heat dissipation and power handling.

Inside these new baskets is a potent woofer design using oversized (1.2-inch diameter) voice coils for enhanced power handling and reduced thermal compression. Long coil winding lengths create a very wide dynamic envelope in which linear behavior is maintained, reducing distortion and improving bass capability. C3 woofer cones are precisely shaped to control response and reduce undesirable breakup characteristics and employ high-grade butyl rubber surrounds and Conex® spiders for years of reliable, high-fidelity performance.

The C3 tweeter is a true, edge-driven 1-inch (25mm) silk dome that excels on or off axis and offers very smooth and flat frequency response to well beyond 20 kHz. Silk is an ideal tweeter diaphragm material thanks to its lightweight, strength, inherently good damping characteristics and environmental stability. These benefits combine to deliver very good efficiency, smooth response and sparkling high frequency detail without the harshness common in many competitive products. Driving this silk dome is a powerful motor using high-temperature grade neodymium and ferroluid-cooling for superior efficiency and long-term fidelity.

C2 Coaxial and Component Systems



For a car speaker to excel it must be thoroughly engineered in all areas. The woofer design must deliver sufficient efficiency, smooth mid-range response and good low-frequency extension. The tweeter must be smooth off-axis, exhibit good extension and be non-fatiguing, while the crossover design must seamlessly blend the sound of the drivers so that the end result is clean, realistic audio performance.

In designing the new C2 Coaxial and Component Systems, JL Audio has drawn from their vast experience in woofer design as well as the tweeter technologies employed in their world-class C5 component systems. The resulting products deliver a compelling performance solution at a price within reach of any enthusiast seeking a great listening experience.

Stealthbox
JL Audio has also released several new models to its popular line of Stealthbox vehicle-specific, enclosed subwoofer systems.



New Stealthbox® Models
2006 - Up BMW 3-Series
2008 - Up Chevrolet Malibu
2007 - Up Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
2001 - Up Ford Escape (Jan. 09)
2008 - Up Ford SuperDuty Crew Cab
2007 - Up Honda CR-V
2006 - 2008 Honda Fit
2001 - Up Mazda Tribute (Jan. 09)
2005 - Up Mercury Mariner (Jan. 09)
2007 - Up Mini Cooper
2007 - Up Nissan Altima (Feb. 09)
2004 - 2008 Polaris Ranger
2004 - 2006 Scion xB
2007 - Up Scion xB
2007 - Up Toyota Camry
2007 - Up Toyota Tundra CrewMax