JBL – CONTROL 23-1L

The JBL Control 23-1L is a compact yet powerful two-way speaker designed for versatility and exceptional performance. With its 3-inch driver, the Control 23-1L delivers rich sonic character and wide coverage, making it suitable for a variety of indoor and outdoor applications. Whether for retail stores, restaurants, health clubs, theme parks, educational facilities, hospitality settings, music cafes, leisure venues, or any space where high-quality foreground or background music and paging are needed, this speaker stands out as an excellent choice.

The Control 23-1L’s contemporary design seamlessly blends with various decors, while its advanced features ensure superior audio performance and ease of installation. Each unit comes equipped with the unique InvisiBall mounting hardware, which simplifies permanent installation. The InvisiBall system allows for high degrees of vertical and horizontal rotation, offering flexible positioning. Adjustments are made through a concealed access point behind the logo badge, eliminating the need to remove the grille and enhancing security against theft.

For added installation flexibility, the Control 23-1L includes integrated M6 mounting points, accommodating an optional U-bracket. This feature expands the mounting options, making it suitable for various installation scenarios.

The speaker’s low-frequency (LF) driver features a woven fiberglass cone that provides both durability and weather resistance. The lightweight Kapton™ voice coil former and high-temperature voice coil wire ensure excellent sensitivity and high power handling, maintaining stable performance even under prolonged high-power conditions. The pure butyl rubber surround contributes to clean sound reproduction and robust operation. JBL’s WeatherEdge™—a seamless, rubberized extension of the woofer surround—offers additional protection for critical transducer elements, enhancing the speaker’s durability in challenging environments.

The Control 23-1L is engineered with a focus on smooth frequency response and consistent off-axis performance. Its cone geometry is optimized to ensure even sound dispersion, while an FEA-optimized motor construction and linear suspension spider minimize harmonic distortion. The high-frequency (HF) driver features low-viscosity ferro-magnetic fluid, which improves voice coil cooling and extends long-term power handling capabilities. The softened PEI diaphragm delivers smooth, pure high-frequency sound quality, and the lightweight Kapton™ voice coil former enhances durability and high-frequency response extension. These design elements collectively make the Control 23-1L particularly rugged, capable of withstanding outdoor and demanding conditions.

In addition to its robust driver design, the Control 23-1L cabinet is built to endure harsh environmental factors such as sun, salt, and moisture. The grilles are heavily zinc-plated and finished with a high-grade powder coating to resist rust. For even more challenging environments, optional MTC-23WMG-1 WeatherMax™ grilles are available, featuring a multi-layer foam and tight-weave mesh vapor barrier to handle driving rain.

Connection to the speaker is facilitated through weather-capable screw-down terminals. Optional MTC-PC2 and MTC-PC3 panel covers offer additional protection for the terminal compartment, providing a watertight, sealed gland-nut entrance when used with round-jacketed cables within the specified diameter range.

The Control 23-1L is designed to deliver a natural sound character with a frequency response that ensures clarity and accuracy. It handles up to 50 Watts of continuous pink noise (100 Watts program) and achieves a maximum SPL of 103 dB, making it a powerful choice for both background and foreground audio applications.