Starter speakers like no other
After an extensive tour of JL Audio HQ, I got the opportunity to talk to their engineering and development team about the current JL Audio lineup and upcoming projects. Given all the work they're doing with premium car audio, I was surprised by how excited they were for customers to hear their workhorse C1 Series — speakers designed for drivers simply looking for a sensible factory speaker replacement, not necessarily an audiophile-grade solution. The reason for that excitement, once I heard it, made perfect sense — every JL Audio speaker must uphold the quality and sound associated with the name. You may be looking for something that's just listenable, but what you'll get with the C1 Series is an audio experience that puts it at the top of its class. And then, just maybe, you'll end up being a JL Audio fan for life.
An aluminum edge-driven dome tweeter helps define this C1 speaker's distinctive sound.
What sets C1 apart?
JL Audio designed the C1 Series C1-525x 5-1/4" speakers to be the very best they could be for the price. You'll find solid construction and finish, along with some eye-popping flair in its striking yellow mineral-filled polypropylene woofer. That woofer delivers impactful lows and is specially designed for a natural roll-off transition to the highs handled by the tweeter. And it's the aluminum edge-driven tweeter that gives the C1 Series its distinctive sound, setting it apart from other speakers at this price. You'll hear crisp detail in the high frequencies, incredible imaging, and minimal distortion no matter how you power them.
Why no grilles?
Most folks have no use for aftermarket grilles, opting to use their factory grilles for a streamlined look. With that in mind, JL Audio doesn't include grilles with the C1 Series, opting instead to incorporate those savings into building an all-round better speaker.
Product highlights:
- 2-way 5-1/4" speakers (pair)
- injection-molded mineral-filled polypropylene woofer cone with rubber surround
- 3/4" aluminum edge-driven dome tweeter
- handles up to 50 watts RMS (225 watts peak power)
- frequency response: 54-24,000 Hz
- sensitivity: 92 dB at 2.83 volts
- top-mount depth: 2-1/2"
- grilles not included
- warranty: 1 year
- MFR # 010-03122-00
- Item # 13699041
What's in the box:
JL Audio C1-525x owner's manual
- Two 2-way speakers
- Eight 3/4" Screws (#8)
- Two 0.187" Crimpable female quick slides
- Two 0.110" Crimpable female quick slides
- Owner's manual
Features & specs
| General | ||
|---|---|---|
| Speaker Size | 5 1/4 | |
| Driver Design | 2-way | |
| Woofer Design | Cone | |
| Woofer Material | Mineral-Filled injection-Molded Polypropylene | |
| Woofer Surround | Rubber | |
| Midrange Design | --- | |
| Midrange Material | --- | |
| Tweeter Design | 3/4" Edge-Driven Dome | |
| Tweeter Material | Aluminum | |
| Super Tweeter Design | --- | |
| Super Tweeter Material | --- | |
| Impedance (Ohms) | 4 | |
| Weather-resistant | No | |
| Grilles Included | No | |
| Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Labor Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Specifications | ||
| Sensitivity (1W at 1 meter) | 89 | |
| Sensitivity at 2.83 volts | 92 | |
| Frequency Response | 54 - 24k Hz | |
| Maximum RMS Wattage | 50 | |
| Peak Power Handling (Watts) | 225 | |
| Top-mount Depth (Inches) | 2 7/16 | |
| Bottom-mount Depth (Inches) | N/A | |
| Cutout Diameter or Length (inches) | 4 5/8 | |
| Mounting Height (Inches) | 0.541 | |
| Frame Width | 5.2 | |
| Frame Length | 5.2 | |
Product Research
Features
Woofers: Each JL Audio C1 speaker features a mineral-filled, injection-molded polypropylene woofer cone with a rubber surround.
Tweeters: The 3/4" edge-driven, aluminum dome tweeters are damped by a silk surround suspension.
Power Handling: JL Audio publishes several power specifications for this speaker, 50 watts continuous power handling (RMS), 225 watts peak music power, and 10-75 watts recommended amplifier power (RMS). We've listed the conservative combination of 10-50 watts RMS in the specs table.