JBL Control 18C/T - 180W 8-inch Passive 2-Way 70V/100V Ceiling Loudspeaker with Backcan and 90-Degree Coverage in White Finish

The JBL Professional Control 18C/T is a high-performance, full-range ceiling loudspeaker designed to provide exceptional sound quality in medium to high-volume applications. This speaker is ideal for a variety of venues including music cafes, business music systems, retail stores, airports, convention centers, hotels, educational facilities, and more. With its sleek white finish, it integrates seamlessly into any ceiling while delivering clear, robust audio. Its design ensures consistent sound coverage both on and off-axis, making it perfect for wide spaces and diverse listener placements.

At the core of the Control 18C/T is a 200 mm (8.0-inch) high-output low-frequency driver, designed with a polypropylene cone and butyl rubber surround for optimal bass response and long-term durability. This driver is paired with a 25 mm (1.0-inch) soft-dome tweeter, which is liquid cooled and features a Kapton voice coil, ensuring excellent high-frequency response and power handling. The tweeter is coupled with a wide dispersion waveguide, which provides smooth, even coverage across a 90° conical pattern. This wide dispersion pattern ensures uniform sound distribution throughout the listening area, making it suitable for large, open spaces.

With a frequency range from 58 Hz to 20 kHz, the Control 18C/T covers the full spectrum of sound, producing rich lows and clear highs. The speaker offers an impressive maximum SPL of 112 dB (average) and 118 dB (peak) at 1 meter, which makes it capable of delivering high output in demanding environments. The system's sensitivity of 92 dB ensures that it can be used in spaces where both background music and more dynamic sound needs to be heard clearly. The speaker's wide frequency range and high power handling capability of 180W continuous program power (90W continuous pink noise) make it versatile for a variety of audio tasks, from music reproduction to paging systems.

The Control 18C/T is designed to be highly flexible, offering the ability to operate in either low impedance (8 ohms) or as part of a distributed loudspeaker system with 70V/100V operation. It features a 60W multi-tap transformer with 30W, 15W, and 7.5W taps at 70V/100V, along with an additional 3.8W tap at 70V. This flexibility allows the speaker to be used in different audio configurations, making it ideal for installations in both small and large venues.

Installation of the Control 18C/T is straightforward and quick, thanks to its pre-attached blind-mount backcan and removable locking 4-pin connector for secure wire termination. The speaker's enclosure is made from high-quality ABS material with a UL94-V0 and UL94-5VB flame rating, ensuring both durability and safety in commercial environments. The backcan design, with its 274 mm (10.8 inches) depth, fits into standard ceiling spaces, while a range of accessories, including tile rail supports, a C-ring support backing plate, and a cutout template, simplifies installation. Additionally, a safety seismic attachment ring is included for added security during installation in seismic zones.

For those installing in thicker ceilings, the speaker can be further enhanced with optional MTC-TCD thick-ceiling dogears, which extend the ceiling thickness capability up to 60 mm (2.4 inches). The Control 18C/T is also compatible with the MTC-47NC new construction bracket and MTC-47MR mud-ring construction bracket for easy integration into new or remodeled buildings.

Features

• 200 mm (8.0-inch) high-output LF driver with polypropylene cone and butyl rubber surround for deep, clear bass
• 25 mm (1.0-inch) soft-dome liquid-cooled tweeter with Kapton voice coil for smooth, high-frequency response
• 90° conical coverage with wide dispersion for consistent sound across a large area
• Impressive frequency range of 58 Hz to 20 kHz for full-range sound
• 180W continuous program power handling (90W continuous pink noise) for high SPL performance
• Maximum SPL of 112 dB (average) and 118 dB (peak) at 1 meter
• Switchable between 8-ohm low-impedance operation and 70V/100V distributed system with 60W multi-tap transformer
• Includes tile rail supports, C-ring support backing plate, cutout template, paint shield, and grille for easy installation
• Durable ABS baffle with UL94-V0 and UL94-5VB flame rating for commercial safety
• Compatible with optional accessories including MTC-TCD thick-ceiling dogears and MTC-47NC new construction bracket

Specifications

System

• Frequency Range (-10 dB): 58 Hz - 20 kHz
• Frequency Response (±3 dB): 80 Hz - 16 kHz
• Power Capacity (at low-Z): 180 Watts Continuous Program Power, 90 Watts Continuous Pink Noise
• Max Input Voltage: 31.8 V RMS (73.6 V peak)
• Nominal Sensitivity: 92 dB
• Nominal Coverage Angle: 90° conical coverage
• Directivity Factor (Q): 6.0
• Directivity Index (DI): 7.8 dB
• Rated Maximum SPL: 112 dB @ 1 m (3.3 ft) average, 118 dB peak
• Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms (in direct/bypass 8Ω setting)
• Transformer Taps: 60 W, 30 W, 15 W @ 70V or 100V (plus 7.5 W @ 70V only)
• Recommended Protective High-Pass:
  • 80 Hz high-pass (24 dB/oct) for 8Ω tap
  • 60 Hz for 60 W tap, 50 Hz for 30 W, 15 W & 7.5 W tap setting

Transducers

• Crossover Network: 12 dB/oct (2nd order) low-pass to LF driver, 12 dB/oct (2nd order) high-pass to HF driver
• LF Driver: 200 mm (8.0 in) with polypropylene cone, butyl rubber surround, pass to HF driver
• HF Driver: 25 mm (1.0 in), highly damped treated-silk dome, Kapton voice coil, liquid cooling, wide dispersion waveguide

Enclosure

• Input Connector: Removable locking 4-pin connector with screw-down terminals. Max wire size 12 AWG (2.5)
• Connector Wiring: Pin 1 = + In, Pin 2 = - In, Pin 3 = + Loop Thru, Pin 4 = - Loop Thru
• Strain Reliefs: Strain relief for two cables or two flex conduits via coupled clamping mechanism
• Materials: ABS baffle with UL94-V0 and UL94-5VB flame class fire rating; Zinc-plated steel backcan
• Safety Agency: UL1480, UL2043, NFPA90 & NFPA70; S7232/UL listed, Suitable for use in air handling spaces, Signaling Speaker; Transformer UL registered per UL1876; ROHS, C-tick N108, CE compliant; Baffle meets UL94-V0 and UL94-5VB flammability rating; In accordance with IEC60849/EN60849 systems
• Dimensions: 307 mm diameter x 274 mm depth from back of baffle (12.1 in diameter x 10.8 in depth)
• Ceiling Cutout Size: Circular cutout with 282 mm (11.1 in) diameter
• Ceiling Thickness Range: Up to 38 mm (1.5 in) with stock dogears. MTC-TCD thick-ceiling dogears available for up to 60 mm (2.4 in) ceiling thicknesses
• Safety Seismic Attachment: One point, top surface
• Weight: 14.1 lbs (one speaker)
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 lbs (pair in master carton)
• Included Accessories: C-ring support backing plate, 2 tile support rails (for 2 ft or 600 mm tile spans); optional MTC-48TR extension available for larger 4 ft or 1200 mm tile spans, cutout template, paint shield, removable locking multi-pin connector, grille
• Optional Accessories: MTC-47NC new construction bracket, MTC-47MR mud-ring construction bracket, MTC-TCD thick-ceiling dogears for ceiling thicknesses up to 60 mm (2.4 in, ordering one set = 24 dogears for 6 speakers), MTC-48TR tile rail for 1200 mm (4 ft) tile spans