JBL Control 328C 8" 2-Way 250W Coaxial Ceiling Speaker

Product Overview

The JBL Control 328C is an 8" coaxial ceiling speaker built for high-output, full-range sound reinforcement in commercial AV installations. It pairs a 200 mm (8 in) low-frequency driver with a 25 mm compression driver to deliver clear speech and program audio across conference rooms, retail spaces, and multi-purpose rooms. With 250 W continuous power handling and 120° constant-directivity coverage, this commercial ceiling loudspeaker maintains consistent intelligibility across wide listening areas. It is designed for clean integration into standard ceiling-grid layouts.

Product Description

The Control 328C is a coaxial compression driver speaker engineered for installations that demand more headroom and pattern control than a typical background-music driver provides. The coaxial design keeps the high- and low-frequency sources time-aligned, producing even tonal balance whether a listener is directly below the speaker or off-axis. With a 118 dB maximum SPL (124 dB peak), it suits applications where the system must overcome ambient noise — gymnasiums, atriums, transit areas, and large meeting spaces. The speaker accepts a screw-locking barrier strip for bare-wire connection and is driver-pre-mounted to a 305 mm round baffle for faster installation. When paired with the UL-listed MTC-300BB8 backcan, the Control 328C is suitable for use in air-handling (plenum) spaces per UL1480, UL2043, and NFPA 90/70, making it a practical plenum-rated ceiling speaker for code-sensitive commercial deployments. It runs as a low-impedance 8-ohm speaker out of the box and can be configured for 70V/100V distributed lines using the optional MTC-300T150 transformer. This makes it equally suited to both discrete high-fidelity zones and large distributed paging systems.

Key Features

• 8" Coaxial Driver Array — A 200 mm LF driver and 25 mm HF compression driver share a single axis for time-aligned, full-range reproduction across the listening area.
• 120° Constant Directivity — Maintains an even coverage pattern across frequency, delivering consistent intelligibility for off-axis listeners in wide rooms.
• 250 W Continuous Power Handling — High thermal and mechanical headroom supports demanding program material and higher SPL targets without strain.
• 118 dB Maximum SPL — Generates enough output (124 dB peak) to overcome ambient noise in atriums, gymnasiums, and high-traffic commercial spaces.
• Plenum-Rated Operation — Suitable for air-handling spaces per UL1480, UL2043, and NFPA 90/70 when installed with the UL-listed MTC-300BB8 backcan.
• 70V/100V or 8-Ohm Flexibility — Runs low-impedance out of the box or on distributed lines using the optional MTC-300T150 transformer for large multi-zone systems.
• Pre-Mounted Baffle Assembly — The driver ships pre-mounted to a 305 mm round metal baffle with a screw-locking barrier strip to speed installation and reduce labor time.

Typical Applications

• Conference room
• Commercial meeting space
• Multi-purpose room
• House of worship
• Auditorium
• Training room
• Government space

Technical Specifications

Competitor Comparison

What's in the Box

• JBL Control 328C 8" coaxial ceiling loudspeaker (driver pre-mounted to round baffle)
• Screw-locking barrier strip input connector
• Installation/spec documentation

Note: Backcan, grille, and transformer are sold separately as optional accessories — MTC-300BB8, MTC-RG6/8 or MTC-SG6/8, MTC-300T150.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Control 328C plenum-rated for installation above a drop ceiling?
Yes. When installed with the UL-listed MTC-300BB8 backcan, it is suitable for air-handling (plenum) spaces per UL1480, UL2043, and NFPA 90/70. The backcan is required for both plenum compliance and proper low-frequency loading and is sold separately.

Can the Control 328C run on a 70V or 100V distributed audio system?
Yes. It ships as an 8-ohm low-impedance speaker and can be configured for 70V or 100V distributed lines using the optional MTC-300T150 150W transformer, making it suitable for large multi-zone paging and BGM systems.

What ceiling cutout size does it require?
The Control 328C requires a 310 mm (12.2 in) diameter cutout when used with the MTC-300BB8 backcan. The driver ships pre-mounted to a 305 mm (12.0 in) round baffle to simplify installation.

Does it require a separate grille?
The round metal baffle is integral, but contoured grilles (MTC-RG6/8 round or MTC-SG6/8 square) are available separately to match the installation aesthetic.

What warranty and support are available?
JBL Professional installed-sound products are covered under JBL's commercial warranty. Creation Networks provides AV design and integration support; contact our team for system-level specification and deployment assistance.