The JBL Control 1 Pro is designed and made for nearfield listening, mainly for professional use but can be used as an excellent pair of desktop speakers as well. The Control 1 Pro provides near studio grade sound quality at a very affordable price, this is also what makes these speakers so attractive. These compact studio monitors will need a matching amplifier to sound their best and if you are currently on the market looking for one then do keep reading.
Unlike most studio monitors, the JBL Control 1 Pro doesn’t have a built-in power amp and will require external amplification. Which amplifier will best suit this talented pair of bookshelf speakers? In order to find out, we will need to learn more about their sonic prowess and characteristics. Once we have the necessary information, we will then share with you the list of the best amplifiers to go for.
Table of Contents
Sonic Characteristics and Merits of JBL Control 1 Pro
The JBL Control 1 Pro has that industrial design that doesn’t really fit well into most modern homes, but fortunately, it is quite compact and won’t stand out a lot. It is also quite difficult to match them with most amplifiers aesthetically. These are but minor things as the sound quality are what’s really matters. The JBL Control 1 Pro has a 0.75″ (19mm) polycarbonate dome tweeter and a 5.25″ (135 mm) low-frequency driver. The bass port is located at the front which does allow you to place them nearer to the walls.
There is a mounting bracket that allows you to mount the Control 1 Pro onto walls easily. The speaker sensitivity of 87dB is actually quite low and the nominal impedance is 4 Ohms which is a strong indication that they are difficult to drive. Their frequency response is I00Hz-18kHz (-3dB) and 80Hz-20kHz (-10dB), this shows they really need a subwoofer to help with the bass production from 100Hz and below. Based on this, the JBL Control 1 Pro is very suitable to be used as a wall-mounted surround/height speaker. They can handle a power output of up to 150 Watts.
More Details at Amazon – JBL Professional C1PRO
Their greatest strength will be their transparency, the JBL Control 1 Pro focuses on delivering the most faithful music presentation as close to what the artists have intended. It still doesn’t sound as bad when listening to poor recordings as it is not as clinical as the other more transparent studio monitors. The overall sound reproduction is accurate and insightful, it is a very revealing speaker. The clarity of the JBL Control 1 Pro is astonishing, every nuance of the music is clear as day. When playing at high volumes they could really get bright sounding.
The brightness of the Control 1 Pro is also due to the lack of bass reproduction, this drawback does help to provide very accurate and taut low frequency though. The mid-bass doesn’t have much weight but the overall midrange reproduction is very detailed and balanced. There is no coloration to the sound that we can hear, which is great for professional work such as mixing, audio editing, etc. For the bass department, you can get a professional-level subwoofer to match with the JBL Control 1 Pro speakers.
They will provide very detailed clean sounding highs and midrange without colorations. The bass department is lacking but it is very accurate and nimble. The stereo imaging is fantastic. All in all, the JBL Control 1 Pro is a very versatile speaker that is used for many different types of applications whether for entertainment or professional use. They are bright-sounding speakers so we shouldn’t really pair them with bright-sounding amplifiers unless you prefer such sound quality. Getting a subwoofer into the mix is highly recommended. As now we have all the information that we need, it is time to introduce to you the best amplifiers you can go for and partner them with your JBL Control 1 Pro loudspeakers.
JBL Control 1 Pro Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2-Way (front-firing port)
- Drive Units: 0.75″ (19mm) polycarbonate dome tweeter and a 5.25″ (135 mm) low frequency driver
- Frequency Response (-3dB): 100Hz-18kHz
- Frequency Response (-10dB): 80Hz-20kHz
- Power Handling: 150 Watts
- Nominal Impedance: 4 Ohms
- Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 87dB
- Dimensions: 235mm x 159mm x 143mm | 9.3″ x 6.3″ x 5.6″
- Weight: 1.8kg (4lbs)
Best Amplifiers to match with JBL Control 1 Pro
The JBL Control 1 Pro will make a great pair of desktop speakers due to their compact size and nearfield listening speaker design. The NAD D 3045 is one of the best digital amplifiers that you can go for. Their compact size and upright sitting position make them an excellent amp for desktop sound systems. Small footprint is just one of its notable features, the NAD D 3045 is also powerful enough to drive your JBL Control 1 Pro with ease. There is also a subwoofer output to connect to an active sub so to significantly improve the bass performance. The sound characteristic of this digital amplifier is a suitable match for your Control 1 Pro speakers as well.
More Information at Amazon – NAD D 3045
The Marantz PM6007 is one of the best amplifiers that you can choose to match your JBL Control 1 Pro monitors. It is a musical-sounding entry-level integrated amp that is warm and full-bodied sounding, complementing the speakers really well. The PM6007 doesn’t compromise on clarity and provides impeccable precision when it comes to music presentation. The overall sound reproduction is punchy and smooth, connect to an active subwoofer and you got yourself a full-range sound system that is amazing for music listens. Have a listen yourself and see if you like what you hear.
More Details at Amazon – Marantz PM6007 Integrated Amplifier with Digital Connectivity
Marantz also designs amazing AV receivers such as the Marantz NR1711, which is a slim 7.2 Channel Ultra HD AVR. The slim design of the NR1711 makes it a potential AV receiver for a desktop home theater system. You can connect up to 2 powered subwoofers and use Audyssey to calibrate the speakers such as your JBL Control 1 Pro to work seamlessly together. The Marantz NR1711 is also able to process 8K/60Hz pass-through or upscaling. The house sound is great for music listens, concerts, and live performances playbacks. It is highly recommended to get at least 1 active sub as the JBL Control 1 Pro speakers are lacking in the bass department and will not be enough to provide you with an exciting home movie experience.
More Details at Amazon – Marantz NR1711 8K Slim 7.2 Channel Ultra HD AV Receiver
The Parasound NewClassic 200 Integrated will be an excellent amplifier choice, it comes with a plethora of features such as a built-in DAC, 80Hz low pass sub output, home theater bypass, and more. The power output of 110 Watts (8/4 Ohms) is more than enough to drive the JBL Control 1 Pro, what’s important is the smooth and sweet sound quality which matches really well with the speakers. The overall sound reproduction of this versatile integrated amplifier is neutral with a tad of warmth which makes it an amazing partner for your JBL Control 1 Pro speakers.
More Info at Amazon – Parasound NewClassic 200 Integrated Amplifier
When it comes to budget integrated amps, one of the best will definitely be Denon PMA-600NE as it has almost all the features you’ll need to play both digital and analog sources. Furthermore, the 70W per channel (4 Ohms) and the subwoofer output are what your JBL Control 1 Pro and sound system needs. The Denon PMA-600NE also has Bluetooth connectivity where you can stream your music. At this price point, this amplifier is worth every penny, not to mention, worthy of your time to check it out. You can also adjust the bass and treble settings to tune the sound reproduction to your liking.
More Info at Amazon – Denon PMA-600NE Stereo Integrated Amplifier
Integrating an active subwoofer will be a great addition to your sound system whether it is a stereo or home theater setup. You may want to check out JBL Professional LSR310S, it is a good match with your JBL Control 1 Pro. If you want a subwoofer that can produce a more prominent subterranean bass level, you can check out SVS subwoofers which are performance powerhouses and are sanely priced. If you are okay with the bright sounding system, you might want to check out Yamaha integrated amplifiers, they also do make AV receivers.
More Details at Amazon – JBL Professional LSR310S Studio Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
We suggest when auditioning the amplifiers listed here, you should also demo the subwoofer simultaneously. If possible audition the shortlisted HiFi components at your own listening room as this will give you the most accurate result of how the system will sound. You can also bring your JBL Control 1 Pro to your friends’ place since is so light and hear how it sounds with another amplifier that your friend owns. For professional use, you can also check out mixers and external power amps to drive your JBL Control 1 Pro speakers.
