Short answer: the JBL Control 24CT. It ranks #1 of 26 surface-mount and background music speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $350; the Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X ranks #3, rated 3.3/5, and costs $519, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The JBL Control 24CT is the more accurate choice. A 4” two-way ceiling speaker for background and foreground music with a coaxial 3/4” titanium-coated tweeter, a 130 degree conical coverage pattern and a built-in transformer for 70V and 100V distributed systems. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 7.35 against 2.44 for the Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X. The catch: It has no 8 ohm bypass, so it needs a 70V or 100V amplifier rather than a normal home amplifier.
The case for the Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X: A weather-resistant (IP65) surface-mount installation speaker from Electro-Voice with a 5.25” woofer and a tweeter, for 70V and 100V systems or low impedance. The catch: Bass is very limited, so it needs a subwoofer for full-range music, and the on-axis response is uneven (1.29 average deviation).
Buy the JBL Control 24CT. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full PA & Live Sound rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Control 24CT | Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $350.00 per pair Passive | $519.00 per pair Passive |
| Ranked | #1 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers | #3 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers |
| Weight | 6 lbs (2.7 kg) | 6 lbs (2.7 kg) |
| Rigging | None | U-bracket mount for U-bolt, threaded rod, pole or junction box |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 4” (100mm) polypropylene-coated woofer, coaxial 3/4” (19mm) titanium-coated tweeter | 5.25” woofer, tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-20kHz -10dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (manufacturer specified) | 115dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | 30W multitap transformer (70V/100V) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.35 | 2.44 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.65 | 6.05 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| IP Rating | - | IP65 |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 150.0Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 81.6Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared.
Measurement data: JBL Control 24CT (measured by the manufacturer) and Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X (measured by the manufacturer), via spinorama.org.
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Control 24CT compares with other leading options:
- JBL Control 24CT vs Yamaha VXS5
- JBL Control 24CT vs Martin Audio CDD5
- Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X vs Martin Audio CDD5
- Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X vs Yamaha VXS5
- Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X vs Martin Audio CDD6
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Control 24CT: $350.00 per pair Passive Amazon eBay
Pros: A 4” two-way ceiling speaker for background and foreground music with a coaxial 3/4” titanium-coated tweeter, a 130 degree conical coverage pattern and a built-in transformer for 70V and 100V distributed systems. JBL’s data shows a very even listening window (0.13 deviation), for a preference score of 7.35.
Cons: It has no 8 ohm bypass, so it needs a 70V or 100V amplifier rather than a normal home amplifier. Output is limited to 102dB, and the on-axis response is less even (1.14 average deviation) because it is meant to be heard off-axis from the ceiling. That data comes from JBL.
Full JBL Control 24CT review and specifications →
| Bluetooth | No |
|---|---|
| DIY Kit | No |
| Drivers | 4” (100mm) polypropylene-coated woofer, coaxial 3/4” (19mm) titanium-coated tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-20kHz -10dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 30W multitap transformer (70V/100V) |
| Rigging | None |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.65 |
| Weight | 6 lbs (2.7 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X: $519.00 per pair Passive Amazon eBay
Same family: the Electro-Voice EVID-S4.2 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.5/5), the Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.6/5) and the Electro-Voice EVID-S8.2 (larger model, ranked lower, rated 2.7/5).
Pros: A weather-resistant (IP65) surface-mount installation speaker from Electro-Voice with a 5.25” woofer and a tweeter, for 70V and 100V systems or low impedance. EV’s measurements show a preference score of 2.44 that reaches 6.05 with an ideal subwoofer, with 0.55 listening window deviation.
Cons: Bass is very limited, so it needs a subwoofer for full-range music, and the on-axis response is uneven (1.29 average deviation). The data comes from EV. Bass reaches 150.0Hz (-3dB) and about 82Hz (-10dB).
Full Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 81.6Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 150.0Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, tweeter |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Rigging | U-bracket mount for U-bolt, threaded rod, pole or junction box |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.44 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.05 |
| Weight | 6 lbs (2.7 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons