Designed and engineered to function together as audio components, the unusually large number of SKUs in this new JBL Modern Audio (MA) AV Receivers and JBL Stage 2 Loudspeakers announcement is a great indicator of a strategy to meet every usage profile at different price points. But it's also an unusual return to a "hifi audio components" strategy that many other brands - the traditional Japanese electronics brands, above all - have long been avoiding.
As Harman explains, both the receivers and the loudspeaker collections provide an out-of-the-box solution for all types of home entertainment enthusiasts, from those looking to level up their existing system to those who aspire to experience high-performance component immersive audio. Harnessing JBL's expertise and recognition in cinema sound, including in amplification and patented loudspeaker technologies, these new products are also intended to ensure performance while taking the complexities out of the home cinema experience.
"Many consumers find the home theater component purchasing experience intimidating and overly complex. Not so with JBL MA AV Receivers and Stage 2 Loudspeakers as they were purposefully designed as a simple, turnkey system, both easy to understand and simple to install. Buying a single branded solution engineered to operate in unity effectively removes the need to figure out which components to combine, giving users the peace of mind that comes of knowing that everything they need is provided. Setup and upgrades are equally simple, so users can spend less time installing their system and more time enjoying it," Harman explains in the announcement.
Featuring intuitive functionality, ease of use, and seamless integration, the JBL MA AV Receivers and Stage 2 Loudspeakers have all been designed with this simple system approach in common. Using a mobile app called "EZ Set EQ", users can calibrate a system to match their space in minutes, while the Wi-Fi-enabled AVRs feature “Works with SmartThings” - a Samsung integration that reminds everyone that Harman is now a Samsung company. This integration is intended to inspire users to create automated routines that control their other connected devices in the home. The whole system is also compatible with a wide variety of audio platforms, whether users want to connect their music from their mobile phone via Apple AirPlay or Chromecast, Bluetooth pairing, or streaming from Spotify.
In terms of design, the JBL MA AV Receivers and Stage 2 Loudspeakers match today's lifestyle, both in the way they function and the way they look. Described as "slim and sleek, with a contemporary, playful design," the entire range should fit well in modern interiors thanks to the decision to restrict options to two colors: cream and coffee, or Latte and Espresso.
The Harman consumer division continues to trust of JBL's global recognition in the professional marker, as a supplier for movie theaters, recording studios and luxury home theaters, and the fact that its engineers have won coveted Academy Awards, including two in 2002 for groundbreaking technical innovations. These new products effectively benefit from fundamental electroacoustic innovations, developed at the JBL Center of Acoustics Excellence in Northridge, California. Those include the patented HDI waveguides and anodized tweeters, easily recognizable and shared between JBLs professional studio monitors and luxury audio products.
While this is clearly marketed as a home theater system approach, it's also clear that many of these systems will enter new homes as a basic two-channel system, which eventually could be upgraded from a soundbar, and expand into a high-end home theater setup featuring all the bells and whistles such as support for 8K HDMI video, Dolby Atmos immersive sound and DTS:X. The performance of each model has been optimized both individually and as a system, giving users the freedom to create the setup they want without ever having to sacrifice on sound quality.
"JBL is recognized as the leader in high-performance cinematic experiences, so it should come as no surprise that our new line of home cinema products punches above its weight class," says Dave Tovissi, Vice President & General Manager, Luxury Audio at Harman International. "Solving for modern consumer behaviors and concerns was front and center when we developed these products. We designed the systems to blend perfectly into today’s lifestyle, giving users the sound quality, and simplicity of use they always wanted from a home theater system but never found– until now."
The new JBL Stage 2 Loudspeakers also offer a wide array of models and options, including the 260F and 280F Floor-standing models, the 240B and 250B Bookshelf models with separate floor stands, the 245C Center Channel speaker, the 240H Dolby Atmos enabled Height Module, and the 200P and 220P Subwoofers.
All products in the JBL MA Series and JBL Stage 2 Series will be available starting from July 2024 with manufacturer suggested retail prices from $399 to $1,599 for the JBL MA AV Receivers and $299.95 to $1,199.95 per pair for the JBL Stage 2 Loudspeakers.
www.jbl.com
