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JBL rolls out new ScreenArray speakers to cinemas, mansions

by Steven Kim posted Apr 2nd 2009 at 10:17AM

JBL ScreenArray speakers
If you personally own a cineplex, or just a really big home theater, you've no doubt discovered that filling large spaces with high SPLs takes a lot of power. Conventional "cones in a box" just aren't very efficient, which is why so many large venues use horn-loaded drivers; and it's also where JBL's new ScreenArray series of digital cinema loudspeakers fit in. The 4732, 3732, 3731, 4722 and 3722 models each feature the new 3-inch high-frequency compression driver that's also been goosed to blast through perforated screens with the treble intact, and they're also all available in amplified and passive flavors. Our local theater isn't exactly rolling in cash right now for this kind of purchase, but then again, there's nothing crappy sound coming from a blown driver to make us blacklist a theater once and for all.

JBL ships WEM-1 Wireless Expansion Module for cutting speaker cables

by Darren Murph posted Feb 8th 2009 at 12:12AM


JBL's latest Wireless Expansion Module isn't the first device designed to cut the cables currently connected to your loudspeakers, but there's nothing wrong with options, right? The WEM-1 enables a pair of speakers to connect wirelessly (within 70 feet) to an AV receiver, and the internal 50-watt amplifier provides ample juice for surrounds. The box also sports a subwoofer output, five equalization curves that are tailored for use with select JBL loudspeakers, an unequalized bypass setting and a local input for directly connecting DAPs, PMPs and other audio sources. The MSRP on this cable cutter is listed at $359, but it looks to be available at quite a few locales for less.

Harman International CEDIA 2008 booth tour

by Darren Murph posted Sep 6th 2008 at 5:33PM Featured Story


Harman International is comprised of a great many companies, so it's no surprise that it took two CEDIA booths to hold 'em all. We took our trusty camera through the both of 'em to check out the latest from the likes of Infinity, JBL, H/K and Mark Levinson, and we spotted JBL's fresh LS Series, Infinity's wireless subwoofers / Prelude Forty and a $15,000 SACD player from Levinson that made Sony's new $1,500 SCD-XA5400ES look dirt cheap. Have a walk around, the gallery's right down there.

Gallery: Harman International CEDIA 2008 booth tour

JBL unleashes a pair of wireless subs at CEDIA

by Steven Kim posted Sep 5th 2008 at 8:33PM

JBL ES250PW subwoofer
Infinity isn't the only Harman company bringing out wireless subs at CEDIA -- some tech is just destined to be shared between brands, and JBL's ES250PW and ES150PW subs bear a certain family resemblance to the Infinity offerings. The 2.4GHz wireless transmitters are dead ringers, and the cabinets do look similar, but JBL makes use of 12- and 10-inch PolyPlas polymer-coated paper woofers in the 400-Watt ES250PW and 300-Watt ES150PW models, respectively. The JBL PolyPlas may not sound as exotic as the Infinty driver materials, so the higher price points for the JBL equipment of $729 (ES250PW) and $599 (ES150PW) is a little surprising. Our advice is to wait and see street pricing and then shop with your ears between the brands.

JBL introduces LS series of loudspeakers at CEDIA

by Darren Murph posted Sep 5th 2008 at 2:31PM


It just wouldn't be CEDIA without an announcement from JBL, now would it? This year, the speaker giant is introducing a few newcomers to the minty fresh LS Series: the LS40 bookshelf, LS60 / LS80 floorstanders and the LS CENTER -- wait for it -- center channel. These sophisticated speaks were designed with fashionistas in mind, as they boast curved contours, tapered sides and a high-gloss stained-wood finish. Retail prices on the new crew are expected to range from $999 to $1,999 each, so yeah, don't even think you're getting all that pizazz on the cheap.

JBL On Air WEM-1 module makes any speaker wireless, for a price

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 4th 2008 at 3:57PM


It's not exactly the first to turn any old speakers into wireless ones, but any attempt to cut down on wire clutter is alright in our book, and JBL is now doing its part with its new On Air WEM-1 wireless expansion module. As you can see above, this one consists of a transmitter module that connects to the audio source of your choice, and a receiver / amplifier that connects to a pair of speakers (it's apparently "tailored for use with select JBL loudspeakers," though it seems you can connect anything you like). That combo will give you a range of 70 feet and, supposedly, no loss in sound quality, although you will have to make do with the 50 watts per channel the amplifier pumps out. There's also the small matter of the $360 price tag, but we're sure there's at least a few folks out there willing to accept those trade-offs for a bit of added convenience, and for the principle of the thing.

JBL Control NOW speakers for sound in the round

by Steven Kim posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 6:46PM

JBL Control NOW speakers
Corner placement of your speakers can bring some serious challenges, which makes the design of JBL's new Control NOW speakers all the more interesting. The quarter-torus shape is designed to fit right into the nook between two perpendicular walls -- perfect for those rear surround channels. The speakers feature JBL's Bi-Radial 0.75-inch horn tweeter flanked by two 4-inch drivers, and deliver a respectable 80Hz - 30kHz response. What could be better than a pair of these speakers? Multiple units that can are merged into half, three-quarter or even full rounds, that's what! Available, um, now at $249 each, with a ready-for-outdoors NOW AW model arriving next month for $30 more.

Harman scores hat trick at Cannes

by Steven Kim posted May 14th 2008 at 8:54AM

Harman Kardon, JBL, AKGWe know the Cannes Film Festival is all about the celebs, but we're pretty big fans of the gear, too. And in that department, it looks like Harman International has scored again this year. Four screening rooms in the Hotel Gray d'Albion will be graced by JBL Synthesis SK2-1000 speakers and S1S-EX subs; a fifth screening room will be treated with JBL Project Array 1000 speakers and a 1500 Array sub. Rounding out the hat trick, Harman Kardon electronics and AKG headphones will be used in screening rooms and VOD booths at the festival. If you're going to Cannes (lucky dog), check out the Synthesis systems; if you're suitably impressed that you want to get a setup of your own (now we're drooling), you'll have to contact your regional Synthesis rep. Be prepared to give them the approximate volume of your listening room -- it'll help them point you towards a system.

JBL now shipping ES Series loudspeakers

by Darren Murph posted Mar 28th 2008 at 11:04PM


Looking for the perfect match for your JBL Cinema Sound CSS10W wireless subwoofer? Worry no more, as the aforementioned outfit has just announced that its ES Series of loudspeakers are getting boxed up and shipped out as we speak. The family includes the ES10 wall-mount / bookshelf monitor, the ES20 / ES30 bookshelf speakers, ES80 / ES90 floorstanders, the ES25C center channel and a pair of subwoofers (ES150P / ES250P) for those rolling without an earth-shaker. The whole gang can be had for around $239 to $1,198 per pair -- hit up the read link for all the nitty-gritty, and peep the gallery below to see if the ES Series is really your style.

[Via Widescreen Review]

Infinity and JBL's PS212W and CSS10W wireless subwoofers

by Conrad Quilty-Harper posted Sep 22nd 2007 at 4:02PM


Although the humble subwoofer is probably the least likely to require placement inside a space that's beyond cable reach -- or concealment -- thanks to its non-directional sound frequencies, JBL and Infinity have teamed up to solve the problem anyway. The PS212W is a 12-inch $679 400W sub with an included 2.4GHz wireless transmitter / receiver bundled: yes, that's 2.4GHz, the same frequency nearly all your other wireless kit uses. JBL's Cinema Sound CSS10W also uses this overused frequency for its wireless, but it's only 10-inch and 300W, and will retail at the lower price of $559 when it launches in January next year.

[Via Audio Junkies]

Harman Consumer Group's CEDIA booth tour

by Darren Murph posted Sep 8th 2007 at 3:24AM


Harman Consumer Group, which holds H/K, Infinity, JBL, and Audioaccess under its umbrella, erected an expansive booth at this year's CEDIA. Unsurprisingly, home theater and in-wall speakers dominated the space, but quite a few amplifiers, receivers, and home control units were seen posing, too. Most notable among the noise was Infinity's PS212W (its first wireless subwoofer), Audioaccess' revamped W.H.E.N. (Whole-House Entertainment Network), an absolutely gigantic JBL loudspeaker, and a demo station that highlighted the H/K DMC 1000 media PC's ability to control content in four separate zones. Enough chatter, why not take a peek for yourself?

Gallery: Harman Consumer Group's CEDIA booth tour





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