80 YEARS OF JBL SOUND

Jurjen Amsterdam (his surname actually is the same as the city) presents the two new portable speakers, the JBL Xtreme 5 and JBL Go 5. The Xtreme 5 has undergone what he describes as a complete acoustic rebuild, with new dual tweeters, a subwoofer and increased power.

– It delivers 10 per cent deeper bass and higher volume than the previous generation, says Amsterdam.

Travel and accommodation for the trade magazine Elektronikkbransjen to attend the event in Amsterdam were paid for by Harman, the company behind the JBL brand.

The Xtreme 5 includes an AI sound enhancer, previously introduced in the JBL Charge 6 and Flip 7. In addition, a new AI function called Smart EQ has been added. This automatically detects whether the listener is hearing music or speech, and optimises the sound in real time.

New logo improves the sound

The JBL Go 5 is the smaller of the two, and here the logo placement is a surprising move. The new logo is not just a design change, it is acoustically engineered to improve sound output by more than 10 per cent compared with the JBL Go 4.

Evert-Jan Jurgens, who presents the speaker in more detail, says the Go series sells around three million units a year, and that almost all consumers give it five stars for sound quality.

– Even so, we have managed to improve the sound even further, and we are truly proud that last week we received a five-star accolade from an international magazine that said they did not know of another product with similar sound performance from such a small box at such a low price, says Jurgens.

JBL Go 5 is somewhat larger than its predecessor, which provides increased acoustic volume and stronger bass. In addition, edge lighting has been added, and the speaker is certified as waterproof, dustproof and shock-resistant, made from recycled fabric and plastic.

Stereo with a touch

A new feature called AirTouch allows users to connect two Go 5 speakers as a stereo pair simply by holding them together, without having to go into an app. Jurgens says that data from Go 4 showed that only 7 per cent used stereo pairing via the app, which motivated the development of the simpler solution.

Both Go 5 and Xtreme 5 support Auracast, making it possible to connect several speakers together for a more immersive sound experience.

New design and more power

JBL is launching two party speakers: PartyBox 330 and PartyBox 130, replacing two of the most popular models in the PartyBox series.

PartyBox 330 delivers 280 watts, has two 6.5-inch woofers and two 25 mm aluminium tweeters. According to Jurjen Amsterdam, these are the same tweeters used in the company’s professional concert equipment.

– We chose a new hexagonal design that allows light and sound to flow around the speaker, says Amsterdam.

The top control panel has been redesigned into a central rotary knob that controls volume, sound mode and lighting in one place.

PartyBox 130 for 18 hours

PartyBox 130 is the compact variant, with upgraded woofers and 200 watts of audio power. The model has 15 hours of playback time, and up to 18 hours with playback time boost, as well as fast charging and a replaceable battery.

AI sound enhancer is included here as well, keeping the sound full and distortion-free at all volume levels. The light show has been completely redesigned with strobe effects, edge lighting and beat-synchronised effects.

Karaoke with vocal removal

Alongside the PartyBox models, JBL EasySing Mic Mini microphones are being launched, sold in pairs and developed for karaoke. The microphones feature AI-based vocal removal directly on the device, in real time and from all tracks. At the press of a button, the user chooses how much of the original vocal should be retained: 50 per cent, 25 per cent or nothing.

– JBL EasySing Mic Mini is a pocket-sized AI-powered microphone that turns any JBL speaker into a personal performance system, with real-time vocal removal and a wireless design, says Stella Leung.

80 years of JBL sound

Søren Majlund has brought historic speaker models to the anniversary celebration in Amsterdam, transported from Denmark.

– JBL has always meant a lot to me, ever since I was little. I have always loved the sound of the American West Coast, says Majlund, who works at EMEA level with partnerships and business development at Harman.

He draws a line from the company’s historic engineering work through to today’s products.

– If anyone was going to make PartyBox, it was us, with the DNA we have, with compression drivers and horns, says Majlund.

At the JBL office in Copenhagen, he has built up an unofficial JBL museum, where in his own office he has a JBL Paragon D44000. For the event in Amsterdam, JBL has transported another example of the same model.

– The anniversary tour started in Los Angeles and will continue from Amsterdam to Vienna and Tokyo, says Majlund.

JBL Tour ONE M3

Norwegian Mikael Herje is presenting JBL’s headphone news during the event in Amsterdam. Among these are updates to the JBL Tour ONE M3 series. This is the third generation of the product, and Herje describes it as a ten-year journey with the goal of gaining market share in the premium segment.

– What is the most important part of the new update?

– We have adjusted the mid frequencies, strengthened the presence of the vocals and the musical clarity. We have adjusted the overtones to achieve a more balanced tonal colour, says Herje.

The adjustments are reserved for the Tour ONE M3 series, and are based on research showing that Tour ONE M3 users listen to more varied content over longer periods. Personalisation such as a custom equaliser has been retained, and the new sound curve serves as a new starting point for further adjustment.

The update is available to everyone who already owns a Tour ONE M3 headset, via a software update in the app.

In addition, a new colour is being launched for the Tour ONE M3 series; green with muted copper details, which according to Herje is inspired by trends in luxury design. This will be the fourth colour in the range.

One of the biggest

– How has JBL performed in the market for noise-cancelling headphones?

– We are one of the largest headphone brands by volume, selling 1.3 headphones per second, and we are growing in value. When it comes to over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling, we have not been very strong in the premium segment, but this is where we are now making inroads, says Herje.

He also highlights open audio as a category experiencing extreme growth, originating in Asia and now spreading to Europe and the USA.

Also on show in Amsterdam are the JBL Live 780NC (around-ear/over-ear) and JBL Live 680NC (on-ear), with 40 mm drivers featuring composite diaphragms and support for Hi-Res Audio wirelessly via LDAC.