JBL Classic Amplifier, Streamer, CD player and Turntabel!
Viva Las vegas!
CES in Las Vegas. It used to be packed with the most beautiful audio products. Now mainly a show for Gadgets and Tech enthusiasts. Yet Harman Luxury is present again this year and conjured up a whole series of fantastic new JBL products from Harman hat in the Virgin Hotel. Although most will only reach our dealers around the summer, we don’t want to withhold our enthusiasm. That’s why we write up this 2 part newsletter with some fantastic new JBL products that promise to make us very happy in the course of 2023!
Part 1 – JBL Classic Series electronics
The JBL Classic and Monitor series loudspeakers, with the L100 as the most iconic will expand their family with a series of cool audio products combining Classic looks with modern technology. An SA550 integrated amplifier, MP350 streamer, CD350 CD player and TT350 turntable. And although we will only experience them in real life in a few months, we would already like to introduce them to you one by one.
JBL SA550 Classic integrated amplifier
The New JBL SA550 Classic is perhaps the most recognizable from the electronics family. Inspired by the 1960s JBL SA600 amplifier complete with retro faceplate and walnut side panels, the old guard might think ‘Strange, I’ve seen that face before’. But underneath the somewhat nostalgic looks lies a modern piece of Harman amplifier technology. Built with the efficient Class G amplifier topology, the SA550 delivers 90 Watts per channel into an 8 Ohm load. Sources find their way to the amplifier via 3 digital (Coaxial and Toslink) and 4 analog inputs. Thanks to the built-in phono stage, one of those analog inputs is reserved for a record player and suitable for an MM/MC cartridge. An AptX®Adaptive Bluetooth input completes the list of functions so that music can even be listened to wirelessly directly via Bluetooth.
The SA550 has an expected retail price around € 1.900 and is expected to arrive this summer.
JBL MP350 network player
Like the rest of the Classic series, the MP350 shares its retro styling with the JBL SA550, making it the perfect music streaming partner. Connect the MP350 to your network and enjoy all your music endlessly via Apple Airplay2, Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect or as a Roon Ready endpoint. Naturally, the MP550 supports Hi-Res music streams including MQA. Thanks to its internal DAC, you can easily connect the analog MP550 to the SA550 or other hi-fi system. Digital outputs allow the purists among us to further optimize the digital to analog conversion with an external DAC. With a height of just under 5 cm, the MP350 network music streamer is as modest as it is chic and, in our opinion, already a winner!
The MP350 has an expected retail price around € 1.000 and is expected to arrive this summer.
JBL CD350 Classic CD player
Although music streaming and vinyl have clearly taken the upper hand, fortunately there are still many music lovers with a more than nice CD collection. However, the availability of CD players has declined considerably. That’s why the JBL CD350 Classic CD player is a fantastic addition to the JBL Classic electronics range. The robust CD tray accepts CDs, CD-R and CD-RW discs with FLAC, WAV and MP3 files. In addition, the CD350 can also play music from a USB stick with a resolution of up to 24bit/96kHz thanks to the USB input. Just like its streaming brother, the CD350 is equipped with digital and analogue outputs so that it can find a place in any system. The CD350 leaves the pure music streaming to the MP350, making the CD350 a real CD player with retro looks but modern disposition.
The CD350 has an expected retail price around € 900 and is expected to arrive this summer.
JBL TT350 Classic turntable
A record player should of course not be missing in the Classic line up. With the TT350, JBL treats us to a wonderful turntable for record lovers. A walnut base plinth, heavy aluminum platter and curved arm with pre-installed Audio Technica Moving Magnet Cartridge not only look sleek and JBL Classic, but also pick every musical detail out of the groove. For purists, that cartridge is also easy to upgrade or replace when desired or necessary. The Direct Drive motor provides a perfect speed, selectable between 33.3 and 45rpm. A sensor keeps a close eye on that rotation speed. Special, adjustable feet with integrated damping ensure stable positioning. The music signal finds its way to the output via a pair of RCA connections on the rear, with which the TT350 can easily be connected to a phono stage. Or directly to the phono input of the SA550 of course for a super cool audio system.
The TT350 has an expected retail price around € 1.050 and is expected to arrive this summer.
With JBL’s SA550 integrated amplifier, MP350 streamer, CD350 CD player and TT350 turntable, we continue to build on JBL’s fantastic Classic line. The mix between the walnut side panels and classic silver-brushed aluminum front make the series not only the perfect dance partner for JBL’s Classic and Monitor loudspeaker series, but a great series of audio products for lovers of quality with a vintage look. Is it summer yet?
