JBL is everywhere. As a pioneer in the field of sound technology in cinemas, James Bullogh Lansing began his mission in the 1920s. Virtually every cinema was based on a similar system. He dubbed JBL ‘the voice of the theater’. This expertise soon translated into guided hi-fi speakers for the home. Meanwhile, the roots of professional sound are deeply embedded in JBL’s DNA. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts – known for the Oscars – JBL. The world’s best studios – JBL. Big live concerts – JBL. Always striving for a sound with the same drive and spontaneity as ‘the real thing’. Dynamics with a capital D, in other words.

In the 1970s, a professional studio without JBL speakers was almost unthinkable. Not long after, the studio models, with a few adjustments here and there, also found their way into the living room. The most illustrative example is the iconic JBL L100, one of the most popular loudspeakers of all time.

Over 70 years of innovation, countless patents, and the unstoppable drive for true live sound resonate today in various lines. Each with its own specialty but connected by JBL’s professional roots and unparalleled skills, yet entirely definitive for the home.

JBL CLASSIC MODELS

In the 1970s, many albums were produced using the dynamic sounds of a JBL Studio Monitor. James B. Lansing’s 4310 speakers quickly became the reference for professional studios. At one point, there were more JBL Monitors playing in studios in the United States than all other brands combined. That dry, dynamic and crispy ‘West Coast Sound’ would soon find its way into a model for home use. With a strikingly modern front for that time but the same driver configuration and iconic L-Pad tone control, a classic was born – the JBL L100.

The L100 brought the reference for the studio desk to the sofa at home and became extremely popular. It was the speaker of the time and cassette manufacturer Maxell even made a brilliant advertisement with it with their ‘blown away guy’. In addition to the L100, a number of variants were created, such as the 4312. Now, almost 50 years later, JBL is reintroducing these fantastic classics, complete with up-to-date technology and an equally high fun factor!

JBL PREMIUM AUDIO

From recording to playback, JBL is everywhere. A legendary audio brand with a vast history. Pioneer of sound reproduction in cinemas in the 1940s – JBL. The world’s first Studio Monitor – JBL. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts, known for the Oscars – JBL. Founder of the THX Surround standard – JBL. Live concert – JBL. No other brand is as intertwined with high-quality sound reproduction as JBL. Although our fame has skyrocketed thanks in part to our Bluetooth Speakers and Headphones, our roots are deeply embedded in High Fidelity sound reproduction. You can find those top-class JBL products that build upon the heritage of James B. Lansing right here – at Reference Sounds.

JBL MA-series Multi Media Amplifiers
Our MA-series Multi Media Amplifiers place you right in the heart of the action. Top-class surround amplifiers with a cool JBL look that convince you with sound and simplicity. Without a tangle of knobs and unnecessary bells and whistles. Designed around you as the user, rather than a complex specification list.

JBL Stage 2 series loudspeakers
Our JBL Stage 2 series speakers unite over 75 years of loudspeaker design in a series of unique speakers. Encased in a chic Espresso or Latte finish, these models guarantee the dynamic, energetic sound character for which we are so well known. With our patented High Definition Imaging Waveguide tweeters as a common denominator, the Stage 2 offers an unprecedented sound experience.

JBL SUMMIT SERIES

We have reached the peak…

Literally. Because what JBL is achieving with its new Summit loudspeaker series truly pushes boundaries. Shaped around – five models, the Summit series is perhaps JBL’s most prestigious loudspeaker concept ever. A project that has actually been in the making since 1985, with the introduction of the legendary DD55000 Everest. Back then limited to a single model, now a complete family that reflects nearly 80 years of engineering in three masterful loudspeakers. Rightfully ‘the peak of loudspeaker performance’.

Naturally, as an importer, we are enthusiastic about our products, but what this Summit series, and particularly the large Makalu, has unleashed in us has far exceeded our expectations. We dare to say it again – the performance of the Summit series is truly revolutionary and possesses qualities that leave even the established ultra high-end market in its dust. Quite a statement, especially since we realize that not everyone immediately associates JBL with this level. However, that is more a result of the much stronger marketing surrounding JBL’s lifestyle division and the limited European visibility of JBL Premium than of JBL’s product range. Just search for ‘JBL DD67000 Everest Review’ on Google and read what the world wrote about JBL’s penultimate top model. The Summit series is therefore not an exotic offspring of a loudspeaker manufacturer’s brain; it is the accumulation of years of research, further development, and belief in compression driver-horn technology. The result is perhaps the most live, most realistic, and ‘you are there’, kick-in-the-but loudspeaker there is. Insane!

We could fill an entire book about the sound and technology of these loudspeakers, but to truly experience it, you have to feel it for yourself. And you can do that at our Experience Center.

The Summit series comprises five models. Ranging from smallest to largest, they are the Ama, Pumori, Makalu, K2, and Everest. While differing in size, they share a common philosophy: all models are built around drivers developed entirely in-house. At the heart of this design—and serving as its fundamental guiding principle—is a unique compression driver paired with a distinctively shaped High Definition Imaging (HDI) horn. Thanks to its compression chamber architecture featuring dual diaphragms, this unique, ultra-wide-bandwidth tweeter delivers exceptionally high efficiency. Simply put, with a 1-watt input signal, the tweeter generates a sound pressure level at least ten times higher than that of the standard dome tweeters typically used. Conversely, this JBL technology requires one-tenth of the power to achieve the same sound pressure level. The result is extremely low distortion and the ability to convert the input signal into sound with exceptional precision. The K2 and Everest take this concept a step further. These models feature not just one, but three (!) dual-diaphragm drivers, all mounted onto a single compression assembly via a specially shaped adapter. Consequently, the ‘tweeter’ in the K2 and Everest utilizes a total of six drivers, resulting in even higher efficiency and further minimization of distortion. The attached HDI horn plays a crucial role here; it ensures a more efficient acoustic impedance match between the small sound source (the compression driver) and the surrounding air (the horn mouth), while also providing controlled dispersion characteristics. The horn’s unique shape is the product of years of research by JBL. The compression driver and horn combination marked the beginning of JBL—and high-quality sound reproduction in general—80 years ago, when James Bullough Lansing developed the first cinema loudspeaker. However, like any technical element of a loudspeaker, the technology behind the horn has its drawbacks. Inconsistent directivity, resonances along the horn’s throat, and declining efficiency at higher frequencies are the three primary issues. Measurement technology, finite element analysis, and an understanding of the relationship between room acoustics and loudspeaker dispersion have physically shaped a new generation of JBL High Definition Horn configurations.